Chapter 92: You can’t leave
Carmen
The message I received from Bianca was mostly expected. Especially since the longer her son was missing, the more the chances of him being dead, the words carrying desperation even through the short phrasing.
"You can leave!" I told Vera, who had just finished serving the wine, leaving the bottle neatly on the table before turning around to leave without another word.
Insisting on serving me even though I knew she wanted nothing more than to use me for her own goals.
"Nico is aware," I muttered to myself, not wanting to think about her for a second more as I laid halfway on the sofa, one arm draped lazily over the backrest while I sipped from the wine in my glass, the taste barely registering.
It was mid afternoon and I should have been in the company but I wasn’t in the mood.
Moreover, Nico said it himself—there were more people already reaching out to me, from other countries and other companies, wanting to partner with me.
Especially Aran, whose messages I’d been ignoring long enough that any normal person would have understood what I meant.
For him, he didn’t seem to care.
Insisting on meeting me at least once before he backed off.
But I was worried.
Nico headed out to his company under heavy guard and even Bianca was being indirectly attacked.
I wasn’t stupid enough to think that they wouldn’t come for me, which was why I spent most of my days in the estate, the gates and security becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity.
My business was being run by managers and as of that moment there was no reason to risk my neck—until I got Bianca’s message.
Dialing a few numbers on my phone, I called a couple of people and gave them instructions, my tone clipped and precise, which was the best I could do for now.
Nico did not care about his brother and he made that very clear by avoiding all questions I asked in relation to him.
With a sigh, I finished my drink with a gulp, the burn lingering slightly, before I stepped out of my room and headed straight upstairs, my steps echoing faintly in the quiet hallway.
There was a study there and a mini library which I enjoyed spending my time in, a place that usually helped me think.
Heading in only to come face to face with Vanessa who seemed to have been waiting for me to arrive, standing stiffly near the desk.
"I’m not in the mood!" I directly told her, my patience already thin, and I wasn’t.
The offshore rigging was yet to begin but the moment it did begin and Mivite was found, regardless of the quantity, we would be in trouble.
Already Nico had found out the company linked to the government contracts which belonged to Vito. Someone he intended to kill and take over from—and the thought worried me more than I cared to admit.
The moment Vito died, his men would spiral like they always did, worse since he had no heir.
And even more was the enemy he had clearly aligned himself with.
Half of those shares would already belong to the so-called king, so the entire process would simply be stemming a bleeding wound, not curing it.
"I have a lot on my mind! Too much!" I told her, pushing the door open wider and directly telling her to leave as I met her gaze.
Stunned, as always, to realize that she was indeed my sister.
Half sister—but family regardless.
Especially with those eyes and face that were very similar to mine.
"We can talk later!" My voice softened slightly as I spoke. "I have a couple of things I..."
"I would take your time!" She insisted, wrapping her arms around her chest as she spoke, her posture defensive but unyielding.
"This will be quick!" she added.
I stepped in, closing the door behind me with a quiet click, the room suddenly feeling more enclosed.
"Well... what is it that suddenly cannot wait?" I asked her, my tone edged with impatience, only to watch her take a breath in like she was preparing herself for battle.
"You do know you’re safe here, Vanessa!" I reminded her. "Whatever those attacks were... they are over! Taken care of!" I told her, even as she glared back at me, stepping closer, her voice low but full of steel.
"Really, Carmen? In a mafia family? Is violence ever over and done with?" she asked.
For a second, I wanted to deny it.
Wanted to tell her that we were simply business people and that she had nothing to worry about.
But I had bigger problems than comforting a grown woman clinging to false reassurance.
"There’s violence everywhere! You could go out on the streets and get hit! We have violence of our own but it’s taken care of!" I replied, my voice firm.
"You’re part of a cartel, aren’t you? Father was! Drugs and the likes. Is that also what you deal in?" she asked, her gaze insistent, searching.
I met her eyes, my expression softening slightly as it hit me again—she was my sister.
"So what if I am? Father was—and he did pretty well for himself. I can take care of myself, Vanessa!" I snapped, frustration slipping through.
"What is this actually about?" I asked, narrowing my eyes, finding it difficult to believe this confrontation was just about my affiliations.
"Nico is also related, right? That gunfire from that night was because of a mafia attack, right?" she asked, her voice softer now, almost pleading.
"...how are you so sure it won’t happen again?" she added.
I could lie to her.
It would have been easy.
But she was going to live with us.
She might as well know the truth.
"It might!" I admitted. "We’re a mafia family, Vanessa. What did you expect? The money Nico paid was to make up for that. Even if you don’t work, it would still be more than enough," I told her, my voice firmer now, wanting her to stop acting weak when I knew she could be stronger.
"You’ll be safe! I can promise you that..."
"...and what if I want to leave? Return the money you gave me?" she asked, meeting my gaze with a resolute expression that showed she had already made up her mind.
But I instantly shook my head, my own expression hardening.
Vanessa had to show up in public as Nico’s girlfriend.
If she suddenly disappeared, with Bianca’s lies about us being half siblings, it would ruin my reputation even more than Nico’s.
...and reputation was everything.
"You can’t leave, Vanessa. You know that!" I told her, my tone leaving no room for argument.
For a moment, she just stared at me.
Then she walked right past me, her shoulder brushing slightly against mine as she headed out.
The door slammed behind her, loud enough to almost rattle on its hinges, the sound lingering in the silence she left behind.
