Mafially Yours

18

I knew that he wasn't the type to talk about himself but how did he never bring her up? I scanned the vast backyard trying to spot him with her, getting mentally ready to see them kissing or hugging. Instead I saw him riding a strong and black horse across the field. I tilted my head and watched him wearing a casual outfit. How can someone ride a horse with sweats, no helmet and no boots? I watched him ride better than the best horseman, firm and steady on the black horse. When he saw me the serious face was replaced by a small smile, so he slowed them and directed the horse towards me, galloping slower than he was seconds ago.

I quickly stepped back when the horse moved closer to me.

"Are you scared?" He said, petting the horse, "She's the sweetest."

"I–I have never dealt with a horse before," I explained, putting my whole focus on Vanessa. He dismounted the horse, holding his leading rope as he moved closer to me.

"Come," he gave me his hand, but I hesitated, "Stepped closer." I looked at him, then at Vanessa, then back at him, "Trust me," he opened his hand for me to take it. I place my hand on his. He took it and placed it on his head, then let go of it. I didn't know what to do, so I simply pet her on her head. "See? She didn't do anything."

I gasped when she suddenly shook her head left and right.

"It's okay!" He chuckled and held her mouth. I petted her a little more and smiled. "You are scared of the sweetest animal in here."

"You have other animals!" I yelled.

He sarcastically smiled. "Of course! We have three guard dogs. But I would understand if you're scared of them. They do look scary."

"No, I love dogs."

He raised his eyebrows and nodded. I followed him to Vanessa's stall. He tied her up and rubbed her head one more time before looking at me.

"Let's go see if you're as strong as your words."

He challenged me. I followed him to where he led me. I didn't know where I was anymore or how to go back. I knew that the mansion was enormous, but I didn't expect it to have all that.

He whistled and called, "Kyle, Sean, Nathan."

Instantly, three black and brown Dobermans sprinted towards us, and all I could do was use Huncho as a shield. I stood behind him and held his shirt as my heart tried to escape from my chest. He laughed and tried to look at me, but I held his shirt tighter, trying to look at the dogs from over his shoulder, but he was too tall to reach. "Sit!" He yelled, "Good boys."

He held my hands, so I let go of his shirt and pulled myself to stand next to him. "I taught him well. They don't hurt unless we are in danger."

I watched them. The three of them sat and didn't move. They were watching him, waiting for the next command. I took a step closer to test them, and they still didn't move. I approached them again and put one of them, then the other, then the other. I smiled when I got comfortable, sat down on my knees, and played with each of them. They licked me, they tilted their heads to give me more space to pet them, and they let me hug them.

I looked up at Huncho and admired the smirk on the corner of his lips. "What?"

"You know, I have had the three of them for years. They have never trusted someone and welcomed someone as much as they did to you."

I giggled. "How do you know them apart?"

"There is a tag on each of their necks to know which is which. But when you get to know them, you won't need it."

"You know them apart?"

"Of course! Kyle," he tapped on one of their heads, "Nathan", then the other, "Sean," than the other. I checked the tags, wanting to point at least that he got two mixed up, but he didn't.

"Okay, I am a little impressed." I smiled. Then it hit me, "Oh! I completely forgot! They told me to call you for dinner like thirty minutes ago."

He smiled, showing his teeth for the first time since I met him. He nodded, "Go, and I will follow you."

I nodded and petted the dogs one last time before walking away. It took me about ten minutes to go back inside the mansion. I went to wash my hands, then walked into the dining room where they were all sitting, Huncho included. The look he gave me was mocking me and embarrassing me because it showed me that he knew that I had lost and that I left before him, and he made it before me.

The table was full of food of every kind, plates of chicken, steak, bowls of salads, and bottles of juice. I was surprised by who cooked all this and how they got it when we were in the middle of nowhere. All the guys were taking seats or moving plates around or taking a plate, but Huncho was at the head of the table, not moving, with a glass of something gold in his hand.

"Elena," he called from the other end of the room and pointed at the empty chair on his right with his chin, "come sit here."

I went to sit. Everyone was helping themselves, but he was moving, so I waited. But when Fred noticed and asked if I needed his help, I shook my head and started filling my plate. I wasn't sure what Huncho was waiting for and didn't want to wait to understand because every part of me fell in love with the smell of the food. I started eating right away and watched as the boys were talking, joking, and laughing together. But Huncho was silent, sipping on his drink.

"Is that apple juice?" I jokingly said, but he didn't even smile at me.

"Whiskey," he said coldly. I frowned but didn't say anything. About fifteen minutes ago, he was smiling and laughing, so I didn't get what changed all of a sudden, and why he became cold to me.

A few minutes passed, and my focus stayed on the boys and their jokes. I laughed a couple of times at what they were saying. And laughed even more at Sanchez's ironic laugh. He and Marco kept making me laugh. Damien was only making fun of them. And Fred was only laughing along with me. Then all of a sudden, Huncho started tapping on the table, catching everyone's attention.

I was confused, but when I looked around the table, no one else was. As if they were expecting this to happen, as if they were used to this happening. He took a sit of his whiskey, placed his glass down, and leaned forward from his chair, putting his elbows on the table.

"It's been a while since we last ate together."

"We did miss it," Sanchez said, giving us a small hint of his laugh again. I almost laughed, but I looked back at Huncho not to.

"I have something to tell you, though," Huncho started again, and they all stayed silent. "I will have to leave for a few days."

"What?" I immediately said.

"Why?" Marco asked.

"I will explain everything when I get back, but for now all you need to know is that I will leave tomorrow morning and I will be back in a day or two." He said with a low tone as if it was something that wouldn't bother anyone. I was angry and disappointed, but I didn't say anything. I didn't want to say anything because he should have known better not to leave. After all, I didn't know anyone there as much as I knew him, and I didn't feel comfortable with anyone other than him.

After he finished talking, they all went back to talking as well, but the fun from earlier died down, and instead of laughing most of the time, we laughed one or two times until the end of dinner.

He leaned forward to me and said, "What is it with you? You are quiet."

I shrugged. But he let out a scoff, frustrating me even more. He moved back into his seat and took a sip of his drink, leaving just a little bit left.

"You try so much to look dangerous." I didn't think much of my sentence, but for some reason, I caught the attention of everyone at the table.

"How so?" He responded so coldly, with the famous smirk in the corner of his mouth.

"Your drink, your horse, your dogs, the way you talk, even your clothes," I pointed at what he was wearing.

He scoffed at me again, "You know what your clothes tell me?"

I didn't want to answer his question, so I stayed silent, looking at him. The silence in the room was uncomfortable, especially during this conversation.

"That you're a virgin."

The boys started laughing and joking around, but my eyes and his didn't look apart. He smirked again before bringing his glass to his lips, gulping what was left of his drink.