Chapter 16 #2
"I have no problem whatsoever, I'm actually looking forward to tonight." Mariyah smiled for them both showing her how well behaved she was.
"Mariyah, if you play with fire, understand that you’re going to get burnt.
So consider yourself warned." Zak said that too calmly.
She should heed warning but she was too built up with rage to care.
She knew she would suffer at his hands tonight so she might as well make the punishment worth the crime.
***
The party was filled with the bad asses of the criminal underworld.
Zak was among the most feared. The way that everybody respected him was astonishing, it was like they were trying to impress him.
Mariyah was introduced as his niece and she smiled sweetly to all.
When she was introduced to Olivia's father Emmanuel she didn’t know what to make of it.
He kissed her hands in greeting. He was a very attractive man.
"You have the most stunning eyes I've ever seen. " He said while still holding her hand.
"Thank you." She replied smiling at him. Zak grabbed her by the nape of her neck suddenly. She tensed hating how he still thought he could treat her this way. How he could still act jealous and protective and shit.
"Your niece is very beautiful Zachary." Emmanuel was a charmer alright.
"Yes she is quite beautiful." Zak nodded his head in agreement.
"Well Mr Carrezz I don't know why I assumed that you would somehow be old and you know overweight, was I clearly mistaken.
" She up and said just because… Zak tightened his grip on her nape and Mariyah almost winced.
"Uncle Zak you are hurting me…" She looked up innocently at him and if looks could kill she would be so dead.
"Please my dear call me Emmanuelle. You must join me for a drink." She smiled and shrugged her shoulders like a bimbo.
"It's up to my uncle, he can be so overprotective sometimes."
"Zachary you don't mind if I take this beautiful young lady and have a drink with her. We will only be over there on the lounges." Mariyah noticed Zak clench his jaw repeatedly.
"One drink should be fine." Mariyah smiled and took Emmanuelle's waiting hand. Score one for Mariyah.
Emmanuelle was quite the charmer. She was enthralled with his stories. He spoke about his daughter and how spoilt she was.
"I don't think she likes me very much." Mariyah said honestly.
"Yes she would feel threatened by your looks. You see she's always been the pretty one, always been the center of attention, so when a beauty like you comes and takes away some of her light she wouldn't be too happy about that."
"I don't understand it, I've tried to be nice to her and she continues to call me a tramp and a whore and thinks I'm using my uncle for his money. I don't even want to live with them but my uncle insists I do. I have no say in the matter. When uncle Zak wants something uncle Zak gets it."
"Yes don't we all know that?" So Mariyah kept stirring the pot to suit her. She was loving having Emmanuelle's attention especially because both Zak and Olivia would be spewing. Burn baby burn!
After their second drink Zak and Olivia joined them. "Your niece is quite charming Zak." Zak smiled.
"Yes, she can also be trouble." Mariyah looked up at him innocently.
"Come now uncle, I just take after you. Runs in the family." Emmanuelle laughed.
"Seems you have your hands full with this one Zachary."
"Nothing I can't handle." Zak was pissed alright. Score two for Mariyah. Boo yah!
As the night progressed Mariyah was asked to dance with almost every sleaze alive.
She told them all she would love to only to have Zak turn them away.
When another drug lord came up to Mariyah and asked her dance she said the same thing.
Only this time Emmanuelle was quick to intervene and took Mariyah by the hands and led her to the dance floor.
How coincidental that it happened to be a slow song.
"Spend the night with me?" Mariyah was taken aback by his request.
"I'm flattered, really I am but I'm in a very serious relationship at the moment."
"No one need know." Mariyah was starting to feel uncomfortable.
"Emmanuelle, my uncle would break my neck without thinking about it."
"I can protect you."
"I don't want to get involved with my uncle and his associates. Please respect my decision."
"Of course." Just then Zak tapped Emmanuelle on his shoulder.
"May I interrupt this dance? I feel like dancing with my niece."
"Certainly." Emmanuelle kissed her hand as he handed her over to a very scary looking Zak. Zak didn't spare a second as he grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace tightly. He moved with her and acted like they were just a couple dancing, nothing out of the ordinary.
"The fuck do think you’re doing?" He whispered harshly into her ear.
"What am I doing?" Mariyah asked innocently.
" I'm going to belt the fuck out of you tonight." He grabbed her waist tightly hurting her.
"Tell me what I've done wrong? Your fiancé is walking around with her ass and tits hanging out of her dress and you are pissed with me. Really you need to sort out your priorities."
"Oh Mariyah have you any idea of what awaits you?"
"Uncle Zak you really need to chill… Now if you'll excuse me I wish to have another drink.
" She pulled away from him and he didn't try very hard to restrain her, probably because he did not want to create a scene.
Mariyah ordered another drink from the bar and decided to chat with the good looking barman.
"You often work here?" She asked smiling flirtatiously at the young man.
"Yep, it pays awesome, you busy after this?"
"Mmmm I wish I wasn't but I am."
"Too bad but I gotta tell you that I have never come across a hotter looking chick."
"Oh I'll take that as a compliment."
"So what's your name blue eyes?"
"Mariyah Hayworth."
"Well Mariyah Hayworth, my name is Justin Matthews and it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise."
***
After another four drinks Mariyah felt like dancing, she grabbed Justin and headed to the dance floor, she danced to her hearts content, like she danced, she moved her body in ways she hadn't done in a while and enjoyed every minute of it.
Damn if she didn't forget why she had been so upset earlier on.
When Justin put his arms around her waist and started grinding on her, Mariyah continued to dance, not caring who was watching. Then everything became a blur.
Suddenly Justin was pulled back and thrown on the floor, Zak was atop him punching him to death.
Mariyah trying to focus on why he was hitting him moved toward Zak to grab his arm only to be struck by Zak with such force it felt like she was flying in slow motion.
It was chaotic, she heard screams and noises and saw guns.
It took four men to pull Zak away from poor Justin.
"You fucking touching what belongs to me?
I'll fucking kill you!" Again Zak launched for Justin and kicked him repeatedly.
And again, it took four men to pull him away.
Mariyah, who was now on the floor, was being eyed out by a murderous looking Zak who was coming toward her.
She was trying hard to get her wits about her, she was in deep shit so deep she was choking on it.
"Zachary, son calm down. She’s had too much to drink." Emmanuelle was standing in between her and Zak, Mariyah stood trying to focus on her surroundings. Why was Zak so angry?
"You couldn't go without causing a scene could you?" Olivia spoke out aloud.
"Olivia that's quite enough." Emmanuel was shutting his slut of a daughter up.
"But daddy she's ruining my life."
"I said enough. Party is over, I want everybody out! Julio take Justin to the medical center. Zachary in my office please, Olivia you too."
Mariyah was left alone. Her head felt like it was going to explode. She wanted to spew and felt dizzy and didn't know if she was going or coming. What the hell was happening? She didn’t feel too good…