IN LOVE WITH A MAFIA

CHAPTER SEVEN

Huang

She thought she could be out of my grasp. Kendra... I mean.

The look on her face showed she was surprised. With a naughty grin on my face, I looked like 'Joker'.

Oh, wait. I was worse. Worse than the movie character himself. I placed my hand on her, not letting the grin disappear. "How are you feeling?"

"How am I feeling, what?!" she shot me a cold look.

"Calm down, angry pants. You don't have to be like that."

"Oh, I have to!" she shone her eyes. They were bulging and filled with rage. "How can you tell me to calm down after what you did yesterday?" she rolled her eyes. "Wait," she blinked, and then she looked around. "It's morning?"

I replied smilingly, giving a 'Yes'. It was morning, alright, and she just realized. "Princess," I called her sweetly, "Do you want to eat?" I had the intention of getting on her nerves so she could yell back at me. It was working.

"What I want, is for you to get the hell out of my face, and never come back!"

"But I'm in my house, sweety. You're the one who's trespassing..."

"Huh?"

"You should see your face," I laughed charmingly. Though it annoyed her, she laughed partly, frowning again.

"It's not funny,"

"I know, but you should see your face—" I stopped. "Fine. I'm sorry." I poked her in the side.

I apologised thereafter, feeling sorry for the first time. Funny how one lady could make you do the things you never believed you'd do, and apologise a thousand times.

Kendra was different—different from all the women I'd come in contact with. Not even Isla could match her taste. She wasn't any better.

"Kendra Umaro, what is it about you?" I could keep it no longer, asking out loud.

"Mm? What do you mean?"

"I love you, Kendra, and I'd love to make you my bride."

She looked at me with brows arched.

"Not the expression I was looking for," I said. "but, it'll do." I dreaded shifting my gaze.

Her face twitched as her brows made slight movements. "I-I don't know what to say..."

I caught her arms as she made to stand. "Please say something, mi Amor. Marry me," I looked into her eyes.

It was going to be tough taking 'No' for an answer—a positive reply was all I needed her to say.

"Marry me, Kendra," I didn't care about not having a ring. "Marry me, and we would build an empire together. I cannot let you go—"

KENDRA

Huang wanting me to marry him was a quick move; saying yes was a tough choice, and I needed some time to deliberate on it.

Getting married to a mafia, wasn't my dream in any way, for I wanted a decent man. A man who'd love me in every way, and one who would have something legal doing.

"I-I don't know what to say," I stammered as I looked at Huang. It was happening fast. So fast. "It's sudden, don't you think?" I looked away, not wanting to look at him.

"What do you need?" he asked, holding me midway. "Time?

Anything?"

I brought my face back. The bed creaked as I had my knees atop it. They were starting to ache. "Well, can I at least stand?" I asked.

He laughed, "Oh!" then he let go of me. "I'll give you some time to think about it," he rose from the bed.

I heaved a deep breath as I watched him leave. It was comforting being all alone.

"You sure you don't want to give me an answer now?" a head popped in. It was Huang's.

"Oh, get out!" I said teasingly, getting out of bed.

"No, I'm serious..."

"I'd give you an answer when I want to," I made for the door and slammed it shut.

The fluttery feeling in my stomach made my heart jumble. I was having mixed feelings about the proposal.

Huang and I, I dreaded saying it...

...together? I couldn't imagine it being so, even though I was starting to feel comfortable around him.

Tap—a knock on the door got me aware. "Huang," I muttered, sighing at the thought.

I wondered what he was looking for, running my hand on the doorknob. "You couldn't wait for an hour to pass, could you?" A hand came on my mouth, shoving me inside.

* * *

"Mm...mmm...mm!"

"Shh, you have to be quiet," a familiar voice shushed her

"What do you think you're doing?" Kendra didn't recognise him at first. She gasped as she stared into his eyes. "Psi?!" She blinked, not believing her eyes. "Psi?" She called again.

Jong looked at her, amazed by how she was. She didn't look like a prisoner. Not in any way. She was feeding well. "It must be some kind of miracle," he said, not expecting it.

Kendra looked at him, surprised. "What are you doing here, Jong? And, how do you even know this place?"

Jong gripped her wrist and opened the door. "We don't have much time—" he stopped. "No, the other way should be what we should take."

"What other way?" Kendra asked.

"We don't have much time," he dragged her with him.

The maids were downstairs going about their chores. They hadn't noticed them; not even their boss.

Haung's shoes (Italian brown), clicked on the shiny floor. He surveyed the large hall, as Jong and Kendra lay in wait.

"So, what's your plan?" Kendra whispered.

"We attack," Jong jokingly said, getting a prod.

"Focus," Kendra said.

"Come on now," Jong asked her to follow him. Four of the Pisces had blocked the exit. There was no going out now.

Oh no!

"Major!" Jong smirked. "Gabriel." he looked at them. He rolled his eyes at the two, and then at the others that were standing beside them. "This should be easy," he scoffed. "Soooo easy!"

Kendra watched as he charged at them. They all had weapons while Jong had none.

Silly of him not to have brought a gun, Kendra thought. The four of the men were beaten before her very eyes.

