My Masters' Nightmare Season 1, Episode 10 Stalked (7 page)

“
I … I did.”

“
So, it was Christo who upset you today?”

“
Sì
.”

“
What did he do?”

I
relayed what had happened, telling him about Christo killing the
bodyguards and threatening my life if I didn’t stay away from
Jagger. Frano made an angry sound on the other side, making me stop
talking.

“
Sorry, I shouldn’t have lied to you,” I said. “I was
scared.”

“
I’m not upset with you, it’s Christo. He has no right to
scare a child.”

“
I’m not a child!”

“
Oh, I am truly sorry; I didn’t mean to insult you. You are a
lovely
donna
and
I should show you respect.”

I went
quiet, taken by him calling me a lovely lady.

“
Are you still there, Sophia?”

“
Yeah.”

“
Am I forgiven for my slip?”

I smiled. “
Sì.
”

“
Grazie
. Also, I will speak to
the
Padre
about
his brother. I will make sure he doesn’t bother you
anymore.”

“
There’s no
need, my father went to the Donatelli don and spoke with him.
Christo will be reprimanded.”

“
As he should
be. Anyway, I should go now. Sleep well,
bella
.”

He hung up, making me forget all about Christo. I couldn’t
believe that Frano D’Angelo was concerned about me. I flopped back
onto my bed, feeling hope. Maybe he liked me, which was why he’d
phoned. Plus, he’d called me
bella
, which meant beautiful, AND
he’d called me a lovely
donna
. I closed my eyes and brought
up a picture of his face.

I wanted
him so bad.

***

Things
were quiet for the next month with absolutely no trouble, other
than my father not allowing me to date Jagger, which meant I had to
sneak out to meet him. Though, I still couldn’t get my mind off his
cousin. I kept replaying over and over again how Frano had picked
me up after Christo had threatened me. At the time, I’d been too
upset to appreciate him holding me, but now I couldn’t stop
thinking about it. And whenever I caught a glimpse of him, all I
could think about was being in his arms. He would come up and talk
to me, asking how I was, being friendly and polite, which made me
feel guilty for lusting after him, because he really was a nice
guy.

I sat
down at the café table as my mother ordered a hot chocolate for me
and a coffee for herself. Frano entered the shop with his brother.
He was wearing smart black pants that highlighted his firm ass, and
a button-down shirt that gave me a flash of his muscular chest. He
was talking to his ape-like brother, who was throwing glances at a
hot-looking guy sitting at a table close by. Alberto’s gaze shifted
to my table. He tapped Frano’s arm and gestured towards me as my
mother placed a hot chocolate in front of me.

I shrank
down in my chair as Frano sauntered through the tables to mine,
praying my mother wasn’t going to embarrass me as usual.

“
Buon giorno
,
Signora
and
Signorina
Salvi,” he said, making my
mother jump.

She turned to
him and said hello, her tone curt.

Frano
placed a hand on the chair next to mine. “Would my brother and I be
able to sit with you? The café is completely full.”

My
mother nodded, although it looked
like she wanted to tell him to go away.

He
thanked her, then went back to his brother, who was putting a cake
onto a tray.

I turned
to my mother as she sat down. “Please don’t be rude to
him.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I should tell that young man to stop
coming up to us. I know he’s being polite, but I want nothing to do
with his
famiglia
, especially after that Christo incident.”

“
That’s Christo’s fault, not Frano’s, and I’m not seeing
Jagger anymore,” I lied, “so there’s no problem.”

“
What if Christo sees us sitting with Frano and his brother?
And don’t think that I haven’t forgotten about you spying on Frano
swimming naked.”

“
Mom!” People turned to look at me. I shrank further down into
my chair. “I didn’t spy; I didn’t know he was there.”

“
Sophia, I can tell when you’re lying, and it’s clear as day
that you’re attracted to Frano. I see how you look at him, and I
want it to stop.”

“
I can’t help it, he’s gorgeous, and it’s not like he’d want
me anyway: he’s engaged.”

“
I’d doubt that would stop him; he’s the type of man who can’t
keep it in his pants.”

“
Mom
,” I hissed.

“
Well, he is, and I don’t like the way he looks at
you.”

“
How does he look at me?”

“
With far too much interest.”

I sat
up. “You think he’s interested in me?”

“
He’s too old for you, Sophia, so don’t get any ideas, and you
would be a fool to get involved with an engaged man.”

I shrank
back down in my seat, hating Frano’s fiancé. My gaze moved to Frano
as he paid the cashier. He turned and headed for us with his
brother.

Frano held his hand out, indicating to Alberto. “Have you met
my brother,
Signora
Salvi?” he asked my mother.

She shook Alberto’s extended hand. “
Sì
, it’s nice to see you again,
Alberto.” She glanced at Frano. “I often see him at church with
your father. How come you don’t go?”

“
I’m not particularly religious,” Frano answered, adding
another reason to the long list of why my mother didn’t like him.
She was a God-fearing woman, one who was highly critical of people
who didn’t bow down to the church.

“
But, I hope you will still be getting married in the church,”
she said.

His face
soured. “I will get married wherever I’m told. It’s an arranged
marriage, so it means nothing to me.”

Her face
dropped. “You shouldn’t speak that way, marriage is
sacred.”

“
It is when you are given the choice of who you want to
marry.” His eyes moved to me, freezing me in place. “Don’t you
agree, Sophia?”

I
nodded.

“
Sophia,” my mother snapped. “All marriages are
sacred.”

