"IF ONLY"

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14

ENZO'S POV

"So, you're going to make a meeting with Mr Santarino?" Dante asked, his eyes frowning as he quirked a brow at me.

"You do know its rare seeing a Santarino, right." But I only smiled. 

"I know, that is why I'm making a deal he'll be foolish to ignore." I explained, only for Dante to smirk.

"All this, just to see Alina. What if she's not even there when you go?" Dante questioned, obviously not liking my plan.

"She's the Santarino twin, second in command. She has to be." I replied, clicking away at my laptop. 

"And if she's not?" Dante pushed, but I only groaned. Staring at him with annoyance.

"Only way to find out is to go. I'm not going to get far sitting on my ass expecting her to come to me." 

Dante smiled, throwing a chip in his mouth as he stared at me with amusement.

"You love her." He spoke with a wide smile.

I only rolled my eyes at his childishness.

"Don't you have something to hack?" I asked, only for him to hum loudly as he walked out.

I swear he gets on my nerves more then he gets on my good side.

Groaning I pulled out the photo frame, the one of me and Alina in the garden.

Dante returned it not long after returning home. 

"Alina Santarino." I mumbled quietly, running my thumb over her face.

She really was beautiful. Dangerously beautiful.

ALINA'S POV

"Are you serious?!" I busted into his office room, holding a sheet of paper in my hands.

Only to see the Anderson family sitting in the office looking awkward, starting to mumble to each other in hush tones.

"I understand your need for my attention, but I'm in the middle of something little sister." He smiled darkly, referring to the family sitting in his chairs. 

I only scoffed.

"Need my ass." I shot back, only for one of his men to grip my upper arm.

I turned looking where his hands were. Looking up to meet his face as I let out a dark chuckle.

Twisting his hand, kneeing jewels. I then elbowed his face as i turned and gave it another jab.

He fell to the floor in a slump.

I looked up to face my brother, glaring at him as he smiled widely in return.

"We're not finished." I spoke coldly, referring to the paper in my hand.

I stormed out of the room, stepping on the man I put down, on my way out the door. 

I can't believe him. After talking about cutting ties, and taking my responsibilities seriously. 

I heard a knock on my door, but I didn't say a word. Just glaring at the intruder who walked in.

"Oh, don't look so slump little sister." Ace mocked, but I only threw a glass cup at his head. He tilted his head a little to the left, dodging the cup swiftly. 

"Now, now. That's not very nice." He smiled, but I only scoffed.

"What the f**k is this, Ace?" I held up the paper accusingly.

"Its a meeting with the Laurent heir." He replied. "I'm sorry can't you read anymore? Don't tell me those 3 years killed a few brain cells." He mocked concern, but I only glared coldly at him.

"Why did you ask me to join the meeting, Ace? Weren't you the one who told me to stay away and cut ties." 

"Oh, yes. I did, and I still mean it. Though, that was cutting ties from Alina. Not Alina Santarino." He explained, his hands in his dress pants pockets. Leaning on the door frame with a wide smile.

"The next ties you make, will be strictly business. No personal relationships with other mafia families." He looked over at me as I frowned.

Walking over, he stood over where I sat on the bed. Holding my head he kissed the top of it.

"Don't look so sad, my little sister. You can still date and find love. That's what you're really craving, right." He said, only to make me look up at him in confusion. 

"But it must not be man from this world. Not a member of any mafia, not any business man that belongs in our world." 

I only looked down, frowning. I wish I had the strength to disagree with him, but deep down I knew this was just so he could protect me.

"I have matters to attend to, why don't you take the rest of the day off." His voice for the first time had a hint of gentleness to it. 

I only turned to my side, laying down as I read the paper over again. I heard Ace shut the door behind him, the door clicking shut.

Scrunching it up, I threw it on the floor. Muffling my face with my pillow as I thought what it would feel like if I just let this pillow kill me.

ENZO'S POV

Straightening my tie in the mirror, I heard a faint knock on my door. 

"You sure you want to do this?" Dante asked, leaning against the door frame, fixing his sleeves near his wrist.

"I need to see her, Dante." Was all I replied, patting him on the shoulder before walking out the room.

