Chapter 14 Celeste
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CELESTE
"In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Shortly after the last text I got from Blakely, we arrived home introducing Gabby to Adelina and showing her the room she’ll be staying in while she’s here.
I made sure to have her in the room next to mine so I can get to her right away.
At first she was hesitant to stay by herself but as soon as Adelina brought in a night light and showed her the TV full of cartoons she can have on while she sleeps, she was instantly excited to have her own shows.
She ran over to her bed and placed her stuffy on her pillow and pulled the blankets back to make sure she was nice and warm. She really is the cutest thing ever.
As we’re heading down the stairs, the door swings open and Blakely walks in with a bag overflowing like she’s moving in and Ella is at her side with her little bag and some Barbies.
Ella waves at Gabby and instantly runs over to her to show her the barbies she brought over.
Meanwhile, Blakely’s eyes narrow at me, warning me that I’m on her shit list.
“Careful, Ms. Blakely. You’re going to leave a dent in the wall with that entrance,” Adelina scolds, rushing over to help grab her bags.
She knows better than to light my ass on fire with Adelina around. If there’s one person we fear most, it’s her. When we were younger, we weren’t scared of my father’s wrath, no, Adelina would whip our ass where we would walk funny for days.
“Looks like you’re moving in. What is all this?” I approach her, giving her a tight hug. “Thank you.”
She stills in my arms and pulls me back at arm’s length with a confused look on her face. I don’t know how to react to this sudden pause. She’s not the kind of girl that gets stumped or even catches a breath for that matter.
“Did Celeste Hansley just say thank you? Are you sick or something?” She places her hand over my forehead as if checking my temperature.
I smack her hand away playfully, rolling my eyes. She’s so damn dramatic but I also can’t blame her for thinking I’ve gone mad. Not that I’m not already; with the string of events, it might prove that I’ve lost my everlasting mind.
“Watch it, you’ll never hear it again with that attitude. But seriously, why did you bring so much stuff? I just needed jammies and an outfit.”
“I brought those, but I also couldn’t pick which one and these clothes are too small for Ella, so I figured this little sweet thing can use them.
Ella also picked out a comfort blanket and stuffy that she wanted her to have and toys they can play with.
Oh, by the way, we’re spending the night.
” She flips her hair and ushers the girls to the family room.
The girls get settled on the rug, instantly becoming best friends.
Ella teaches Gabby how to play Barbies and their laughs fill my home.
As they have their little play time, Adelina waves us off as she settles on the couch with a book.
We didn’t even need to be asked if she knew Blakely and I needed some space.
We head into the kitchen and I disappear into the wine cellar grabbing our favorite wine and re-emerge with glasses already waiting on the countertop.
Popping the cork, I pour us both a generous glass.
“Spill, bitch. What the hell has been going on. You fucking ghosted me and that’s not cool.” Blakely demands as I join her at the table, handing her a glass of wine.
Maybe the wine glasses weren’t the best idea. Knowing her, she would hurl it at my head and then proceed drinking from the bottle.
“Where do you want me to start? From the beginning or how I have custody of that little sunshine?” I sigh.
I bring the glass to my lips, taking a sip of the sweet, delicious wine. We’re definitely going to need more than one bottle.
“From the beginning. You went to Rome and came back as a whole ass boss. What the fuck happened?” Sipping her wine, she stares at me waiting for my explanation.
Has it really been so long since we talked? I’m a shit friend and I feel bad but so much has happened that I haven’t had a chance to really breathe.
“As you know, I went to Rome to handle some business. As I was walking the streets to meet the boys at the restaurant where we were going to celebrate, someone came up from behind me with a cloth. I blacked out and woke up in some basement tied up to a chair. I lost track of how long they had me, maybe a day or two. I was able to get loose when they left me with a lazy-as-fuck guard taking a nap in a chair in front of me. I tried to get answers but he wouldn't come forward. Once I finished him off, I got my revenge on the one who beat me because he couldn’t control his anger issues.” Pausing for a split second, I take a quick sip of wine.
Still not as good as the one in Italy, but it’ll do.
“I still have no idea who was behind it or who they belonged to. Antonio found me after I made my escape and took me to get checked out and healed before we made our way home.” I told her the bare minimum of what happened to me; I didn’t want her to know the full extent, not because I don’t trust her but because of the way she’s looking at me tells me she already feels like shit for being mad at me.
Even though I’m trained and ready for things like this to happen, there’s always a chance that things could have gone so much worse and they could have gone after a loved one due to my disobedience.
I get nightmares that invade my dreams from time to time.
Not that I’m scared of any useless man, but because I was caught off guard and my senses were wiped away from me.
“Fuck, Celeste. I’m so sorry you went through that. I had no idea. Have you figured out who did this to you?” She covers her mouth with tears starting to pool.
Bitch better hold those tears in because once they roll down her face, it’s going to make me a mess and I’m not ready to face those feelings yet.
“No, I didn’t have a chance to because after spending a couple days being monitored by the doctor, we were informed of my father’s death. I missed his fucking funeral, Blakely. I didn’t get to say goodbye.” Tears start to roll down my face as I think about the worst news of my life.
I haven’t been able to talk about it or even feel the full force of his death.
“I went to his funeral and wondered why you weren’t there and why it was so sudden.
Now I understand your absence. Celeste, it wasn’t your fault.
You had no idea. Plus, you were captured by the sons of a bitches.
Blame them, not yourself. Your father loved you so much and has always been so proud of you. ” She grabs my hand, squeezing it.
Nope, go back to being my crazy, psycho friend.
Don’t do it.
Ah, fuck her. My chest heaves with pain and sorrow. It’s almost unbearable.
“I know, but still. I didn’t get to be there because Bianca made sure of it.
I don’t think he died the way she reported he did.
