Black heart

Panic

I stared at the two men facing me.
One much older and greyer there was no doubt they were father and son. Both equally as attractive.

The older male had salt and pepper hair with smile lines, but the smile was not in his eyes he looked cruel and demanding in his demeanour like he was wearing a mask and front.
He was tall a good 6 foot and he wore a tailored suit that fit his olive complexion and dark brown eyes.

The younger one stood taller than who I assumed to be his father, his hair was cut into a fade but still curly. He had some stubble growing in but you could see he was usually freshly shaved.

His face was blank and expressionless, to me he looked tired and he was so handsome, his eyes a caramel colour and his skin tone reaching more on the tan side than the olive gifted to the elder, like he'd recently been abroad bringing more of a glow to him. It also brought the bags under his eyes out further, I noted.
Again he had a dark tailored suit but just looked more crumpled like it had been thrown on or worn for a long time.

My dad cleared his throat, "Lori?"

"Oh god, hm, um sorry I was getting water I'm uh going now. My room. Yes. Uh bye. It was great meeting you both" my cheeks began to burn red and I felt the heat in the back of my neck.

As I walked past both De Santis, I watched the younger ones mouth curl slightly into a smirk.

Yeah thanks for finding enjoyment in me finding you so attractive I couldn't look away. I rolled my eyes as I closed my door.

I shut my door, placing my back to it I put my hands to my cheeks trying to cool them feeling very flustered.
I pulled out my laptop having promised on my journey back from the city to FaceTime Kyle.

The loud call tone signalling it was ringing out to him, I knew it was midnight but it wouldn't make a difference I bet the asshole was still on a beach or by a pool. That was the one thing that sucked I guess about New York, it lacked very distinct European feature other than colonising.

"Heyyyy what it do" Kyles loads voice screamed through my laptop speaker, laughing at my cousins infectious personality and feeling a sense of grounding seeing him I felt better about everything since arriving here.

"Hey stupid, how's Italia?" I could see in the background a fading light.

"It's chill, We're having a bonfire on the beach you need to come next summer man. You'd love it here. You can fill up your dumb Pinterest with travel ideas and tourist attractions, what I should I wear that day..." he mocked

"Ha ha you're sooooo funny has anyone told you that and it's not stupid when you need it for last minute things though is it Mr. I just went Monte Argentario, yeah don't think I didn't see your Instagram story asshole"

He laughed at me, "it sounds like you missed a great day of touring a beautiful place, how is città di New York? Let me guess the same as usual...bet you wish almost slightly you had taken the chance to come with me and anyways the people here, delicious" he licked his lips saying it

"Ewww oh my god you did not just do that" I squealed hiding my face in my hands shaking it in embarrassment that, this, was intact what what I was related to.
He laughed harder, a gut wrenching one where he clutched his stomach at my discomfort. Milking every moment as I joined in his laughter a slight knock took me out of it and back into reality.

We both paused to look at eachother his cheeky grin still playing his face,
"To answer your question no, but I have a feeling I'm either about to be scolded or summoned so I'll catch up with you later bye love you keep me posted with photos" I waved blowing a kiss he did the same yelling love yous and bye's as I ended it.

I ran over to my door acknowledging I had in fact had a few more knocks now and whoever was on the other side would be getting annoyed soon.

I flung the door open, my dads flustered face met mine.
"Can you come to the table please?"
"Me?" I mouthed pointing to myself
"Yes, you" his face growing extremely frustrated at the fact I was this dumb and had taken this long.
"But you said.."
"I know but please" he groaned "don't argue or ask"

I nodded extending my arm for him to lead the way.

He walked in confident strides to the dining room but I could see from the side profile of his face it wasn't how he felt. He looked intimidated and fearful. Although he was trying his upmost best not to show it, maybe only I did?

As we rounded the corner I came into the view of the De Santi's, the older one still had his cool demeanour his face unwavering. It was quite nerve-wracking, I could see why my dad would lose his around them.
However I could not see the face of the younger De Santi, but his hand was in a clenched fist on the table. His breathing was ragged and it seemed he was struggling to get it into a controlled manner instead of the quick paces at current.

I could see Tati holding her hand on the table resting her head on top papers sprawled In front of her and where my dad had once sat. She winked at me when she saw me flashing me a quick smile.

My dad had grabbed another chair from our counter for me to join, it was in between the younger De Santi and Tati.
Now it was my turn to control my breathing as anxiety took over me feeling the nerve and sweat creep up of not wanting to be to close to him or make eye contact or even have to SPEAK to him out of fear of making a fool out of myself.

Taking my seat, I took a peak at him from the corner of my eye his face was glowering at me filled with rage. I wanted to be removed from this situation as soon as possible.

The older De Santi cleared his throat to speak up first. I held my breath for what he had to say.