12| Noah's arch

Luciano

"Mr Rivera,"

"Yes?" 

"Ms Leyla is here," I tilt my head at the sound of her name.

Leyla?

"Why is she here?" I ask not looking up. "The lady didn't say. All she said was she needed to see you," I clench my jaw. "Fine. But bring Gomez first,"

"Yes sir," And then I hear fading footsteps. I ball up my fists in aggravation. What the hell was she doing here?

In a matter of seconds I hear a voice. "Boss,"

"Gomez, I need you to let Isaak know that security needs to be doubled up at the house. There's more people. Meaning more lives are risks. My mother, Claudia, Diane and Sydney are too stay alive. Protect them with your lives, you hear?"

"I hear you Boss,"

"Good, now you may go,"

"Yes sir,"

Not even a second later, I hear an annoying screeching voice. I ball my fists, sighing at what was about to come.

"Luci," I could almost see the smile on her face. Her footsteps signal she's close to me and I prove myself right as I feel a body on my lap. She runs the back of her hand along my cheeks. "You're so hot, you know that?"

"Get off me,"

"Oh that's not what we did the other nights," She whispers in my ear. I was wondering why she whispered such a thing. One thing and the only thing I liked about Leyla; was how she wasn't afraid to say anything. She would say it no matter who you are and how important you are.

Although, she knew her limits with me.

"Rivera," I hear another voice. It was unfamiliar and it belonged to a man. "I brought you a guest," Leyla squeals in excitement? as both her heels click on the floor once she is no longer on my lap.

"Shawn is here to speak to you,"

That name rang a bell.

I arch my brow. "About?"

"Oh, don't  be so rude Luci," Leyla utters. I flare my nose as I exhale sharply.  "I don't have time for your games, Leyla,"

"Calm down now. Shawn just wants to speak to you,"

"Rivera," Shawn sighs. "I didn't come here to argue with you. On the contrary, I came here as Claudia's Boss,"

That's where I knew him from.

What the hell was he doing here with Leyla?

"You're probably wondering what I'm doing here,"

"Well, I don't enjoy my time being wasted," I say. "Manners, love. Shawn over here came in peace," Leyla intervenes.

"Leyla it's okay. His a business man. His aware that... time is money. So.. I'll get right into it. Leyla is my daughter,"  He says. I mean roll my eyes at this.

What did he expect me to say? Congratulations? Father of the year?

"Your point?"

"She's in danger,"

"So?" I shrug. This was boring me.

"So I need her to be under your protection," This causes me to chuckle. Who does he think I am? Noah?

And that I'd just fit anyone in my 'arch'?

"I'd expect a man like you with a double life to know exactly what you're getting into when you enter this business. I figured you'd be smarter, Shawn," There's a fake smile on my face when I say this.

"Rivera, this is my daughter's life we're talking about?"

"I don't  care,"

"Luciano," Leyla hisses. I ball up my fist. "If that's all, you can see your way out," I hear him release a stressful sigh. "Luci, they'll kill me," I hear the panic in her voice.

Leyla was panicking...

Strange.

Didn't sound like the Leyla I knew.

"What's wrong with your house?" I ask him. "I'll be leaving for a few weeks. I've got some business to handle. By the time I'm back, Leyla will be out your house before you even know it,"

"No,"

"Riv-"

"I don't trust you. I don't trust you or your daughter,"

"She'll  behave," He reassures me. Knowing all of the things she was capable of. Leyla wasn't your ordinary girl, no. She was an assassin. One that should never be trusted but she had always been by my side. She defended me at all costs. Whatever she did behind my back was none of business as long she didn't create an enemy out  of me.

She knew better.

That didn't mean I trusted her.

"Fine," I decide to give in. "One mistake Shawn, you'll recieve her body parts in a birthday box," I smile. He gulps, loud enough for me to hear.

"Yay," Leyla claps thrice. "See dad? I told you there was nothing to worry about," I then feel her hand on my shoulder.

