Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Our flight to New York City was smooth and relaxing. Richie went into work mode immediately after boarding the plane, taking numerous amounts of calls and writing things down. I guess this vacation really piled up a lot of work for him. Speaking of work, I have to get back to planning my next move on Richie. The past few days might have taken the best out of me but not anymore. I need to focus just as much as Richie needs to focus on his work and his revenge on the Russians. Richie will be too busy trying to make their life hell while I will be too busy making his life hell. It will be a win-win for both of us just that my win doesn’t have a regret.

Richie continues to go through his paperwork and talk to random people in the Italian language until we arrive at the city. The moment we stepped off the plane the humidity hit me. It’s 3:00 o’clock in the morning and the weather is this hot. I’ve been living here for many years but it’s now I know why New York is known for their weather.

"How on earth are you wearing a suit?" I ask Richie while we approach the car. I wave at Alice as she enters their car. I’m so glad she’s trying to pull herself together.

We got into the car and Richie sits next to me. He shrugs and responds to what I said "I'm used to this humidity. Besides, I don't spend much time outside"

"Well, that isn't good either," I say giving him a pointed look.

He is about to speak, but his phone starts ringing stopping him from continuing. I look down to see the caller ID; it’s Papa.

"Why is he calling you by this time?" I ask. No one knows that we are coming back today so it’s a bit of a surprise that Papa is calling Richie, especially by this time of the day.

He shrugs "He must have heard about Alice." He responds before answering the call. He begins to speak in Italian and I silently groan if only I know how to speak Italian language fluently. I can understand a few words Richie says but I can’t merge them into a sentence. He is speaking too fast for me to understand every single word he says.

No sooner did we arrive at the building and through the tinted windows of the car I spotted the paparazzi standing by the entrance of the mansion. I groan, it’s 3:00 o’clock in the morning- why the hell are you out here, why don’t you just go and sleep because- you know that’s what normal people do?

Richie looks back at me with a small reassuring smile. "Ready?"

I shook my head. "No, but I don't think I'll ever be." The one thing that gets me nervous to my toes is a bunch of people surrounding me and taking wild photos of me.

The door gets opened by one of the bodyguards and the flashes begin. I was pulled through the photographers but came to a halt when my arm was yanked back and my hand slips from Richie’s.

"Smile!" One of the photographers says as he takes a photo of me, his hand still grasping my wrist.

"Get off!" I sneer, trying to pull his grip off.

"Come on, baby girl, one smile." He copes creepily.

Before I could do or say anything, Richie had the guy by his collar and he push him away from me. He doesn’t stop there as he punches the photographer's face sending him straight to the ground.

My eyes went wide, and watch how Richie lift the man from the ground and punch him again. I have no idea how to react and thankfully, I didn’t get the time to react as Richie grabs my hand and walk me inside the building. I got into the elevator and we are now surrounded by four other bodyguards including Brad; Richie’s personal bodyguard.

The photographer wanted a photo of the news headlines and I think there is no attractive image other than him getting beaten by the most famous Mafia King in the world; Richie Moranzino.

"I want all the information on that fucker!" Richie growls to one of his bodyguards. I have never seen him so angry. "He will regret his actions," He says to one of his men.

I shook my head and slipped my hand in his, trying to calm him down. "Please, it's fine, I'm okay," I assure.

I am a bit shaken up from the whole thing. It was suffocating being surrounded by those people and when that photographer grabbed my hand I was a bit surprised by his actions.

The elevator doors open and we walk out, Richie led me inside, his hand still holding mine.

"It's not okay, Rachel." He says in a profound tone. He turns his gaze to Brad "Find out who he is, now!"

"Okay, boss." Brad nods.

Richie waves his hands dismissively and the rest of the bodyguard leaves us alone

I sigh. "Really, I'm alright-"

"Will you quit saying that?" Richie exclaims through clenched teeth. "You could have just pushed him away you know that right? you shouldn’t expect me to be always there for you!"

