Mafia Connections

Twenty Two

Viktor's POV

"Lucas has been spotted out again" Oliver says. "He was buying clothes for a girl"

I smirk "So the old man finally got himself a date"

He rolls his eyes "It was like a whole wardrobe full. Shoes, bags, dresses, the works. That's for someone moving in. Someone who has to leave their things behind"

I raise and eyebrow and lean forward "You think he's the one sending gifts to Bella?"

He shrugs "I don't know. It really could be anyone. It's been nearly two weeks since you spoke to her. Maybe they've left her alone"

I sit back "I really hope so. Invite him to the wedding. Tell him to bring whoever she is with her. Freddie too. I still don't trust him"

He nods and picks up his phone to make the calls.

****

Bella's POV

My pen hits the table over and over again. I watch it as it bounces back into my hand only for me to drop it again.

"You're going to dent the table" Kat frowns. I look up at her silently. She sits beside Chris and Georgie's beside me.

"What's wrong? You've been acting strange" Chris takes my hand from across the table and I glare at him.

"Stranger than usual?" I say. He frowns.

Georgie smiles "I know something that will make you feel better. There's a new English teacher and we've got him next"

I sigh "How does that make me feel any better?"

She grins "He's so hot" The bell rings and she jumps to her feet. "Come see"

I groan but follow after her.

The class is empty when we walk in so I take my seat at the back as normal. The class starts to fill and I begin to play with the ring on the necklace.

So far he hasn't made me do anything. He phones every night to make sure I'm okay and tells me to open the gifts he's left for me. They're usually dresses, skirts etc.

I feel Georgie jab my ribs with her elbow and I glare at her.

"Hello class, my name is Mr Smith" the new teacher says.

I look up my jaw drops. "Alexander?" I say. Shit. That wasn't meant to be out loud.

He turns and lets out a massive breath "Thank fuck!" He says. I start to laugh "I've had to fake being a teacher all day to get to you"

I frown "Why? You know where I was"

He scowls "You've got to be shitting me. Artie said that they didn't have your address. That dickhead told me this was the only place we could get to you"

"You know the teacher?" Georgie whispers.

I laugh "We watched Nemo together"

He raises an eyebrow "We watched it. You fell asleep"

"I was tired!" I defend myself. "Anyway. Why are you here?"

He goes into a drawer on his desk and pulls out a black envelope. "You give you this and invite you personally to the wedding of Mr and Mrs Guerreiro"

He hands it to me and I frown. "I can't come" I push it back towards him.

He frowns "You told Viktor you'd be there"

"That was before I.... it doesn't matter okay. Just take it back. Tell him I'm sorry" I can't go. He'll never let me.

Alexander slips the envelope into his pocket and frowns "You can trust us. You know that?"

I nod "Of course I do. There's nothing wrong"

My phone starts to ring and I dive for my bag. I fumble with the phone and press it to my ear. "Hello?"

"Hey. I need you at the church in fifteen minutes. We have something to discuss" he says.

"I'm at school. Can it wait?" I ask nervously.

"What did I say about questioning me?"

"Of course. I'll be there"

"I don't like tardiness"

The line goes dead and I pull the phone from my ear and get out of my chair. "Fucking prick" I hiss quietly and swing my bag onto my shoulder. "Tell Viktor I'm sorry" I say as I run from the room.

I get half way down the corridor before he catches me "Give me your phone"

"Alexander. Please. I have to go" I plead. "It's really important"

He lets go of my arm reluctantly. "What are you hiding?"

I smile at him "Goodbye Alexander"

****

One minute to spare, I burst in through the doors. He's already waiting by the altar. "I'm here!" I call out to him as I walk towards him.

He turns and smiles at me. He takes my hands in his and stroked the back of them with his thumbs. "In a week I'm going to wedding. I need you to do something for me while we're there"

"What?" I ask.

He smiles "I need you to be my date"

I shrug "Okay"

He kisses my forehead and I force myself not to vomit on his shoes. "Perfect"