7. Tuomo
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tuomo
I t’s done. I roll my shoulders back trying to force the tension out of them.
I dust my hands down the sides of my pants, rubbing the dirt and soil off them. I hate the stickiness of blood, it’s fucking disgusting. Washing it off takes ages, and it gets everywhere. But I had to do, what I had to do.
I bend down to grab the shovel off the ground and toss it into the open trunk of my car.
It’s dark, and it’s a long ass drive to get back to the city. I should hurry. I came here and did what I had to do, dawdling isn’t part of the plan.
It’s done and that asshole won’t be showing up at her birthday party to tell her anything special.
No secret, special message for the girl who doesn’t belong to him. He was becoming a problem, him and his being a perfect ten.
He won’t show up anywhere ever again.
I didn’t intend to get rid of him tonight. I planned to sort this minor problem out a few days ago, but then the boy changed his plans, and I had to switch a few things around. It doesn’t matter. As long as it was sorted before her birthday party, I couldn’t have him showing up putting ideas in her head. I would do anything for her, always. I will change my entire schedule and flip my world upside down it if means I get her.
I glance at my watch and see that I have just enough time to get back home, shower, and change before I need to be at the club for Nerissa’s party. I didn’t get an invitation, but I’d already invited myself.
A surge of energy pulses through me, a zap, like lighting spiking through a pitch black, midnight sky.
I have waited so long for this night. It’s surreal that it is finally here. I have thought about it every day for six years. I have fantasized and imagined how it would go. And now it’s here. Tonight. It’s happening.
Slamming the trunk closed I climb into the driver’s seat. I have booked the car for a valet tomorrow. Just to be safe. Most of the law is in my father’s pocket, but I prefer not to take the risk, anyway. Perfect ten, rich boy might have a daddy that goes all nuts about him being missing.
Tonight, I will take another car to the club.
The drive home takes forever, not really, it’s the same distance it always is, but I am anxious. I want this to be perfect and I have so much anticipation building inside me. So much tension. It’s exhilarating, but I’m nervous.
I am going to ask her to marry me.
After waiting years, being patient and biding my time - I am about to ask the girl of my dreams to marry me. The only girl who is and will ever be meant for me.
I will ask her, she will say yes, and that is when my life becomes perfect.
No more waiting and watching from the sidelines, no more patience needed. No more self-control when other men make moves on her.
At home I shower in a hurry. I want to be there the moment she arrives.
I want to see her in that dress.
I wear my custom-made black tuxedo. A crisp black shirt and my black belt.
She will be impressed when she sees me, she’s not the only one that has grown up.
As soon as she sets eyes on me, she will remember that we are meant to be together.
She has probably been waiting for this day with as much eagerness as I have.
I take the Maserati. Matte black.
It growls as I race through to the city towards the club.
I don’t really need to hide from her anymore. I don’t need to fade into the background, but I am still going to do so. If she notices me tonight - that will be fine.
But my plan isn’t to talk to her in this noisy, polluted, crowded place.
I am going to wait until afterwards, when we can be alone, in peace and privacy. I want her to myself, not like this with everyone around.
It is going to be intimate.
The most perfect moment of my life.
I park right outside the club and walk straight past the waiting line of people.
They know me here. They know me at every club in this city. Not because I go clubbing often - but because of who I am. Vece Holdings owns almost every night time entertainment venue in the city, we do not wait in lines.
Everyone knows the Vece family, and everyone has enough respect to stay out of our way.
The club is already packed with drunk and high assholes, jumping around on the dance floor. Nerissa has booked the VIP table upstairs overlooking the main dance floor, so I head to the bar and make sure I am in a position where I can see that part of the club. Later on, I will make my way upstairs. For now, I am fine right over here.
I order a whisky on the rocks and sip it.
There is a loud commotion at the door which I can hear even over the pumping bass of the club speakers. Someone screams happy birthday and then a bunch of girls shout excitedly.
Nerissa has just walked in, and her friends are already dragging her towards the bar, yelling ‘shots’.
She is smiling from ear to ear and she - looks - fucking - incredible.
That dress - fuck. Wow. So worth it.
I take a deep breath as my body stirs to life. She always has this effect on me, but dressed like that, it’s doubled. She never dresses up. She prefers comfort over fashion. And I love that about her. But, seeing her like this is a rare treat that every inch of my mind and body is loving.
A dark smile spreads across my lips as I watch her take a shot of tequila and pull a sour face.
I guess she is the reason I don’t go partying and clubbing much. Unless it is business related.
Because when I am not working or attending to family business, I am watching her.
So, whatever she likes to do - is what I like to do.
The night rolls on and I am watching her from a corner table I reserved in VIP section. Strangers come past and sit at the table with me, some make out with each other, some are too drunk to care that they are being rude. I don’t chase them away. Having other people around me makes me less obvious.
I don’t even care they are there.
All I care about his her.
My eyes are on her.
She has so many friends around her. They are all laughing and joking and having a blast.
I feel a pang of jealously because it is the type of life I have always been curious about.
My life is nothing like this.
I have control, rules, structures, a family I have to obey, a father who is monstrously demanding of my time and energy while giving me nothing in return. Nothing but trauma and misery.
I hate him for sending Nerissa away all those years ago. I hate him for denying me the love of my life.
I hate him because he adores Masaccio and even though Mas is my twin - it is made clear to me daily that I cannot compare to him. I am nothing compared to my twin - and it’s all because he was born a mere few minutes before I was.
The first-born son - and the runt. That is how my father views it.
Nerissa leans close to a friend as they converse over the music.
She has the eyes of every man in this place on her - and she looks like a goddess - but I can see something else in her eyes.
Sadness. Disappointment.
“I haven’t heard from him today.” Her friend says, shaking her head.
“He promised he would be here.” Nerissa says, looking around with her brows knotted together.
Riley.
That fucking boy.
Well, princess, he won’t be here. He will never be part of your life ever again. I made sure of that.
It annoys me she is so upset by his absence.
But I push it aside because after tonight it won’t matter.
Nothing else but her and I will matter.
Our worlds will converge, and we can be together as we were always meant to be.
Nerissa accepts that Riley is not going to show up, and she focuses on her friends and the party. She has an incredible night and near the end, when I can see she is getting ready to leave, I stand up to leave as well.
I want to get there before her.
I want to surprise her.
My excitement blooms like a wildfire on an open, dry field.
“Soon, little bird.” I smile, taking one last look at her gorgeous figure and that beautiful face - then I leave the VIP section. Disappearing into the crowded space below as I push my way to the exit.
I climb into my car, a smile etched onto my face.
I open the glove box and pull out the small velvet box inside it.
Opening it, I look down at the ring.
A little bird, made from diamonds, set on a platinum band.
She will say yes.
Of course, she will say yes.
I tuck the velvet box into my pocket and pull out into the road, driving towards the other side of the city where her little apartment is.
When she comes home, I will be waiting for her. Like I have been waiting so many times in the past - but this time I am going to say hello.