?THE
MASKED
MAFIA?
(His Shy Spy…)
By; Sommy Pearl F.
CHAPTER 67&68
‼️
R-BREEDS HOSPITAL**
“I think he was triggered, traumatized or something. Anyways,He’s fine. He just had a concussion. Glad he didn’t get a panic attack” Cindy heaved.
Ken sighed.
“Do you think remembering about Leo Da Cruz triggered him?”
“I don’t know” Cindy shook her head.
“Who’s Leo Da Cruz. The name sounds really familiar” Ariana said.
“Malcolm worked un-der him back then in Italy. Leo Da Cruz is a big and famous Don” Cindy explained.
“Oh,,,, I see”
“Yeah. Y’all should leave. I would like him to rest” Cindy muttered and walked out.
Oliver followed her from behind. Kev and Ken also walked out. written by sommy pearl f.
Ariana walked closer to Malcolm.
“Didn’t you hear the doctor words?” Rhoda asked.
Ariana faced her.
“She says Malcolm nee-ds to rest and no one at all should disturb him” Rhoda quoted.
Ariana nodded and left his side.
Ariana?” Rhoda called.
Ariana faced her again.
“Can we talk?” Rhoda asked and Ariana blinked.
****
Cindy went into her office and sat down ha-rd with her bu-tt on the chair.
Her eyes were quite red and glossy. She sniffed and couldn’t help but shed tears.
Immediately, she heard a knock, she wiped away them away.
“Come in” She noticed her voice shake.
The door squeaked as it opened. Oliver walked in, afterwards.
“What are you doing here? Go home” She said.
Oliver sighed and walked up to her desk. He pulled the chair which was across Cindy, next to her. Afterwards, he sat down.
“What do you want, Oliver?” She rolled her eyes.
“You can cry now, Cindy. Cry as much as you want”
Her eyes turned glossy at once.
“Cry? What do you mean cry?” She chuckled, softly.
Oliver held her face and laid it on his che-st.
“You don’t have to hide it in front of me,,, so cry as much as you want. I’m here for you” He muttered, stro-king her hair gently.
She sniffed, and sque-ezed her face. Before she could know what was happening, tears were already scrolling down her cheeks.
“I was damn scared. I…I thought I would lose him. I thought I would lose my only family and mentor. I…I…oh my…” She stuttered, and held him close.
“Nothing will happen. You said it yourself,,, He’s gonna be fine” Oliver said.
Cindy nodded.
Meanwhile, Kev opened the door gently and saw the two who were all over each other.
He bit his lower li-p sadly and looked at his hand which held 2 soda cans of drink.
He looked away, closed the door back and left.
A RESTAURANT***
“What do you wanna talk about?” Ariana asked.
Rhoda slowly took down the phone from her ear. She had just finished making a call.
“Malcolm door code is 22344,,, right?” Rhoda asked.
Ariana brows arched.
“Yes. Why?” She asked.
Rhoda raised her brows and heaved.
“I was right after all then”
“What are you talking about?” Ariana questioned. inquisitively.
“I called some man who would insert a small camera in Malcolm’s bedroom. He’s on his way right now,,, as we speak”
“And why would you do that? You nee-d to respect his privacy” Ariana snapped.
“Do you really like Malcolm?” Rhoda threw the question at her, unaware.
Ariana blinked. written by sommy pearl f.
“And what sort of question is that?? Isn’t it obvious?”
“There’s no harm in answering, right?” Rhoda asked.
“Sure…” Ariana nodded.
“But if you must know,,,, I don’t like Malcolm. Rather,,,, I so much love him”
Rhoda laughed, softly.
“Do you know,,, I used to be Malcolm’s girlfriend”
“And I’m glad you used the word,,,, Used” Ariana pronounced.
Rhoda scoffed and folded her arms against her che-st.
“I still love Malcolm” She went straight to the point.
Ariana just stared at her, speechless.
“And I want him back. Right now,,, I’m competing with you for Malcolm”
“You can’t compete with me” Ariana shook her head.
“Not bad if I ask why?” Rhoda questioned.
“I and Malcolm are dating already so there’s no nee-d to be competitive with me. He’s mine and your competition with me is pointless, don’t you agree?”
Rhoda laughed.
“Ariana…” She didn’t stop laughing.
Ariana was beginning to wonder if something was wrong with her.
“Malcolm lied to you…” She added. sipping her cu-p of Americano latte.
“I…don’t get you” Ariana muttered.
“You and Malcolm aren’t really dating”
“Pardon?? You don’t have to say a blunt lie like that. I’ve seen evidences”
“Is it those pictures on social media? Well,, you both were caught in an unexpected situation and in order to get away from the consequences and implications, You guys lied to the world”
Ariana blinked her eyes.
“Then,,, who am I to Malcolm?? Why am I staying at his place then?”
“You’re just his spy. S.P.Y” Rhoda spelt, stressfully.
Ariana lic-ked her lower li-p and shook her head. She wondered why they shared the same tattoo then.
