Chapter 82
1105words
"What's wrong?" Neveah asked me sensing that I wasn't in the mood as we made out later that night
I sighed and sat up on the edge of the bed.
"Damanico." she wrapped her arms around my waist from behind and snuggled against my back "Are you alright? Talk to me baby."
"It's Royalty." I said softly
"What's wrong?" she softly questioned
"She's missing your brother badly." I told her "She's love-sick. You know the feeling you get right after a break-up? The one where you miss the person so bad after you've gotten so use to them? She's going through it now and she's so miserable. She zones out on me sometimes and I know her mind is on him."
Neveah was quiet and I knew she was thinking on what to say carefully.
"We can't force them to get back." she finally broke the deafening silence "It's their choice but I know Xavier wants her back too. He may be with Jennifer but I can see through him and I know he wants her. We just have to find a way for them to confess again to each other and get Jennifer out the picture."
"What's going on over there with her anyway?"
"I overheard Chrissy and Jianan talking one morning about how she must have stopped following Cardinal's orders."
"He would kill her."
"What?"
"He kills anyone who doesn't follow his rules and Jennifer knows she's hunted now."
"Why would he-"
"He's afraid they sell him out and Jennifer has a really strong will despite her sickness."
"You know about that?"
"Yes. I knew she was taking pills when she was a little kid. She would play with Lucario and I and she like a little sister. Sadly, she turned because of Cardinal's influence."
"Do you feel sorry for her?"
I went silent for a while.
"Yes and no." I truthfully answered "She's an innocent human whose weakness was used as her weapon and no because although Luca and I tried to make her realized her wrongs she grew more and more selfish and conceited and clung to Cardinal although she knew the truth."
"She knew Cardinal was using her?"
"Yep."
"Why the hell didn't she run?"
Neveah was standing in front of me now and I looked up at her serious expression.
"Are you sorry for her?" I asked and she looked away
"She split my brother's relationship in half and she made my best friend cry." she answered me "She's still human even though she's done a lot of bad things. I'm not heartless."
"No one is." I told her putting my arms around her slender waist "Some people just don't care about certain things.
Neveah then began running her finger through my hair and I relaxed under her touch. I let Neveah sleep with me then I went out down to the port leaving the two sleeping girls in the hands of Jared. I walked along the deserted harbor until a familiar figure caught my attention.
"Liam?' I asked in disbelief as a limped body over to men
"Damanico." he greeted me with a painful smile and then I caught sight of him holding his side and a dark liquid on his shirt
"What happened?" I asked him going over
"Got shot." he answered with a weak grin "Nothing I can't handle."
"Why?"
"I decided to leave the Alfonso Famiglia and come back to where I rightfully belonged before I betrayed you and then I got shot." Liam explained to me "Luca and I were rightfully under the Gionovese Famiglia until we betrayed Uncle for father. Would you take me and some of my men back?"
"You know that my mafia works for Xavier, right?" I asked knowing that my cousin wasn't on good terms with my boss
"I know." Liam said "I accept that. I just want to do the right thing now."
I studied him for a while.
"How many men are with you?" I asked
"Twenty five is all I could get." Liam shook his head
"Fine." I said "Let's go. You can use the girls if you want but oyalty is out of bounds."
"You have the girl?" Liam asked me in disbelief "I-I though Xav-"
"There's trouble in the Arivonese Famiglia." I told him "Jennifer."
That's all I had to say and Liam knew what I meant. I helped him back to the house with his men behind us. I left Liam and the wounded men in the hands of some of my girls went back to my room. I knew Neve would wake if she realized I was gone. She was still asleep and I crawled in next to her under the covers and she immediately cuddled me.
Neveah left early the next morning and Royalty woke up the minute I stepped foot back into the house.
"Hey Princess." I kissed her cheek lightly as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she stood in the kitchen
"I'm hungry." she stifled a yawn "Mac and cheese please."
"As you wish." I smiled at her "Gina!"
"I want you to meet someone." I told Royalty as she was eating and she looked up
"Who?" she questioned
"An old friend of Xavier's." I answered her question and at the mention of his name she gave me her undivided attention
I chuckled.
"Liam!" I called and he entered soon enough
He was shirtless with a bandage on his abs where he was shot last night. I saw Royalty tense.
"Liam?" she croaked out in fear
"What made you leave?" I asked Liam while I washed the wares after lunch
"Cardinal is ordering me around too much." Liam shook his head "I'm his youngest son but he treats me like I'm two and yells at me when I mess up."
Surprisingly Royalty didn't mind seeing Liam and his men although she was still mad that he killed her friends but once he explained he was under Cardinal's control she forgave him and they got along.
"He's got a temper Liam." I told him "Since you left what's going to happen now? Luca is gone and you too. I left now and I have a feeling Jonas will too. Jenn might be his only strong hold on getting what he wants."
"Jonas left last night with me." he said "He went to England with his wife and son."
"What's going to happen to his army now?" I shook my head "His generals are gone."
"I know the feeling." Liam dried the plates and packed them "His mafia is splitting apart by his greed and force."
