Twice Shy [ON GOING]

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

Five Months Later

Viktor

I carefully climbed out of bed and briefly looked over at Gia as she was still fast asleep. I covered her with the blankets on our bed before I made my way inside the bathroom.

I took a quick shower and wrapped the towel around my waist before I made my way out of my bathroom. I entered my closet and pulled on a black Armani suit before I slipped my feet into some matching black shoes.

I left my closet and made my way downstairs. I found Gia sitting at the breakfast table with a silk robe wrapped around her body. She was busy eating a slice of toast while reading the newspaper.

I sat down across from her and she placed her newspaper down before she smiled over at me.

"How are you feeling today?" I asked her and she lightly shrugged at me.

"Good. I always feel good when I'm with you." She softly told me.

"That's good. Clear your schedule for tonight. I want to take you out to dinner, I have something important that I need to ask you." I told her and she nodded at me.

"Okay, should I be worried?" She asked me in fear.

"Not at all. I would just like to have dinner with you." I assured her and she looked at me in concern.

"I also need to go talk to, Aurellio." I told her and she frowned at me.

"Why?"

"It's about business." I told her and she slowly nodded in understanding. 

She still has no idea that I want to propose to her tonight. And to do that I'll need Aurellio's blessing since she's currently not on speaking terms with Kemal.

"You know what would be great? If you two made peace." She told me so I smiled at her.

"I'll try my best. I have to go now, princess. I have an important ceremony that I have to attend for all the men I lost at the hands of the Italian mafia." I informed her and she frowned at me before a sorrowful look settled onto her face.

"A ceremony?" She softly questioned.

"Yes, they're cutting off my hair. It's a tradition that my grandfather started in the fifties." I told her to lighten the mood.

"You're cutting off your hair?" She questioned me in disbelief. "Why?" She softly asked me.

"Well, in my family when the boss loses a significant amount of men, he has to cut off all his hair. This shows the families of the deceased that the boss is grieving and mourning with them. The mourning process will then last until the boss decides to grow his hair back. And by the end of today I must have compensated them all with an equal amount of money for the work that their husbands and sons have done for my mafia." I told Gia and she looked at me in disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell me about this? I would've come with you."

"I didn't think you'd be interested. I mean, not many people are." I told her and she looked at me in shock.

"Of course I'm interested. I'm coming with you." She told me before she got up from her chair and I smiled at her. "Wait for me, I'll be quick. I promise!" She yelled at me as she ran upstairs to go take a shower.

Ivan would've gone with me today if he was still here. It's a shame I never avenged his death. I should've killed the Marroquín's for ending his life so soon. But I'm afraid it's too late for that now seeing that one of them will be the father of my sister's child.

But what more will I have to overlook to maintain the peace?

Seven Years Ago

I was busy cleaning my gun as Ivan entered my home office. He quietly closed the door behind him before he came standing in front of me.

"Could you do it? Did you get rid of her?" I asked him with a deep frown on my forehead.

"Yes, boss." He blankly replied so I slowly nodded my head at his words.

"That's good." I tiredly ran a hand over my face.

"Boss, shouldn't we at least tell Aurellio that she's not dead-"

"Under no circumstances, Ivan. We're taking this secret to the grave with us. And so will Emily." I pointedly told Ivan and he simply nodded at me before he poured a glass of whiskey for himself.

"Very well then." Ivan uttered before he took a huge gulp from the glass of whiskey in his hand. "Starting today Emily will be nothing but a bad memory. To all of us." Ivan told me so, I just quietly looked at him before I placed my gun aside.

"That's right." I uttered under my breath before I gulped the last of my whiskey down. I slammed the glass down on my desk before pouring myself another drink.

For the sake of peace, some secrets are better left untold.