Niccoló's wife |✔|

7. Question

The moment Niccoló set his eyes on the sobbing mess that Scarlett was, his heart was starting to pump faster, but he masked his expression with an emotionless gaze, she sobbed as she bit onto her fist, there were red splotches starting to appear at her elbows, as she fell onto her stomach, his feet unconsciously stopped in front of the Scarlett as he looked down at her, she looked up into his obsidian eyes, and just like that, Niccoló forgot to blink and breathe momentarily, her porcelain skin which was wet from her tears, her cheeks flushed, her neck glistened from the tears which slid down farther from her cheeks.

Her naturally red lips wrapped around her fist as she bit onto it, to control the sobs which were threatening to leak out, her long black hair were parted and braided in two braids, as some soft stubborn strands fell into her face, some even sticking to her cheeks. The urge to tuck those strands behind her ear was unbearable, but he controlled it, and just like that she crawled back into the sitting position and as soon as her elbow collided with the edge of the stairs, a sharp cry left her mouth, she looked back at the boy which was seized by Stefano, his very close friend, some might even call Stefano Niccoló' best friend, but Stefano knew better, way better than giving any explanations to anyone. But so far Stefano was the man Niccoló trusted very much.

Scarlett looked back at Niccoló as if silently pleading him to release the thrashing boy, Niccoló saw it from the corner of his eyes, he blinked at Stefano, and getting the message that Niccoló wanted the kid to be released, Stefano left the boy as he ran towards Scarlett, Niccoló could help but feel a warm feeling, as Scarlett clutched the boy closer to her chest, he couldn't help but think, when she would be married to him, which he had no doubt that she would, when she would have his kids, how would the scene be then, Niccoló' eyes glued to her as she caressed the boys' head and kissed it, Niccoló wanted the duration of the day to over, so that he could claim what was his, Scarlett.

She was his.

She mouthed some words to Niccoló, and without any doubt, Niccoló knew it was 'thank you' she had mouthed him, he snapped his gaze away from her as if those words burned him. This was an emotion, if he continued to look at her. He didn't know how to show emotions, and his men saw it.

Saw what hold she had on him, that their boss released a kid, on the basis of what? Her pleading eyes?

"Cercalo" Niccoló uttered as the men in black spread through the house, they turned the whole place upside down, as they checked more rooms, after fifteen minutes or so later, Scarlett continued to clutch Mason as she cried, due to the pain, which was erupting in her chest due to the bruised ribs she had gotten from last day' beating. A man in black whispered something in Italian, which Scarlett understood, but didn't made a move to react, like always she knew better than anyone to poke her nose where it doesn't belong.

(Search it.)

"Niente, signore."

(Nothing, sir.)

This time there was no emotion hiding, Niccoló' fist tightened as he looked at Stefano and gave a visible tense nod, Stefano nodded at the man as who was holding Mr. Marcello, the man tightened his grip on his neck as Mr. Marcello wheezed as he begged Niccoló for forgives, even when he didn't know what his mistake was, he was ready to apologize, because Niccoló Martinez wasn't the guy to mess with, and every breathing person in new York city knew it, so be it business or mafia.

Niccoló Martinez is the guy you should be scared of.

Before Stefano could give any commands, Mr. Marcello pleaded, his eyes were glimmering with fear, fear for his loved ones, and fear for the kids in the house at the moment.

"Mr. Martinez, please... just please let the kids go away, they won't be able to see this. Please don't hurt them." He begged, Niccoló' head tilted to side, as he looked at his right hand, Stefano and with a blink of an eye, Stefano barked orders to release the kids, soon the stairs was filled with the kids running upstairs, probably the smallest room where all of them could fit. They were scared as they ran for the stairs.

Scarlett had still not loosened her hold on Mason, at that moment Scarlett was not just scared for him, she was scared for herself too. It wasn't just her, Mason was also not letting her go, facing the gun at the early age was bad for him, he should've never been there, he should've been in his room, with Lily, on the bed, which both of them shared, she was sick, and sleeping, Scarlett had never been thankful to god for the sleeping Lily.

Suddenly Scarlett felt shove in her thighs as the man who held Mason had shoved her with the tip of his foot. He looked down at her frowning, he had pretty hazel eyes which gleamed with annoyance, and the face sculpted in a beautiful way, he had short cropped black hair, and a crooked nose, which'd been possibly broken and fixed number of times.

"Send the kid away, cagna." He grunted but the angry scowl was what made Scarlett flinch, she tried, more or less, to pull away but he clutched her neck only tighter, at this pint Scarlett could feel the pin pricking her ribs, as a nagging pain erupted in her ribcage. She looked through her lashes upward, anywhere but he, his scowl was too much for her to even look at, and she was terrified.

"He is scared." She whispered in her soft voice, Niccoló' ear felt the smooth caressing of her voice, it brought a peace, like a beautiful hum, a hum he would hear forever.

"Don't care! Send him!" he pushed the tip of the gun in her head as Scarlett again tried and cooed Mason, reluctantly after a minute or so, the kid ran upstairs crying. Now Scarlett was alone with men in black in the room, her employer in the clutched of one of them, and a hauntingly beautiful man, who intimidated her, at the same time, was like an enigma to her which she wanted to solve badly, but now looking at the respect everyone was giving him, she couldn't think of herself as a dust underneath his expensive Italian shoes.

She wrapped her arms around her as she bit onto her two fingers to distract her mind from the things happening around her and she thought of her favorite novel, Carve the Mark written by Veronica Roth. She had bought the novel after so many days of wishing to read it, she had saved the money for that, She thought about how the magic works, how strong the female lead, Cyra was, how she loved Akos, how she killed her cruel brother and that was how Scarlett drifted off in her own universe.

