Sold To My Enemy

Michael - Fierce

I grinned in satisfaction as Freda stormed out. I finally have her where I want her, and I won't let her slip away from my grasp. I turned my seat toward the window, with an amazing view of the lake outside the house, relaxing further back into the seat. I heard a knock on the door, and Mateo's voice followed.

“We’ve scored the shipment.”

I turned my seat around to face him, grinning as he continued. “I’ve sent Aurelio and Rocio to go get it. They’ll be back in a few hours. I contacted Lucenzo as you requested, and you know, the rest was only a walk in the park.”

I grinned to myself as my father's words came back to me. “…by the time you get the required satisfaction in that ocean, the heat would cool off.”

“Two birds, one stone!” I said in excitement.

“You figured it out boss.” Mateo chuckled.

“You give me too much credit.” I chuckled, too. "How's Freda settling in?"

“I showed her to her room. And her men too.” Mateo suddenly lowered his voice. “Don’t you think this is dangerous? Griselda is not called Queen mother for nothing.”

“My den is the last place she’d think of, cause’ of her son, you know?”

“She could tip them off.”

“She wouldn’t dare.” I let out a little laugh. “Behind that rough exterior is a soft heart that aches for mankind." I suddenly stopped, as what I said brought up a question and I mumbled. “Does her heart also ache for me?”

“Sir?” Mateo’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“It’s nothing, man. I’ve got this.” I stood up, glancing at my watch. It was evening, and I was hungry. “Tell Aridane to prepare a table for two.”

“Yes boss.”

Soon, I was seated at the table, bearing all kinds of dishes. I sent Mateo to bring Freda to me while I dug in. After a moment, I saw her walking in. She had pulled off the dress she had been wearing since yesterday to wear something more comfortable. Her hair was tied behind her, a few strands falling over her face, making her look pretty.

“What do you want now?" she asked with a lack of interest.

“I figured out you might be hungry.” I said, glancing at her briefly.

She hesitantly joined me at the table. “My mistake brought me here.” She poked at the food continuously with her fork.

I stopped eating abruptly, looking up at her. “Come to think of it, how did you get your ass up there?”

She shot me a death glare. I shrugged.

“Eat up. You might as well look like someone who was really kidn*pped if you don’t.”

“Do you have to do this? Do you have to force yourself on me?”

I froze at that question. Then I shot Freda a killing glare. "You still are not admitting to what you did twelve years ago. Do you realize how I felt?"

I met Freda in college in the States. Before that time, I had not had any affection for anyone at all. I’ve come across countless ladies, but none was able to capture my heart like she did. I had run into her in a bistro and spilt my coffee, and the way she apologized, claiming she would make it up to me, got to me. No one ever showed concern about doing anything for me. I didn’t know she was raised in Rome until two years ago.

“I consistently told you that the life I led was dangerous, but you didn’t listen. And what about you? You were quite aware of the life you led, yet you kept pushing your luck.”

“No matter how you try to justify your reasons, it doesn’t justify your actions. And you know it.”

“Pot meet kettle. You sit there, blaming me for how you felt. Your clan killed my brother. And you still want to associate yourself with me?”

“What does your brother’s death have to do with my feelings?”

She gave me a puzzled look. “You think you’d be able to last two seconds before my mum with that fact?”

“What do mean?”

“It was safe for you, knucklehead!” She yelled, letting her cutlery clatter to the table. “It was safe for both of us. But here you are, dragging yourself into my family head on! You think you can handle the heat?”

“I’ve seen a lot meaner things that what you are used to.” I was starting to boil now.

“Nah. I don’t think so. If you really have as you claimed, you’d learn to pick your battles!”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.” I almost snapped.

“I’m being kind enough to save your god damned ass!”

“I need no one to save my ass!” I yelled, not able to hold it back any longer. She flinched, and then she stood.

“You think you’re a bad boy, just because you were born into a bad family. Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe you’re a good boy trying to force on a bad boy exterior.”

“Freda!”

“If you know what is good for you, better let me out of here in the next three days!” She stumped away angrily towards the stairs.

“You’re running your mouth because you can walk around freely. Maybe I should consider tying you to a place.” I added, stopping her midway through the stairs.

Just then, one gunman entered the room. “The shipment is here, boss!”

“Aurelio and Roçio?” I quirked a brow.

“Yes boss.”

“Tell Mateo I’ll join them in a few.”

The man nodded and ran off.

“Michael, fate was never meant to bring us together.” She continued up the stairs. I wiped my lip with a serviette, then stood up just as I heard a series of gunshots ring out. I glanced back at Freda, who returned my gaze, her eyes as round as saucers. Then Mateo raced into the room.