Chapter {9} Destiny

Proverbs 13:4 - "The soul of the lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich."

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My large frame was adorned by a teal blue Armani suit above my black sweater whilst my feet bore white sneakers. Giovanni's reflection was displayed on my mirror as I stared down at it.

"What?" I asked as I turned around to face my friend slash brother, pulling at the ends of my jacket.

His innocent, carefree and playboy face would give nothing out about his actual life and role in this mafioso, his brutality and horrific ways of getting what he wants when he wants.

"Why are you playing with the poor girl again?" He smiled, amused and entertained by the whole plan.

He had noticed me staring at Destiny in the cafeteria and demanded to know what was going on. He was the only person, other than Avelina who could command me to do something without getting a bullet in their head.

I told him and he was satisfied with my plan, knowing how hard my childhood had been and how spiting my stepmom could help me get some revenge after all we were talking about the number one player of Italy.

I did not reward him with an answer, but rather rounded the room, toke my Gucci watch, strapped it on and took my phone.

"Make sure that Ramrod, that traitor gives you all the information about the Russian Mafia before you kill him."

"Can I play with him a bit?" He smirked. I knew what he meant by play and I can assure you it will not be fun, at all.

"I don't care what you do, just get me the information."

I did not wait for his response as I left my room only to bump into my cute four-year-old sister. She looked like what I would imagine our mother looked like when she was her age, glistening brown eyes that reminded me of a certain someone, straight nose, milk-white skin and mouse brown hair.

"Hello, cara." I picked Avelina up as her tiny frame moulded into my huge one. She looked so cute in her princess dress and pigtails.

"Fratello!" She excitedly shouted as she wrapped her arms around me. She probably missed me as I did not even have time for my sister and when I did she was too tired or asleep to actually spend time with me.

"How are you?" I smiled.

"Fine, guess what I did at school today!" She exclaimed with a grin.

"What?"

She wiggled out of my arms, causing me to release her and ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her and got into her room before returning with a paper clutched in her hand.

"This! Look!" She handed me the paper. As soon as I saw it my smile vanished, it was a picture of our family, we were drawn as little stickmen, with her in the middle, holding our mom's hand, whilst I stood next to her holding hers and our dad's hand. We looked so happy.

I looked at her as she gave me an expectant grin, I quickly replaced my sad frown with a smile, "It looks so beautiful, honey. One day you will be a great artist." I kissed her cheek.

"Thank you," She muttered as I saw a cute blush colour her cheeks.

"I have to go," I said as I watched a sad frown form on her adorable face as tears welled up in her eyes, making me feel bad for leaving her.

"Why?" Avelina asked as a tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another, and another until a waterfall of tears was rushing down her face.

"Don't cry, I will buy you doughnuts, chocolate and ice cream," I smiled as I got on my knees and wiped away her tears.

Doughnuts were her favourite food in the whole world and I knew that she would stop crying if I said that.

"Really?" She sniffled.

"Pinky promise," I held out my pinky as she did and we inlocked them into a promise.

"Okay," She smiled.

I noticed as one of my thousand guards, climbed up my long flight of marble stairs, holding on to the golden railing, coming in for his five-hour shift, in all-black clothing, his muscular build made him look intimidating, as he should but his laziness was irking me. No one was allowed to come upstairs, except only one cleaner; Merebeth who cleaned Avelina and Giovanni's room, I did my own cleaning, for safety reasons and of course, health reasons, one guard who insured my little sisters' safety and Nancy, Avelina's nanny were the only people allowed up here.

"Cara, go play with your dolls and I'll try to return as soon as I can with your goodies, okay?" I smiled as I kissed her cheek and hugged her.

"Okay," She happily agreed as she skipped to her room.

I looked as the lazy bodyguard, took deep breaths from climbing ninety stairs, which he was expected to be used to after the rigorous training all the members of the mafia had to undergo. He had not noticed me and I startled him as I said, "Non sei solo pigro."

"Boss," He quickly stood upright as he saw me.

"Have those stairs suddenly turned into a mountain or have you just turned into a giant, huffing and puffing?" I looked him in the eyes.

"Forgive me, boss," He downcasted his eyes.

