The Ruthless Mafia King's Possession

9. BLOODY HELL

★JANIE★

Wiping off the tears from every corner of my eyes with the back of my hands, I expelled a sharp air out of my lungs.

Breathe, Janie! Exhale! In out, in, out, I schooled myself.

I knew with time everything was going to get better. I just had to make sure I calmly strategize my plan and figure my way around here. Then I can make a move. But all this wouldn't be possible if I don't eat, would it?

Reluctantly, I dropped the knife on the floor and stared blankly at it. I could not believe I had set up my mind on killing myself a few moments ago. I still had a lot of life in front of me; I haven't attended college, and I have not gotten married. And to say the least, I haven't gotten someone to pop my cherry yet. So where the hell was I hurrying to?

No, Janie. You can do this. Luciano is no match for you, just avoid him like a plaque until you can get the hell out of here, I thought to myself.

Then I shuffled to my feet, switched on the faucet, and washed off my teary face. When I was done, I switched off the faucet and towel-dry my face before walking out of my room.

I trudged down the flight of stairs, dreading the thought of facing the mafia king. All of a sudden, I caught a whiff of a sumptuous aroma spewing from the kitchen. Was the mafia king cooking himself? I thought. Then I shrugged off that weird thinking away from my head. I could not picture the mafia king in an apron, slicing onions, rather it'd be people's throats.

By the time I got to the kitchen, I met a weird face there. She was a middle-aged woman, rotund in shape but pretty. Silently, I stood by the door frame, observing her. Could she be the mafia king's mother?

As soon as she noticed another presence, she turned toward my direction and beamed a smile at me. “Hi, you are Janie right?”

I bit my lower lip, refraining from uttering a word. If there was something these past few days have taught me— that was not trusting anyone; especially the people closest to you.

She cast me a cursory glance and walked over to me. “Hi, Janie. Is something the problem?”

I reluctantly shook my head. My eyes not leaving hers for once.

“Oh, sorry...I forgot to introduce myself. I am Andrea, Andrea Giacomo...master Luciano brought me here to take care of you. My son works for him.” she said and I simply nod.

“Why don't you say something, Janie?” She arched a brow. “I could at least get to know you and create a good dynamic between us.”

I cleared my throat. “I am not interested in creating a good dynamic with anyone.”

Almost at once, Mrs. Andrea's face froze. She stared at me as though I have got a mole on my face. “I see you have been through some shitty stuff, what? Boyfriend issues? Family issues? School issues?”

I didn't attempt to respond. Instead, I walked past her to the refrigerator and opened it. My pupils dilated in shock when I noticed my favorite yogurt. A part of me began to wonder how the mafia king got the idea of my drink. Perhaps, my dad must have tipped him on that, I thought to myself and shrugged.

Opening the lid, I gulped down half of the content in one drink. Ignoring the sideway glances Mrs. Andrea spared me as she stir her stew.

Mrs. Andrea served me a plate of chicken curry sauce and rice on the dining table, then she beckoned on me to come and eat. Eyeing the food hungrily, I swallowed hard but I shook my head in denial. “I am not hungry.”

If she took that as a cue to walk off, I didn't know. Instead, she walked up to me and enveloped me in a deep warm embrace.

My heart skipped a beat.

Her hand traveled around the small of my back. “I don't know what you might have been through. And of course, life is hard, very hard. But still, I hope you can look at me as someone close to Mum. I am not asking you to look at me as your mother, maybe an aunt would be fine. And I will be always here for you.”

Somehow, those words brought tears to my face and I burst into a series of tiny sobs. Mrs. Andrea pat the small of my back calmly and cooed. “It is going to be just fine, Janie. Everything will be fine.”

When she released her hands around me, she wiped off the tears from my face and led me to the dining table. “Please eat. It is only what is in your stomach that truly belongs to you.”

My eyes shot up to her. And for a split second, I asked. “What does that mean?”

Her face broke into a wide grin. I guess it was because I finally said something. “For instance, if someone dies at this moment, it is what's in your stomach that goes with you to the grave and not your assets. So please eat. Moreover, I spent hours making this food just for you. It won't be fair for you to reject it, would it?”

I took that as a cue to plop on the dining chair. After all, I was f*****g hungry and I was just pretending not to be. I took a spoonful of rice and shoved it into my mouth. And hell, the taste was divine.

Mrs. Andrea's eyes narrowed at my face. “How is it?”

Pressing my lips into a grim line, I managed a small; “Taste nice.”

“Well, that's good enough for me.” came to her soft response then she darted into the kitchen to check the burning stew.

Immediately, I began to eat the food in a rush. I was too hungry. Had it been I rejected it, that would have been the second worst decision I made in my entire life; the first was following my Dad here thinking he came to borrow money for my tuition.

Within seconds, I was done eating. I picked up the dirty plates and walked into the kitchen. Mrs. Andrea collected it from me.

“No, let me do it.” I protested.

“Janie, it is fine.” she smiled. “I have told you to consider me as your aunt and I am at your service.”

Bile was starting to rise in my throat. Somehow, something kept on telling me to believe Mrs. Andrea. But I felt it was too soon. Even my father of nineteen years betrayed me in just a day.

Mrs. Andrea washed and rinsed the dirty dish, then she replaced it in the plate rack.

“Thank you for the meal.” I made to leave but her words stopped me mid-track.

“Janie...” she trailed off.

Slowly, I turned back to face her. “Yes?”

“I have got some things for you. Please come and see them.”

Once more, I swallowed hard then I followed her to the lounge. Only to find different kinds of shopping bags sitting pretty on the couch.

She opened one and brought out a beautiful dress. “Do you like this?”

To be honest, the blue dress piqued my interest. I have never seen anything as exquisite as it was before. But the moment she made her next statement, a wave of disappointment swept through me.

“Master Luciano asked me to get them for you.”

“Clothes, bag, shoes....” she trailed off.

I had the sudden urge to ask if she got me a phone, but I decided against it. Asking her that would only lead to suspicions. There was no way I could trust her just yet if I knew I wanted to escape from here.

Scratching my brows, I let out an exasperated sigh. “I don't want them.” Then I turned to leave.

All of a sudden, something else caught my attention. I saw the almighty mafia king walking in, bleeding profusely from his arm.

“Master Luciano!” Mrs. Andrea gasped in shock. “oh my goodness, what happened to you?” she ran over to him, but he held out a hand stopping her from touching him.

I was stunned to speak, so much so that I could not move. I could not believe the strong mafia king could get injured too. But who was I kidding? Flesh and blood run through his veins also. After all, he is human.

Romano, his right-hand man was behind him. I stared at them unsure of what to do. I could not afford to see someone bleeding so much. And being the person that I was, I walked over to him.

He squinted his eyes at me, as he made his way past me.

Out of the blue, I found myself offering; “I can treat you if you want.”

And everyone's heads snapped in my direction.