Page 22 of The Diávolos: Part One
Is it possible to fall for someone you don’t know?We all start as strangers.
I don’t respond to his text; I can’t find the proper words to say. Even though he states he’s no saint, I change his number to ‘Guardian Angel’ in my contacts.
My thoughts are interrupted by the faint sound of my father’s conversation as he slowly reappears in the doorway.
“I don’t care if the newGodfather,” he says in a mocking tone, “is dangerous. I’m prepared for him. All I need to know is that you have the situation under control, Philip. He can’t find out what his boss was involved in prior to his death. It’ll blow up in each one of our faces. I didn’t eliminate one problem to create another. Do you understand?”
At that, he hangs up the phone and rejoins me outside.That explains the guards, I tell myself. He’s talking to Aria’s father, and knowing them, they’re up to no good. He doesn’t sound too concerned, but whatever he’s dealing with has him worried about his safety.
“Is everything okay,baba?” I ask. He grumbles a non-response, dismissing me quickly, and I’m starting to get slightly irritated that he keeps his business completely hidden from me now. I understand I’ve been away for years in a desperate attempt to get away from the mob life, but he’s pushed me so far away, I’m lost in translation. I no longer have a purpose and I feel like a floater in this family. If I want answers, I’ll have to get them myself, and what better place to get some than at the charity ball. If my father won’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll do my own investigating by schmoozing information out of the guests at the event. I’m not the most talkative person, but I can be charming at times, and I’ll use that to my advantage.
I shove my phone in the back pocket of my jeans. The last thing I want is for him to ask me who I’m texting. How do I explain to him that I’m talking to a stranger who has been stalking me? Not that I can ever tell anyone the truth. They’ll think I've lost my mind.
I’m itching to leave my father’s side, so I’m relieved when he says he has to cut our visit short to take care of business.
We say our goodbyes and I hang around the back, sipping on what’s left of my coffee. I grab my phone again. I don’t normally show immediate interest in men who show interest in me, dismissing them the first moment I can, but with him, something feels different. I can tell that he’s not like the others. He’s a stalker, duh.
I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.Definitely a bad thing, Angie.
It’s been twenty-five minutes since his last message, so I type out a response.
Me: Why me?
Bold, Angie.
But he doesn’t respond at all, which slightly irritates me. He could at least tell me what his intentions are. I exit his conversation and open my chat with Aria.
Me: I just heard an interesting bit of conversation between our babas…
She replies almost instantly.
Aria: Spill???
Me: Do you know if anyone could be targeting my family? My father seemed upset and was talking to yours on the phone about a new ‘Godfather.’
Aria: Not that I know. I haven’t heard anything. My baba has been more on guard recently, though. But you know he never tells me stuff about his ‘business.’
Of course not. It’s not like our fathers keep us in the loop. But Aria is the greatest snoop of all time, so if she hasn’t heard anything about a new Godfather, then they really must be keeping whatever they’re dealing with quiet. I decide to forget about what I heard for now.
Me: Are you busy? Let’s go shopping. I have other news.
Aria: When and where?
Me: Now. Can you pick me up from mybaba’s?
Aria: On my way!
I go back inside to say goodbye to Eldora, and I promise to visit more often. Aria pulls up fifteen minutes later and we head to The Gallery at East Market in the Fashion District at the Harbor, where many designer stores are located. If I’m going to a high-class charity ball, I need to look and play the part.
On the way there, I tell Aria everything about my first encounter with Evan and my secret admirer. I didn’t intend to spill the beans so soon, but I feel like a kettle about to explode. If I can trust anyone with this news, it’s my best friend. She goes berserk.
“Angelica Hera Kouvalakis.How dare you not tell me about them ‘til now!” she exclaims.
“I’m sorry! I probably won’t ever see or talk to Evan again, so I brushed off the whole encounter. And I didn’t know how to bring up that I have a weird relationship with astalkerwithout sounding crazy.” If I’m being honest, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Evan since yesterday, and I truly wonder if I’ll ever see him again. The feel of his breath on my neck still taints my skin. My guardian angel has taken over the other part of my brain, and I can’t find it in me to be scared.
I definitely sound like a crazy person.
“So, you’re telling me that you physically ran into a man of steel at the shooting range, who proceeded to teach you how to shoot a rifle, standing right behind you, all up close and personal, and called you agood girl?”
