MEETING ANTONIO
1269 Words
IT was three in the afternoon when Braille reached the place stated in the address given to her earlier.
When she peeks at the tinted window of the car, her acquaintance was already seated at the corner of the restaurant. It was the section of the establishment where he can see anyone that enters the dining place.
Two more tables were occupied. Each one has two buff men. She can also make out the visible outline of the g*n’s butt in the waist band of their jeans.
She glanced at Damian before getting out of the car.
The guard opened the door for her. She nods at him before pacing at the corner of the establishment. Without looking over at the four men inside the restaurant, she knew that they were following her every move.
She slid herself in one chair. Opposite hers was a man with striking resemblance to the woman currently in the penthouse doing God knows what.
They stared at each other. Both of them were sizing their capabilities.
“My father always said not to judge the book by its cover.”
It was Antonio who breaks the silence between them. He has a high ball glass in his right hand. From the smell emitting from it, it was whisky. Neat.
“Wise man.” She responded. She looked away and smiled at the waitress who placed a cup of coffee on top of the table. “This will be for now. Thank you.”
“For a woman, your confidence exceeds your personality.”
“I’ve been told.”
All five men look around when the staff of the restaurant pulled down the blinds of the glass window. Two of those men stand up while the rest put their hands in their waist. It just proved the thought she had a while ago.
“You don’t want your rival to see you meeting me, right?”
He gazed at her before he grinned. He seems to approved her actions.
“You have it all thought out, I see.”
“You have to be always steps ahead of your opponent, Antonio.” She said as she looked at him in the eyes. “Tell your men to stand down. If I want to eliminate all of you, the rest of your asses will not be able to reach this far. The guard in this restaurant would have confiscated the guns from your bodies.” She added calmly before sipping her coffee.
Antonio motioned his men to stand down. The four men sit again but their eyes were at her and their boss. Reservation was still clear in their eyes.
“What do you want from me? You will not send one of your men in my office just to have a small talk.” She stated. Finally going down to business.
“I just want to know the person who took care of my sister.” He also made a sip in his glass. “Your business seems legit. Your looks can break hearts than bones.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Who are you really, Miss Wilson?”
“Big words coming from you.”
“I’m not here to stroke nor deflate your already gigantic ego. All I want is the safety of my sister. She is the only one I got aside from the legacy of my father that she doesn’t want to be part of.” Antonio expressed earnestly.
She took a deep sigh. “I understand where you’re coming from, Antonio. However, you don’t have to worry about Natasha. My people are going to lay down their life for her safety.”
“Your people? Are you some kind of a cult?”
She chuckled. They are indeed siblings. She thought.
The older Russo frowned at her reaction but did not say another word.
“I’m part of a legacy my forefathers bestowed through generations. Believe me when I say that I know about legacy.” Antonio gazed at her intently. He finds her interesting, it seems. “My people were not part of any illegal means but were capable of defending ourselves. Since I cared for your sister, my people see her as one of our own.”
“Should I be nervous around you?”
“You don’t have to unless, of course, you stab me behind my back.” She sent him smile. She sips her coffee again.
“Is that a warning?”
She shook her head. “Just a reminder.”
Antonio was about to say something when her mobile phone rings. Smile graced her lips when she saw the name of her mate in the screen.
She motioned for Antonio that she will answer the call. She saw him nod before she received the call.
“Yes, ma’am?” She glanced at the older Russo as she listens to the other line. The man has his eyes on her, too. “I’ll be home before dinner.”
She turned to Antonio after she said good bye to Natasha. He has deeper scowl on his face.
He finished his drink in one go. Disbelief was written on his face.
“She was never like that.” His voice laced with sadness.
“Like what?”
“Domesticated. She was never a person who cooks or waits for someone. She was very close with our padre but never like that.”
“Boredom did that to a person. Or maybe, she likes me.” She followed it with a shrugged. She sent him a smile.
Antonio laughed out loud. “Your first statement might be true but the last one, good luck with that.”
She chuckled, too. “I need that.”
The air between seems to lighten up. Perhaps, the welfare of the same woman in their life could bring them together without a friction in between.
“You really like her.”
“You have no idea.”
“It took a year for Jack before they became officially together. However, the years that they were in a relationship was spent mostly apart since I sent Natasha almost anywhere in the world. She didn’t warm up to people easily.”
“She might like me after all. She warmed up to me the second time we met.”
“Maybe.” He added it with a shrugged. “Just don’t hurt her.”
“Natasha has my heart in her hands. That small woman has no idea how much she can hurt me.” She responds on serious note.
“I’m glad to hear that. I never really like Jack for her. That guy was cunning.”
It was her turned to shrug. A moment of silence cross between them. She sipped again from the cup before raising from the seat.
“Order anything, it’s on me. Good luck with the organization.”
The guard at the door bowed a little before opening the door for her. Damian was also waiting beside the car as she advanced towards him.
“Where we going, Alpha?” He asked as he opened the door for her.
“Home. We should not keep the Luna waiting.”
Damian smiled before closing the door. She smiled, too.
The idea that her mate might like her after all kept on running in her thoughts. Antonio warmed up to her, right? What could go wrong?
- Writer
