Claiming Carmella

Chapter 2

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough for the day, cuz?” 

Carmella Valencia pursed her lips as she placed the gun down on the table before hitting the button to bring her target sheet closer to her. She ignored her cousin Carlos’ remark as she reached forward to tear the material off the machine it was hanging on.

“Ah, look at that poor guy, he has a massive hole in his heart,” Carlos teased out loud as he leaned over her shoulder to look at the paper target with a body silhouette. She had just focused on shooting at the part where the human heart was.

“I guess I got tired of shooting in the head,” Carmella replied dryly as she loaded another paper target. She picked up her Glock, specially modified in design and color for her by one of the best gun makers in the world, and clocked it. 

She raised her arm and aimed at the target once more, emptying the gun with a blank expression on her face. She let the vibration from the gun ripple through her skin and into her soul, fueling her heart as it thudded louder and faster. She relished the feeling and savored the adrenaline it gave her.

“I worry about you, Cam,” Carlos declared as soon as she took off her ear plugs. He was the only person who called her by that nickname. It was not surprising since they were closest to one another.

Carmella resisted the urge to sigh out loud in exasperation. Sometimes Carlos forgets that she is no longer the teenager he had to look after. She had grown up a long time ago, even before she had to. She felt she was 40 instead of 25! Sometimes life has a way of pushing you out of your comfort zone in a manner so extreme that you literally change overnight.

“There’s nothing to be worried about, Carlos,” she replied with a bright smile plastered on her face, her hazel eyes staring into his. He looked at her with a skeptical glance, his dark brown eyes filling with doubt. Obviously, her cousin knew her too well to not buy her bluff.

“Fine, I won’t push,” he finally relented, throwing his hands up in defeat “but, just so you know, my mom is going to murder me if anything bad happens to you.”

“Will you stop thinking that I’ll turn into a monster or something at any moment? You’ve been watching me recently like I’m about to crack,” she retorted with a chuckle. She turned back to the small table in front of her as she began stowing her weapon away.

In today’s modern world, shooting has become a sport for most people of all ages and it’s not unconventional to see someone carrying a weapon for self-defense or for work. However, Carmella had been learning how to shoot a weapon as well as do hand to hand combat since she was a young teenager.

The Valencia family used to be one of the strongest and influential mafias in Spain. They were rich and powerful with business booming locally and abroad. People were quick to compare them with the Castillos. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and a business deal had gone awry resulting to the murder of Vito Valencia and his wife, Aurelia. 

This left Carmella and her older brother, Alfonso to the care of their father’s sister, Valeria. She herself is a formidable business woman who managed to restore the broken name of the Valencias with her cunning and iron clad determination.

A widow herself, Valeria managed to salvage enough of the family’s business assets, land titles and treasure before it all crumbled during the murder of her brother. She had taken her sons and her orphaned nephew and niece to Italy to weather out the storm.

It was not easy to get back to their feet despite still having wealth and connections. The Valencias feared for their lives as they tried to figure out who carried out the murders on that fateful day. They had allies to help them but they knew they must learn to defend themselves and to trust only who is left of their family.

This has lead to the beginning of Carmella’s training. It had began as a tool to ensure her safety but eventually blossomed into something more. She and her brother had focused on getting stronger in order to avenge their parents.

“It’s one thing to see Alfonso so uptight and hungry for blood,” Carlos’ voice broke through her reminiscing “but, this vengeful persona does not suit you at all.”

Carmella put her gun in her shoulder holster and slung it on her body. She shrugged into her light leather jacket, flipping her long dark ponytail so it rested straight down her back.

“Heaven help me if I turn into my older brother,” she muttered out loud as she followed Carlos’ lead out of the shooting range.

“He’s borderline crazy and obsessed,” Carlos retorted, opening the door that lead to the parking space. He nodded at one of the bodyguards standing by the door to ensure their safety.

“Can you blame him?” Carmella replied, shielding her eyes from the sudden bright light of the afternoon sun as they walked towards their vehicle.

“Ah, let’s not venture towards dark thoughts, cuz” Carlos announced with a shake of his head. He gestured towards the clear sky and grinned widely at her “it’s too beautiful a day to be miserable. Why don’t we get some pizza?”

“You know your mom will want us home for dinner. She’s cooking a feast, in case you forgot!” Carmella reminded him as they got inside Carlos’ Mercedes sports car.

