Wicked Games: Bishop Mafia Series 1

Chapter 1

Elena Cruise bit down on her bottom lip. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as she watched the elderly lady cross, before her Mercedes SLR. If there was a race between a snail and the lady still crossing before her car, Elena was sure the slug would have won.

As if knowing her thoughts, the elderly woman turned towards the white Mercedes’ driver with an apologetic smile. A tinge of guilt pinched Elena’s heart. Yet, she wasn’t in the mood for smiles. Forcefully, her hand shot out and gave the pedestrian a friendly wave.

The sun was high up in the sky and the trees swayed gently back and forth. Elena, loved the Florida sun, sky, and sea. Today, her mind was filled with several thoughts, leaving no room for a sense of enjoyment over Nature’s lovely gifts.

"Maybe, I am worrying too much...there must be a way out." Elena spoke to her reflection on the rear-view mirror.

The chocolate eyes staring back at her were a stranger’s. Her own eyes forced her to admit, the sadness that has been residing in her heart for  the past year. On this hot and stagnant day, the truth stared at her. She couldn’t deny it no longer. She looked different. The hint of the double chin present a year ago, was replaced by a sharp jaw line. Her appetite was not what it had been.

Elena squeezed her eyes tight. A headache was simmering like a slow building fire. The recent news from her mother had only aggravated the vexation she had felt. It was fatigue of the heart that she wrestled with on most nights. Sleeplessness was her regular companion. Opening her eyes, she noticed the lack of the twinkle and laughter in them. It was the first time, she acknowledged what was going on inside of her.

When she finally managed to sleep last night, the alarm blared. It quickly saw its demise when it was flung across the room, hitting a nearby wall. As she shook the cobwebs of sleep, panic struck. Mel was going to kill her. She was late. Rummaging through her wardrobe, she had pulled out a simple, long-sleeved white blouse and black skinny jeans.

Stopping at another traffic light, Elena grabbed her Prada handbag and searched for the Dior tube of red glamour, which she knew would never fail her. She had always preferred going foundation free on her porcelain smooth face. Her fingers found the tube and she pulled it, while keeping an eye on the flickering green light. She spread the velvet red shade across her full lips, puckered them and smiled.

“Love you, Dior!” She blew an invisible kiss to the lipstick.

HONK!

Elena jumped in her seat. The lipstick slipped from her fingers and tumbled onto the car’s floor. She cast a look to the traffic light. Oh, oh! The Mercedes purred to life and she drove fast.

"Perhaps, I should talk to mum." A thought sprang up. “It’s just way too sudden.”

At that thought, a smile formed and her chocolate brown eyes twinkled. However, she needed an excellent plan to change her mother’s mind. Gloria Cruise, was a determined soul who stuck by her decisions no matter what.

"C'mon think Elena." She said to herself.

HOOOONK!

Jolting from her thoughts, Elena turned to look behind her car.

HOOOONK!

"s**t!"

Realizing, she had slowed, Elena gently swerved her car to the left, signaling the driver behind to overtake her. Instead, the car behind her remained where it was.

"Why aren’t you moving?” She spoke to the mirror reflection of the Orange Lamborghini.

Breathing out aloud, Elena stopped her Mercedes SLR at the traffic lights. Glancing at the rear-view mirror, she eyed the car behind hers. The Lambo had been trailing behind her for a while now. She had given allowances for it to pass her but its driver seemed uninterested to drive on.

Shifting in her seat, she turned to get a good view of the driver. Oh bummer! It was the kind of window screen, you couldn’t see in from the outside but view everything from the inside.

She raised her hand and signaled to the Lambo to pass but the luxury car made no effort to move. Elena raised her palm upwards motioning a "what" but got no acknowledgement. She rolled her eyes.

Since her father’s death, there was always a car or someone tailing her. Nothing bad happened in that one year, after William’s demise and Elena had, over the months gotten used to it. Yet it ticked her off. Something was going on and she was kept in the dark.

And speaking of her mum, Elena clutched the wheel in anger.

"How could she do something like this without even telling me?" She drummed a thumb angrily on the wheel. "Just because you are my mother does not mean you have a right to go under my nose and do something like that! Argh!" She scolded the wheel.

HONK!

Elena sprang out from her thought.

HONK!

She yelled. “What is your problem? I have a bigger one going on in my life right now and you don’t have to make it worse.” She felt an ache around her temple. She hated being stressed.

Watching the traffic lights, she drove fast and came down a familiar lane. There were pretty and expensive looking shops lined up on both sides of the road. Slowing down into a parking lot by the Chez Sara, she caught sight of a familiar blond waving at her.

Turning the engine off, Elena slid out from her driver's seat and waved back at Melissa Hart.

"Hey Ele!" Long slim arms caught Elena in a bear hug.

