"I'll. Drive"
He folds his arms and leans against the car, utterly calm and not at al fazed by my biting tone. "No. I haven't ever seen you drive and I don't want to die in a car accident"
We've been at this for a while now. He won't budge and let me drive. We are just wasting time here.
I throw my hands in the air, frustrated by him and his attitude.
"We need to get there on time. Believe me this is not a fucking game. Let. Me. Drive." I put emphasises on my last words and anyone with at least half a mind would understand the warning in my voice but seems like he doesn't fall into that category of normal people or he wouldn't look as relaxed leaning against the car as he is.
Or he simply doesn't care. I think it's the latter because he has already proved that he loves to get on my nerves. Usually people stay out of my way and try not to get my temper high but he is not one of those and it is infuriating. I have had my fair share of dealing with assholes and men who think they are better but that always ended with them regretting it.
I don't know why he affects me this much. I usually have a check on my temper but when it comes to him I lose all my patience. I hate it.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. We'll be late if we don't leave now. I don't know why you're making this so tough" he shrugs looking totally unaffected by glare.
I straighten and fist my hands tightly making the nails dig in my skin. The slight pain distracts my mind from the overwhelming need to punch him and I walk towards the passenger side. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when we reach there."
Before he could reply I yank open the door and slide in.
"What does that mean" his icy voice fills the car as he settles in his seat and shuts the door.
I shrug nonchalantly and give him an amused smirk "You'll find out"
I fasten my seatbelt and get comfortable all while he stares at me warily
"Any minute now Mr. Rosiello"
He releases a frustrated breath and turns the engine on. "You are the most irritating person I've ever met" he grits.
"Likewise" I return back
***
We've been driving for an hour now when the forest starts to grow thicker. A smirk tugs at my mouth. Anyone would think twice before continuing this way and that's the advantage he has when he chose this location for creating his empire. Crazy motherfucker.
"You're sure we're going the right way? This looks like a road towards our death rather than a house" Lorenzo voices his concern.
"Scared I'll try to kill you so soon?" I taunt him but he doesn't take the bait and just flips me off.
"Don't worry I don't break my promises. No attempt to murder before we find who is behind all this mess"
"How comforting" he bites out
The road turns left but I know that's the wrong way. "Go straight" I tell him.
"Straight? There's no road there, its just trees" he seethes
I bite back an arrogant reply and say calmly "I know where we're going. Believe me that's not the right way. Go straight"
He glares but listens to me and the car moves in the jungle.
Thick trees cover the land and few streaks of sunlight break through the canopies and enter the car. I lean against the window and turn my gaze towards him. His one hand is resting on the steering wheel while the other was on his thigh. The faint sunlight falls on the side framing his face and enhancing his features.
"Like what you see?"
"No" I turn my head away and focus outside instead "I've seen better"
"I wouldn't call your boyfriend 'better'. Your taste has clearly depreciated over time" he takes a harsh turn to avoid the trees and I almost fly over to his side but catch myself before and straighten up.
I throw him a harsh glare when I see his mouth tug up in a smirk. He did that on purpose. "What is your problem with Julian? He hasn't been anything but civil to you-"
"That doesn't mean I'm entitled to like him" he cuts me off.
I clench my jaw but don't argue with him further. I don't care if he likes Julian or not but its frustrating when he brings him up in a conversation as my boyfriend. He is not my boyfriend but its infuriating when he says it like an insult. Julian may not be my boyfriend but he's one of the few people who are close to me.
The anger over the conversation remains and I notice that his shoulders are tense too.
Its crazy how a small conversation can leave you restless and on edge. Thick silence falls over the car but it is filled with unsaid words. I can leave this here and not say word but something compels me to tell him the truth. And so I do.
"He's not my boyfriend" I confess
I swear I hear his breath hitch before he clears his throat "And how is that information relevant to me ?"
Of fucking course. Of course he would say that. He was the one acting weird and bringing up Julian in our conversations and now acting like he doesn't give a single fuck about it.
"Not relevant to you but you can stop bringing him up and trying to taunt me with it. He's a good friend of mine and I will not tolerate any insults towards them" I clarify
He remains silent but I notice the previous tension from his shoulders is gone now. He still looks on edge a bit but not on guard as he was before.
"Stop" I command him and he obeys without any question.
I get out of the car and take out my gun and other hand resting near my hidden knives. I hear the car door close and sound of him taking out his own gun as well. "Stay behind the car" I warn him.
Going up to one of the trees I crouch down beside it and see the string attached to the trunk. It is so low to the ground that it's almost impossible to see it. I tug at it and the ground sinks a few feet away from our car. Its a good thing I had marked the trees the last time I came here.
Picking up a big stone I trow it ahead in between several trees and a gun bullet fires up and strikes the tree opposite of it. If someone else was there they would have been dead by now.
"Shit" I hear him curse.
"He's put traps all around his property. We're on the west side. Each side has two traps. It's a good thing I've been here before or we would already be dead by now" I tell him.
Standing up from my spot I signal him to follow me. We avoid the traps and go from the side.
"He know we're here doesn't he? Then why the traps?" he questions
Looking sideways I see as he inspects the area for any other danger but I know there is no more. "He does know that we're coming but he loves playing games. At least with me. I knew he wouldn't have disengaged his traps. It would have been too easy"
I've played his games before and he's also paid for them when I played by own tricks but that's our tradition now. This is his way of welcoming us and he'll have his present when we leave his grounds as well.
We keep walking for a few minutes and then emerge on clear land with a huge mansion and a few mow small buildings and covering the area. This is his empire. He's built his own fucking city in this place.
I remember training halls and weapons stored in few buildings are lined up on the other side of his property. A hospital is on the left side and his huge mansion with sprawling grounds on the right side. There's a small river flowing on the side too and I can see a few women and men training near the open ground by the side of the river.
"I've never seen something like this before" Lorenzo breathes clearly in awe of the place too.
"Don't look so shocked. I'll give it a few seconds before his men are here, escorting us in. This is nothing compared to that mansion he lives in" I cock my head towards the two people walking towards us with guns strapped to their backs and wearing all black gear.
They both stop a few feet away and I recognise one of them from my earlier visit the last year. Clearly he remembers me too because he glares at me. Aww looks like he hasn't gotten over that bullet wound I gave him last time.
I smirk in response and wink at him "Looks like you're all healed Rob. Want me to give you a matching twin scar?"
His nose flares and he takes a step forward but the female with him stops him and pulls him back. Looks like at least one of them is the wiser one.
She looks at me "Welcome. My name's Margret. We're here to escort you. We'd been informed of your arrival. Though I must say we didn't expect you on this side of the property"
I know she wants an answer from me but she is over estimating her position here.
"I know you didn't" I give her a smile which is not at all sweet. She takes a deep breath agitated that I didn't give her the answer she wanted.
"Please follow us"
HAPPY NEW YEAR MY LOVELY READERS
How are you'll?? Hope you are having good day
I love youuuuu <3
Also next chapter is on the way too