Mafia's Forced Love

Chapter 13: Journey from Old to New

Cora’s Point of View

The night passed by, and suddenly it was the time for us to leave. I boarded on his personal jet. From the window, I looked down. The town where I grew up and spent most of my life was getting away further and further. Those tall buildings looked nothing like a toy house. A tear escaped my eye as the last of my hometown erased from my sight. Would I ever be able to come back?

A warm embrace gained my attention.

“You can visit your family if you want. I will arrange that. But only your family.” His warm voice was laced with warning.

I moved his hands from my shoulder, freeing myself from his embrace. To my wonder, he didn’t resist. Standing up from his position, he moved to another seat. His familiar scent was still lingering in the air. Three years had passed, some things still hadn’t changed. I couldn’t help but remember those days when he came into my life.

Three years ago

Our lives changed suddenly, just after we graduated from fashion school. Val and Liam were ready to get married, and I was the only one left to take care of EVERYTHING! Starting from the shopping list to the party arrangement for Liam. Val was all recovered but still weak. Hence none of us wanted to bother her much.

Days passed by quicker than I thought, and suddenly their marriages were only a few months away. Just like any other day, I was accompanying Val for the wedding dress trials. Austin was one of the richest men globally, and he could afford the most luxury brands, but Val didn’t want that. She wanted to buy something from Malesa’s. After all, they had a special bonding.

Val was inside the changing room; so was Liam. And I was chatting with Malesa, sitting on the couch lazily. She was also excited about the wedding.

“Cora, look,” Val came out soon, wearing a beautiful purple gown. It would be for one of the parties before the wedding. Her brown hair and cute face were going so well with the colour.

“You look amazing, Val!” I smiled, standing up.

“And what about me?” Liam joined us with a smirk. He was dressed up in a whitish shirt, red tie, navy blue coat and matching trousers.

“Not bad, Liam,” I added.

“Let me see,” Val turned him a little, holding his shoulder.

“Blue suits you the best,” she complimented.

“Oh, Liam, you just look perfect!” Malesa joined us.

“Thanks, aunt Malesa.” Liam smiled widely. We all were happy. But the moment was destroyed as that certain someone showed up.

“Lovely!” A complement flew through his mouth. That irritating voice was enough for me to know who he was. None other than that friend of Austin and Danny! That i***t! Lorenzo.

“Thank you, Lorenzo.” Val smiled widely, and I rolled my eyes.

“Val, Liam, go and try the other ones.” Malesa insisted, and they rushed to the changing room again.

“So, thy are all dressed up. What about you?” making his way near me, he asked.

“Why do you care?” I snapped, folding my arms.

He stood in front of me. Looking into my eyes, he pointed his finger at my face.

“Because” he ran his finger along with my nose to my lips without touching my skin. “You will look beautiful in that.”

Now his finger was pointing something behind me. His lips were covered with a mischievous smirk. The closeness between us was more than my liking. What an annoying jerk.

“Stay away from me! Jerk,” I mumbled, and he smiled harder.

“Why are you even here?” I asked annoyingly. A spoilt billionaire! I hated his kind.

Instead of moving away, that jerk leaned over my face, “because you are here!”

Enough of his bullshitting! I took action right away. Bending my knee, I hit him between his legs, making him groan in pain. That was right! You deserved it! Unable to hold back my laughter, I giggled loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.

“You think it’s funny?” He asked with a frowned face.

“Of course, it is!” I giggled.

Meanwhile, Val and Liam came by, and I found out Lorenzo was here to pick them up. They talked for a while and then left the store.

Suddenly he stopped near the exit door as he turned to face me again. What did he want this time?

With a serious face, he spoke, “let me give you a ride. It’s already dark outside.”

“No need. I prefer transit to your luxury car.” And I walked past him, making my way towards the stop.

Soon, Malesa closed the shop and left as well. My eyes fell on the watch. It was nine already! For a moment, I regrated. There was nothing wrong with taking a lift while Val and Liam were around. I checked for the bus time only to find I had to wait another forty minutes! God!

Slowly I realised everything around the area was closed down. The busiest part of the city gradually went to sleep. Only a few vehicles were running along the empty street. The cold breeze was surrounding the area. I hugged myself, standing inside the bus stop. Every minute appeared to be longer than it was. An unexpected loud noise of the motorcycle broke the silence, grabbing my attention. To my wonder, the motorbike stopped by the bus stop, and its two riders got down. I didn’t utter a word and quickly moved my gaze. Their intentions weren’t good.