The frustration that had bugged her, melted away in that hug. It was all she needed. And Mel was forever a friend indeed for all the times life had thrown her into situations. Elena’s smile spread wider.

"I am so sorry to make you wait this long, Mel." Elena returned the bear hug.

"Well," Mel threw her a playful glance. "If you buy me one of those, I will think about forgiving you."

Elena followed Mel's thumb, pointed in the direction towards the orange Lamborghini parked right behind her. Oh, the nerve! First the honks and now the audacity to follow her to her favorite restaurant. She eyed the car. The driver had not gotten out yet. It was as if he or she was watching her. Her eyebrow lifted, when the orange door slowly opened.

"Hang on a sec, Mel." Elena spoke as she marched towards the driver who was now adjusting his shirt and jeans. A very tall guy. She took in his blue button-down shirt, which hugged his chest and rested on his abdomen snugly. Very well-built. Her eyes narrowed. There was still no need to keep honking at her the way he had done. It was just rude!

"What is wrong with you?" 

He faced her, lips tight and eyes hidden behind dark shades.

"Why were you following me?"

He smiled, flashing a set of perfect pearly whites. "I beg your pardon?"

Elena felt a gentle pat on her shoulder. A concerned Mel gave her questioning look. She smiled a little to the birthday girl. “I’m sorry but this guy was a real road douche.”

With a hand on her hip, she turned to the stranger. "Why were you following me?"

The tall stranger leaned against his car, arms folded across his broad and pumped up chest. The corners of his lips lifted lightly. "Did I? Why would I do that?"

"I gave you so many chances to get ahead but you kept tailing me. What was that about?" She was pissed. Things hadn’t been going well for her and now this guy tipped the iceberg.

"Oh c'mon, it was obvious you were coming the same way as me. Besides it's a narrow road back there. I wasn't going to get my girl scratched just so you didn't want me behind your hot ass." His smile spread broader.

Elena swung her handbag at him.

Without making any fast movements, the stranger leaned back and the handbag missed him by some inches.

Elena swung her bag at him again.

This time, he caught hold of the blue leather bag and yanked.

She banged onto his body and instantly froze. Blinking in shock, her mind slowly registered what had just happened in the past couple of seconds.

"Now, you be nice." His voice was calm but there was an authority to it. “You owe me an apology.”

Elena shuddered at the contact of his body on hers. His musky scent filled her nostrils, intoxicating her in a whiff.

Mel stepped in and pulled Elena away from him but he held onto the handbag. "C'mon Ele, let's go." And to the stranger, she said, "Look dude, I apologize on her behalf, ok? It’s been a rough day for her. Can you just hand over the bag now?" She flashed him an apologetic smile.

The stranger’s dark shades were fixed on Elena alone. He never once turned to Mel.

Elena’s chest rose and fell. She looked away from him. Something in her stomach caused a stir. Hunger? Maybe. She hadn’t had time for a quick bite for breakfast.

“Handbag please.” Mel stretched her palm at the stranger.

He handed the bag to Mel and continued to look Elena’s way.

She didn’t watch the exchange between her friend and the stranger but noted a shade of blue moving spaces. Quickly, she grabbed her handbag from Mel. “C’mon, Mel. Time for lunch.” She pulled Mel behind her.

As they entered the Chez, the familiar aromas made both their tummies rumble. A giggle erupted from Elena’s lips. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

“Make that two horses.” Mel said as they took their seats at their usual table, facing the beach.

“I’m sorry about back there.” Elena nodded towards the parking lot.

“Yeah, you really took me by surprise. I’ve never known you to attack people like that before. Never.”

Elena shrugged with an apologetic smile.

Mel reached out and squeezed her hand. "Chill okay. I know things have been tough for you lately."

The warmth of Mel’s hand on hers, made Elena smile. Best friends were life’s greatest source of comfort.

They ordered their lunch and waited. From her bag, Elena pulled out a small blue velvet box tied with a silky white ribbon. She handed it over to Mel.

"Oh Ele, thank you." Mel reached out and squeezed Elena's hand again.

Elena relaxed and felt glad to be around Mel. She had been a pillar of support the past one year when Elena's entire life crumbled down around her. Mel had spent countless night by her side, giving her a shoulder to cry on and listen to every word that poured from her heart.

As Mel slowly untied the ribbon, Elena couldn't help but notice a blond at the next table. Beautiful, but with just too much make-up. She brushed glossy red lipstick onto her already shiny red lips. The blond caught Elena staring at her and mouthed a silent, "What?".

Elena rolled her eyes and gave a toss of her head.

Mel had been babbling about Benjamin, the dentist she has been dating for the past two weeks. "We broke up yesterday.” She sipped her iced tea.

"Oh?" Elena drank her iced tea. It wasn't the first of Mel's break-ups.

"Yeah, I know.” Mel was mindful of the tone in Elena’s “oh”. “I just didn't feel that connection, you know?" She said thoughtfully. "I need a certain kind of guy and I realized it was just not him. You know what I mean?" Mel took another sip.

