close to my dialling heart

50🌹possession

🎶if you are horny let's do it. Ride it, my pony. My saddle's waiting, come and jump on it 🎶
~Ginuwine~

XAVIER 🥀

"What the fuck is wrong with you!" my father bellowed, hurling a glass across the room. His face turned beet red, veins bulging in his neck, and I worried he'd have a heart attack if he kept yelling. "Do you know what you've done, boy?" he roared.

Enzo and Cassius appeared, and the room seemed to shrink. Cassius, the firstborn, commanded respect. At fifty, he'd spent years running things in Italy for the Marino mafia, the most powerful syndicate, as a consigliere. The same boss who wanted to meet me.

"I had an emergency," I said finally.

"Your girlfriend?" Mr. Meadows asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. I realized that everyone was now aware of her. "I know everything, and she's making you slack off," he accused. I shook my head, disagreeing with his words. "She's not."

Three sets of eyes turned to me, cold and shocked. Cassius's gaze was particularly icy. "I don't want you to continue this pathetic relationship with that girl..." The old man spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "She's weak and of no benefit to this family."

I sighed, leaning back in my seat, and began to fidget with the silver ring on my index finger. "That will not happen."

"Then we get rid of her," Cassius said, his thick Italian accent dripping with malice. He glared at me, his eyes flashing with a deadly intensity, daring me to challenge him. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as he leaned in. The man was huge and would easily crash me like a bulldozer.

"Don't you dare lay a single finger on her," I warned, my voice low and even, my brow raised in defiance. My heart raced with anticipation, but I refused to back down. "And I swear, I won't spare anyone who thinks of doing that."

Our eyes locked in a fierce stare-down, the silence between us crackling with electricity. I could feel the weight of Cassius's gaze, like a physical force pressing down on me. But I didn't flinch.

"You embarrassed this family yesterday," Cassius sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "And to think you'll run this mafia..." He scoffed, his contempt clear. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for my response.

Enzo remained silent, observing the exchange with a detached interest. He often stayed out of the mafia discussions, content to watch the dynamics unfold.

"I don't even want to be the next godfather of this mafia..." I said, my voice firm, "but if Dad trusted you, we wouldn't be arguing about this right now. So don't try to tell me what to do with my own mafia, Cassius."

My eyes narrowed, jaw clenched, as I stood my ground. Enzo chuckled and sipped his coffee, seemingly amused by the tension.

Mr. Meadows exhaled, sensing the escalating conflict.

"Are you picking a fight with me now?" Cassius asked, attempting to sound nonchalant, but his eyes betrayed a hint of anger.

I simply stared at him, aware that one misstep would ignite a fiery confrontation. I knew that if we clashed, Cassius would overpower me with ease. His formidable presence and skill would leave me battered and bruised. So I held my tongue, refusing to back down, but also wary of provoking him further.

"Enough," Dad said, his voice weary.

"Don't start a fight with me, pretty boy," Cassius sneered, raising his glass of whisky in a mocking toast. "It won't end well."

Mr. Meadows chimed in, his tone grave, "Cassius is right. If this continues, we will kill her."

I couldn't believe their seriousness. "Do you think I'll spare you?" I asked, my brow raised in defiance.