10. Celso
CHAPTER TEN
Celso
T he last time I saw Neve was when she told me that girls like her don’t date guys like me. Now she’s fallen off the map. The news has been going crazy after some local kids found her ex’s head on the side of the road - and then the rest of his body.
Dalila has been complaining every time I’ve seen her at our family dinners - she keeps saying that Neve is hardly responding to her.
“Her finance died in an accident.” Masaccio says, huffing slightly. “She needs time to process.”
“An accident?” Dalila asks, knotting her brows .
“The news announced it last night. The coroners report came back, and they said he was drunk and drove his car off the bridge into the river.”
“And his head fell off?” Dalila asks in horror.
“Apparently he got half thrown from the car - his neck caught on the railing and his head went one way and his body fell back into the car.” Tuomo shrugs, joining in the speculation.
“Oh my word.” Dalila huffs, looking like she wants to throw up.
“So, that’s it. It was an accident.” My father says, looking up from his newspaper.
“Sure. An accident.” Mas mutters, glaring at me.
“Oh, fucking let it go, Masaccio.” I hiss.
Technically everything should be over now.
The news will calm down, everyone will go back to their lives, and Neve and I can be together. Except she won’t come out of her apartment. And she thinks I am a criminal with no future.
And that means that I have to put the rest of my plan into action. I have no choice. I have given her enough of a chance to come to me and she hasn’t taken it.
So now it’s time for me to give her no choice.
I always get what I want. She is going to find out soon.
A girl like her is about to find out she doesn’t get to say no to a man like me.
When I get home, I head straight into the office across the hall from my bedroom.
Pulling my laptop open I type in an email address.
Attaching three videos and four very clear images I leave the subject line blank and hit send. The same email gets sent to two other address.
Now I have to sit back and wait.
My email is heavily encrypted.
They won’t know who the source is - nor will they care. The photos are genuine, so is the video. I’ve been holding onto them for a long time waiting for a moment like this when they would come in useful .
Her father is going to be under a lot of pressure when the stories come out. Either tonight or tomorrow. I’m sure they will all scramble to be the first one to release the story - the truth is going to hit the media stands and his campaign will start to crumble.
Neve needs me more than she knows - but if I have to put some effort in to prove that to her - so be it.
The next morning the internet is absolute chaos. Every page of every social media site is plastered with images of her father. In some they have blurred his face out, but it’s still so clearly him. The same videos play on repeat across the wild web.
Franco Greco with hookers, doing blow, partying up a storm. In one photo he’s so fucking high I don’t think he knows his own name. His eyes practically rolling into the back of his own skull while a hooker is between his legs.
I smirk at the mayhem I’ve created.
And over the next few days I watch his campaign numbers plummet .
It’s interesting to hear how his die-hard supporters try to justify his discrepancy. He’s only human. We all deserve to let loose some times - blah blah blah.
Their arguments make no difference.
His campaign is fucked and the strained faces of his family members and campaign managers as they try to scrape whatever dignity the man still has from off the floor - it’s amusing. His son, the one who's still alive, is hustling to help his father - but it’s too late.
His time is up.
I push away from my laptop where I’ve been catching up on the latest news and numbers. I should get ready. It’s getting late and I don’t want to miss anything.
Tonight, I have a family dinner at Dalila ’ s house, and I hope to get some inside information on how Neve is handling all of this. I need to remain tactful in my questions because Dalila is already pissed off at me every time I even mention her friend’s name.
Apart from getting an update on Neve, I don’t want to go to the dinner. I’m not in the mood to sit around talking about their lives and how great everyone is. It’s boring.
Except, when I arrive at my sisters place and spot Neve standing outside on the patio holding a gin in her hand and talking to Masaccio - the entire night shifts.
My eyes take in the sight of her, the long blue dress she’s wearing, how it dips low over her back showing off the delicate curve of her spine. Her hair is pinned up in a messy bun with loose waves drifting around her face. The fabric of her dress and those strands of hair are dancing on a gentle breeze.
Now I want nothing more than to be here.
In fact - I wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else on this entire fucking planet.
“Hi, Cels.” Dalila says cheerfully when I walk past her in the living room.
“Hi.” I mutter without looking at her, making a straight line towards Neve.
“Hey, that’s rude.” Dalila huffs. I catch myself quickly, realizing I need to be a lot more subtle when Dalila is around, I walk over to her and hug her tightly. “Sorry. My head is all fuzzy today. I’ve been working nonstop and I’m dying for a drink.”