Elena smiled. It has always been the case. Her best friend dated and dumped the guy in a few days or the most a week later. Benjamin was the longest in running - dumped after two weeks. Mel was not into sleeping around but she was afraid to commit to a guy, the moment she found something about him that irked her.

As the waiter left after placing their food on the table, Mel asked, "Hey...so this wedding? Why all the rush?"

Elena sighed, "No choice and no idea. Mum has been telling the whole wide world that her daughter is getting married to one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors." She stabbed at the prime rib steak on her plate.

“Yeah, I read your mum’s post on sss. “My princess is marrying a Prince.” Mel stuffed her mouth with salad. “What's his name again? I'll beam into Uncle Google and Aunty Yahoo.  Now that I am not dating, I have all the time in world. So, yeah, let’s find out about this groom of yours."

"Dean Leonardo Bishop!" Elena said irritably. Even muttering his name made her angrier.

Mel’s fork froze between her lips. “I get Leonardo. But Dean? Bishop? Those don’t sound Italian to me. You said he was Italian blood.”

Elena sighed with a dramatism, accompanied by a wave of both her hands. “Well, he was born on American soil, so his Papa named him Dean. And I think Bishop… that’s because his great grandfather was from Greece but migrated to Italy for a better life. Leonardo is because Dean’s mum, Liza, was an ardent fan of Da Vinci. So yeah.”

Mel took in a forkful of salad. “Sounds like one heck of a complicated dude.”

As Elena chewed on her steak, she caught sight of the orange Lamborghini’s driver. He walked over to the table next to hers. Springing from her seat, she wrapped her arms around his neck and crashed her lips onto his. Both Elena and Mel stared as the blond visibly slid her tongue into his mouth. He didn't seem to reject her affections but whispered into her ears. The blond whisked her head at Elena and Mel, glared at them.

Elena rolled her eyes and Mel giggled as she whispered to Elena, "Seriously? In the middle of a restaurant? Can those two just get a room or something?"

The blond unwillingly let go of the man but kept her glare trained on the two friends. Seated, she deliberately leaned over, with her torso over the table. Elena saw half of her boobs spill out of that tiny and tight black dress. Elena scoffed and rubbed her eyebrows with her fingers.

The stranger picked up the menu and began to engage in conversations with the affectionate blond.

"Ele, three o’clock. That dude with the orange Lambo is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s.” Mel whispered.

Against her better judgment, Elena turned to take a glimpse at the stranger. Mel was right. With the shades gone, his chiseled face looked as if it had been carved from a perfect slab of marble. Dark brunette hair and blazing blue eyes which she hadn't noticed earlier, in her state of anger. Looking at him, she recalled the intensity she felt when her body had crashed into his and that manly musky scent.

"Need something?"

She was startled and didn't realize that he was observing her watching him.

"What is your problem?" The blond shouted at Elena as she threw her napkin on the table. "You've been staring since you got here. He's taken by the way!" She proudly proclaimed pointing her finger at the stranger.

"Oh puh-lease!" Elena drawled at the blond. "You can keep this douche bag in your pants. I am not interested!" She tossed her head and went back to cutting her steak and putting a small piece into her mouth.

"I will watch what you say," the handsome stranger looked at her.

Elena chose to ignore him and continued talking to Mel. "Tell me, Mel. What can I do to escape this wedding from hell?"

“Well,” Mel’s eyes darted from Elena to the handsome man at the next table. “If he is gorgeous as that one, why not consider it?”

Elena’s shoulders slumped. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Dean was…” Her head shook as memories came flooding in. “He was a real menace when we were kids. He was tall, very overweight for his age and unruly. He stuck to me like super glue. Never let any other boy talk to me. If they did, he broke their noses. Never sat in class and the teachers were afraid of him. He had broken Mr. Wilder’s car window four times just because he told Dean off for being a bully.”

“I bet old Wilder got a heart attack. That old scrap of metal was like a child to him.” Mel giggled. “How come I never got to see this Dean when I moved into the neighborhood. Were you guys close?”

“We were neighbors. Our parents were the best of friends. His father, Roberto had also helped dad with The Peridot. The Bishops moved back to Italy a few days before you moved in, Mel.”

“Ah that explains why I never saw the terror. You got any picture of him?”

Elena reached into her bag and pulled out an aged looking photo. She handed it over to Mel. Mel took it and giggled.

"He may not be that bad you know. This was taken like what, when you were… ten?"

Elena sighed. “Twelve. This was on the day they were headed back to Italy. Dean is two years older than me.”

Mel teased, "Well, life is full of surprises, Ele. You never know what you are gonna get.”

Elena sighed as her left elbow rested on the table with the palm cupping her chin. “Well, at 22 my life as I know, is about to end.”