MAFIA'S WILD OBSESSION (18+)

CHAPTER 9: BLOODY KNIGHT

ANGEL'S POV:

TWO YEARS LATER

"Ma'am, the manager says that if you're going to keep sitting here, you're gonna need to order something..." The waiter glanced down at my table, judgement written all over his face. "...that's not water."

My stomach squirmed and I forced out a civilized smile. One that contrasted vividly with the tension swirling within me.

"Well, I... Can I get a few minutes more? My date is on his way."

Was he?

Polished and clad in a crispy-clean uniform, I watched the young man's eyes twitch in irritation. However, just like me, he forced out a well-practiced smile.

"Very well, ma'am. I'll be back to take your order in 30 minutes." With that, he bowed lightly and walked back to an equally polished man standing off at the corner of the restaurant with a firm glare fixated on me.

The manager, I suppose.

I waved at him sweetly, which of course he didn't respond to, but he did well to shift his attention to attend to the lovely couple that just walked in, plastering an obnoxiously fake smile at them. I exhaled a shaky breath, my heart clogging with uneasiness.

Well, screw me for picking out a 5-star restaurant for the night. In my defense, I just wanted to give us a slice of heaven – it was our 3 years anniversary after all.

And I'd put in my sweat, blood and every last dime to make sure I could afford this perfect date for us, and yet at the moment, my excitement dwindled away with the seconds.

Carter wasn't here.

Yet.

Yet?

It's been an hour since he was supposed to arrive. An hour in which I've been stuck in this fancy hell, sitting in my silk black dress and perfectly done glam, being the only woman alone on her table without a date.

People have stared. The waiters have whispered. And even I had tried to ignore the little devious voice in my head, poking and laughing. The voice that spelled out the bitter truth that Carter wasn't coming.

My heart dropped just at the thought of it.

But he said he would. This morning, he'd kissed my cheeks and had whispered into my ear on how much he couldn't wait for tonight. He'd said so. He promised.

Carter would never stand me up.

'Delusional girl.' The voice in my head snickered.

Nervous jitters made me restless and I absently tapped my fingers over the elegant marble table before me.

Like a hawk, I watched every young man that walked into the high ambience hall, and maybe if I wasn't so deeply buried in my biggest fears, I'd have taken a moment to bask in the classical music playing in the background and the significant air of romance dancing through the room.

None of these appealed to me, however.

Minutes rolled away and suddenly, my phone rang, momentarily upsetting the tranquil of the hall, and I quickly dived at it, picking up the call without checking for the caller.

"Hey, babe." His tired voice greeted rather morosely.

"Carter!" My voice rose, a tinge of hope and excitement wrapping around my tense heart. "Are you outside-"

"I won't be making it, Angel. Things are crazy here at the station. My boss asked me to..."

Nothing else he said made it to my ears. Nothing except the first words he'd uttered. He won't be making it. Words could barely do justice to the anguish that twisted my heart. The confusion and rush of anger.

"W-what?"

"It's messed up, I know. I'm sorry, I really am. How about you enjoy the evening without me?"

"W-what... Carter, I made reservations. I-I've been waiting here for an hour..." I stopped to drag in a breath, at least to ease the pain that stabbed down on my chest.

He sighed. "My hands are tied, babe. I'll make it up to you... I promise."

"Like you promised to be here?" My eyes burned.

"Just... I have to go. We'll talk at home."

The line went dead, and I remained transfixed, no doubt with the hot tears now rolling down my cheeks. My mind reeled with a thousand emotions, disappointment and hurt ruling the pile.

Disappointment because I'd canceled my plans for today just so this night would be perfect. I'd put in every last of my savings for this. I'd dressed up, looked my best and had even thrown in a lingerie under my dress.

Hurt because he didn't even try.

I sucked in a pained breath, the pieces of my heart bare before me.

The manger of the restaurant came to me this time with the waiter. Before he could dish out whatever condescending speech he'd prepared, I dug into my purse and dropped the bills for the water on the table.

Standing up, I didn't bother returning any of their stiff smiles as I gathered whatever was left of my pride and left.

Happy three years anniversary to me.

***

Love.

Over the past few months, even that word had grown sour. Cold. Meaningless. Perhaps that was why I'd been desperate for tonight to work out well. I was hoping to ignite whatever flame we used to have.

Well, jokes on me.

You know, Carter was first my best friend before he became my boyfriend. We shared what my mum used to call puppy love. It was cute and innocent and everything that rocked my world when I was 16.