obsessed with his badass ex-wife

Chapter 16

Natalie

I cuddled Tessa to sleep, holding her firm as she slept soundly. Her features looked exactly like Mario's: Dark hair, brown eyes, full lashes. She was all that I got. I am afraid she might fall into the chaos her father brings along with him. But at the same time, I want her to experience having a father in her early stage of childhood.

She doesn't need to be exposed to danger, and that is what I have to prevent. Even if it means keeping Mario away for her safety.

God, I am so confused.

What if my choice is wrong?

Mario hasn't done anything harmful since he came here. He only craves my attention, which I find tiring at times, but I appreciate it too. The doorbell at the entrance clicks as someone walks in.

"We are closed," I yell from the kitchen, cleaning up the counter before coming out.

A man coated in heavy black sat at the bar, staring at his phone. He looked up the moment I stepped in, and something dreadful flashed in his eyes. Hair rose at the back of my neck as goosepumps prickled my skin. An ominous feeling settled in my belly, and I felt threatened by his presence.

"Hello, dear, may I have a glass of beer. I am in dire need of it," he said with a deep voice that creeped my soul.

"I am sorry, but we are closed. Check the next bar." I pointed at the nightclub across the street.

"What a shame, I heard you sell the best beer in town. But I guess I won't have a taste of it." He reached into his pocket, and I ducked, knowing he was reaching out for a weapon.

He shot at the bottles, crashing them above my head. "Hiding won't save you, Nataile," he grumbled, trudging through the bar.

Fuck s**t. He knows my name.

I had managed to quietly crawl to the kitchen and carry Tessa out of her cot. She was still asleep, and any ungodly sound would trigger her cries. I quickly secured her ears with her blanket and slightly closed her mouth to allow her to breathe.

This person was seriously out to kill me. I just noticed Mario's men were wiped out single-handedly. At this point, I wish I hadn't asked him to leave.

"Nataile, I don't like to play games. Hide and seek is my worst," he muttered, shooting more bottles at the bar. My heart quickened at the sound of his destruction. If I don't find a way to escape, I might end up dead.

Hiding under the kitchen cabinet only saved me a little time to think of my next move. Silence suddenly fell in the bar, and I knew he was using it as bait to lure me out. He'd be stupid to think I would fall for that. He entered the kitchen, trailed over the place, and left when he found no one.

Once I was sure he was out of the kitchen, I crawled out of my hiding place. But my freedom was short-lived, so I took most of it before he entered again. By the time he had returned, I had already hidden Tessa in one of the high cabinets and taken out my gun from where I kept it. I always had a pistol tucked away under one of the drawers just in case bullshit happened. And today was one of those days I would have to utilize it.

Immediately he came in, I pointed the pistol at him. "Finally decided to show yourself. I am impressed." He grinned.

"Shut the f**k up. Who the hell are you?" I queried, ready to blast his head if he didn't give me the right answer.

"If I told you, hunting you won't be found..."

Bang!

His body fell flat on the ground with a loud thud. "I don't play twisted name games, asshole." I kicked his lifeless body.

Frustration coursed through my veins as his blood pooled at his head. I hated the aftermath of killing a person, especially when it involved bloody messes.

I returned to the kitchen and carried Tessa out from the cabinet I had hidden her in. She was still asleep, which I was grateful for. I won't have to explain to a toddler what a pool of blood is and why a man was lifeless in our bar.

After resting her inside her cot, I took out the trash. First, I dragged his body to the backyard, tied it up with a chain, then went back in to clean up the blood pool. Second, I scrubbed the floors and made sure every corner was sparkling without a hint of blood. Lastly, once I was done with the cleaning, I carried his body and disposed of it on the street. His owner would certainly find him.

He was such an unlucky bastard. Messed with the wrong girl and got the end of it. Now that I had him out of my hair, I began to ponder who would send a hitman to eliminate me. I haven't made a move in three years, and no one in my gang knew of my location. That only leaves me with one person in mind.

"Mommy, Daddy is here," Tessa bubbled in the arms of the man who was on my number one list of suspects.

"What are you doing here?" I rushed over and took Tessa away from him. He only showed up when the danger was gone. Which means he might be linked to the hitman.

"I thought we agreed that I would come pick you up. Did you send my men back home early?" He asked, and I frowned in disgust. He was trying to play smart after pulling such a move to get rid of me.

"If you don't want me, why go through the length of hunting me?" I blurted out.

He squinted his eyes, still acting oblivious to what I had just said. "Why would I be here if I don't want?"

"Maybe you want to take me back to Italy by all means. Even if I have to be a corpse." I glared at him and something flickered in his eyes for a second.