Dalila smirks. “Alright, fine, I’ll forgive you this time.” She hugs me back. “Can I make you a drink, I’m about to get one for Nevio.”
“You’re my favorite sister.” I chuckle. “A whisky - on the rocks.” I say, following her to the outside bar on the patio. “I’m your only sister, smartass.” She laughs.
My eyes are constantly tugging towards Neve. It’s difficult not to stare at her the entire time.
“Here you go.” She says, handing me a glass filled with golden liquid. Three enormous ice blocks chinking against the sides. “Single Malt - Thanks. How have you been? You look stressed.”
“I’ve been good. Focused on trying to help Neve. You do not know how hard it was to convince her to come out tonight. She’s been holed up in her apartment. I think she’s overwhelmed by everything.”
“With her father?” I ask, doing my best to sound casual .
“That - and it all happened right after the thing with Damion. She’s so stressed out and I mean - who could blame her. “
“How is her dad doing?” I ask, pushing for more information.
“Horrible. She’s pretty sure he’s about to have a heart attack.” Dalila sighs in frustration.
“He was an idiot for doing such stupid things.” I shrug.
“I know - I know - but still - I feel bad about how it’s effecting Neve. I wish I could help her. Her brother is trying to convince her father to step down so that he can take over the campaign. To save something of their family name. But her father is so freaking stubborn and bull headed - and besides, with all the PR recovery I think they’re running out of funds. I don’t know what they’re going to do.”
“It’s not a bad idea for her brother to take over, start fresh with the campaign.” In fact, it was exactly what I was counting on. They are going to need help soon. And I will be there to clean up the mess his father left, financially they will need me support more now than ever .
“Well, you try telling that to her dad. He’s more stubborn than our old man.” She smirks, raising her brows, making me chuckle.
“Oh dammit, I forgot Nevio was waiting for his drink.” Dalila giggles and hurries away, leaving me standing alone by the bar watching Neve.
Her conversation with Mas ends, and he excuses himself, walking towards his wife, Leora. But not before gently touching Neve’s arm and squeezing softly. It make me angry to see his hands on her. He has no right to touch her.
Before anyone else has a chance to move towards her, I make my way there.
As I come closer, I can smell that gorgeous scent of hers. Intoxicating as always.
“I’m sorry for what’s happening with your father.” I say, stepping close to her side.
“I’m sure you’re devastated.” She sasses back sarcastically.
“Why would you say it like that?” I ask, the corner of my mouth turning up ever so slightly.
“Was it you?” she asks, her eyes turned fiercely onto me. Her lashes lowered as she narrows her gaze at me.
“Was what me, my angel? You are going to have to be a lot more specific than that.”
She pulls her mouth tight, biting her lower lip and huffing.
“Did you leak the photos? The videos?” she speaks clearly.
I knit my brows, looking hurt by her accusation.
“Neve, my family has supported your father’s campaign for years. What benefit would I have for doing something like that?” She shakes her head, unable to answer.
Neve’s eyes lower and she swirls her gin in its glass, shifting uncomfortably.
“Did you - kill Damion?” she asks, barely a whisper.
I reach out, letting my hand rest on her slender waist. The heat of her body searing through me. One simple touch and I could get lost in her .
“You’ve been through a lot lately. Your fiancé was in that horrible accident, and now your father’s - private activities - have been made public. I want you to know that if you ever need to talk to someone - or for someone to be there for you - you can call me. Any time of the day or night.”
She glares at me but doesn’t step away from my touch.
“I don’t want your help, Celso. I want to know what is going on.” She snaps.
“Neve, I’ve told you before, but perhaps you need to be reminded.” I say, stepping a little closer to her and lowering my voice. Our bodies brush against each other even so, she doesn’t step away from my touch.
Her bright blue eyes are wide as she stares up at me. Her lips part and she takes in a sharp breath.
“What?” she whispers.
“I love you, and you belong to me. That means that you can ask me for anything, and I will be there for you.”
Her cheeks flush rose pink .
She clears her throat and lets out a puff of air as though she’s been holding her breath.
“I don’t want your help.” She stammers, stepping away from me. I drop my hand from her waist and notice her shudder.
Without looking at me she walks away.
I chuckle as she hurries towards the bar to refill her drink that isn’t even half finished.
I’ve unsettled her.
I love that glint in her eyes. Confirmation that she feels it too. Confirmation that she loves my hand on her skin.
“Soon, my angel. Soon.” I whisper a promise to her as I lift my whisky to my lips.