"There's many other ways you can do that." Dante mumbled, walking behind me.

The trip to the Santarino house was quiet, though we silently agreed not break that quietness with mere conversation.

Walking up to their house, I felt a sudden unease in me. But pushing it down, I kept my cold façade on. Walking inside with Dante close by.

"This way, Mr Laurent." A butler spoke, turning around and heading up stairs. We followed behind, but Dante was more memorized by their house then keeping his poker face on.

The butler opened the office door for us. Walking in we saw Ace Santarino sitting behind his desk. Behind him, standing close by was Alina.

No matter how many times I lay my eyes on her, my mind can never control the smile that comes with being in her sight.

"Welcome, Mr Laurent." Ace greeted, his classic uneasy smile showcasing.

I only nodded. "Mr Santarino." 

I then turned, facing Dante. "And this is my right hand man. Dante-"

"Mr Williams." Ace greeted to Dante.

Dante only nodded his head. As we sat down starting our negotiation.

"I see you have a deal, one that caught my interests." Ace spoke up, lighting a cigar as he studied Dante and I.

"Indeed we do." I replied, handing over the large yellow envelope.

Ace only raised his hand, indicating for Alina to take the envelope and pass it to him.

With a glare and a roll of her eyes, she submissively did as told.

Taking the envelope from me, I gently brushed my hands over hers, giving her an amuse smile. Which she only frowned back with a bit of hatred.

"Hmm, indeed I was right." Ace spoke out loud, flipping through the pages.

"But what catches my interest the most, is you didn't put your terms down." Ace looked up, blowing out a puff of smoke. 

"Well that's because its a gift." I responded. Alina only knitted her brows together, glaring at me. But I ignored it, smiling at Ace in amusement instead.

"A gift." He said, looking at me as if I had some sort of plan up my sleeves.

"You see, I find it hard to believe this is just. A gift." He put his cigar out, giving me his full attention as he stared down at me. "No one gives 10 blocks of land near the wealthiest area, as a simple gift." 

"Well im no simple man." I replied, to which Ace chuckled out loud. 

"Oh, I know Enzo. Trust me." He replied with that same smile.

"I'll take it, but before I sign the contract that gives me the right to this land. I need you tell me something." Ace explained, glaring at me now with his smile wiped off.

"What's your motives for coming here today." 

I only smiled, looking up at Alina for a moment before turning my attention to Ace.

"I only wish to become friends, I feel that will benefit both our houses in the future." Ace only nodded, as if satisfied with my answer.

Singing the contract, he stood up shaking my hand.

"To knew friendships then, eh." I only smiled, as he then shook Dante's hand next.

"Alina, why don't you get us a bottle. I see it fit to celebrate our new friendship, don't you?" Alina only frowned, walking out of the room.

Dante and Ace was in a deep conversation as he was showing off his guitars he had in his office.

"Do you mind if I use your bathroom." I cut in, but Ace only smiled knowingly at me. 

"Down the hall to your left." He smiled uneasily.

I only nodded, walking out of the room to see if I can steal Alina for a few moments.

Walking around, I saw her in one of the kitchens. Stepping on a stool ladder, reaching to grab one of the bottles.

"Come to the meeting, he said. You'll be needed, he said." She started mumbling in a mocked tone. "Oh, I know exactly what you need me for. To play fetch cause your fat ass cant get up from your seat." She growled in a hush tone.

I only laughed loudly, as she turned to my direction in shock. Her eyes going wide as a glass cup slipped out of her hands, smashing near her feet.

"Ow." She groaned, hoping a little on one foot.

I could only shake my head, smiling at her. But she faced me, pouting at me in rage.

"Oh, you think this is funny." She said coldly, but I only put my hands up in mere surrender.

Walking near her, I saw her ankle got cut a little from the glass. 

"Don't come close, cant you see this is a mind field." I only smiled, picking her up, placing her on the counter top.

"Sorry, ma'am. But no soldier gets left behind." I playfully saluted, only for her to c***k a smile.

And for a moment, it felt like everything was back to the way it was. To the way we were before everything fell apart.