“But…don’t you think Malcolm is beginning to grow feelings for me” She raised a brow.
“Good for you then” Rhoda mocked, clapping her hands.
Ariana scoffed.
“I also love Malcolm…but I’m not willing to compete with you for him”
Rhoda smiled.
“Why? You scared I might win him back with my former charms?”
“I’m not scared”
“Let the game begin then!” Rhoda retorted.
“Firstly! Why did you insert a hidden camera in Malcolm’s bedroom?”
“I nee-d to know what Malcolm likes, what he does and so on. That way, I could be the perfect girl for him”
“Don’t you think you’re intruding his privacy?”
“Says someone who is living with him. Why don’t I stay with him instead and you peep throu-gha secret camera?” Rhoda asked.
Ariana sighed.
“Okay then. Let the competition begin”
“Good” Rhoda smiled.
“What am I doing?” Ariana thought, with a soft sigh.
THAT NIGHT**
“Malcolm is up!” Cindy told everyone after she came out from his room.
Everyone gushed and ran in.
“Boss!!” They shouted.
Malcolm chuckled.
“Stay back. I said stay back” He laughed, as they all rounded him, hu-gging him like their lives depended on it.
“We love you, boss” They muttered.
“You got us scared” Cindy sniffed.
“I’m fine now. I just nee-d my strength, that all” He muttered.
Ariana smiled at him, and slowly traced her eyes to his ne-ck. She saw the star.
“I’ll be right back” She muttered.
“Where are you off to?” Malcolm asked, quickly.
Ariana for-ced a smile.
“The restroom” She replied.
Malcolm nodded and they watched her leave.
***
Ariana closed the door and locked the bolt. She swallowed ha-rd and slowly raised her gown up.
She looked at her thi-ghs and traced her eyes to her bursty hips.
She raised her pa-nties a bit and her eyes wide-ned a bit when it came in contact with the tattoo.
“This is Fu-cking insane. Why does this tattoo look the same as Malcolm’s then??. Very confusing” She bit her lower li-p and dropped her gown, which fell and covered her body up.
“Who are you really, Malcolm?” She whispered.
“Remember…” She hit her head with her palm and closed her eyes ti-ghtly but nothing popped in.
“Sh!t” She blurted and opened her eyes.
****
Ariana slowly walked in.
Now, It was only Rhoda in the room with Malcolm. written by sommy pearl f.
Malcolm noticed her emotions when she entered the room.
“Rhoda?” Malcolm whispered.
Rhoda looked at him, though his eyes were still on Ariana.
“Can you leave both of us, please. I wanna talk to Ariana”
Rhoda sighed and stood up.
“Don’t say or do anything stupid” She whispered to her and then, left.
“Ariana? You okay? You look sullen. What’s wrong?” He asked, worriedly.
Ariana sighed repeatedly and sat close to him.
“What’s it?” He asked again, staring de-eply into her eyes.
Ariana eyes blinked and looked back into his eyes, immersedly.
She wondered why she saw glimpses of memories. So, she only look de-eper, and said nothing to him.
Memories rushed in.
FLASHBACK**
MILAN, ITALY**
LEO DA CRUZ’S MAFIA PALACE**
“You’re awake. I gave you a bathe, if you don’t mind. I also prepared food, water and fruits down for you. You seem hungry” Ariana’s voice chipped in.
Rhoda looked down from the bed where she laid.
“Its you again? You haven’t answered me. Who are you?” She asked.
“I’m Ariana’a Bells…I came here recently. 3 days ago, apparently”
Rhoda sat upright and M0-ned lowly.
“Who brou-ght you here? And what your specialty?” She asked.
“Gilberto is my boyfriend and he brou-ght me here- Ariana paused and shook a cigarette into her parted li-ps.
She lit it and began to smoke. Rhoda just watched her
“I’m the one of the mafia’s artiste team. I draw for a living” She smiled brightly, the smoke filling the whole air.
Rhoda coughed slightly.
“Oh. sorry about that” Ariana quickly said and kept the cigarette away, in the ash tray.
“I heard,,, you were in that dungeon because you went pas-s the curfew” Ariana said.
“Who told you that?” Rhoda asked.
“My boyfriend”
“Gilberto, huh?”
Ariana nodded.
“He also told me not to say a word outside or your boyfriend might get in trouble. He also…told me that you stayed in dungeon for a week cause you didn’t want your boyfriend to get ripped of his title. He was the reason you went pas-s your curfew and made you escape till Gilberto caught you both”
Rhoda scoffed.
“He does talk too much. Where’s he though?”
Ariana smiled, shortly.
“I told you before when I was releasing you from the dungeon. He went for a mafia based war and asked me to rele-ase you on his stead” She replied.
Rhoda sighed and nodded.
“What have you drawn so far since your stay here?” Rhoda asked, looking around, which broke the silence.
“Nothing yet, actually. I haven’t been given an as-signment from the Don yet. But I’m still waiting for one”
“Liar” Rhoda muttered, took off the duvet and went down. written by sommy pearl f.