Niccoló looked at Scarlett as her eyes lost the focus, she stared into the distance, like she was thinking something, he turned his attention towards Marcello who was now red, and had even some tears running down his face. Niccoló took a step towards Marcello who cowered away and pushed himself into the man holding him, and the man threw Marcello back. Marcello stumbled as he pushed himself to sit on his knees as Stefano pointed the gun at his head as he questioned him.

"Where is the coke?" Marcello' neck snapped to Stefano as he looked at him, in utter confusion.

"Why-what are you talking about?" he sputtered as he looked at everyone for any clue as to how was he related to any of the drugs.

"Don't play ploy with us, Coglione." Stefano frowned as he looked at the man, he pushed the gun tip more into his skull, as Marcello whimpered in fear. Scarlett was not even aware of the things happening around her, as her eyes had closed on their own as she now sat on the ground, her body still shivering, but much less than before, Niccoló noticed everything from the corner of his eyes.

(Fucker.)

"I am serious. I don't have any idea what you are talking about!" Marcello exclaimed as he pleaded and scratched at the hand holding his neck in a grip. Niccoló' eyes twitched in annoyance, he was never a very patient man. He looked at Stefano as he blinked again.

"so you don't know, your orphanage' kids are delivering the cocaine packages for past month?" Marcello looked horrified at Stefano as his eyes widened at the accusation.

"What-No! My kids are safe, and I know they wouldn't do anything like that. I keep an eye on them all the time." Marcello babbled as he suddenly cursed.

"But my brother... he is the in charge of the orphanage after 5 o'clock... does that mean..?" he looked in disbelief at Stefano as he stopped thrashing.

"Where is he now?" Stefano hissed as he pushed the tip more cruelly. Marcello whimpered from the pain as he tried to pull his head away from the gun, but all in vain.

"I-I don't know." Stefano gave more warning as without any command he picked the hazy Scarlett up from the ground who yelped as she was pulled from her own state of mind, which was so focused on calming herself. Scarlett was happy she could block everything out, every pain, every noise, and even smell. She had learned this from the endless beatings which often left her bloody, she blocked the shrieking noises her sisters made, she blocked the smell of her own blood, and she could block her pain out, as she got lost herself in her own imagination.

Startled Scarlett thrashed as Stefano, gripped her mid body and hands with his forearms as he pushed a gun to her forehead. Only one thing was enough to describe Scarlett' agony.

Stefano was crushing her ribs.

"Where. Is. He?" Stefano emphasized every words as he crushed Scarlett' body.

"I don't know. I really don't! But he told me to attend... his marriage...tomorrow." Marcello said, his voice raspy from all the pleading he had done, his voice held a disbelief, like he couldn't belief his brother could marry.

Niccoló thought about it, it wouldn't hurt him, even bother him to track Marcello down. But where is the fun in that? Moreover he wanted to see his wife in a wedding dress, when she would marry him.

"Where?" Niccoló' voice rang out, his Italian accent prominent and smooth. If Marcello didn't look pale, he would've looked now, after hearing Niccoló' voice.

"12/B, Sunflower Street." Was only Marcello could whisper, as the man holding him threatened him to keep everyone' mouth shut, Marcello more than willingly accepted, anything to be away from the tip of the gun.

Scarlett clawed at Stefano' arm which had secured her ribs, she didn't even noticed Niccoló speaking, the pain burned her, her breathes now came in pants, sweat ran down, as she felt her chest twisting and turning in pain. Niccoló' alert eyes noticed how Scarlett was removing Stefano' hands from her ribs, and for sure, in no time, Scarlett' eyes didn't looked focused anymore, and slowly her body lost control, as her thrashing stopped and she sagged in the arms of Stefano, who startled, looked down at the girl, who fainted in his arms, he looked down at her with a frown.

Marcello was taken out of the room, as the room was by now in its original place, like nothing ever happened here. Niccoló stepped towards Stefano, as he lowly mumbled, his rough raspy voice rang out, smooth and velvety.

"Prendi la macchina. Consergnarla." Stefano was shocked that his boss was asking for the girl, but he knew better than to question him. Right hand or not. No one questions the king.

(Get the car. Hand her over.)

Without questioning, Stefano pushed the fainted girl towards Niccoló, Scarlett fell on Niccoló' chest with a soft thud, her two braids were almost open, her stands teased Niccoló, as they tickled his face. As Stefano exited the room, he looked down at the peaceful face of Scarlett, she was an angle fallen from heaven, her plump lips red, her eyes puffy and her cheeks extra rosy.

Niccoló tucked the betraying strands behind her ear, they were just as soft as he had thought them to be, he hooked his hand below her knees and picked her up, her head lolled and settled onto his chest, a warm feeling erupted in his chest, he took her to the couch, placing her softly on the couch, he pushed the strands out of her face. Niccoló took his handkerchief out of his pocket as he took her wrist and wrapped the handkerchief around her wound, which she had caused to herself, by biting onto her fist, for a moment a painful frown appeared on Scarlett' face, she grabbed Niccoló' hand which was yet to be lifted, her fingers tightened around his.

Niccoló withdrew his hands, as if the touch burned him.

It was the emotion which burned him.

He pulled his hand out of her grasp, and for the last time he ran his knuckles down her warm skin, and whirled down on his feet, he stormed out of the house.

The last thing Scarlett felt or more like smelled was the musky smell of pine, and something fresh, something, soothing...something which felt home.