Red

CHAPTER 34.

Two days had passed since his threat, I wasn't scared of him nor was I going to allow him to treat Xami the way he did.

It's almost two months since I've been here and not once have I seen the man taken a day out of his busy schedule and spend quality time with his daughter.

It was selfish. His behavior that is.

I sat on the wall of the outside lawn, staring out at the amount of trees that stretches across the acres of land Lorenzo owned.

A sadness weighed on my shoulders as I thought about where I am with this investigation.

It was going no where and to make matters worst, I was mad at myself for being so comfortable with River's killer.

The same man who I vowed to myself that I would avenge, I didn't know what I was doing with Lorenzo but what I needed, was to stop this.

This stupid attraction...

His words to me at the river was always in my thoughts and the guilt of my revenge resurfaces.

Imagine giving advice to the woman who killed four of your men and was secretly gathering intel to put you behind bars, imagine that.

I needed to forget it and focus on what is important and that is River's death. River's case is much more important than a Don who was heartless enough to push away his own child.

And as I sat there, feeling my heart squeezing, Xam and Salt played around with the golden doodle puppies, and that's when I heard the door bell rang.

I left Xam at the lawn and went to open the door. There stood Sveva and Viviana with their kids.

"You don't mind if we hang out for the day, no?" Viviana asked with a bright smile, and I let them in.

I told Angel and Gia that Xam was on the lawn, and they excitedly ran there.

"No, actually. I'm thankful you guys came by my whole day was turning into one long drag."

They chuckled as we made our way to the kitchen.

"So, what's up?" I asked, showing Sveva the baking tin since she wanted to bake cookies and a rum cake.

Viviana set three bottles of wine on the counter, and I grinned. "Don't you think it's a bit too early to drink?"

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Girl, hell nah. I don't know about you two..."

Viviana grabbed a glass and poured out a shot. "But I need this for what I'm about to tell you."

Sveva shook her head at me. "Aurora, you've missed out on a lot of things."

I frowned. "What is it? I like how you two have been hanging out without me."

They chuckled at that.

"That's why we stopped by we needed to hang out and update you on a lot of things." Sveva smiled as she whisked the binding agents together.

"Your handsome hunk of a boss don't mind, no, if we stay?" Viviana grinned, and if it wasn't for my dark skin, she would have seen my cheeks burn in a blush.

Because he was indeed a hunk.

As a matter of fact a rude-ass hunk...

I rolled my eyes at the thought and shook my head. "Nah, he doesn't mind. Just don't touch anything fragile, and you're fine."

Viviana updated me about her house, which nearly burned down two nights ago. If it wasn't for Fire, she wouldn't even know what could have happened.

We all erupted into giggles again, and for a moment, the kitchen was filled with nothing but warmth, laughter.

We hang out for the remainder of the day, until the sun set in the skies. Viviana cooked baked chicken with some potatoes for dinner and as the kids hang out in living room, we paused our conversations as the door open.

I heard Fire's voice as he came into the house along with Rafael.

I smirked as Sveva and Viviana rolled their eyes dramatically. "You guys are making them out to be assholes. They aren't that bad," I teased, trying to keep a straight face.

Sveva snorted, flour still dusting her arms. "Aurora, don't defend them. They are nothing but dogs dressed in slick suits."

Viviana leaned back in her chair, mock horror on her face. "Exactly. Next thing we know, you'll be calling them monsieur and complimenting their polite manners with a shitty ass bow."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Nah, I know how they are. But honestly... they're not the monsters you make them out to be."

Sveva grinned. "Sure, sure chrat. We'll see how long that opinion lasts when you see Fire start picking out his nose like he found the most interesting thing there is since Christ."

I popped up laughing and Viviana scoffed then whispered. "Trust me you don't know the half of it with these unbearable men."

Sveva snicked and agreed, just then both men came into the room also with Lorenzo. I ignored his ass and swallowed thickly as his gaze burn the side of my face.

"Aurora!" Fire pinched my cheeks, making me yelp, and I slapped his hands away.

He chuckled, clearly enjoying himself, and then sauntered over to Viviana. Without missing a beat, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips, grinning when she playfully swatted at him.

"Hey!" she laughed, trying to keep him at arm's length, but he was relentless.

Before I could intervene, he leaned over her plate of cookies and snagged one, crunching into it like it was the most delicious thing in the world.

Sveva clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Oh my God, you guys are ridiculous!"

Viviana, still giggling, shoved Fire lightly. "Quit eating my cookies!"

He only grinned wider. "Relax, bella, I'm just making sure they taste as good as they look."

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head, but I couldn't stop the laugh bubbling out of me.

The woman slapped his hands away. But he didn't stop there he grabbed a bite of her baked chicken and some potatoes and before she could react, he darted to the corner of the room, fork still in hand, defending his meat like a tiny conqueror.

He sank his teeth into her last piece of chicken, grinning like he'd won a war. I rolled my eyes, I might as well just called Xam to handle his ass.

"Hey! That was mine!" Vi shouted, chasing after him, waving her table knife like a warning.

Fire only smirked over his shoulder. "Finders keepers, bella."

Sveva clutched her stomach, laughing so hard she almost dropped her whisk. Viviana doubled over, pointing at the knife at him. "You're impossible!"

Rafael stayed at the door and kept his eyes on Sveva who didn't pay him any mind. I could see how much he wanted to go to her but he didn't.

He toss me a smile as he push his curly hair out of his face.

Lorenzo came further into the kitchen and yanked the fridge door open, I quirk a brow at his harshness and watched as he took out a bottle of water and slammed it shut then without a word, he left the kitchen.

Sveva stared over at me with a questioning look on her face. I forced a small smile, shaking my head. "Sveva... trust me, some things are better left unexplained."