I turned
my gaze to her. “But it’s not fair that he’s being made to marry
someone he doesn’t love.”

“
Life isn’t fair,” she replied. She turned her annoyed gaze to
Alberto. “And how about you, Alberto? Have you got a special
someone that you would like to marry?”

“
Sì
, but it cannot work out.” Looking
upset, he brought his cake to his lips.

“
Why’s that?” she asked.

“
The person doesn’t like me.”

“
What’s not to like about you? You’re a polite young man who
helped settle down your father when he wanted to attack my husband
over that horrid dispute. You are a fine son and a fine
businessman.”

Alberto
sat up straight, a smile gracing his ugly face. I looked over at
Frano, who was staring down at his coffee. My mother’s words were a
slap in his face with the way she was being so nice to Alberto, yet
rude to him. I tapped his foot to make him look at me. He raised
his gaze with a question in his eyes. I mouthed, ‘Sorry” getting a
smile in reward. I smiled back. He tapped my foot, doing what I had
done to him, making my smile widen. I placed my foot on his and
pushed down, making him laugh.

My
mother’s eyes shot to him. “What’s so funny?” she asked.

“
Sophia pulled a funny face at me,” Frano said, moving his
foot out from under mine. A second later he ran it up my leg, but
without his shoe. I gasped, stunned at what he was doing. He
grinned at me, a mischievous twinkle in his eye telling me he was
enjoying my reaction.

My
mother’s gaze shot to me, making me want to disappear. I could tell
she knew something was up, which wasn’t hard to guess considering I
was shaking from Frano’s touch.

I jumped
up. “I need to go to the ladies,” I said, taking off out of the
café. I entered the restroom and went straight to a basin, praying
that my mother wasn’t going to lose her temper with
Frano.

I
splashed water on my face, and looked in the mirror, seeing a plain
girl with red-brown hair. But Frano had touched me like a lover
would, which meant he must find me attractive. I leaned down and
ran a hand up my leg where his foot had brushed against my skin, my
body aching for so much more.

The door
pushed open, catching my attention. My eyes widened at the sight of
Christo Donatelli. I went to scream, but he rushed me, clamping a
hand over my mouth. He shoved me into a bathroom stall and closed
the door behind us.

He leaned his face down to mine, his expression angry. “I
warned you to stay away from the D’Angelos, but you didn’t. So, I
warned you again, giving you plenty of reasons why. But what do you
do? You run to your daddy, getting him to upset my brother.” He
placed a hand around my neck, making my eyes widened. “I should
kill you for that as well as for ignoring my orders. I saw Frano
out there talking to you, which also means you think you can do
whatever the hell you like and get away with it. Well, you can’t.
So, this is what will happen if you want me to spare your worthless
life. You will NEVER talk to Frano and Jagger again, and if you
disobey me a third time, I will take you and teach you a lesson
about life and death
.
Capito
?”

I
nodded.

“
Buono
,
schiava
,” he said. “Now, go back to
your mother and say whatever you have to, to get away from the
D’Angelo brothers. I will be watching.”

He let
go of my mouth and unlocked the door, then disappeared out of the
restroom. I placed my hand to my neck and started to sob. A few
seconds later, the restroom door opened. My mother called out to
me, her voice sounding scared and worried. I wiped my face and
stepped out from the stall.

My
mother’s gaze shot to me. “I saw Christo leave the restroom,” she
said, racing over to me. “What did he do to you?”

“
You have to put a hit on him, you have to,” I
sobbed.

“
What did he do?!”

“
He threatened me because I was talking to Frano. He was also
angry that Dad went to his brother. Please don’t tell Dad, he will
kill me if Dad finds out. We have to kill Christo.”

“
I … I can’t kill someone, Sophia.”

“
But, he will kill me!”

“
What did Christo say exactly?”

“
He won’t touch me again if I stay away from the
D’Angelos.”

“
Then stay away from them! We’ll walk right out now and go in
the opposite direction.”

“
I can’t ignore them.”

“
You can, and you will, if it means your life.”

I wiped
my eyes, my mind going to Frano’s smile. I didn’t want to ignore
him; I wanted to be with him.

My
mother wrapped her arms around me. “We have to tell your father. He
will protect you.”

I shook
my head. “No, Christo still attacked me after Dad went to the
Donatelli don. I just have to ignore the D’Angelos.”

“
Sì
, because they have caused us
nothing but trouble, so let’s go before they come looking for
us.”

She
steered me out of the restroom. My eyes went to the café. Frano was
talking to his brother, not looking my way. I turned in the
opposite direction with my mother, heartbroken that I wouldn’t be
allowed to see him again.

5

CAMILA

Jagger
pulled out of me and got off the bed. He strode towards Honey, who
appeared frozen to the spot. He grabbed her arm and yanked her
further into the room, closing the door behind her. He then shoved
her against the wall, trapping her with his body. “I told you not
to come back to my room,” he growled.

She
started crying. “Why Camila?”

“
Because unlike you, she makes me hard.”

She
raised a hand to her mouth, her crying growing louder. It made me
feel like shit, because I actually liked the woman.

I pulled
a sheet around me and pushed off the bed. “You don’t have to be
cruel, Jagger.”

He
glanced over his shoulder. “Take that off.”

I
froze. “What off?”

“
The sheet.”

“
Why?”

“
Because I told you to.”

“
Well, you don’t get to tell me what to do.” I wrapped the
sheet tighter around me, not liking the way he was
acting.