Something in my gut says something else happened but I don’t have evidence of it yet.
I will though and when I do, whoever was behind it will pay.
” My hands begin to shake just thinking about it.
Her eyes travel down to my hands, realizing I’m two seconds from losing it. I want answers but more importantly, I want blood.
“What else has been going on? Why do you suddenly have a little girl living with you?” Blakely tries to change the subject to lighten the mood. I love her for that and I know I can trust her as much as I trust the boys.
So I tell her about the serial killer going around taking women and how the girls at the club have been so terrified and now Samantha disappeared and I didn’t want her little girl in the system.
How I’m feeling guilty that I should have moved her sooner into a better apartment and protected her better.
She drops her jaw when I tell her about taking over my father’s position and cutting everything from Bianca’s sticky fingers.
Like me, Blakely has always hated step-mommy and pumped her fist in the air with the mention of me basically ruining her life.
“So, what are you going to do about this serial killer? Knowing you, you’re not going to leave it up to the police to find her.” Blakely eyes me suspiciously.
She knows me more than I know myself some days and it’s kind of scary. I would be royally fucked if our friendship ever ended because she has so much information on my family and me, it’s scary. She built that trust, but she also knows that if she ever betrayed us, it would be the end for her.
“I have an idea or two, which brings me to needing you to help with Gabby. What better way to draw in the serial killer than getting captured by one.” I smirk as I examine my manicured nails.
“So purposely get yourself in a world of shit, not knowing what the outcome would be. Solid plan, crazy ass. Of course I’ll help with Gabby.
Have you told Larson and Antonio about your plan?
I can imagine them losing their shit.” She takes a sip of her wine as her eyebrows raise to the top of her forehead.
At least she’s not trying to talk me out of it. I’m actually shocked that she hasn’t asked to join, not that I would allow her.
“I’ll meet with them in the next couple days and unleash my master plan and of course, I know they’re going to add their two cents.
I do need them, though, to pull this off.
I did meet someone…” I could feel my cheeks burn when I start to bring up the hot-as-hell man that I can’t seem to keep my mind off, even though I need to break it off.
I tell her about Alaric and how we met, and how he makes me feel.
That we had our first official date and how he asked me all the stupid little questions to get to know me.
Of course, I don’t leave out the amazing sex we had afterwards.
She rolls her eyes when I say that I have to cut things off now because his stupid-ass partner ran her mouth and he did nothing.
Maybe now that he knows about my occupation, or one of them, he may feel the same and I can’t have my heart broken again.
“So you mean to tell me, you have a hot-as-fuck FBI agent who gave you the best sex of your life and you’re giving him up due to something his partner said? She sounds like a twat, fuck her.” She gawks at me.
My phone chimes, causing us to both look down at the screen with Alaric’s name glowing.
Alaric: Can you please just answer me and talk about what happened? You know I don’t give a shit what Monroe had to say. I need to see you.
Blakely’s eyebrows raise as she looks down at my phone and back at me.
“See, he clearly doesn’t care. Stop ignoring the man and have hot-as-hell makeup sex with the best orgasm and flip off his partner.
You were glowing when you talked about him and I haven’t seen you that way, even with the other losers you were with.
Stop being a bitch! You never gave a shit about what others think.
Don’t start that shit now.” She shoves my shoulder.
One thing she’s right about is he’s hot and we had a really good time together.
“He may not care about me owning a strip club, but he doesn’t know about how I'm the head of the Mafia. I’m a criminal, Blakely.
I’ve killed people and it will happen again with no regrets.
It would just end up causing us both pain.
Why not just cut ties now and save us both time and energy?
” I take a sip of my wine as I try to convince her along with myself.
It would be for the best. For him anyway, there’s too many risks to be intertwined in my world.
“Because in the short amount of time you grew close, feelings stirred up. That’s some soulmate shit and you don’t just let that go. Don’t tell him about your other occupation. As of now, it’s not his concern and you’re not on the most wanted list. Easy peasy.” She shrugs.
She has a point, but, how long can I keep up the facade before he figures it out?
What would he do, arrest me? Cut ties or dig deeper into my family?
The Italian Mafia is protected by the governor so I’m not fully worried about the law.
Plus, they don’t mess with the Mafia as we control everything, but still.
I never thought I would have any type of an emotion for a man again.
These feelings I have for him are strong and after the night we spent together, it’s like I'm addicted to his touch. My body longs for him and I can’t get this sensation to go away.
I’m not sure that I truly want to. He’s a drug that I keep craving and going back for more, even if I know it could end up in shambles.
He’s interested in my favorite snack and things that I love.
He never asked me what I do for work or if I have any hidden demons.
He makes me feel important and longed for.
This persona that he puts on, no doubt is true to his nature but I can tell he has demons buried deep, locked in a metal box that he wants to keep away from one's touch. A part of me wants to stroke that box, see if his soul is tainted like mine. If he found out the sins I have committed, would he stand by my side as we run my father’s empire above all others?
Maybe I’m thinking too deeply into this.
We just met and I sound like an absolute nut job thinking that we’re more than what we really are.
Blakely mentioned soulmates, but is that even real or is it something just written in books to keep you wishing?
A criminal like me can't really have a happy ending, right?
“Earth to Celeste.” She waves her hands in my face. “See, you’re thinking about him. So stop being a stubborn bitch and talk to your man. Plus, maybe he'll have a friend that I can sink my claws into. You don’t want to deprive me of that opportunity, do you?”
“Fine, I’ll meet with him, but tonight is girls’ night. No man is going to take me away from that. Now pour me another glass, bitch, and let's go make forts with the girls.” I finally concede and unlock my screen to text him back.
Me: Let me know when you get off tomorrow, I’ll get a sitter and come by your house to talk.
Alaric: See you at six!