BETROTHED TO A MAFIA HEIR

CHAPTER NINE

Arnold sat across the table from his father. The man had aged since the last time they met. They sat in silence for a while, assessing each other. There were refreshments on the table, so now and then, his father ate a biscuit.

“So, how was the funeral?” His father started. Arnold resisted the urge to roll his eyes. His father wasn't here to know how a burial of a month ago went. He wanted something, and he needed to know what that was.

“You would've known if you came.” Was Arnold's reply.

“And your wedding?” His father asked again. He probably saw the papers or heard the word, that news travels fast and faster if it's gossip.

“What about it?” Arnold asked.

“It's just that I can't imagine what blackmail or schemes you used to get someone to agree to be your wife.”

Arnold laughed because it was, in fact, the truth, but only that she was in a way sold to him. And probably he's blackmailing her to stay here so he could use her.

“You'd be surprised if I told you,” Arnold replied. “Now I want to know the real reason why you're here. I'm sure you didn't come here for biscuits and chit-chat.”

Eric took a sip from his cup of coffee before he spoke up.

“It must've been a shame that neither of your in-laws could attend your wedding. Is it that they couldn't make it or they had no choice but to miss it?” Eric asked. Arnold's stare was hard and cold. He knew where his father was headed, but he remained calm and cool.

If his father had anything to do with Keira’s disappearance, he had to find out without raising alarm. He has sent Eugene and the men to search for her and do everything possible to bring her back to the estate.

********

Keira was running, her lungs were on fire, and her legs were about to give out any minute, but she needed to get as far from the Giovanni estate as possible. After running for what seemed like forever, she stopped to catch her breath.

The road was dark and lonely, and she was beginning to regret her decisions. She could die here, and nobody would find her, and she'd be gone without a trace. She should've planned this much better than running away from home like a teenager, but she was desperate to be out of there, and even if she didn't succeed at least she had a foolproof way of what escaping Arnold should be like.

But for now, she needed to find a way to get to a place with more people. It was so secluded here, she had not seen outside the estate before but walking down the road it seemed like the Giovanni estate was the only thing around here, there was no sign of any other life there.

She was getting tired and weak, and the weather was so hot. She needed water badly.

She heard some noise coming from far behind. That could be Arnold's men searching for her. After the stunt she just pulled, she was certain that Arnold would kill her damn the consequences.

She began running again, and this time, she veered off the main road into the woods. She had a pocket knife with her, and she felt like she could use it in case of adversaries. She was thankful for the full moon. She had been impractical enough not to bring a flashlight with her.

The voices were getting closer and closer. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she ran through the woods. There were now a few scratches on her face from the branches of the trees. She had run past.

She decided to hide behind a large tree in hopes that they wouldn't see her. And so the lights came and there were men everywhere searching the whole area. She cried and prayed for them not to see her.

Fortunately for her, they had missed her and gone forward. She drew in a shaky sigh of relief and decided to continue her journey, but she she turned she stumbled on the roots and twisted her ankle.

She hissed in pain. It was too much for her to bear, but she had to move, and she continued in pain.

After a few steps, she hit someone, and she hadn't seen the face of the person.

And everything went pitch black.

Back at the mansion, Arnold and his father still sat together. His father was just there talking mundane facts, and his mind was elsewhere. She was brave and smart if she could get out of his sight, literally. But he would find her, no matter where she hid. He would go to the ends of this world to find her, except she was dead.

And for some reason, the thought scared him. He didn't want Keira to die, but out there, he couldn't guarantee her safety.

His mind returned to the room. He needed to send his father away without looking suspicious. It was obvious that he came here to get some kind of information, and he might have a hand in Keira's disappearance. Arnold did not believe in coincidences. How could it be that the same time his father arrived was the same time Keira vanished?

Something didn't add up, plus all those fishy businesses his parents had going on in India, too.

“I won't ask twice. What the hell is going on?” Arnold spat.

“Your mother's sick, Arnold.”

Arnold blinked. Helena Giovanni was the kind of woman who was so full of life and zest. It was impossible to picture her sick and frail.

“And you're telling me this because?” Arnold asked.

“She wants to see you.” Eric paused. It was hard for him to sit here with Arnold, too, but he would do anything for his wife. “She's receiving treatments in Germany right now, we had her moved from India for some reasons, and well, she wants to meet with you. She has cancer, a tumor in her stomach. We had thought it was ulcers, but it turned out to be ulcers.”

