AMORE

Chai talks

Tabriz, Iran

Bella 

Khalid took a sip of his chai, inspecting every move made by Diego. I rolled my eyes at his behavior and at the fact that he somehow thought Diego could be dangerous. I really wanted to save him from the stare, but I couldn't. I knew better than to involve myself in Khalids matters.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, kid?" Khalid asked calmly as he set the cup on the wooden table that was separating the two guys. I shrugged off my shawl and ruffled my hair that had grown longer to my waist. I could feel Adams gaze on me all this time but pretended to not notice. Instead, my eyes were fixed on Diego who was looking rather uneasy under Khalids glare that was both dangerous and protective. It really did shock me how comforting I found my brothers presence while he looked this scary. The facial hair and the kohl around his eyes made him look more intimidating than he already was, but I knew that he secretly liked it. He had always been a fan of looking like Baba when we were younger.

"I was sent here to deliver a message, sir. Scar couldn't come personally since he had other work that required his presence, but I suppose that you aren't bummed out by that" Diego uttered, his voice shockingly really calm and friendly. He even offered Khalid a small smile, which wasn't received by my brother, who only shook his head and urged for him to continue.

"News travels fast, sir and I expect you heard about what happened in Italy" Diego spoke slower this time, as if he was inspecting Khalids reaction, but there were none. I had been so busy in observing the two that I almost lost what the conversation was about. What had happened in Italy?

As if my ears had called Khalids eyes, he looked up at me and pointed to the door. However, this time I shook my head at him. I saw as his eyes squinted, his brows furrowing making wrinkles appear on his forehead. He then looked at Adam who was about to hold my hand, until I pulled away quickly. Diego was watching us while chewing on his bottom lip, looking away awkwardly.

"Isabella" Adam whispered in my ear, bending slightly because of his tall figure. I looked into his dark brown eyes that held comfort and I could also make out some freckles on his nose. Before I could interrupt and object him myself, Khalid did it for me; "Let her be Adam. Hopefully she will know not to sneak out of the house after hearing why we are so alarmed and protective over her" he spoke, looking back at Diego who cleared his throat.

"I have heard that the Italian mafia was attacked by the Chinese. They tried to shoot your fellow men and steal the drug shipments" Khalid spoke to Diego this time, who nodded his head and thanked Jamila when she poured him chai. Jamila was a dancer who had been under the safety of Khalid for a long time now. Her father had sold her to the whore house nearby when she was a little girl, not wanting a daughter but a son. They had apparently met when she had been booked to dance for the boys and Khalid had taken a liking in her.

"They tried to kill Moretti" Diego spoke, catching my attention the second the words slipped out of his lips. I whipped my head to him, my eyes going wide. I fisted my hands on my red silk dress that was would definitely become creased again. The sound of his name being uttered felt weird. I hadn't heard it in five years and never dared to whisper it when I knew no one was around. It was weird to think that we had spent nights where I had screamed out his name in pleasure and now, I couldn't even whisper it to myself. The thought of seeing him sent a shiver down my spine, but the thought of not seeing him again felt like a stab in my heart.

"I know" Khalid answered shortly, still not looking at me. Suddenly I felt Adam take a large step back and Jamila smiled at me with sympathy. She knew the history of me and Lorenzo and had always gushed over how love broke limits. It didn't make sense to me how she could still believe in love after the betrayals she had endured. Lorenzo loved you despite all betrayals too