“Huh?” Ariana asked.
Rhoda walked to a big board which was covered with a purple clothing.
“Thats my own piece. Its not for the Don…” Ariana’s voice trailed off.
Rhoda had taken down the clothing which exp-osed the board. On it was a painting. It was a face. But the face was a bit faceless. There wasn’t a nose, or mouth. Just 2 pair of beautiful eyes.
“Pretty huh?? This person I’m drawing is my muse” Ariana smiled walking to Rhoda who kept staring at the familiar painting.
Rhoda eyes grew wide. suddenly.
“This….
“Do you know the person?” Ariana smiled, looking at the eyes.
“The eyes…Its pretty” She chuckled, touching the painting gently.
Rhoda quickly looked at her, meaningfully.
“How do you know this pereon?” She asked.
“I met him a few times with the Don. We haven’t introduced each other yet so…He doesn’t know me. I know who he is,, but I don’t know his name. I have this feeling whenever I look into his eyes. It makes me shy” She giggled and looked down.
“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” Rhoda frowned.
“Huh?” Ariana muttered.
“Why are you crushing on him??!” Rhoda yelled despite her weakness at that time.
“I’m not. He’s just my muse…”
Rhoda scoffed.
“Do you want to know why you get shy whenever you see him?”
Ariana swallowed ha-rd.
“Why?”
“You’re in love with him, bi-tch !! But let me tell you something,,, He will never love you…He’s in love with someone else!! So…Stop acting this way!! Stop drawing him!!” Rhoda screamed and took down the drawing.
She to-re it and began to step on it. Ariana just watched her.
“And what if the guy later loves me?” Ariana muttered, without noticing. It came out of her mouth, suddenly and unknowingly.
Rhoda glared at her and shook her head
“He won’t!”
“And what makes you think he won’t falter?” Ariana scoffed.
“Do you want to make a bet then?” Rhoda asked.
“Yes…Let make a bet” Ariana smi-rked.
“Why don’t I bring you and Malcolm both closer to make this fas-ter and easier. Let’s see how this goes”
“Malcolm? Is that his name? And who’s Malcolm in love with?” Ariana asked but Rhoda was already walking past her, clinging her hands onto her puffy gown.
….
….
Ariana eyes wide-ned and a very sharp pain manifested on her head when the memory ended.
She Gr0-ned lowly and quickly got up on her feet, then, ran out without listening to Malcolm who was yelling and asking where she was going to.
“Rhoda!!!” Ariana shouted, when she finally got out.
Rhoda who was close to the wall in the corridor looked at her.
Ariana slowly moved to her, while pa-nting loud and ha-rd.
“What’s it?” Rhoda questioned.
“Do you,,,, know me before?” Ariana asked, slowly.
Rhoda blinked her eyes, a hundred times.
“What? I don’t un-derstand…”
“You…I know why you’re doing this” Ariana uttered.
“Excuse me??”
“I Fu-cking know why you brou-ght me closer to Malcolm!!!”
“What?”
“I remember few things now. I remember my first encounter with Malcolm and his gangs, before the explosion accident. I remember it all now!”
Rhoda swallowed ha-rd and looked around.
“I also remember our very first encounter at some place. By the way. Gilberto? My boyfriend? Who’s he really??!”
“You’re drunk” Rhoda scoffed and turned around to leave.
“Was that why!!!! Was that why you gave Malcolm the option for me to stay with him in his mansion back then?. You were the one who asked Malcolm to bring me into his mansion if I’m correct. Of course, I can remember that”
She continued.
“You were trying to test him. You were trying to see if he would waver and love me. It was the bet all this while. You did those things cause of the bet,,,, right?”
Rhoda bit her lower ha-rd and turned back to her.
“Shut your crap!!!” She rooped.
“Who told you I told Malcolm anything about him asking to stay with you?” She defended.
“Oliver kinda mistakenly spewed that, you were the one who told Malcolm to bring me in,,, back then” Ariana said.
“So…Is it because of the bet?.. You were trying to check if he would falter and really fall for me?”
Rhoda scoffed.
“You caught me. Br@vo. And so?”
“Let’s end the bet. I don’t want it anymore. It’s stupid. Didn’t you mention earlier today that Malcolm was your boyfriend?? You shouldn’t be doing this to him and cause of him. It senseless”
Ariana breathed de-eply and continued.
“Malcolm isn’t someone we can place a bet or gamble with. He’s special. I’m in love with him and I’m not doing all this because of some silly childish bet”
“Shut the Fu-ck! The bet continues no matter what!! We’re still competing, remember? It ain’t over. Malcolm is mine so don’t bother too much” Rhoda said.
“I’m out” Ariana shook her head.
“Nope…We’re both in” Rhoda said, and shoved her middle finger to her face.
“What the heck?” Ariana muttered.
Rhoda smi-rked and turned around, then left her sight.
“Did she just use the middle finger on me? Like Fu-ck me??!” Ariana scoffed, angrily.
TBC