Innocence

Chapter Eight- Strange Things

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"Vincenzo?" All of our gazes traveled up to the grand staircase where a handsomely dressed man descended. "You're early."

His hazel eyes touched my blue ones.

"Eris." A smile crept onto his lips and the older man hurried to me, arms open. I expected his hug to be soft and gentle.

Man, was I wrong.

The man's hug almost broke my ribs. I thought his arms were growing bigger and bigger by the second.

When he pulled away, I crossed my arms and hissed because of the pain. Talk about a bear hug. "Um, hi."

"Vince, Son, I can't believe she's actually here." Vince smirked at me and I glared back. Bastard.

"It wasn't that hard, to be honest. She practically let me take her with will."

"No I didn't! You fücking kidnapped me!" I snapped. Vince rolled his eyes and his father looked shocked at my choice of words.

"Potato-Potato." My face deadpanned.

"Clearly, you two need some couples therapy." Piero chirped up. I bit down on my tongue to barricade the nasty words that wanted to come out.

"Whatever." Vince glumly replied.

"Eris, I would like to speak with you alone in my office." Vince and the others nodded in response and left.

With a gesture of his right hand, I was led into his office beside the stairs. It wasn't as lavish as the rest of the place but it was nice. It had it's qualities.

I sat down in an uncomfortable red chair. The man sat across from me in his leather throne. "How are you feeling, Eris?"

"Pissed off." Lie. I was actually scared out of my mind but it's not like I'd let a Mafia leader know that. Vince's father tapped his blue and silver fountain pen repeatedly. A dull, hazel stare, burned through me and I gulped.

The tapping stopped.

He leaned forward. "Do you know who I am?"

"What is this? 20 questions?" I nervously bit my lip. His face straightened.

"I only asked you two questions." My fingers played around on my dark jeans.

"Oh." My blue eyes refused to look at him.

"You're just like her. Your mother." She was always wearing a mask. A beautiful mask actually.

My gaze turned up.

"You see, this mask was like her secret identify. It showed the world that she was strong, outgoing, and brave. No one could knock her down. With that mask, she never shed a tear. She never revealed a sign of weakness. I admired that, as did your father."

"One day, it cracked. We all saw the true her flash from behind it. The one that could cry and break. Do you know what day that was, Eris?" His eyes were completely shaded over with unfamiliarity.

"No." I mumbled.

"It was the day you were born." He awaited a response from me. I did nothing. "I know, why didn't she react the same way when Bryce was born. Well, Bryce didn't look like her. Lacie."

"Who's that?" For some reason, I wished I could take those words back because I felt the answer was not going to be a funny one.

"It was Vittoria's sister." My tongue gently grazed my bottom lip and excruciating curiosity fluttered through me.

"She never spoke of her." He chuckled.

"Of course not. Too painful of a memory." His older and more experienced eyes searched mine. "Eris, she's dead."

My jaw fell agape. "What? How? When?"

"Some people believe it was fate or the Devil's doing." I gestured for him to continue. "It was Lacie's birthday. She had just turned nineteen. It was two years before your parents fled with both you and Bryce."

"Everyone was enjoying themselves and catching up on old things. Like a family. Vittoria was already nine months pregnant and expecting a baby girl in a week or two. Music was playing, people were dancing, children were playing." He released a stressful breath.

"Then it happened. The Macchitello's, our rival gang, attacked unexpectedly. Yes, everyone at the party was armed but she still died. Their Mafia Boss shot Lucie straight through her heart. On her birthday."

"The second your aunt's body touched the floor, Vittoria went into labor. But her cries of pain weren't from you, they were from the fact that she had just lost her only sister." Guilt and sorrow wrapped around my beating heart.

Mom did act a little weird on my birthday's. She even cried a bit but I always thought it was just the usual, kid growing up to fast, thing. "How old would Lacie be now?" His eyebrows pushed together.

"Thirty six. You're seventeen, right?" I slowly moved my head up and down. "Strange, huh? Some man is just telling stories about your family of which you never knew."

"Yeah. It's kind of weird." The man opened his mouth again but didn't say anything when the office door swung open behind me." I turned around. Vince.

"They're here." His eyes lowered to mine and a message passed between us. Vince's dad stood abruptly and pointed at me.

"Take Eris upstairs and hide her. They don't need to meet yet." I felt a strong, masculine hand grab my arm and pull me up. I fell into Vince's chest and blushed involuntarily. Damn you cheeks!

I probably would've fainted if Vince's dad was still in here. Fortunately, he was quickly gone. I felt the Mafia boy smirk above me and mentally cursed. "You're cute when you blush." I pushed away from him with agitation boiling in my blood.

"Shut your face and tell me what's going on." He snickered at my words.

"You're so...mean." He mocked. I placed my hands over my hips and glared. "I'm sorry."

"Vince!" A breath of laughter was released from his mouth and I dug my nails into my top. I swear...

"Okay, okay, just come with me." I threw my hands in the air and waved them around.

"Did you not just hear me, Jackäss?" Vince's hazel orbs rolled.

"No, I didn't actually. Your voice is too annoying.

I charged at him.

Vince's hand shot out and his palm pushed at my forehead. I wildly lashed out at his body but kept harming the air.

Sorry air.

"Are you done?" He lazily asked while inspecting his cut nails. With a grumble, I stepped back and smacked Vince's arm down.

"You're lucky that arm was there. I would've done some major Kung Fu on you, Buddy!" The jerk laughed.

"You wish, Rosey."

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