Chapter 1 Fiore Di Venezia

• Carrie
• I took a deep breath.
• Then I told myself it would be easy to jump. But one more look at the height from my window to the cemented ground below was enough to change my thoughts.
• So, with a racing heart, I decided to stick with walking out from my room’s door and dodging my way past everyone in the hotel. That is a better option compared to jumping out a window.
• The exit door of my huge and exquisite room soon came into view. But as I pressed the golden handle of the door, my younger sister, Bri, spoke from the other side.
• "Carrie, are you done dressing? It is time for the final rehearsal."
• I ran back on tiptoes to my previous plan. I just have to do it. I have to escape another night of rehearsals and listening to my aunties bicker about how their neighbour's kids are turning rogue. I need to escape for a while before I am sold into eternal slavery.
• Slowly, I stretched a leg over the window sill and took another look at the death trap I was about to dare, the satchel around my neck dangling ahead.
• I was about to exit my straddling position when I noticed a ladder to my right.
• Hurriedly and gladly, I found my way to the iron saviour waiting to transport me to freedom.
• Slowly, with intended caution as I wouldn't want to slip and have my guts all over the floor, I stepped down the ladder, the evening breeze blowing through my recently washed hair.
• Though the lovely scent of my hair almost made me lose focus, I stayed calm. And, I resumed the descent.
• In no time, my legs touched the bare ground of the very expensive hotel my father booked for ten whole days because his wild child was finally getting married… Getting married to a man he brought out of the blue for her.
• Trust me, I don't know how things became so terrible. But one true thing is that I cannot escape the alliance my father dragged me into. My fate has been sealed.
• My life sure has its crazy issues. Hence this little getaway that is making me consider jumping out of my window.
• The evening breeze came again and snapped me out of my thoughts, reminding me that I had a great night ahead.
• Without an exact sense of where I was going, I moved towards my left and walked down the road that was adorned by red brick walls and low-lighted street lamps. Solitude found its way to the atmosphere as well.
• That silence made me realise something. And after a thorough search of my small bag, I discovered I did not take my phone. But I was with my eye drop and credit card. So, I was good to go for the night.
• So, I walked further and further until I entered a part of Venice that greeted me with liveliness. People, in different groups, either sitting or standing, were chatting, laughing, and just going with the flow of the moment.
• I was awed by the bright lights that illuminated the emotions of the night and, soon, I was drawn by a piece of distant music. The softness of its tunes put me in a certain type of mood…
• As though I was a little piece of iron, the magnetic music drew me closer and I found myself moving deeper into the area until I was facing a bricked building that welcomed me with a staircase that ran all the way down.
• I immediately walked down the stairs.
• The place was filled with people who were paying rapt attention to the performer who was a neat-looking guy with short, spiked hair. His fingers trailed over his acoustic guitar to continuously produce melodious harmony while he sang a tune in Italian.
• I had no idea I was standing still and watching him from a corner until he winked at him.
• Soon, I found a seat and when I did, it occurred to me that everyone in the room had someone with them, someone they were chatting with dreamy looks in their eyes.
• But I didn't let that faze me. I quickly ordered a mug of beer and once that drink was in front of me, I faced the stage and told myself that the night had just started and that I needed to enjoy myself to the fullest.
• ~
• Alessandro
• A glance at the lighted city beyond the clear glass to my right told me I had already stayed longer than I wanted to.
• Well, I don't mind. I love work. Amongst other things.
• But sometimes, I like to take a short break, go out to my favourite bar then retire to my hotel room. And sometimes, within those simple activities, I torture, sometimes kill, and re-establish my stance as one of the men that should be feared.
• I was shutting down my laptop when my door creaked open. My friend, Eduardo, walked in with a wide smile on his lips.
• "Do you ever take a break from this office work?" he asked, his pocketed right hand crawling out of the confinement of his suit trousers.
• "I am pretty sure I saw you leave earlier."
• "I came back for this." The bottle of wine in his left hand was raised before he walked further into the large room and sat opposite me. "Tell me, Alessandro, do you ever think of taking a break from all office drama?"
• "Why is there an unasked question beneath your question?” I peered into his bluish eyes and a chuckle escaped his lips.
• “Nothing gets past you.”
• “I took a break from the gang for reasons best known to me.”
• A raise of his thick brows led to him adjusting his position on the leather chair. A squeaky noise was produced from his action and he said, “All I know is that you are not having fun.You are not cut out for office work.”
• My eyes narrowed instantly and I asked, “I am cut out for killing people?”
• “Yes, it suits you more. But … Wait a minute…” Eduardo’s voice thickened and I was able to hear his Italian accent. “... do you want to retire early?” Eduardo completed his question, shock on his face which was quite baby-ish to be a face in the Calcio Della Pistola gang.
