CLAIMED - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Lorenzo
My fancy shoes hit the marble floor as I walk inside the meeting room, confidence and authority radiating from my body. The sound of my steps lingered in the air filling it with anticipation. I held my chin high and shoulders stiff as I passed by my workers. Girls and boys scurrying away, not to fall in front of the beast's eyes. Eyes that held both rage and venom. I pushed open the door roughly as I saw my workers eyes snap to the floor, too afraid to look me in my eyes. I cared for my people, but business was business. Every mistake had to be paid for by death. Nothing other than death. I could hear low mummers in the big room, but one stood out to me; «The beast is here». As if the rage in me wasn't enough to shatter me, I took the glass nearby clutching into it hard. So hard that the sound of glass was soon heard, in the now silent room. Completely silent, without any mummers. The glass had cut a gash in my hand and I was sure that the stupid doctor was somewhere in the midst of all these people, cringing at the thought of infection. Stupid. Fucking stupid.
«I got a call today telling me that my truck to zone 15 didn't meet at the destination. Everyone in this room is responsible for a safe drug delivery, am I right?!» I roared loudly, the veins in my neck popping off. The boys nodded fast with their girls hiding behind their backs, fearing for what their boss was capable of. Suddenly the heavy feeling entered my heart again, quietly and without me knowing. Bella. If she was here, hypothetically, would she grab my arm like that? Snap out of it, Lorenzo. You will claim her, not love her. A mafia leader does not love.
«Now, you have to repay the consequences of your dumb mistake. Every fucking being in this room will find me my truck loaded with drugs, a millions worth. If I don't have it in front of me by tomorrow, I will kill everyone here. One by one. Selling your precious women and getting my money back that way» I said, venom dripping with every word. «NOW FUCKING GET AWAY FROM MY EYES» I screamed as everyone fled out of the room. I stood there still after everyone had left. You could even hear the blood from my hand, land on the marble floor, that's how silent it was. I don't even know if I am breathing. Despite the quietness surrounding me, my mind is filled with chaos. How could the boys be so irresponsible?
«Come sta? (how are you)» I heard Diego from behind me as he put a hand on my shoulder. He knew how important the business was for me. Nothing was more important than business and family. The money we made went back to the gang. The expenses of the houses, the food, the doctor, the trucks, EVERYTHING! We still had money; we always did. I knew that I could support the gang with the amount of money I had, but we had a target on our backs. Being the Mafia leader with the biggest gang in England was not easy. We always had eyes on us, every mistake gave them a room to fuck with us. And no one fucks with my family.
«Sto bene (I'm fine)» I muttered as I fixed my blazer. Diego looked at me with worry in his eyes, but I ignored him as I started to walk out of the building. I needed a relief to shut the chaos in my head, so I let my legs lead the way to the strip club down the road. I needed something to forget about the business and the lady that had occupied my mind. After my last visit at the cafe, a few days ago, I hadn't been the same. I would picture her everywhere. In my house cooking breakfast. In my favorite restaurant where she would sit on the other side, looking beautiful. In my bed, where she would moan my sinful name with her pearl like tongue. Fuck. I had gone insane! My suit pants felt tighter, as I cursed out walking faster down the road bumping into a few people. No one dared talking to me, as if they already knew I was ready to break something. My thoughts were cut as I opened the door to the strip club, as the owner ran to me. Greeting me as he led me to the VIP section. The rest was a blur, as I still felt the emptiness in my heart despite the blond bimbo satisfying my every other need.
Non capisco (I don't understand)
After a ton of alcohol and a few sessions with the blondie, I walked out of the strip club and started to walk towards the cafe. The cafe that had built a special place inside my heart. I bumped into a few people but walked along the sidewalk as the sight of the cafe was right in front of me. Suddenly I was pulled back by my shoulder, as I now stood facing Diego. Despite my vision being blurry from the hard liquid, I could make out his shaved head and tattooed neck. I chuckled, not being able to control myself. I was drunk
«I have been searching for you everywhere! You are drunk, let's get you home» he pleaded as he held my arm, trying to drag me to his car. I shook my head as I stared at the cafe. «I have to see her. Cuore mio (my heart) » I slurred as I recalled my visit to the strip club. The blondie was nothing compared to my Bella. Her touch didn't feel the same. It didn't soothe me. It felt as if my rage was stuck in me from earlier, wanting to escape but it didn't find a way.
