36 | Wicked Games
3 Months Later
Vittoria covered her ears with her hands the moment the drill in my hand began boring a hole through the skateboard.
Toby, kiddo and I were out in the backyard bathed in bright sunlight. I was halfway done with the electric skateboard which I promised Toby while the rest two were watching like fascinated spectators.
"This is so cool!" Tobo enthused like an enchanted kid, looking at me like I was god or something. "Hats off to engineers. Their work is so difficult."
Not as much as his, I thought. He worked in the human resource department.
He dealt with people. Ew! I hate a majority of them.
"Pass me the top right wheel, kiddo." I stretched my hand out, feeling the circular object fall into my palms.
Connecting it to the extension bit holder and working on it for a few more minutes, Toby's skateboard was almost ready.
"Hello there! What's going on?" The most exasperating human made an appearance, instantly making me cringe.
"Hey Cami! Look what our talented engineer is on to." Toby patted the spot next to him.
She sure did look. But not at my work. Those emerald eyes glazed over my torso making me shift uncomfortably. If only it wasn't so hot. And it was just spring.
These are the signs, people! Stop global warming! Save our planet! (On a serious note)
"I don't doubt his talent." She said, trying to sound seductive. Keyword being trying.
No wonder Rafael never loved her. She's pretty, yes. But that's just it. There was nothing in her that a decent man with decent feelings would like.
A few very interesting developments happened in the past few months. Starting with the major ones, Vittoria had been avoiding the mafia boss like the plague. Three months ago something happened which I still didn't know. Since then they barely saw each other despite being in the same house and workplace. Nothing that didn't happen before.
Next, a gossip magazine broadcasted the news about Rafael Grayson, the business tycoon being secretly engaged to a mystery woman. That day onwards, he didn't take off his ring, confirming those rumors. We all knew it was just a way to display his anger at Vittoria. Their cold war never really stopped even though they rarely saw each other. Rafael being the jerk, couldn't take the rejection so he found every small chance to avenge it. Their war was very petty, definitely not worth my time.
About the Visitant, the more we found, the more we lost. I think I knew why we kept failing but I needed to be sure to make such heavy accusations. And our success with Covert was zero as well. Good thing Alli and I were the only to know about him.
And Alli! She moved back to her house, back to living in the shadows the moment her hand healed. I missed her. But I think grandpa missed her more. Not that any of them would ever admit it.
"Where's Liam, by the way?" Kiddo asked, noticing his absence.
"Probably snoring his ass off." His twin rolled his eyes.
"Here! It's ready." I huffed, staring at my work with a proud smile.
Toby jumped around like an excited kid, his blonde hair shining in the sunlight. "Amazing, bro! Lemme try it."
What a child! I laughed, seeing him roll the wheels like a pro. Once again, I sensed the same pair of eyes gawking at me, trailing my hand as I wiped the sweat off my chest with a napkin.
I twisted my face in disgust. "I know you want to lick my abs but don't make it so evident."
Her interest in me doesn't even heighten my ego. That's how much unwanted her actions were to me.
Vittoria was busy capturing Toby's video, leaving me alone here with this bitch.
"And you?" She challanged, taking a step closer to me.
"And me what?"
"You don't want me to lick your abs?" She smirked but then her eyes quickly caught that familar fake vulnerability.
Oliver's voice was heard seconds later, explaining her reaction. According to them she still hasn't recovered from the trauma. She even sought the help of a therapist, apparently.
I scoffed at her behavior. How utterly shameless she was! She won't even make an attempt to hide her evilness from me.
"Hey." She smiled faintly.
"Helloooo grandpaa!" Toby swept past him, still not getting over his skateboard.
"Aahh!" Liam jumped ahead of him out of nowhere, Toby crashed into him, and they both toppled down while Vittoria made sure this monkey act was trapped in her camera.
What next, they began squabbling and we ignored their existence thereafter.
"Grandpa!" Kiddo jumped over his back, causing him to jerk forward.
"How did three monkeys enter this house?" He teased her playfully.
I noticed how Camila watched her with utmost hatred which switched to an abhorrent and sickened sweetness when Oliver looked at her.
"I was just checking how vigilant you are." She sassed, resting her feet back on the ground.
"Sure." He scoffed. "So you guys have any plans for the evening? If not then we can all go out to chill."
"Look at you!" I eyed him up and down dramatically. "Aren't you supposed to be the boring one?"
"Shut up! Who's in for the idea of clubbing?"
"Clubbing! Did I just hear the c word! Hell yes!" Liam jumped like a kangaroo, draping his arms over Vittoria's shoulders from behind.
"Don't yell in my ears, Liam!" She slapped his hand away.
Her acting was seriously very convincing. Everyone thought she had moved on and that seeing Rafael with Camila didn't affect her one bit. But she couldn't fool me.