• A scoff escaped me and I sat back into my comfortable chair. “What makes you think so?”
• “You have not stepped into the CDP lair in a month. Your grandfather is starting to ask questions.”
• “My grandfather asks unnecessary questions. Next time he asks about me, tell him I will be back in two weeks.”
• “But will you be back?” Eduardo was being unusually persistent, I had to raise a brow in suspicion.
• “Hmm…” With further no desire to speak about the gang, I got up and reached for my brown coat, readying myself to leave.
• "When was the last time you got laid?" Eduardo swiftly changed the topic.
• "Excuse you?"
• He tucked his hands underneath his chin. "I strongly recommend that for a good night's rest."
• I frowned at him. "Grazie, but I don't need sex for a good night's rest.”
• "Do you think I am joking? So,” intent and mischief clouded his eyes, “Alessandro, when did you last have sex?"
• As I slipped on my coat, I watched him with wide eyes. "I don't think you need that information."
• "But you do need my advice."
• "You make me sound pathetic," I replied to him while I wondered why I was still entertaining his questions.
• "Because you are. I am serious Alessandro, you need to loosen up."
• Again, I detected an unsaid statement in his voice. "I don't need to loosen up."
• "Yeah, right." Eduardo scrunched his nose in reaction.
• "Mr. Crest, don't you have somewhere you need to be?"
• "I just don't want to see you die alone."
• "Are you going to excuse your boss or should I show you how to?” My question was accompanied by a glare- the very one I give my targets before they lose their souls in my hands.
• "Sure, sure. I will leave. I don't even know why I bother. Have a great time having no fun." He grabbed his wine and walked out after giving me a little sneer.
• I knew he was being a concerned friend but of all things on my mind, women or a relationship wasn't part of it.
• And... Talking about things on my mind, I could already see Mike at Fiore Di Venezia bar, serenading the room. So, without wasting time, I walked out of my office.
• ~
• In all honesty, my attachment to the bar is strange, but there is a history behind it. Of course, there are better places around, but for some reason, I visit the bar more than I visit home.
• As usual, Mike was singing. He threw me a smirk when our eyes met. Not a lot of people live to see the next day if they do as much as breathe beside me. I guess Mike the singer has a soft spot in my bitter-sweet life.
• The bar was full as usual and couples were sharing drinks while laughing or whispering as though passing sacred words between each other.
• But one thing was different. Unlike other days, there was one person seated at the bar without a partner. On a normal day, that person is me.
• A little curious, I approached the bar. As I took a seat and turned in her direction, I frowned in amusement.
• "Is there a reason you are staring at me?" She wished to sound harsh, but there was an implanted softness in it that made it seem like she was telling a joke.
• "Well, it is not every day I see a woman using eye drops in a bar."
• She closed her eyes to reveal her long lashes that rested so well on her skin.
• "I certainly can't risk getting drunk with bad eyesight, can I?"
• "I suppose you can't."
• Her eyes snapped open and darted my way, giving me the chance to see the most alluring eyes I have seen in a while. While they were predominantly green, they had shades of blue and grey. Those eyes made her look somewhat surreal yet beautiful.
• "Are you going to stare at me all night?"
• My brows went up. What was I doing acting as if I have never seen a beautiful woman before? "Uh..."
• An amused look triumphed over the woman’s face. And the way her long black hair bounced when she fully turned to face me did not escape me. That large mass of shiny hair instantly had me imagining pulling her hair in the most sensual way.
• Her left arm resting on the bar surface, she asked, "Do you want to sleep with me or something?"
• "Of course not."
• "Why? Don't you find me attractive?"
• Another quick look at her hair and heart-shaped, full lips reminded me why I thought she was beautiful. "Of course, I find you attractive."
• "So, if you had the chance, you would have sex with me."
• I shrugged as I wondered where she was going with her words. "If I had the chance."
• She smiled. Before I knew it, she had transported herself to the seat dividing us. "What if you had the chance at this very moment?" she asked, her dreamy eyes peering into mine.
• After a thick breath escaped my lips, I asked, "What do you mean?"
• She moved even closer, giving my sense of smell something nice to feast on.
• "I want you to kiss me."
• "Excuse me?"
• Her lips wore a smile and my brain quickly captured how unique her smile was.
• With a teasing look in those eyes I couldn't stop gazing into, the woman inched her lips closer and drowned the music as she said, "Try me, gorgeous. Try me and kiss me. Kiss me hard."
• NOTE
• There are some Italian Phrases used in this story. To avoid confusion, I will include their translations at the end of the chapter.
• Grazie- Thank you
• Fiore de Venezia- Flower of Venice
• Calcio della pistola- Butt of the gun