CLAIMED - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

As the darkness surrounded the big lonely mansion, one of the two peacocks awoke from the slumber. He looked at the lady laying next to him, his heart aching at the thought of leaving her alone. By the way she clung to his waist, he already knew that she would be disappointed in him if he was to not be here when she woke up. However, he knew that it had to be done. He had been too engulfed in his lust and selfishness when he had kissed her. The foreign feeling of regret set on the pit of his stomach as he stood up and walked out the room. He put on a new expensive suit that he didn't give a fuck about and locked the door on his way out. The distance between the mansion and the monsters car got larger and larger, with each road his car passed. Despite the blasting music in his car, his mind was already reminiscing about Bellas soft snores.
Back in the mansion, Bella woke up a few hours later. She stretched her arms as she took in her surroundings. She was met with the same familiar neutral toned room, that she had been in before. However, she was alone this time. Realization dawned upon her as she realized that Lorenzo had left her alone in his house. The next few moments were spent with Bella roaming around the mansion to find Lorenzo or anyone who could explain a few things to her. On the other side, Lorenzo was sitting in his office doing paper work that was important for the business. One of the workers came occasionally to give him a new cup of tea and he was sure that he would never drink tea after that day again. He looked at his mobile and a disturbing thought of calling Bella entered his mind. He cussed at himself in Italian as he gave himself a pep talk on not to be too clingy. "Be a man" he whispered to himself as he picked up another stack of paper.
Bella sighed loudly as she plopped herself on the massive couch. The living room was HUGE. NO, the whole mansion was huge, she thought to herself as she stared at the ceiling. She was beyond bored and no one was in the mansion. Not one single soul. Bella looked around for a key, but found none. Was this his way of trapping her? she started to overthink before an idea popped into her head. She smiled to herself before calling the only number she knew would help her.
Diego who was sitting amongst his friend felt vibration in his pocket, as he stuck his hand in and fished out his phone. The number was saved under "Mrs. Moretti" and he immediately stood up from the boys while hiding the phone. Bella, on the other line, let out a breath of relief as she heard the familiar voice; "Wassup cutie?". She chuckled as she walked to the kitchen. "Diegoooo, my friend!" she answered cheerfully, to which he laughed. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, looking back at the boys who were busy chatting away. "Well your dumb stupid friend left he at his home alone. Without keys!" she started telling him before she opened the fridge and was left stunned. "AND WITHOUT FOOD!" she screamed into the phone. Diego on the other line was shocked at the fact that Lorenzo had brought Bella to his own mansion. No one had seen the place, other than him and Sara. No one else. Especially not a fling. However, he decided against telling her that and instead told her that he would be on his way.
It was not long after the call that Diegos car came in Bellas sight. She didn't even wait for him to walk out before running to the car and knocking on the window. Diego rolled down the window and gave her a boyish smile. "So eager to see me, babe?" he joked to which she nodded. She liked his personality and was thankful that he actually came. He smiled at her and told her to lock the door with the spare keys he had. Not long after, they were both on their way to the super market to buy food for the mansion. They didn't have anything else to do, so they used their day on joking around and insulting Lorenzo occasionally while baking cookies and muffins. Diego had asked Bella to make the best tea she could, and she gladly did.
Lorenzo was sooo near pulling out his hair as he finally looked at the last paperwork. It consisted of a deal from another gang leader. Lorenzo chuckled darkly to himself at the audacity people had to send LORENZO JUAN MORETTI a fucking deal. What did he look like to them?! A girl scout leader?! he thought to himself as he threw the coffee cup on the ground. The noise definitely helped the lump in his heart that was so desperate to hear some noise. Just any noise that could set the silence in check. The scenario of him sitting alone in his office all day, from sunrise to sunset, took him back to the time he hadn't met Bella. He was shattered and exhausted. He still was, but he had a little light. Something to look forward to. He closed his eyes as he took the paper and curled it into a ball and threw it out the window. He stood up and rolled up his sleeves, unbuttoning the few buttons on top. He combed through his styled hair with his fingers. Slightly messing it up. And for a moment, he just stood by the window on the top floor of the insanely high building and looked at the number he had saved under the name of "Bella". Even though he hated to admit it to himself, he had started to take a liking in her. He didnt just see her as a product that he could buy and sell. She wasnt a one night stand at the strip club down town. She wasnt a fling that was waiting to go over. No, she was special and he knew that. It was the way her sassy mouth spit out fire everytime they quarreled. It was the way she suddenly turned soft when he opened up to her. It was the way she smiled at him as if he was pure. Oh no, he knew he wasnt. He was far from it. However, he could at least enjoy the feeling of it as long as it lasted. Because deep down, he knew. It would come a day where she would realise who he is. She would run from him and he would let her. Because his heart could accept that he would live in pain seeing her live without him. But it couldnt bear her living in pain with him. He sighed loudly as he put the phone in his pocket and walked out. On his way to the equally as lonely mansion.
As the black sports car neared the mansion, the delicious smell of cupcake filled the kitchen. Diego danced with every song from country to hip hop, making Bella laugh out loudly. She was putting all the cookies on a plate to have in the kitchen, while Diego filled the fridge with fruits. "How come he doesn't have fruit?" Bella thought out loud. Diego shrugged while muttering; "Weirdo shit". They were cut out as they heard a car approach outside. Lorenzo walked out, completely exhausted as he yawned. "Its just us, mansion" he whispered brokenly as he hurried to the mansion to fall on his bed. So he could forget about the loneliness and vulnerable state he was in. Tomorrow, he would wake up like a man. However, his plans went down the drain when the smell of cupcakes entered his system. His legs lead him to the kitchen as the sound of music filled his ears. He could make out someone chattering away and first time in a long time, the mansion felt like a home.