"Leave," I say and without a second thought, I hear footsteps. "I owe you one, Rivera,"

I don't say anything and just wait to be faced with complete silence. "Bye, my love! I'll be waiting at your arch tonight,"

□□□

Claudia

My skin makes contact with the leaves as we all make our way to the garden. Something I never noticed when we got here was the was the basketball court.

Makes sense as to why Isaak was dressed for the occasion. After he had spoken to Luciano, he himself offered to show us both the interior and exterior of the house. I was already quite stunned at how  beautiful the house was the first day but as I'm seeing everything else, it's more than that. The brothers had amazing taste and that was for sure.

"Is that a hammock chair?" Diane gasps, pointing at the hammock chair that in the garden that stood along the trees. "Yes," Isaak broke into a smile.

Oh! Is that what it's called? I thought it was just a swinging basket chair?

Oh well.

"Can I?" She looks up to him with her puppy dog eyes. Her hands were intertwined  as she jumped happily in one spot.

"On one condition,"

"Anything," She says willingly. "We all play basketball," He sets his condition.

"Deal," She then runs the basketball court. "Get ready to get beaten, Johnson," She smirks.

"Wait, wait, wait," Isaak holds up his index finger. "All of you against me?" He raises his brow

"Well, 3 against one then," Anna shrugs.

"Ladies, that's not part of the rules," Isaak protests. "We don't play by the rules, Johnson," Diane steps forward. He does the same and they both seem to get lost in each other's eyes.

"Well then we're about to make some," I hear an unfamiliar voice. I turn to see who it is and there I'm met with a beautiful woman. She was tall, about 5ft 8/9 if I wasn't wrong. Her brown was dark and perfect. No flaw whatsoever. The wind blew her defined curls in the wind effortlessly. She stood tall, her arms crossed. She had perfectly shaped hips and meat in all the right places. Her yellow bodycon dress made sure of that. It also made her  brown skin pop.

She was gorgeous.

"Come on now. Why is everybody so quiet?" She walks closer and her driver closes her door and goes to open the boot. Revealing her luggage. "Leyla?" Isaak seems to be confused himself. "What are doing here?" He asks and she smiles once she sees him. She  them hugs him and despite the shock on his face, he manages to break into a smile and hug her back.

"I live here," She says  pulling away from him.

"What?"

"Well, yes I went to visit your brother, spoke with him and he said I could stay here,"

"Luciano said that?"

"My dad can testify," She says. "Where is he?"  Isaak asks

"Oh his not here. He out of the city for a few weeks," Isaak squints his eyes, seeming unsure.

"Oh stop being so serious. Luciano will call you. He tells you everything," She reassures him "And how could you be so rude as to not introduce me to your friends?" She asks, her eyes roaming around.

"Everyone, meet Leyla,"

□□□

Luciano

"I swear. I don't know anything," He lies breathlessly. He tried finding  a way out but the chains were proof he couldn't escape even if he wants to.

The sound of the chains knocking against each other was beautiful.

He was struggling.

He had no way out. He was completely trapped and helpless.

I understood him.

That was a feeling I shared with him.

But I was not to have any mercy on him. None at all.

I twitch. "Look, I don't enjoy people wasting my time. But what I enjoy is making people like you suffer," I tell him. He weeps innocently but I don't dare to fall for it.

"So you're crying now?" I ball my fist, my jaw clenched. "You're  crying?"

"I- "  He stutters. My hand finds his neck with patience and I don't hesitate to strangle him. The anger inside me on full display. I could hear him struggle in the wooden chair.

"I'll give you a reason to cry. I'll give your whole family a reason to cry,"

"Please, Luciano," He begs. And that's when I feel a warm liquid make contact with my bare hand. "I- I made a mistake," He whispers out of breath. "Please- I- don't  k-kill me,"

"That's all you care about huh? Huh?" My grip on  his neck grows tighter. "Luciano- Luci.."

Then it went silent.

I held on a little bit longer until one of my men spoke.

"Boss, Leyla Ornel arrived at your house today,"

I let go of the selfish idiot and fix my shirt.

"Send his body to his family,"

Is the last thing I say before I leave.