A brow of my raises and I take a step back from him. Why the hell is he so angry?

He let out a sigh and shut his eye in a groaning rage as his facial features softened. "I'm so sorry, Rach. I didn’t mean it like that."

"You should be," I say firmly, my arms crossed. "I know you have a lot going on right now, Richie but you can't explode on me because you get pissed off." I didn't know why, but I get a sudden rage of emotions whenever I’m worked up out of anger or sadness. Right now I feel emotional.

"The last thing you need to do is worry about me. I can handle myself, so you don’t have to carry me like the burden you see me as." I add to what I say.

I will be lying if I say I don’t feel slightly guilty for what I just said to him. Though I didn’t say anything wrong, I can protect myself, I’ve been protecting myself since my childhood and thanks to him I got very good at it. He snatched my parents from me when I was sixteen years old so does he really think I won’t be able to protect myself?

A sudden wave of anger rushes through my head as I recalled each and every moment of my childhood journey. I remember how I cried badly when my mom died. It’s bad for me that my mom is dead but the fact that the image of her being killed still flashes through my eyes even after so many years is just so unfortunate.

"What?" He inquire, sounding a little shocked. "What are you talking about Rach?" He asks, coming over to stand directly in front of me.

I look away from his gaze. "I don't know, I- I don't even know," I whisper. I am flustered and jet-lagged at this point.

He palms his hand on my face lifting my face to meet his eyes. "You’re not a burden- you never will be. And I’m so sorry for talking to you that way, I didn’t mean what I said. I was so angry, that I poured my anger on you and I apologize for that. I just...." His jaw tightened once again but then released. "I just hate it when someone touches you."

I am lost for words, I have no idea what to say but eventually, I found the words. "I’m sorry."

"You don’t have to apologize Rach. As you said earlier, It’s fine."

I am about to speak when the maid suddenly comes to us. Her gaze was on the floor as she speaks "Sir Richie, Papa is asking of you. He is in the study room."

"Okay. I will be there." He says to her before she walks away. Richie turns his gaze to me "You should go to bed now and I will meet you up in a few minutes." He kisses my forehead

"Okay." I turn around and begin to walk away. There is absolutely no way I will just walk away like that. Papa and Richie are up to something, something very important. It only makes sense why Papa wants to meet Richie by this time of the day. I mean yes he can meet Richie whenever he wants but at this time- I don’t believe it. Something is up and I will find out what it is.

I could feel Riches eyes on me as I walk. I am sure he wants to make sure I get to the room before he goes to meet Papa. I got to the room only to go back downstairs when Richie has already left to meet Papa. I carefully walk towards the study room not wanting to make any noise. I can’t imagine being caught eavesdropping on their conversation.

Approaching the study room. I stand some feet distance from the entrance. I rest my ear on the wall to hear what they are saying.

Their voices aren’t really audible especially Papa’s. That man is very good at talking, he talks so quietly that even the walls won’t be able to hear him.

I take a step closer and silently groan. Now that I can hear them I don’t know what they are saying. They are speaking in the Italian language.

Screw this!

I consider going to bed but then decide to stay for a while. I can try and put some of their words together since Papa isn’t talking too fast. I stand there for about four minutes without understanding a word they said. I screeched and was about to leave when I hear them say something about a man named Ezra. If I’m not mistaken, I once heard Richie speak about a man named Ezra. The next thing Papa says startled me. He started the sentence In Italian language but ended it in English language. I didn’t understand everything immediately but I took my time and join the words together. He said: "[Se qualcuno lo scopre] I will be dead." Which means ‘If anyone finds out about him, I will be dead’

"Oh wow!" I caught myself saying. For him to say such a thing clearly makes Ezra someone important and he doesn’t want anyone to find out about him.

After being satisfied with the information I heard. I decide to go into the room. This information is enough for me to know what my next move will be. Ezra.

Whoever you Ezra I will find out about you!