Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 89: Chapter 89

ALINA
I stumbled forward, hitting my arm on the rails as my knees went out from under me.
I was in a free fall, almost landing on the stairs before a hand shot out and caught me.
I landed against a solid chest and looked up, into handsome green eyes.
“Shouldn't you be more careful where you're going, sweetheart?” A deep voice that sent shivers down my spine said.
It was Kwan!
I shuddered with tension. I had almost lost my life. Analide and Ethan were standing behind us, and none of them rushed to help me..
Analide rushed down the stairs. She gave a smile of relief. “Alina you have to be the most clumsy person ever. Thank God Kwan was there to save you.”
What was she talking about? My heart was still pounding in my ears from shock.
I had felt someone push me down the stairs, or hadn't I?
Kwan’s fingers were still around my waist and as I looked up, I saw that some of the guests had been drawn to the commotion, some of them taking pictures of the two of us.
Analide turned to them a moment later, sharp-heeled and too graceful.
She made a show of waving the onlookers off. “Please, everyone don’t stare. It’s not polite. Accidents happen when people aren’t paying attention.”
She looked directly at me as she said it. Her voice soft, her smile generous, but the message loud and clear. Did she think me falling off the stairs was a mistake?
Kwan had his arms around my waist and I stepped away, feeling tired of all the mishap.
There were only two people behind me when I fell. Ethan and Analide. But those two were my friends, none of them would ever push me, or would they?
Luca called me right then. I exhaled and laughed softly. Maybe I had imagined it all. “Hello, hubby? Your timing is perfect. I was just saved from breaking my neck.” I told him.
I heard his growl. “What does that mean? Who hurt you? Tell me where you are now!”
Analide stepped beside eagerly like she was trying to hear what Luca said.
I took Kwan’s hand and walked away from them. He followed me, confused.
“Cool your temper. I'm fine. I fell down the stairs, but I was saved by Mr. Kwan. I will invite him to dinner at our house, will you be free to come home early?”
Luca agreed to come home early and we ended the call. I looked up at Kwan. “Thank you so much for saving my life, I might have died if you hadn't arrived just then” I gasped gratefully.
He smiled, flashing straight white teeth. “You're welcome. Your neck is too beautiful to break. I'm glad I was able to save you.”
I took both of his hands. “Promise me you will come to dinner at my house this evening.”
Analide slid between the both of us before Kwan could reply. She smiled sweetly at Kwan. “Kwan was taking me to dinner tonight. But if you invite him to dinner, then I am sure you won't mind if I come along, eh, Alina?”
I flashed her an angry look. What was she doing insinuating herself here?
“I wanted to…”
“Don't worry, Alina. I'll come today and take Analide to dinner another day.” Kwan said.
Analide frowned. “But Kwan, Father will not be pleased if you disappoint me.” She said, a tone of warning in her voice.
Was she threatening him? I interrupted her. “You can come to dinner then. I will go ahead and prepare for dinner.”
I left them there and went with Lorenzo. On my way home, I called Valerie. She picked up, sounding panicked. “Hello, Alina? I need your help right now!”
“What's wrong?” I asked, feeling my heart luch painfully. I hoped she was fine.
“I think someone is following me. I can't see their faces, but they've been tailing my car for a few minutes now.” Valerie sobbed quietly.
“Where are you? Send me your location right now.” I had warned her leaving was bad, but it didn't matter. I knew I couldn't let anything happen to her, not while she was with the kids.
I received her location, and soon, Lorenzo had turned the car and was heading towards her.
I called Luca to inform him of the development. “Hello, Luca, Valerie is in trouble.”
“I thought she was out of the country already?” Luca asked briskly.
“Come over to the location I’ve just sent you. She is being followed right as we speak.” I informed him, ending the call and calling Valerie back but she didn't pick up.
I could feel anger and sorrow just under my skin. Anger at Valerie for leaving even when I warned her to and sorrow because her stubbornness might get her and her children killed.
By the time I got to Valerie, it was already too late. Even from afar, I could see the wreck of a car.
I gasped, tears pouring down my face.
Luca was already there. He was trying to force her door open. I could hear Maya and Leo crying from inside the car, but Valerie's voice was missing.
“What's wrong?” I asked, looking into the car, my palm sweaty from fear for the two children.
The car was releasing copious amounts of smoke like it would explode.
A black car peeled away in the distance, its windows tinted too dark to see through.
“A can rammed into her car and escaped. It seems someone wanted her dead. I think we can both guess who that someone was.” Luca snarled out angrily.
He jerked the car door open and hurriedly pulled out Leo whom he handed to me. The boy was already sobbing.
“Step back with him. I think the car's about to explode.” He shouted, sounding panicked.
The air smelled of burnt rubber and gasoline. The front of the car was mangled like a crushed soda can, smoke curling from the engine as if the car was exhaling its last breath.
I cried, shaking as he slid into the car and tried pulling Maya out. She held her mom, sobbing wretchedly when her mother didn't move.
Luca lifted her out and ran over to me, and the crowd gathered on the road.
A few seconds later, the car exploded, scattering bits of metal into the air.
I fell on the floor, sobbing, holding Leo against my chest, my chest pounding too hard as I struggled to breathe.
Valerie was dead and she had left behind two beautiful children.
Luca took me into his arms, pressing the two children between us. “Alina? Valerie left you a message before she died. And you won’t believe what it says.”
Valerie had suffered all her life, and now she had died violently.
What did she have to say from the grave?
And who had killed her? Who owned the car that rammed hers?