"Callen?" Zenovia gasped. From the corner. All heads turned to her.
Callen got up quick.
"Weren't you supposed to be sleeping?" Afraid she isn't supposed to listen any of that.
"No. You left and I had a nightmare. I came down. Heard voices from here."
"How much did you heard?"
"That I have left imprints on the danger zones..and I couldn't keep shut when you said.. I'm yours?" She wasn't her usual self. She couldn't believe anything what they said.
She was quieter, her eyes faded, skin paled, her voice didn't hold that usual energy,
Callen's heart dropped,
She couldn't come in terms with the reality.
But he was relieved that she didn't hear the entire conversation.
"I'll join you later. Go with the maids." He gestured upwards to his room,
But was not having it,
"No. Callen." Anger flared in her eyes. "I will join in" their eyes met, she was determined. "The conversation includes me."
He nodded with approval. Others were not happy but they had to accept it.
"If you're in. You're in." The dark haired one fished out the same knife. Dragging his tongue along its edge, she Stuttered, "if you're out. You're dead. Got it?" The dark haired one finished.
No one was ready to take in a liability. "You betray, you're dead." The blonde made her clear though.
It was something deep she was getting into. But She had realised she was as good as dead either way.
There were others who were after her. If one party is willing to help it'll be worth it.
"I knew from the second the news got to me, he is being treated in your house, he's in danger." Father spoke going back to his regretful time, "but news got to me late, otherwise I would have saved him. But atleast you reached in time, took care of him. Since, we couldn't risk moving him back here between the operation. I kept the house and the hospital well guarded."
The old man in expensive suit with his head bent down he raised to his feet with a gold coated stick in one hand. "But when this brat woke up, he lost his senses and wanted to live undercover-"
He struck callen coming closer step by step, slowly,
"Papa, you don't have to tell all this non-sense-"
"You shut up!" He struck him again. The brothers snickered.
"I'm thankful and sorry for all the trouble we've caused you. But my ungrateful son hooked on you and interfered with your business." He turned to callen who had intervened fingers with zenovia, his head down guilty but his eyes cherished the sight.
"We had to provide him the necessities to carry on his operation in the open. I have to remind this man! No matter you're hiding in someone's garage it's still considered as being in the open!" His bark rose up in volume "You had been granted a life! You use it like this!?"
Old man's eyes were blazing in anger but it a converted worry for the family.
"I'm sorry sir. I'll leave." Zenovia brought her hands to her side. She understood her part in the lecture delivered.
Callen looked at his love unbelievably, is it that easy?
Father's eyes met callen's, something past between them.
"No." He waved at her breaking the eye contact. "You stay." He turned to leave, his old body couldn't take more than this, but loosing his son again, he can't risk that.
He should've killed her, but now the time is beyond that.
His mother must've informed him of the execution. Otherwise she wouldn't be alive and they'd have one problem less on the table.
He sighed and left for his afternoon nap.
Callen laughed. "You must be hungry. Let's eat." Zenovia's stomach grumbled breaking the silence,
The other two followed too.
The dining hall was huge Zenovia's jaw dropped as she moved her head to take in everything.
The table was long. The two sat on one end of it and the other two sat on other end.
They ate in silence. The maids in similar dresses served and vanished quietly.
After done. The guys shook hands with callen before leaving for work and the couple headed upstairs.
"Now tell me what's going on. I've been on edge all day. There's something I don't know and everyone is avoiding to talk before me." Zenovia bursted as soon as the door closed behind them.
She was all good now that callen had comforted her.
Callen cringed, he had to do it, this might not return her usual charm but atleast she'll be his and lively for the least.
He hoped she'll get use to new life here.
"The notario family is after you."
"Why?"
"You have heard of the well known tycoon Hugo Notario." Callen said grimly. Making himself comfortable on his safa while her eyes widened in realisation to callen who wasn't fazed.
"It's the fourth infamous mafia family. It's deep-rooted like ours but our roots have no bounds."
All she understood is that callen's family is more influential.
"But why me?" She countered.
"Because the hier of the family, Hugo, is willing to leave all the business.."
She remembered Hugo mentioned it nights before. She didn't gave it much thought drowning in her own misery, she supported him though.
"..for you." She gaped at him. "What? No.." she stood up but her legs trembled making her fall back again.
He got up too, coming back to the bed caging her in his arms as she laid back. Dangerously close, "Because he wants you." He nuzzled his nose in her neck kissing her shoulder, "he wants to spend rest of his life with you." He left kisses on her collarbone,
He paused, "Leaving this shady business. Leaving the society that taught him how to live and kill to set your own territory. He wants to live a clean life" looking dead in her eyes, "he can't leave his origin just like that, paperwork is one thing, blood is a whole lot another level." "It's not just one person, Zen, The whole family wants you dead."
