Falling For The Mob

14 Lavender and Red Wine

Sam

For the last three days, I've been feeling nauseous at random moments of the day, making me more unsettled. I'm convinced my gut is telling me a war is coming. We're still unaware of who the enemy is. There's been a spike in crime across the entire city, with several attacks on our warehouses, trucks, and containers. Normally, people fear our territory and organization, but they also sense that we're being attacked and haven't decided which side to stand on. We're perceived as weak and powerless, which is exactly how I feel.

Cacciatrici has inside knowledge of our organization, the way they operate is completely under the radar, and the only ones who've ever been able to do that in this city are my family. Our strategies have been formed through decades of trial and error, we own this city because we built it. The only logical explanation is that Cacciatrici has people inside our organization working for them, feeding information, selling our secrets. Even now.

I feel incapacitated, and not having Addy to keep me sane is only making it worse.

I've checked in on her every night but try not to overstay my welcome. As tired as she seems, I can see the happiness in her eyes. At least some Claymores deserve happiness.

She's been recovering swiftly, but there's a part of me that's not all too pleased by this. The one benefit of her absence is that my father has stopped pestering me about going outside and showing my face in public.

My relief will be short-lived, as Addy is insisting on getting back to work on Monday. Anyone who dares oppose her, suggesting that she cannot do both, gets their head chewed off.

Eventually, together Lawrence and my father managed to convince her only to work on a few projects, luckily, this includes our work with the hospital as it would be impossible to replace her here.

Much reorganizing has been done for my benefit, whereas I will not be taking on new projects for the time being.

Addy's work revolving around the family has been taken over by Lawrence, and she hired a phone assistant to help with a few necessities. I feel like a child incapable of functioning, it is degrading, but I will accept the abuse as long as I am not forced to deal with people alone.

A slight knock on my office door pulls me from my work, only to put me in a foul mood when I see my father walk in.

I know exactly why he is here, I have been dreading this day for the last month. There came a reaction to his proposal to the Hayes family.

My father has a playful grin on his face as he walks over to the mini bar and serves himself.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean back in my chair and brace myself. To my surprise, he plants a kiss on my forehead and places a glass in my hand.

"Today is a good day, don't you think, Samantha?"

He walks over to the windows, showing no indication of elaborating further. As the suspense takes hold of my mind, I turn to him.

"We both know why you're here, so skip ahead to when you tell me what they said."

A devilish grin appears. I expected him to lay down a detailed plan of how long this will be going on, how often I must be seen with the man, and how many times I need to kiss him for the cameras.

"I have decided on a new course and retracted my proposition to them."

I wait for him to continue, but nothing else comes. He finishes his drink and puts his glass down. "Are you hungry? Join me for dinner."

We arrive at Ciao, for me to find that he has also invited Addy and Lawrence. I am still curious about his sudden change of plan, but do not want to risk testing him again. If I have questions, my best chance will be to find a moment where I can ask Addy. If anyone knows what my father's plans for me are, it's her.