The sight of Bella setting a plate on the table, made him halt in his steps. Her hair was set in a messy bun, with several strands framing her face. She was wearing his hoodie, that looked baggy on her frame. She hadn't seen him enter the kitchen, so she was swaying her hips to the rhythm. The man standing behind her had a hard time keeping his hands to himself. To say that he was shocked by seeing her like that, was an underestimation. Bella spinned around and let out a shriek as she saw Lorenzo standing by the doorframe, leaning against it and watching her through a lazy gaze. His eyes were sultry and oozed intimidation. Just in time, Diego walked in with the tea pot that Bella had prepared. "Bels, was it supposed to be like this?" He asked, tapping Lorenzos shoulder for him to move. Lorenzo did and raised his eyebrows at Diego, surprised at the sight in front of him. "Yeah, yeah" Bella ushered out, ripping her gaze from the Greek god that was staring at her intently with a foreign emotion in his eyes.
Lorenzo walked to the table and sat down on one of the chairs without tearing his gaze from his flower. Diego smirked at the two peacocks that were trying to cover up the obvious tension in the air. "I am pregnant" he said loudly and watched the both shriek out a "what?!". He laughed at their reaction before coming to his usual self; "No, you two were so busy staring at each other, so I just had to drop a bomb to get your reaction". Bella flushed red as Lorenzo chuckled. "Eat up" Bella said, trying to change the topic. She looked at Lorenzo who picked up one cupcake with pink frosting and ate it up in one bite. Her heart swelled up at the sight of him. He looked cute holding the little pink cupcake when he literally looked and oozed the mafia look. She bit her tongue when she realized what she was doing. Stop it Bella! Lorenzo, on the other hand, was too busy stuffing his mouth with food. He had gone the whole day with only drinking the shitty tea his worker made him. It actually tasted shit, according to Lorenzo. He looked up at Bella before complementing her on her food. "These are delicious amore" he muttered. Diego coughed out loudly, earning a light slap from Bella. "Thanks, drink up the tea" she ushered him while smiling. "He is full" Diego answered before Lorenzo could. Bella furrowed her brows "oh, you are?" she asked, while looking at Lorenzo who was glaring at Diego. "Yeah, haven't you seen him drinking in you, amore" he joked while mimicking Lorenzo. This time, the slap came from Lorenzo. Diego laughed out loud. "I will drink up the tea" Lorenzo uttered before gulping down the hot tea. Bella stared at him in shock before giggling.
The three sat on the kitchen table and chatted away. The normality of the situation was unfamiliar for all three. Diego had never seen Lorenzo so relaxed and Lorenzo had never been so relaxed that he didn't think about work. Bella on the other hand couldn't believe that this was the same man who had killed someone right in front of her. Suddenly the air became thicker by the question Diego had thought about for far too long. "Lorenzo?" he asked seriously. Bella noticed the change in his tone and looked up at him. Lorenzo hummed as if he knew what was about to come out of his mouth. "Do you still want to go alone tomorrow?" he asked his friend. Lorenzo clutched the table in frustration, his knuckles turning white. "Have I ever been unsure, Diego?" he asked back calmly, with his insides burning. Diego sighed, tired of the fact that his friend wouldn't listen to him. "what don't you understand about it being impossible?You will bring him and then what? He clearly isnt alone! They will attack you when you least expect it" he fired back. Lorenzo, who was in his mafia posture again, leaned forward in his seat and hissed out his answer "Nothing is impossible for Lorenzo Juan Moretti, kid. Remember that". "I will remember that when the gang who is holding Marco will shoot your brain out when you go to kidnap him" Diego hissed back, also leaning forward. Lorenzos eyes were black at the mention of his brother. "yeah?" he asked Diego through gritten teeth. His neck veins on full display for Bella. Diego nodded, "Yeah, and don't worry. I will remember to enlighten Sara about your arrival in hell too". Suddenly silence filled the air and Bella sat there shocked at what she had witnessed. Gang, Marco, killed. The three words were running through her mind. The mention of Lorenzos death made her sad and she suddenly felt unprotected. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of losing him and she didnt even bother to conceal that feeling this time.
Diego had regretted his blowout just as it escaped his lips. He was sure that Lorenzo considered him his brother. Or else, he wouldn't have been here right now. He would have a bullet through his heart. "Nah" Lorenzo muttered after a long silence. His stone cold heart hadn't taken anything Diego had said to heart. Or so he liked to think. "even hell wont let me enter" he said as he chuckled darkly. He stood up from his seat as he heard Diego utter his name as an apology. He took the empty cup in his hand and slammed it to the wall. Bella shrieked at the impact of the cup colliding with the wall. He kept on trashing the decoration that was laid on the kitchen table. Diego shut his eyes tightly and whispered to himself; "Don't walk to your own death". The sentence wasn't unheard of Bella and she snapped her head at Diego, in worry. She didn't know what he meant by that, but judging by the conversation, she was sure he was in deep shit. She couldn't even imagine what he was going to do.
"Go home, kid" Lorenzo uttered before walking out the kitchen.
She was left sitting with a mourning Diego as she stared at the trashed kitchen. It was broken to pieces, but the plate of cupcakes was unmoved. And amongst the chaos, she felt just like the cupcakes. Special.