She was still hurting, but not as much as before. I believe she'll get over it as time passes. Rafael on the other hand never clarified his relationship status with Camila, maybe still in hope of getting back with Vittoria.
This was what I wanted. But I still wasn't happy. I discovered this twisted situation was out of my hand so I, much like Oliver stopped interfering and let it flow wherever it did.
"You guys go ahead. I'm out." Camila said in her disguised frail voice, wrapping her arms around herself.
The Rivera siblings' concern and worry for their half sister kicked in.
"Camila." Vittoria placed a hand over her shoulder. "Are you still afraid to go out?"
No kiddo, she's not worth your worry.
"Rafael will be by your side. You don't have to worry." She said when she didn't respond.
I genuinely respect my sister so much. I was proud of the beautiful person she had become. Although Camila was a vile and wicked woman and not worthy of it, it was the thought that mattered. She sacrificed the one thing she loved the most just to be fair with her sister.
"Yeah, it will be fun. Come on Cami!" Liam pressed.
"She went through the same thing— the fear of stepping out." I pointed to Vittoria, resisting the urge to say 'for real, unlike you.'
"You'll have to fight your fears, Camila." I played along, pretending to be concerned.
"I- I'm not sure."
"Look at them." I gestured towards the twins, kiddo and grandpa. "They're all here for you. And if you feel uncomfortable talking to them, I'm here. I'm good at keeping secrets, you know?"
And even discovering them.
"Thank you, Mason." Oliver passed me a grateful smile.
"No problem. Vittoria's sister is my sister as well." I stared dead into her eyes, answering the question she asked me a few minutes before.
I noticed the way the corner of her lip subtly twitched into a snarl. I smirked on the inside.
•••••
"What's in it for you, Camila? Why are you doing this?" My straightforward question caused the movements of her hands to stop.
Good for her, bad for me, we were alone in her room. Because painting helped her escape her thoughts resulting in me being stuck here with her.
To the others, it was just two friends, the painting lovers passing their time with their hobby while in reality it was me trying to extract any information from her. What better reason can I have to enter her room. However, it came with a cost, that being me tolerating her atrocious presence.
The paintbrush spun between her fingers as she turned to face me with her legs on either side of the stool, her ultra short dress leaving nothing to anyone's imagination.
She held my gaze with her own for a fairly long time as if waiting for me to pitch my eyes down where she wanted me to.
"Are you dumb enough to not get the hint or shameless enough to keep trying your luck?"
"So many questions, Mase." She twisted her finger around the strap of her green dress, sliding it down her shoulder. "How about you try changing your approach. Who knows you might end up with some answers." She repeated the process with the remaining strap.
Sissy, I'm gonna throw up now.
"I don't believe in incest." I dragged both the straps up, making sure the contact of my skin with her is minimal.
"You think doing all this will make me fall for you and I'll stop searching for your ugly little lies? That's not happening, Camila." I scoffed.
"Who said that's my motive? You won't find my secrets anyway." She said in her vomitous sultry voice, closing the distance to run her hands over my chest. "I'm just appreciating a striking man. I confess that I'm attracted to your mind, your wit and your body in ways I can't explain."
"Well, thanks," I shrugged her unwanted touch and stepped back. "But first, I'm not a pedophile and second, I'm not interested in you."
"You will break one day. Men can't resist me for long."
"Then go and try breaking Rafael and spare me from your nonsense."
Rafael clearly doesn't give her his dick. She can try and fulfill her needs with someone else. My body and heart are no longer available for any other girl.
"I don't need to do that to him. He is mine like he always was." She sneered, her insecurity dripping from her words.
I never called any woman a slut but I was very close to breaking that streak now.
"Wait until the day he catches you throwing yourself at me." I mocked.
She let out a dark chuckle. "Then I'll say you were forcing me. Who do you think will they believe? You, a lonely man who had almost negligible opportunities for sex, or me, an innocent girl, trying to come out of truma." She batted her eyelashes, a wicked grin plastered over her face.
"You might be surprised to know that none of these people are as stupid as you think. Your cover will fall, Camila."
"I don't think so." She fired back. "It's been three months and see? Everything is going according to my plan." She taunted.
I hate to admit, but yes. I had underestimated her capabilities. She's way cunning than I'd imagined.
"If only you know how thrilling it is to play this game with you, Mason." She smiled. "Especially when you've got such a hot competitor." She winked, making me roll my eyes.
"I'll be honest with you, Camila." I said, studying her new abstract painting. "You make a good villain. It's not easy to orchestrate one's kidnap from a fortress like this that too in such a clean manner."
"What do I say?" She sighed. "I always get what I want."
That was until now. There was no way I was letting her win.
Without saying anything further, I headed out but stopped and turned back, fixing my eyes on her emerald ones.
"Tell the Visitant I said hi."
Mason: You know how to keep me motivated to take this villain down.