CHAPTER 101: SMASHED EGO

Luciano cleared his throat. "Sonia?"

"Sìcarpo." She stepped forward.

"You said you’re going grocery restocking today?"

"Sìcarpo."

Daniela’s eyes rested heavily on him, waiting for him to give a decree that would make her completely lose it.

"Agnello?"

Elio went to him immediately, and as he gestured with his fingers, he leaned in so he could whisper to him.

"SìLuce," he replied with a grin, as he straightened up.

"What was that? What did you say to him? Why can’t we all hear your decision when you made everyone vote anyway?" Daniela challenged him.

"Oh I wasn’t hiding my decision. I told him to take one of my cards and give it to Sonia with the list. That’s my decision," he said, and rose to his feet.

Salvatore couldn’t help his smile.

Vittorio’s eyes flashed half in disbelief, half in resignation.

Marcello’s gaze remained buried on his drink, as he pretended he wasn’t as invested. But when Elio began to leave, he hurriedly followed him.

Daniela went after Luciano. "Really? You’re going to do this to me? In the presence of everyone?

He didn’t respond to her tantrums, but kept on moving.

She followed him, screaming at the top of her voice, whilst demanding an explanation for why he so easily gave in to Valentina’s demands.

"This is not good," Chris said after they had exited.

Natalia’s gaze moved sharply to him. "What is not good?" She asked before she could stop herself.

Vittorio’s brow lifted, and Salvatore leaned out.

"Sorry, do I know you?" Chris questioned with a condescending tone.

"I–"

"Good, I wasn’t talking to you. It would do you a world of good not to butt into conversations that have nothing to do with you. Especially when you don’t even know me," he cut her off, and then chided her as if he was talking to a child.

"You can’t talk to her that way, Chris," Vittorio jumped in with a measured yet stern tone.

Chris’ gaze darted towards him, and so did Aurora’s.

"Why? I get you all treat women like they’re fragile eggs around here, thanks to Luce of course, but does that mean disrespect from them should be brushed aside?"

"Walk with me Chris," Vittorio rose to his feet. "Let’s talk somewhere else."

"Or maybe we should hear him out? What were you going to say before dear Natalia interrupted?" Salvatore jumped in.

"If you must know, I was going to mention the same thing anyway. Why is Luce letting a woman control him?"

Guns were drawn in a split second.

"Take that back," Salvatore, who pointed his gun directly at him, ordered.

Natalia froze from her seated position. Things had gone from tame to heated in a snap of a finger.

"You know I didn’t mean it as an insult. I’m saying this Valentina girl cannot be trusted. Look at how much you’re all willing to protect her. What if she’s a spy? She easily agreed to marry Richard Ross Voltron."

Natalia gagged, and began to cough.

Sonia dashed towards her, with a glass of water ready.

Aurora, despite her dislike for her, helped Sonia feed her with the water whilst patting her back.

Vittorio’s toes curled, to stop himself from going to her and helping out too

However, when she began to breathe easy again, he shot his gaze towards Aurora.

He was thankful. She hated him for it, throwing her face to the side to prove just how much.

"I’m sorry, I’ve got to go to Val. Can I please go to her?" Natalia pleaded, at the verge of tears.

"I’ll take you to her," Salvatore offered.

"No, I will," Aurora said, much to everyone’s surprise.

"You will?" Natalia lifted a surprised brow.

"Don’t look so surprised. I’m already so triggered by the amount of testosterone I’m surrounded by. Come on, let’s go." She rose to her feet.

"Okay, thank you so much," Natalia replied, also rising up.

Aurora turned to Sonia before she left. "Clear up and leave so the boys can bitch about, because clearly that’s all they know how to do."

"Sìsignora." She bowed.

"Come on, Natalia."

Natalia looked to her side, and gave Chris a disgusted look, before her gaze moved to Vittorio.

He nudged his head a little, and she mouthed a thankyou.

Aurora was already almost at the door when Natalia hurried up to catch up with her.

"You’re going to tell me what the fuck was that!" Salvatore demanded the moment the door closed behind them.

Sonia flinched, but hurriedly began to clear up the table so she didn’t have to deal with the men for much longer.

"What was what, Salvatore?" Chris counter asked.

"Why were you rude to Natalia? Your words made it seem like you don’t know her, but the way you said those words felt like you did. Are you hiding something, Chris?" Vittorio eyed him.

Chris jumped to his feet. "How dare you two question me? The only reason I’m even in Neravalle is to help Luce. What rights do you both have to question me? I have worked at the intelligence units in the US government. When I feel something off, I’m almost never wrong. Mark my words, this Valentina girl will be the end of Luce."

Salvatore fired, and the bullet went past Chris, blasting the wall behind him.

Sonia froze.

"What the fuck, Salvatore?! You could have shot me!" Chris’ voice rose into the heavens in alarm.

"But I didn’t. Although I’m not quite sure where I’ll put the next bullet. So listen to me you motherfucker. Luce is smarter than your average man. It will take more than one mere human to bring him down. Your doom prophecy is blasphemy. The only shield you have is being Luce’s friend. Tread carefully, Chris. I’m watching you." He cracked the gun again, and Chris’ eyes widened.

"That’s enough Salva," Vittorio said.

Salvatore whipped his head his way. "Talk to your boy. He already crossed two lines today. If there’s a third, I’ll act first, and face Luce later."

"Fair enough," Vittorio said, as he watched Salvatore walk away.

Sonia wasted no time in following him, whilst holding the first set of tray filled with plates in her hands.

She didn’t plan on coming back. Not with the tension in the room. Someone else would just have to clear the rest.

"You’d allow him to insult me like that?" Chris questioned Vittorio after everyone else had left.

Vittorio shrugged. "Did you hear the statements you were making? Who do you think Luce is that a woman would be his undoing?"

"But she’s no ordinary woman, is she? She’s one heck of a gorgeous woman. She has the body of a goddess. She’s the kind of woman that enchants men, would you deny that?"

"Again, there you go sounding like you know these people personally. This is why Salvatore is suspicious of you. And can you blame him? Just stop acting shady. I think you should leave Neravalle for a while too. You can come back when the pageant begins."

Chris’ eyes squinted in disbelief. "You’re chasing me out of Neravalle?"

"No, I’m telling you that if it comes down to picking a side in the presence of Luce, I’m going with Salva. So stop provoking him, so he doesn’t act on it. You and I know he has no control when he sees red. That’s all Chris. Excuse me." He, too, walked out of the room.

The moment he was left alone, Chris’ trampled ego propelled him to pull his phone out of his pocket.

He began to dial Ross Voltron.