“She wants to meet me?”

The young Arnold would have been thrilled by this news, but there was nothing that was going to move him. She should go to hell. That's where she belonged.

“Yes, she does. And frankly speaking, it surprises me, but as Helena pleases.” His father replied.

“Tell her, she can go f**k herself,” Arnold replied. He stood up from his seat. This conversation was over.

“Don't you dare turn your back on me, boy!” Eric shouted.

Giovanni men and their ego, it was usually very hard for them to be still when someone undermined their authority, but here, Arnold was in control.

“I will do whatever the f**k I want and you too can calmly go to hell with her,” Arnold said looking at his father dead in the eyes.

“She's your mother,” Eric said.

“Is she now?” Arnold chuckled. “Someone who told me I should have never been born. I was dead to her and I'd like it to remain that way. You can see yourself out.”

“Ahh. I see how it is.”

Arnold eyed his father suspiciously. He didn't like that tone. Eric Giovanni was a smart and cunning man. He never underestimated his father because the man was a Giovanni after all, and they had the same blood running through their veins.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a wife for a wife.”

“What?” Arnold said. He knew his father was never innocent.

“Keira McCarthy was a lovely young lady. Too bad she died at a young age and you became a widower. It would make lovely headlines, don't you think.” Eric smiled. He had gotten Arnold right where he wanted him.

“You son of a bitch.” Arnold said controlling his temper.

“Careful now, she's your grandmother.” His father said eating another biscuit.

Arnold had to think hard and outsmart his father. His men were already searching for Keira, but with this statement his father just made, Keira might be dead before sunrise. He had to accept the fact that she would be dead before his men found her. And with that acceptance, he spoke up.

“You think I would give two bucks if Keira died.” Arnold laughed. “I don't care what happens to her. Relay my message to your wife and get out of my house right now. I could have killed you too, never forget that.” Arnold said.

He walked out of the room and went to find Mark or Eugene. Any single person he could find that had information relating to Keira. But he found Kenna instead.

“You had Keira killed too, didn't you?” She asked.

Her eyes were red, she had been crying, and how the hell did she find out? f**k Eugene and Mark one of them might’ve let it slip.

“I swear on my name, Kenna. I would never kill Keira.” Arnold said.

“Liar.” She shouted. She sank to the ground. He couldn't give her the comfort or truth she needed right now, so he ordered some people to take her back to her room and lock the doors.

No matter what he didn't have an excuse to give, he had been irresponsible just as he had been with her parents, and now he had one more sin to atone for. He was too careless. He had focused more on what had brought his father here than any other thing.

And that had been leverage for her to disappear. For his own good, he prayed that she remained alive because, till the last time he saw her, her only wish was to die.

He saw Mark approaching him.

“Arnold, your mom is sick,” Mark said.

“I know my dad said so. She wants to meet me.” Arnold replied.

“I know you wouldn't see her. Is there any news on Keira?” Mark asked, looking around. Kenna had been banging on her door and screaming like a banshee.

For the sake of her health, Mark wished she would calm down, but then again, he wouldn't blame her. This would seem like deja vù to her.

“No, not yet,” Arnold replied.

“If she makes it. I advise you to let her know some half-truths, it would save everyone some stress.” Mark said. Arnold knew he was right.

“I can't trust anyone, Mark, not even her. And what makes you think she'd believe me.” Arnold said.

“Keira is a sensible person, and you know it,” Mark said. “What have you got to lose anyways, you both hate each other and she might even hate you less when she finds out or more but who the f**k cares. At least she would know what happened.”

“My father had ordered for her to be killed. So this might be a waste of time. I have made my decision to move on from this, I would send Kenna away to some far place and take care of her all her life. As a way to pay for what happened.”

“You're giving up?”

“You act as if you don't know me. Keira is collateral damage, and she has served her purpose. Sadly, she has to go like this, but life happens.” Arnold replied.

“Sometimes I ask myself why I still work with you.” Mark started.

“And?” Arnold asked.

“You pay me enough to afford therapy,” Mark replied, and then he walked away. It was more than that.

The pain in her leg made Keira open her eyes. She was on the floor and still in the woods, only that this place looked more dark and creepy.

“Throw her in.” A voice said.

And then she was tossed into the mud, which she later realized was quicksand. She was going to drown in mud.

She was going to die here without any trace.

Her fears had become reality once more.