«No, no. Look, Lorenzo. Look at me» Diego said running after me, to stop right in front of me. «What?» I barked trying to look for her in the cafe through the glass window. But, what I saw next only set fuel to the fire. I saw MY Bella talking and laughing with a boy. I squinted my eyes as I tried to see his face, to confirm it wasn't pretty boy and guess what? it wasn't. It fucking wasn't. Diego had seen what my eyes were witnessing as I saw his eyes pop out of their sockets. I smirked as I let out a low laugh. Look at her smiling and laughing with a boy, as I am craving her touch like a madman.
«You aren't thinking, Lorenzo. If you go in there now, she will be scared of you! » he screamed after me as I pushed him aside and started walking towards the cafe that held my woman.
«If scared is what it takes for her to take me serious, then so be it» I said, loud enough for Diego to hear as I opened the door roughly, barging inside. I didn't even wait for Bella to greet me, before I lunged at the boy. I could hear people gasp and scream as I punched the boy in front of me, like a maniac. It felt nice, it felt really fucking nice. The rage I had held in myself was pouring out in the punches. I could hear him grunt and pant as every punch was delivered with more strength than the previous one. The people around me vanished, as I saw blood pouring out of his mouth and nose. The image of him being with Bella instead of me, didn't let me back down. This was a sign for everyone else to know she was . She was my woman. Only mine.
I pulled out my gun from my waistband as I opened his mouth by slapping him hard. I pushed my gun in his mouth as I looked at the fear in his eyes. A gun shot was heard, but not from me. I whipped around to see Diego who had shoot in the air, clearing out the cafe in seconds. Several gang members, including Scar, ran to us pushing me away from the bruised and bloody boy. They screamed some orders to each other as i saw them lift him up to their car driving him away somewhere. I was stood still, as Diego nodded at me as a sign of farewell, walking out of the cafe with pretty boy by his side. I had been so engrossed in my own world, that I hadn't noticed him standing behind the counter.
My eyes looked at Bella who was pressed against the wall, far away from me. I could tell she was scared by the way her body shivered as she bit lip, preventing herself from letting out a sob. She was scared of me. That's what I had wanted right? I walked up to her, holding the counter for support. She scurried away from me, as tears streamed down her face. I grabbed her arm pushing her to the wall, trapping her with my hands. She shut her eyes, breathing in my scent. She crinkled her nose, looking away. Her eyes travelled to my neck as she probably saw the lipstick marks on it. Her eyes met mine yet again. That's what pulls me back! How does she have the confidence to stare back at me after seeing me nearly kill someone? She sure is something.
«Tell me that you are mine, Amor» I whispered as our forehead touched. My day had been torturous, and I needed nothing else then for her to say she was mine. I needed her. I craved her.
«Let's get you home» she whispered back, sniffling as she backed her forehead away, wiping her tears. She held my bloody hand in hers as she gently pulled me on the stool. I saw her collect her things swiftly as she started putting cups back, I assume to close the cafe.
«I went to the strip club today» I told her, seeing her head whip towards me as her eyes held an unknown emotion. She continued her job as I continued my story. «But I didn't like it. The girl wasn't like you. No one there was. Heck, I don't think there is anyone like you anywhere» I continued to ramble, not missing her posture stiffen at my words. She shut the lights off, as she walked towards me, holding my hand gently, walking out with me following behind. I don't think she knows how much I let slip because of her. I would never follow anyone, but I could chase her every day.
«I went to the doctor also» I tried again. Her silence was killing me. «For what? » she asked, her voice really low and hoarse. She was too nice and caring. Too good for someone as selfish as me. «Heart problems» I muttered, not knowing what to say. What was I supposed to say; «Hi, I have a syndrome called Whipped»? Bella looked at me confused before adverting her focus on the street ahead of her.
