Outsider - Book Two

Chapter 19

She opened the hotel room doors and walked in.

Four men wielding guns stood prepared. Giovanni sitting at the island counter.

'And where the hell have you been?' He questioned her.
'Just out, getting a drink.' She spoke.
'And yet it appears you have sobered up.' He spoke.
'You called?'
'You didn't answer.' She walked over to him. He stood up, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
He grabbed her throat but it felt completely different than from when Ezra had done it. There was no mischief in his eyes, only anger and control.

'Don't forget who is in charge, you still WORK for me.' He spoke closely to her. He started to squeeze to hard. She grabbed his arm and tried pulling it away but he was much stronger.
He let go and air choked back into her lungs.

'Nonetheless, I have decided to forgive you for your little attack last night. I know how much you loved your father and I assume you still want his murderer brought to justice? Am I correct?' He asked.

She stared right into his eyes, remembering everything Julian had said earlier. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her cool.

'You're correct.' She said bluntly. He smiled right through her.
'Then you'll get what you're looking for.' She studied his eyes, did they look like Tommy's? She wasn't sure.

Why would her mother ever sleep with him in the first place? Out of love? Lust? She had only done it to keep her brother safe and her life.
There had been no other motive, if she hadn't she'd probably be dead.

'But lately you have been quite helpful and in line. So, I have decided to celebrate.'
'Celebrate what?'
'Our plan of course! It's all working out, Ezra Ramos is playing his part. He has no idea, I will soon set things into motion and he will crumble like a chess peice.' Giovanni spoke.

'Seems like everything is working out just like you wanted.'
'It always does.' He agreed.
'I'm happy for you Giovanni, you've got a lot of things coming your way and you deserve all of it.'

He tilted his head at her.

'There is an outfit on the bed. I expect you to shower and be ready soon.' He ordered. 'Don't keep me waiting too long.'

She had a shower and stared at the red dress on the bed. He did love red.
She slipped it on and paired them with some black heals. A knock sounded at the door and she welcomed whoever it was in.

'You look beautiful.' Giovanni appeared. 'Just as radiant as your mother.' The comment made her feel sick. She still couldn't digest that they had slept with the same manipulative, cruel man. She still couldn't even process that Giovanni was possibly Tommy's real father.

It just all seemed like too much for the last few days.

'I got you something.' He pulled a black case out of his pocket and handed it to her. She opened the velvet box, a Dimond necklace appearing.

'Wow.' She commented. Now he was just straight up buying her affection.
'It's going to pair so nicely with that dress.' He picked it up out of the case and put it around her neck.

It felt like he was putting on a collar. Locking it in place so she could never be free, she wanted to rip it off and throw it in his face. It was choking her but she did nothing, standing as still as a doll.

'Well! What do you say?' He asked.
'Thank you.' The words came out like stones, hard and cold.

'You're welcome.' He grabbed her hand and held it. 'I saved you, I want you to remember that. You could have ended up on the streets or working a boring useless nine to five that you barely get by with. I rescued you and then you betrayed me, more than once. I don't want you to have to go away but I will not accept disobedience and betrayal. Do you understand?'

'More than ever before.' She gulped the words down. 'And I wont forget what you did for me and my mother. It's a heavy price you paid.'
'And you shouldn't! Now lets go, I am starving!' He applauded.

They sat opposite each other at a fancy restaurant. Red table cloths and expensive art everywhere.
A band was playing soft music over by one wall.

'Here you go Sir and Miss. Is there anything else I can be of help with tonight?' The waiter asked. Putting down the food in front of them.
'That'll be all for now.' Giovanni waved him away. He quickly started on his own food, Cece stared down at her soup. Wondering further what might be in it.

'You should eat up, I promise I didn't poison this one.' He spoke. She looked right up at him. He had a smile across his face. 'Go on! That was a joke.' He encouraged.
She grabbed a spoon and filled it up, putting the warm liquid into her mouth.
It was sweet and tasty, did poison have a taste? Giovanni was watching her closely.

She swallowed it down and his eyes finally moved away.

'So when everything is all worked out maybe we could buy a house. A nice one back in New York, over looking Central park. They'll be plenty of room so even Tommy could move in.' He spoke.

"WE?" He didn't actually think they were dating did they? She was just his slave, his soldier. Taking orders until she didn't have to, until she got back to New York.
But even back in New York she'd still work for him and it was doubtful he'd just let her go.

'What do you think?' He asked her.
'It sounds nice.'
'I know! And you could design it however you like.' What did he expect her to do? Get all excited? Say she couldn't wait to make the kitchen pink or something? This all had to be some kind of sick joke, some play inside of Giovanni's twisted mind.

'Maybe you could even get a dog. Do you like dogs?' He asked.
'I'm more of a cat person.' She commented. He seemed disgusted with her comment. As if she had just spat in his food.

'Maybe you could buy a fish instead. Cats are too.... rebellious. They bring in rats and let it stink up your home. Always in places they shouldn't be, looking for things that shouldn't be found.' He mentioned.

Now she wasn't entirely sure if he was still talking about actual cats or not.

'There majestic. Free, they go wherever they please.'
'And yet they are so lonely, in a world that will just hit them and drive off. They need rules to survive, they need orders.'

'No one needs to be controlled.'
'Control is what sets the world in motion.'
'Control is manipulative, sooner or later they will last out. Everyone wants to be free.'
'NO!' Giovanni slammed his fist on the table, making it rattle. Cece jumped at the sound of the sudden action but she remained silent and still.
The few tables around them looked on.

'There will be no cats.' He smiles, lowering his voice and taking a sip of his wine.

Alrighty then, no cats.