Chase Me

Chapter Thirty-Five: Mercedes

Hit play on the song when it's Amo's POV for an extra touch to the experience ;)

Bellona

My hand was burning throughout the drive from holding Amo's. I was in New York and it was now that I started thinking about Mum and Dad. What they must have thought after their only child left had vanished. A pang of guilt hit me about the stress I might have put them through.

"Your parents are at the Griffin Mansion, Bellona," Elio said from the passenger seat. "Everyone's waiting for you."

And they were. We parked the car and exited, heading for the front doors. The evening air was brisk and I could hear birds chirping in the distance. I didn't need to look back to know the looming shadow behind me was nobody other than my fiancé.

My fiancé. I spun the ring around my finger with my thumb, antsy. His hand came over mine to stop my fidgeting, then intertwined our fingers. "People are expecting a happily engaged couple." He looked at me. "I expect you know how to act."

I looked away. "Let's go inside."

The moment the doors opened, everyone turned to the front.

Silence.

Then cheering.

Cheering like we had won the WBC or something. Through the haze of people who were coming close to greet us, I spotted my mother, her blue eyes pinned on me. She stood beside my father, who also was watching me. Them being the leaders of Chicago, they had a poised role to play. No matter how much my fingers itched to hug them and no matter how much they wished to do the same, we would have to wait.

"Amo! Bellona!" A man dressed in a grey suit came toward us. His pink tie contrasted everything, even his balding head.

This was Santiago Ricci, the Boss of the Los Angeles Mob. Elio's father. His hand came out and he shook Amo first, then me. He wasn't like the other Bosses who wouldn't mind holding my hand a bit longer. Santiago smiled at me and I returned it. He was a good father to Elio, but some things he had said to him had made me not so nice to the older man. Elio was supposed to be strong and even though he was a bit different, his father embraced him fully. So his acceptance of his son and his words were on two opposite sides of a spectrum, causing me to root right in the middle and not think too badly about him, but neither too well.

"Ah, the couple is finally home again!" He shouted at the group that had quieted, causing another roar of cheers. He turned to us and faced Amo. "I supposed the wedding is back on?"

My hand flinched against Amo's before I could stop it and I immediately faced him. He seemed calm, cool and collected, but I saw his brow twitch. That was his giveaway. I tightened my hold on his hand and before I knew it, I was bringing it to my lips and pressing a kiss on his hand. The people loved that. When I moved his hand away from my lips, I saw Amo watching me, slightly surprised and... relieved?

I turned to Santiago. "First, we have business to discuss." I stepped closer so that only the three of us could hear me. "War is on the horizon, Mr. Ricci. I believe it would be best to have the leaders of Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles have a meeting to discuss this. Along with the heirs."

Santiago's face fell but he quickly brought it back to a dashing smile before turning to the crowd. "Who am I to keep the lovebirds from their alone time?" The crowd laughed.

I feigned an embarrassed laugh and Amo did the same. We headed straight towards the doors, Elio, Santiago, and Nex behind us. Lucas was standing by the foot of the stairs and gave a nod to us as we passed. We reached my parents and no matter how much I wanted to throw my arms around them both, we held diplomacy by exchanging nothing more than a handshake and nod. All seven of us headed for the doors at the end of the hall as the guards downstairs directed the people to go home since the welcome was over.