«I don't have a car here, but I will call-» I started before she cut me off; «I am taking you home» she said confidently. Don't cut me off my Bella. I nodded at her, not saying anything. I wanted her close to me anyway. In my arms.
The walk wasn't long and my head my starting to feel much better. I didn't feel so drowsy. Bellas apartment came in sight as I though back to the last time I was in her apartment. I had nearly kissed her. The sound of her keys snapped me back to reality as she opened the door to her apartment. She fiddled with her fingers as I walked inside behind her, locking the door. The lock sound made her shoulder stiff, but she recovered quickly.
«Let's get you cleaned up» she said looking up at me innocently. I nodded as I followed her to her bathroom. She made me sit as she looked around in her bathroom collecting different creams and shit. I had never cleaned my cuts or gashes, so this was weird for me. I had never been afraid to put my life on stake. I never had anyone who would wait for me if something bad happened to me. I had the gang, but even they had their own families to return to. It wouldn't be a big deal if my body was in pain. The boys would probably faint if they saw their boss being ordered by a woman bandaging his hand. I blame it on the whipped syndrome.
«This might hurt» she added before putting a stinging lotion on my gash I had gotten from the glass. I didn't even hiss, I had been through worse. Bella started humming an unfamiliar tune, acting as if this was a sleepover. Is this normal or am I the one who is too serious?
«You do know that I am a beast, right?» I said but was completely ignored as she stared at my hand fixing the bandage. I grabbed her arm lifting her up to my face.
«Stupid, yes. An idiot, yes. Possessive, yes. But not a beast» she said calmly. I could still tell that she was upset from her eyes. They didn't hold the same twinkle. «don't ever to that again» she said looking straight in my eyes. Just when I looked back in her eyes, she shifted her focus to my cheekbone as she started cleaned off the blood with a wet towel.
«I wont if you say your mine» I said huskily as I used my bandaged hand to trace circles on her lower back, knowing that she wouldn't swat it away. She cared too much. She sighed from my response as her eyes moved to my lips. she stood up from her kneeling position in front of me as I sat on her toilet seat. She hesitated before crouching down to me, to heal my busted lip. She tried finding a good angle, before I held her waist lifting her up to my lap with her legs on either side. She gasped as I shut my eyes, trying not to scare her away. Moments later I felt her soft hand come in contact with my face. Her one hand cupped my chin as the other gently wiped blood from my mouth.
«I would stop smoking for you» I whispered opening my eyes to see her tearful eyes gazing down at me. She sniffled as I held her closer to me. What was she thinking about?
«Better? » she whispered as she leaned back, inspecting every cut or gash on my hands and face. Ignoring my comment, yet again.
I shook my head in response as I saw her brows furrow. She looked scared, as if I would hurt her. I would never hurt her. I cupped her cheeks as I leaned her closer to me again. I could hear her pulse quicken as she breathed in and out faster. I looked into her eyes and then to her lips, as she put her hands on my chest. «Ho un debole per te» I whispered before closing the gap between us. (I'm weak for you)
I kissed her softly, using one hand to grip her hair. She kissed back slowly, careful not to hurt my lip further. I melted in her embrace as I kissed her harder, for her to let me deepen and cherish her further. I could feel her battle against me not letting me deepen the kiss. I used my hand to travel underneath her shirt and to her breast. I felt her shiver from my touch, but I didn't end the kiss. She wasn't wearing a bra allowing my skin to touch her breast directly. I pinched her nipple, as she gasped into my mouth letting my tongue enter her mouth. I kissed her with passion, my kiss telling her that she was mine. Even if she didn't say it herself. I made sure that no other kiss could compare to this, if she ever thought about another man. She pushed at my chest after a good moment, breaking the kiss to breath. Her face was flushed, her lips slightly plumper. I waited for her to panic after registering what just happened, but to my surprise she traced her finger along my lips softly. I kissed her neck that still held my mark from last time. My heart warmed at the sight of her bearing something mine on her and I wasn't sure about a lot of things at this moment, but one thing was for sure; my heart didn't feel as heavy now.