Yara |18+|

25

YARA

I didn't know what to expect.

Halfway there, I almost changed my mind. I didn't, but I watched Vico drive and it brought a comfort I didn't know I needed.

What am I getting myself into? Everything could change. Everything. How sure were we that this was a good idea? I looked at the side of Vico's face, realising that I trusted him more than I let on.

I just needed to drop my guard and have Vico lead the way—as he wanted to. He held the steering wheel in a nonchalant manner and sat with his back against the seat, his gaze fixated on the busy road ahead.

He looked like the first night I met him. A suit adorned his body, and a silver watch wrapped around his wrist. His tattoos were his accessary and I had forgotten that he looked better in the daytime.

Is he mine? I wanted him to be. Badly.

Was that fucked up to say? That I wanted Vico to be more than just an occasional fuck? I stared at him, listening to the low music from the radio while I tried to think of every reason I shouldn't do this.

Nothing came to mind. I ran a hand over my thigh, trying to forget about our morning session and the after effects of it.

Vico just...did everything right.

"I would love to know what you're thinking about right now," he murmured, running his hand over the steering wheel to turn into an unknown street.

"Everything," I muttered, toying with my favourite blade.

It had been a while since I took the life from someone and unsurprisingly, it'd been the best days of my life. No blood shed. No worries. The weight had been lifted off my shoulders and finally, I was able to sleep with a peaceful heart.

The only concern I had was Mario finding out I was still alive. But still, he was off to an island doing God knows what. Alexa had been keeping me in the loop, informing me of his whereabouts and being a friend at the same time. A much needed friend.

Vico spared me a glance, a worried look on his face. "You tell me if something is bothering you?"

"I will," I told him, leaning over the centre console to give him a reassuring pat on his leg.

"Do you promise?" he asked, frowning at me and I let out a breathy chuckle at the concern he didn't hide. "Hermosa, I'm not playing around."

"Vico," I deadpanned, giving him a look.

"Yara," he deadpanned, giving me a look that matched mine.

"Will you tell me if you change your mind?" he asked, tapping his finger on the wheel. I could tell he meant it.

From day one, Vico had nothing but my best interest in mind and it didn't just show in his words—but his actions and the way he treated me. Again, who the hell is this man?

"I will," I said honestly, nodding my head.

"Good girl," he murmured, holding my thigh while he rounded another corner. "Because I'll turn this car around before you finish your sentence."

"I know you will," I mumbled, a small smile on my lips.

Again, who the hell am I? I showed Vico my home and it was something I never thought I'd do. A year ago, Mario would send me on a mission and I'd complete it with no regrets or remorse. But Vico had managed to deter me from killing him with a simple look. A feat I didn't know was possible.

"We still have a few minutes, baby," Vico said, giving me a quick glance. "I can stop somewhere if you're hungry."

"I'm good for now," I told him, giving him a silent thank you with a squeeze on his leg. I looked at him, knowing that I was falling for him while knowing absolutely nothing about him at the same time.

I knew about his family. His dad built swimming pools and his mom was a teacher. I also knew that he had siblings. But that was information given to me, not told by Vico himself.

"You look like you have a question," he said, stopping at a red light.

"I don't—"

"You do," he said with a shake his head and a small smirk on his lips. "Ask."

I sighed, fully relaxing into the seat. It was going to be a long drive. "I want to know about your family."

"My family?" he repeated, his eyebrows raised as if that was the last thing he was expecting. "I'll tell you, but you already know. Don't you?"

"I do." It wasn't a secret. "And you probably know about mine too, right?"

"I do."

I chuckled, amused by the situation. "Of course."

Vico smiled, taking my hand to give me a kiss on my knuckles. "What do you want to know, amor?"

I shrugged, "whatever you're willing to tell me."

"Everything," he said, his eyes glinting. "But for starters, I don't have a relationship with my parents. My father hates what I do and my mother loves my father too much to go against him. I talk to my sister, but very rarely. My brother is the only one I have a close relationship with. He works for me, actually. But out of country." Wow.

His parents had completely cut him off? Understandably so, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt Vico.

"You have men overseas?" I asked, a little surprised at the revelation.

"Of course I do, my love," he said, grinning at me. "I'd be crazy not to."

"When was the last time you spoke to your parents?" I asked curiously, fighting the urge to slam him with questions.

"Birthdays."

I nodded.

"Anything else?" he asked, but spoke before I could. "My sister—she's a nurse for a hospital close by. I haven't met my niece or nephew."

The last sentence stunned me, and I was left questioning why Vico chose the life he did. Money? Power? Was it a coincidence that changed the entire trajectory of his life? I needed to know, but figured we had enough of the day when he didn't say anything else.

"How old are they?" I asked, running my hand over his thigh.

There was a spark in his eyes when he spoke about his family. Despite the circumstances, Vico seemed to hold a deep love for them.

When I had read the information on his family, I was under the impression they were tight-knit. The way he carried himself, I was convinced Vico had a healthy relationship with his mom and dad.

I was wrong. He was just naturally...fucking amazing.

"2 and 4," he said, a light smile on his face. "I've seen pictures, but I've never spoken to them. Do you have siblings?"

"Not that I know of." I shrugged. "Mario took me under his care when I was twelve and before that, I hardly remember anything."

Vico stopped at another red light, and looked at me with a scowl. "Wait, you don't remember anything before that? Your parents?"

"Not at all."

The look on his face didn't go away. "That's strange."

"Trust me," I chuckled. "I know."

After a few beats of silence, the car finally came to halt.

"We're here."

• • •

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