Santi's Downfall

Chapter 21: The Curiosity

Curiosity is the lust of the mind.

Thomas Hobbes

Haven Pierce's POV

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Santi stiffened while trapping me in his arms. It seems that my question caught him off guard. He drew back from our embrace and immediately avoided my gaze. "Nothing," he muttered. "Nothing, at all."

I studied his face for a moment, I knew that he was keeping something from me and he didn't want to share whatever it was. The thought made me curious about his obsession with my safety because as far as I can remember we didn't lay eyes on each other before he came to pick me up at the university parking lot.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" He fired the questions while checking me from head to toe. "Why did you suddenly run away without Vito? Didn't you promise me that you would not let him leave your side during this trip? Why did you break your promise?"

Now I feel awful for breaking my promise and his trust because of my fangirling moment with my celebrity crush. But how can I let the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Gray Everett slip away? I am fully prepared to accept the consequences of my actions. I bit my bottom lip and looked at him apologetically. "What are you doing here, by the way? I thought you had an important meeting today?"

He let out a loud sigh. He placed both of his hands on each side of his waist like a reprimanding father to his wayward daughter. "I was on my way to the meeting when I received a phone call from Vito telling me that you ran away because you heard that a certain American singer is here in Sicily and you want to take photos of him."

I threw a remorseful look at my bodyguard who probably had a panic attack while I bolt like that from him. He was under strict instruction by the Don who never let me out of his sight and yet I behaved badly. I feel sorry for him. 

"That's correct," I answered my fumingly mad guardian. "I forgot my promise and ran to see Gray Everett. I have had a huge crush on him ever since."

"You have what on him again?" He asked in a dangerously low tone while giving me a thunderous glare. For a moment, I got scared at the dark expression on his face.

"Crush," I giggled nervously while gauging his reaction. "He became my celebrity crush since his rise to stardom. I am one of his avid fans with that looks and voice...oh, my goodness."

For some reason, it seems that my answer fueled his fury even more. He was now looking every inch of a savage mafia boss even Nico and Vito were now starting to look alarmed at his expression while standing from the distance.

"Is there something wrong, Santi?" I asked curiously because I now started to feel uneasy about his brooding presence.

He took deep a breath and smiled in my direction but I knew how fake that smile was on his face right now. "So you are a big fan of his?"

"Yes!" I replied enthusiastically. "It is on my bucket list to see him in person and attend even one of his concerts. That reminds me, he even told me that he would DM me soon to give me free tickets to his upcoming concert."

"DM? What is that?"

I grinned at him merrily. At the same time, getting excited at the thought of having the chance to watch his highly coveted concert. "Direct message. He said he would message me on my Instagram on how to get the tickets."

"Oh?" He asked pleasantly while nodding his head. "Maybe I should do a background check on this fucking celebrity that's flirting with you."

I laughed at the way how his mind works. My goodness! I couldn't believe this man. "I don't think so, Santi. Beautiful actresses were linked to him daily. I don't think he would spare me a glance compared to those actresses."