The Secrets We Hide

Chapter Eight

Victoria strolled out of the bathroom with long graceful strides. Her smirk was apparent, as the entertainment in the bathroom amused her. However, Victoria was unassumingly unaware that there were a pair of crystal blue eyes glaring into her back. The man's body hid in the shadows of a hallway at the entrance to the bathroom.

Alec couldn't help but watch the Italian beauty from afar. Even with Victoria's face hidden behind the intricate mask, he could tell that her looks would make the most attractive woman look plain. Initially, he believed she was simply another spoiled mafia princess. He chuckled as he realised his initial perception was so far from the truth. Although he didn't plan to eavesdrop on her conversation, he couldn't help but feel curious about the argument in the bathroom. Her fierce personality amazed him. However, what caught his attention was the protectiveness of her brother. Normally, the woman in the mafia was subtle in their schemes. Victoria was directly in her challenge. He couldn't help but shake his head at Achilles. He knew that the poor man wouldn't be able to tame the lioness that she was. What Alec didn't realise was that his lips curled sightly at the sight of the Mafia princess.

"Ahh, brother." A deep voice interrupted his thoughts. "There you are. I wondered where you disappeared to. Why are you hiding? Did you find your next prey?" Derek taunted.

Alec shook his head. "No, I was simply using the bathroom, brother. I have no interest in the women here, not unless I want to marry or kill them."

Derek chuckled, but nodded his head in approval. Although the women were captivatingly beautiful, Alec had no desire to pursue a relationship with them. He knew fucking one would disrespect their families. Both brothers had no intentions of starting a war over some pussy. They were here to make alliances, not enemies.

The brothers stepped into the main ballroom; the walls adorned with sparkling chandeliers. As the string quartet played their song, it filled the room with a gentle harmony. Women were elegantly dancing with their partners, who oozed with confidence and propriety. Men stood in small groups around the dancefloor, their laughter and conversation filling the air. It wasn't until Marcello gently grasped his sister's hand and guided to her to the centre of the dancefloor. Both siblings took their spots as the string quartet strummed a cheerful piece of music, the notes ringing through the air. As the siblings glided across the floor, the room filled with a hushed admiration, and the only sound was their feet lightly tapping on the floor.

"I hope you have been behaving yourself, sorella?" Marcello murmured to his sister as their feet tapped on the marbled floor.

"Of course, fratello." Victoria mischievously smirked. "I was dealing with your fiancé." She lightly chucked.

"Fiancé?" Marcello replied with confusion laced in his voice.

"Mhmm, Miss Camargo was vehemently telling me to stay away from you." She whispered with amusement.

"That putta?" He scoffed. The idea of being bonded with that woman sent chills down his spine. He detested the woman, clarifying that he was neither interested in a relationship nor fucking her. Her nasally voice was just one of the many reasons he disliked. The thought of waking up to her voice everyday only made him shiver in disgust. "She is not the woman for me. The woman lacks brain cells if she wants me to stay away from my darling sorella."

Victoria's musical laughter echoed through the room as her brother spun her around in a twirl. As she made her way to her back to her brother, she gently placed her hand on his shoulder and resumed her initial position. "Fratello, she thought I was your amante."

Marcello's nose scrunched in displeasure at the thought of being intimate with his sweet sorella. Although Marcello knew his sister was anything but innocent, he preferred not to interfere or think about his sister in that light. He was happy to be oblivious to his sister's sex life. "Like you said, she lacks brain cells." He shrugged his shoulders.