"How was I...?" Jong couldn't complete. They were more men. The boss stood in their midst, and Kendra shuddered at the sight—"This is the end," she ran to her companion's side.

°°°Pisces!! I hate them all! Jong gritted, snarling at the men. With a glare, he said to them, "If anyone has the mind..."

"Give us the girl, you coward!" The boss' voice erupted. He gave him an angry stare as he growled.

Jong looked at Kendra and clasped her hand. He gave her some kind of reassurance, making her calm. "The girl is mine," he looked back at the men.

Huang huffed, outraged by his statement, making towards them. His expression could be read... by Kendra who was scared. "Take me instead!" she cried out, as a grin broke out on Huang's face.

"You heard the lady," he spoke with brows arched. "She's made her choice, so let... her... go." He dragged his words.

Jong wasn't ready to give up, determined to fight his men. He gave Huang a contemptuous look, and turned to Kendra, unsure of what to do.

"You don't have to do this," Kendra stared into his eyes. They were deep, dark black, and glistened with no fear.

Jong looked at the men with the boss and the ones behind him. He was outnumbered.

"You heard the girl, lover boy," someone said to his hearing.

Major! Jong tightened his fists at the thought and then relaxed.

"I'll let go of the girl if only you'll promise me one thing," Jong said to the boss.

"And what's that thing?"

The subject smirked at him. "We have an unfinished business,"

The boss growled. "You and I have no business," he stretched out his hand. "Now, give me the girl!" he roared.

"The girl should be the least of your problem—" someone said behind.

20 YEARS AGO•••

“I’m leaving, father…”

“Son, you don’t have to do this,”

“I need to start my own life. Is that a bad thing to do?”

“But you’re only 20. You still have a lot to learn. The ninjas and I can teach you…”

“I do not need your help, father!”

“Huan!!! Talk some senses into your brother. I can see he has lost it!”

……..

Huan

“It’s been long, brother,” I smiled mischievously at Huang. I could remember how my father had called me that day; the day he was to leave, and I came yelling. It marked the day I saw him last.

“What are you doing here?”

“Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“After all these years,” he smirked at me. “You finally decided to visit your older brother, Huan Zheng,” He called me in full.

The drama was still on. The men had their faces squeezed. The lady in their midst gripped a handsome one. The fear in her eyes wasn’t hidden, and I could see how her partner growled.

Did I interrupt something?”

The sound of a siren came. Not now!

Huang’s holler drowned my thoughts out. “Did you call the police?”

I knew I needed an escape plan before I got caught up in my brother’s mess. “We will meet again,” I saluted with a grin and hurried off.

★★

“The cops, no! No, this shouldn’t be how it ends,” Huang looked furiously at Jong-su. “You! You!!” He raised his gun at him, firing with a rumbling rage. “I swear, I’ll make you pay…!”

“Psi!” Kendra stepped in. The bullet hit her shoulder, getting embedded right there, as she dropped to the ground. Jong yelled furiously, taking hold of her. Her dress was stained in a twinkle. Huang and his men dispersed before the cops arrived.

The place was surrounded. There was nowhere else to go. Kamila and Lucille emerged from the car. They were concerned about Kendra’s whereabouts and were shocked to see a man from Kamila’s past.

“Huang?” Kamila called, shocked. No, this can’t be Huang, can it? She slightly thought.

The men were rushed and unarmed in no time before Kamila could come near, and they were bundled into the back of the van. The rest of the team invaded the mansion. Kendra was unconscious by the time they arrived.

“She’s bleeding. We have to save her!” A man in their midst (Cornell by name) yelled out. He dived for the wounded woman.

Kendra was carried out of the mansion immediately. Kamila could only let her tears flow.

3:49

“I don’t know what I did wrong, Lucille. My daughter’s lying in there, unconscious!”

“You shouldn’t stress yourself much, vice president. Kendra’s a strong girl. I know she can get through anything. She’ll be up soon, I trust.” Lucille spoke.

Kamila heaved a sigh, resting her head on the wall.

“About Huang,” Lucille spoke again.

“What about him?” Kamila asked.

“Oh, never mind, vice president,” she smiled faintly. The doctor came out and she sprang up. “How is she, doctor?”

Kamila asked alongside, “Yes, how’s my daughter doing, doctor? How is she?”

The doctor looked at them both and sighed. “She lost a lot of blood,”

“So?”

“She’d need a transfusion…”

Lucille hurriedly cut in. “I’ll do it,”

Kamila looked at her. “You will?”

“I’ll do it. Can we…?” she looked at the doctor, not completing.

***

The blood transfusion was a success. Lucille’s blood matched Kendra’s. The latter was slowly healing. The vice president was happy, at least, and couldn’t wait for her daughter to be perfectly sound.

“Do you think she’ll be okay, Lu? I’m worried,”

“I trust your daughter will be fine, vice president,”

Kamila looked down at Kendra. She rubbed her fingers as she prayed in her mind. Those scoundrels, she thought, they are going to pay for everything they did to my daughter. Including Huang! She clenched her fists and asked Lucille to call the commissioner.

“Hello, commissioner,”

“Hello,”

Kamila took the phone from Lucille and held it to her ear. “He’s back!”