“Before my phone died, he sent me a text. You changed your mind? You don’t want me to work for you anymore? Is it because of last night? I went to call my mom?—”
“Oni, you’re not going back. I didn’t give any such order. I don’t know what the fuck your uncle is talking about, but you better be in my house when I get back,” I say harsher than I mean to.
“Oh, maybe I misunderstood. We’re almost back to the house. Once I charge my phone, I can call Uncle Claude and find out what’s going on.”
“Do nothing. I will get to the bottom of this,” I say and hang up.
I have a feeling I already know what’s going on here. I’m not the only one who can see I have a young and beautiful girl under my roof. A girl who would be mine to choose.
My uncle and I get along for the most part. He’s always been like my second dad. However, about two months ago, he informed me of an arranged marriage I have no intention of taking part in.
Oni’s uncle made an agreement with me and my pop. The only way he would try to renege on that is if my uncle got involved. Oni is a threat to him.
Any woman I show interest in is a threat until I agree to this marriage. Well, my uncle can call on an army because I’m not agreeing to that shit, no matter what. It’s a power play.
He doesn’t even like the Abato family. Juliana Abato is a whiny, entitled bitch. One hour in a room with her and I was ready to blow my own brains out.
Apparently, we used to play together or something as kids. Now her father and my uncle think we’re a match. If anything will keep me from being don, it will be this arrangement.
However, I never lose. I always get what I want. I’m not about to allow some stupid arranged marriage to get in my way.
“Hello, I’ll get my niece out of your hair within the hour. I’m on my way,” Claude Raven answers the phone.
“Why the hell would you do that? I told you I have a project I need her for. I have already been paid six million for a single contract. Are you trying to make me look bad?”
“No. What the hell is going on? I got a call this morning that I should pick her up and send her back home, that her debt has been taken care of,” Claude says tightly.
“That call didn’t come from me or anyone under me. I’m almost a hundred percent it didn’t come from my pop either.”
“What have you gotten my niece into? The call came from Emilio himself. My brother’s baby girl is now on that man’s radar, Rico. What the fuck?”
“I’ll handle it. I promised you I’d take care of her, and I will,” I bite out.
He curses and mutters away from the phone. I have respect for Claude, so I hold my temper. In all honesty, I should allow him to take her back home.
I can find another driver for this job, but I want her. The fucked-up part is, when I say that, I’m not sure if I just mean for the job anymore.
“I’ll handle my uncle. Oni stays.”
“Respectfully, Rico, your family may have to just bring the smoke. I don’t know what kind of bullshit y’all are on, but Oni won’t be in the middle.”
Oni
“Thank you,”I say with a tight smile as the chef places a bowl of fruit down next to my plate.
Now, in the light of day, this place is so bright. The sun is pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap the house. Sitting here has made me nostalgic for the times when I used to sit with Daddy in our big house before everything went to shit.
I don’t know why I was so disappointed to find out Rico wants to send me back. I was taken aback by the text from UncleClaude. I woke this morning with a plan for how to make this all work for me.
After making a call back home and asking some vague questions, I was able to figure some things out as I mapped a course of action. This doesn’t have to be all bad.
I was even a bit excited to get my new wardrobe. I can’t say I was surprised when Mario took me to the high-end shops. From the looks of Rico’s guys, they all dress to impress. Why should I be any different?
However, from his tone on the phone, I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Things are about to change again. It feels like my life has shifted at least five times since I’ve been here. Each decision, each action, changes the course of my fate.
I should be happy. I’m getting out and I’m going home. Maybe I can actually spend the summer with my uncle like I planned. All my plans have fallen apart, and I will need to figure out what I’m going to do after the summer ends, but it looks like I’m about to take a turn off this dangerous road.
At least that’s what I believe until I hear the sound of tires screeching in front of the house. After Mario and I returned from shopping with all my bags, he left me here, saying he had some business to handle for Rico. I was told to stay put.