Soon enough, I was proved right when they started to pass mean comments. I tried hard to keep my temper in check. I could take down those two a*sholes pretty easy, but the bus would be hereafter another thirty minutes, and I really didn’t want to spend my time standing by two injured mutts. My silence gave them courage, and they suddenly moved near me. I smelt danger.

“Hey, babe,” one of them grinned. I could smell alcohol.

“Stay away,” I wanted them.

“Come on, babe! Let’s have some fun.” One guy spoke, trying to hold my hand. And that was it. I lot it.

I threw a sidekick on his hand and a punch on his stomach, making him groan in pain. Holding his shoulders, I kicked his balls hard, and he fell on the street. The other guy became aggressive. Soon I realised, they weren’t just two. Three more hooligans showed up in the area.

“You b*tch!” he cursed, pulling out a knife.

My eyes fell on the other three who just arrived. One was holding a rod, and another guy had a knife as well. They were armed, and I was all by myself.

Calm down, Cora. You can take them! I kept pushing myself.

They surrounded me, forming a semi-circle, pushing me towards the highway. Their slow steps were coming closer. I could take them down. I could do it! I prepared myself to launch on them again when a deep voice came from my behind.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t have done that.”  

I turned my head promptly. Lorenzo was standing tall just behind me. His eyes were still mischievous. Seeing my situation, he even winked! Was he out of his mind? And when did he arrive?

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Saving the beauty.” He smirked.

“They are armed. Are you out of your mind?” I yelled.

“You practice every day, don’t you? Marshal arts.” He asked instead.

“Yeah… but” I was still unsure.

“Come on! Show me what you got.” He smiled again.

“I’m counting on you, Cora,” he whispered the last sentence.

That man was a lunatic. He wasn’t a help, rather a burden. Those hooligans came near, and I prepared to defend myself, but unexpectedly I saw Lorenzo moving faster than me. He snapped the guy with the rod first, snatching it from him as if it was nothing. Then he beat him up really bad with the rod. Before others could recover, he attacked them. The iron rod was crushing against their bones, making them fell to the street helplessly. Blood was covering the area. Soon everything was over. Undoubtedly those people would be spending a long time in the hospital.

“M@therF*ckers!” He cursed. For a moment, he appeared to be different than a spoilt mischievous billionaire. But on the very next moment, his eyes fell on me with that same evil grin. Wait, he was good with fighting, and his reflex was better than mine. Then how came he didn’t stop me in the morning?

Throwing the rod on the ground, making a metallic sound, he made his way towards me like a hero. ‘To save the beauty!’ He wasn’t joking!

“You are good at fighting….” I exclaimed. “then why didn’t you stop me earlier?”

With a wicked smile, he leaned over my face. This time, the closeness didn’t bother me. He made me feel safe somehow.

“Because I like you.” He winked.

He… liked me! Those mesmerising eyes were looking into mine. Was it a joke? My heart was pounding like anything. His loud laughter brought me back to reality.

“Look at your face!” He laughed again.

Of course, it was a joke. My cheek was burning. That man knew how to get into my nerve!

“Stop fooling around,” I scolded him.

“Alright!” He held back his laughter and spoke again. “May I give you a ride now? Or you are still waiting for the bus?”

“No, I’m not,” I smiled. “Because the bus is here!”

And as I finished, the bright light appeared on the road. I saw it beforehand since I was standing just by the highway. He was puzzled for a moment. Gradually darkness covered his grins. That was right! I could also play pranks. i***t!

As the bus stopped, I hopped in. To my wonder, Lorenzo followed me.

“What are you doing?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Don’t argue. We had enough for tonight. I’m going with you.” His voice was laced with concern.

Was he serious this time? Cora, that guys joked about liking you just a few moments ago! How could you possibly fall for his charms?

Present day

Something changed on that night between us. I saw a warm person behind that haughty smile and playful behaviour. I saw something that warmed my heart. But he betrayed me, left me all alone.

Suddenly a hand touched my cheeks. Soon I realised he was wiping my tears.

“Go and clean your face. We are about to land.” He spoke warmly.

I stood up quickly, unable to face him. My heart was still racing. 

Why Lorenzo? Why did you leave me? And why did you come back?