Mafia Love (Faithfully Yours)

Chapter 3-1

Amanda was always viewing Reese as an irritating thorn in her life. In the past week she’d had to integrate the little twerp into their lives, running around buying her clothes and getting her bedroom ready for her like Derek had instructed. How was she supposed to explain Reese’s existence to her friends, she’d have to admit that her life wasn’t as perfect as she’d led them to believe in the first place.

The thought that Derek had cheated on her and there was actual proof in the form of a child made her want to smash every single thing in the house but she couldn’t do that. She was prim and proper and had to act like the perfect wife because that’s what Derek needed. She watched Reese sitting by the kitchen table eating her cereal slowly. Everything about this girl grated on her nerves. She had never met the girl’s mother but she was willing to bet that Leona would incite the same response in terms of the disgust she felt.

She stood by the kitchen counter sipping on her coffee and trying to count to ten in her head to calm herself when her thoughts were interrupted.

“Mom, so is it fine?” Her fourteen years old son Kayden was asking her something. She smiled at him, the one thing that brought her happiness in her marriage besides the luxurious life she was afforded just by being married to Derek was her son.

“Is what fine?” She put her coffee mug on the counter and turned to look at him, he was going to be as tall and handsome as his father, he already towered over her at his age.

“Today is Finn’s birthday and I was invited. You know how dad gets about me going to the Salvatore estate. Can you speak to him?”

Derek walked into the big kitchen at that moment. “I will let you go only if you take your sister with you.” He said quietly as he sat down by the kitchen table.

“Come on dad, she wasn’t invited and I will be the only one that’s got to like babysit a twelve years old.” Kayden shook his head.

“It wasn’t a request son, that’s your task for today, you look after your sister.” His voice was almost thunderous as he said this. He looked at Reese who had been quiet the entire time with her head bowed as she ate her cereal. He didn’t really want her at the Salvatore estate but their helper Nancy wasn’t working today because it was a saturday and he definitely wasn’t going to leave Reese with Amanda who couldn’t hide her contempt for the little girl no matter how hard she tried.

Amanda looked at her husband and rolled her eyes. “I think that it is unfair, he’s right… she wasn’t invited. You want to have him get embarrassed?”

“Embarrassed by what? His own sister? And who do you suggest she stays here with…you? Or would you rather have me take her to work with me?”

Amanda grabbed her coffee mug and walked out of the kitchen.

Derek drove into the Salvator estate watching his daughter through the rear view mirror. She had lost that frightened look as she looked in wonder at the huge Manor and it’s beautiful gardens. He smiled to himself at the innocence in her face.

“Kayden I won’t tell you again that you need to take care of Reese and know where she is at all times..” he reminded his son sternly.

“Yes sir.” Kayden sighed at his misfortune.

“And you young lady, you don’t go disappearing by yourself. You hear me Reese?”

“Yes.” She nodded her head. It was at that moment he realised she didn’t know what to call him. Maybe he hadn’t done very well by frightening her the other day.

“It’s yes Daddy young lady.” He smiled at her but more to himself because he liked the idea of her calling him that.

“Yes Daddy.” She repeated after him and looked at him through the mirror almost smiling back at him.

He watched them get off and walk in. They were led by the house staff to where the party probably would be. Derek drove off to another entrance of the estate to go and check in with his boss.

“Don’t annoy me and you keep your mouth shut!” Kayden whispered to his sister so that no one could hear him but her.

“What if somebody asks me a question.” For some odd reason Reese felt bold enough to talk back to her brother, her mother had taught her not to allow other kids to bully her.

“Don’t be daft! Then you answer the question or else you will look like a retard.” He retorted.

“You’re a horrible person.” Reese said quietly and Kayden laughed out loud.

“What are you going to do about it?”

Reese looked at him, she was getting a little annoyed with everyone talking about her like she wasn’t there or at her like she was stupid and she really missed her mom.

“What? are you going to tell on me? Snitches get stitches!” He walked ahead and left her to walk by herself.

She balled her fists and carried on walking.

They were led to an exit that led into another part of the garden where there were decorations of a video game themed party, almost every video game that a teenager could think of. It was like an arcade in the garden with free standing console machines and play station areas as well as a go kart racing course.

Boys and girls who looked like they were a little older than her were laughing, playing and chatting. Reese walked around quietly looking at some of the games, she made sure to stay quiet and out of everyone’s way as she walked. At some point she looked towards where Kayden stood with some of his friends, he was so engrossed with the conversation not bothered that he had been told to watch her at all times.

Reese found a stand alone console machine that seemed a little neglected so she stood by it and started to fiddle with it, ten minutes later she had figured out how the game worked. It was a super mario game, the highest score was by someone called Finn. She kept playing, determined to beat the high score. Even though she kept losing, her score kept going higher and higher so she kept trying. Not before long she managed to beat the high score, the console machine startled her by ringing out loud announcing that she had beat the highest score. A few of the kids started to circle her.

“Yo Finn, this little girl beat your high score.” A boy walked up to the machine then turned around to snicker at another boy who was walking towards them.

The boy towered over Reese, his stormy blue eyes regarding her like what she had just done was insolence and impossible. “I don’t think I know who you are, are you even on the guest list?” His voice had authority as he stood right in front of her. His chocolate brown curls almost falling into his face. This was the birthday boy.

Reese scanned behind him looking for Kayden who seemed to just stand there quietly sneering at her.

“What’s wrong with you can’t you speak?” Finn asked. “Girls are supposed to suck at video games anyways.” He added.

“It wasn’t that hard to beat your high score.” Reese said casually. Everyone around them gasped and made funny sounds like she had just said something wrong.