“Yeah, yeah, I remember about the special family meeting tonight,” Carlos muttered while putting his seatbelt on “I’m a grown man and I can eat a lot so, I can handle a slice or two before dinner.”

Carmella laughed out loud “no argument here. I’m not eating though, you know how Alfonso keeps on reminding me to keep my figure. He drives me crazy sometimes but then I just remember that he means well.”

Carlos did not say anything but just shrugged his shoulders. Carmella knew that he had some reservations at how Alfonso was changing but, he kept his opinions to himself out of loyalty. 

“Alfonso is still the same sweet guy he has been before. He’s under a lot of pressure as he’s taking more and more responsibilities in the family business” she commented.

“Niente pensieri oscuri, bella!” Carlos interrupted her in Italian. “No dark thoughts in this car!”

“Fine, fine,” Carmella relented, grinning broadly at him “let’s get you that pizza. You’re getting grumpy.”

They drove into the city and stopped to get some pizza at a local diner. It was usually less crowded than the well-known restaurants in the city so, it’s easy for them to be comfortable and not rely so much on their bodyguards.

Carmella is actually itching to go back to her art studio and finish a painting. She could live comfortably without having to work since her Aunt spoiled her, ensuring that she would want for nothing. But, she had not been taught by her late father to be idle.

She decided to pick out a hobby to start occupying the free time she had when she was not training since every one in her family refused to let her do work for the business. She felt frustrated but this motivated her to train harder until Alfonso allowed her to come along with them.

He still did not allow her to get her hands dirty so she immersed herself into painting. She surprised even herself at how natural everything seemed for her. The colors spoke out and the brush strokes seemed to be an extension of her. Soon enough, her artworks were being sold and featured in museums in Europe.

“I want to finish my exhibit for the American tour next month,” Carmella huffed out as she watched her cousin start wolfing down the pizza that he had ordered.

“What’s stopping you?” he mumbled in between chews.

“This ridiculous schedule that Alfonso has made for me! Why do I need to train so much? I’ve been learning and fighting since I was fourteen!”

“You still can’t beat me at hand to hand combat,” Carlos teased, offering her a slice. She shook her head and instead took a sip of her Diet Coke.

“Please, I let you win, you crybaby!” Carmella retorted, rolling her eyes at him. 

“Sure, keep telling yourself that,” he replied with a smirk “you know you always forget to watch your back.”

Carmella scrunched her nose at him but did not say anything. She felt a little antsy and anxious about something. She could not put her finger on it but there was a sense of dread in the air that made her nervous enough to feel uneasy. 

Could it be the family meeting her aunt Valeria had called for tonight? What could be the topic that she did not accept no for an answer? 

“What’s up? You keep spacing out on me,” Carlos blurted, his brows furrowing together.

“I don’t know,” she breathed with a small sigh, “I feel like something is going to happen; something big or bad enough to cause a ruckus.”

Carlos swallowed what he was chewing and then took a slug from his drink. He wiped his mouth before looking squarely at his cousin’s worried face.

“Listen, whatever is coming down tonight at the meeting, we’ll face it together. I got your back, Cam!”

“Do you think the time has finally come?” Carmella asked in a low voice as if speaking about her thoughts out loud meant bad luck.

Carlos stared at her for a moment, an unreadable expression etched in his handsome face. Suddenly, she felt like for the first time, her cousin was hiding something from her. 

In the past few weeks though, he had been very reserved when it comes to his opinion when it came to Alfonso’s plans and tasks. Usually, Carlos was the number one supporter of his plans but he had sort of withdrawn of late.

“Okay, now I believe something is up,” Carmella ground out, her voice rising a bit “what are you not telling me, Carlos?”

“Nothing” he replied right away, his voice or face not giving any hint of emotion. Carmella knew that she would not be getting anything from him when he closed himself from everything and everyone.

“For real? You’re going to make me suffer all the way through dinner?” She asked, unbelieving of his decision to remain quiet and mysterious.

Carlos just gave her a smile and a wink before getting another slice of the pie and wolfing it down like he had not eaten two huge pieces already.

“I hate you” she snarled, sipping more of her soda.

“Careful about hating so many things, Cam,” he replied with an easy grin “you might not have enough space for happiness in your life.”

Carmella rolled her eyes at him one more time. She already placed happiness at the very end of her list of priorities. A decade since the tragedy befell her family, she had never found the need to recover or forget. 

No, some hateful things are meant to be harbored, nurtured and then unleashed. p*****t has to be made and she was not going to accept anything less than an eye for an eye.