"Fortunately, I cannot forgive you. You are bad for my mafia and sister. Remember that proverb from the bible, Some lazy person will end up poor, but a hard worker will become rich. And I can tell you with your laziness you will not go far."

"Now do yourself a favour and leave this mansion, along with the mafia and if a word comes out that we are a mafia or you start running your mouth about any member, I mean any, non vivrai per vedere un altro giorno.

"Please boss, I have a family to feed," He got on his knees and bent his hands as if wanting to pray.

"And I have a sister to protect, now stand up and leave," I said sternly.

"Boss, you have misunderstood the whole situation," He tried to plead.

I walked away from him, easily jogging down the stairs as I went into the lobby, where two guards were stationed near each room of my twenty-five-room house.

"Toby!" I called one of my most trusted guards, older than other most, a man even taller than me, brown-haired, manipulative face and bodybuilder body.

"Yes, boss?" He was in front of me within minutes.

"Watch Avelina, the guard that was supposed to be guarding her has been relieved of his duties. Understood?"

"Understood, boss," He firmly nodded.

He jogged upstairs as I expect everyone to and he then walked into my sister's room as I walked out of the lobby into my massive garage filled with one hundred-plus vehicle for all the members of the mafia, from the guards, to the soldiers, to capos, to the consigliere and underboss and only a third of them were living and working in this city.

Walking to the array of what looked like thousands of keys, arranged in perfect order, I chose to go with something casual, a grey Audi RS4. I chose the keys as my chauffeur came around, politely asked for them and we got into the car. The garage automatically opened and we eased onto the driveway and soon we were on the road.

The time read Five-thirty which meant I had thirty minutes to get there as we had texted agreeing that we would meet up at six ó clock on the dot. But where? The girl did not bother asking so I would surprise or probably scare her by showing up at her apartment. But who cares?

Ten minutes later we were in the busier side of the city thanks to the fast speed level the chauffeur was driving at. I could see buses resembling trains in their movement, men in business wear, holding cellphones into their hands, and girls laughing in a group but what touched my heart were the parents holding their kids' hands, something I had yearned for the longest time in my life but now I knew that it was impossible and the sooner I accepted the better, with my lifestyle and morals I would not get that or give it to an innocent child, if if I somehow ended up with Samantha, she envied and despised her own sister so how would she love her child or someone else?

I noticed that we were in a modern-looking apartment complex, without any natural environment just a nice-looking brown industrial flat matching the rest and roads upon roads, from a distance I could something clear blue, most likely a swimming pool and in my far right hand, there was a tennis court. Oh, now I know why because this student's accommodation and if I had bothered myself to read the tedious information but who could blame me, I had to read through the information of every single member that entered the mafia, sign deals, plan ways to generate more money into the mafia without getting into the cops' radar and sign shipment and that is all a day's work.

The car came to a halt in front of Destiny whom I also didn't even see as she resembled Frozen in her light blue dress and coat and yes, I do know Frozen, the first and second movie after being subjected to watch it will my sister who is probably the hugest fan of Frozen. She was standing on the sidewalk probably looking for a taxi.

I stepped out and got a one-on-one view of the lady in front of me, and I must admit she looked stunning, her chocolate skin glowed, her eyes twinkling like the stars and resembled the moon when she blinked them but I could not say the same about her hidden intentions and motives.

"Nio? What are you doing here?" She furrowed her brows, oh and did I mention, she's the only person that calls me Nio?

"I thought I would just come pick you up," I replied with a charming smile.

"But I don't remember telling you where I lived," She now rather raised her bow.

"I asked your best friend Thato and she sent me your address, now are we going to waste time arguing, amore?" I lied as I purposefully furrowed my brows feigning confusion and part anger.

"No, sorry for accusing you falsely. It's just that when someone you do not know knows your address it might be scary and worrisome." Her eyes held sincerity behind them.

"It's okay, I understand," I smiled a fake smile.

"Come on," I toke her hand which seems to be made of soft electricity so I quickly let go of it before opening the door for her and entering myself.

"Good evening," She said to the chauffeur who replied by wishing her a good evening. By now I knew that she greeted each and everyone, stranger or not which is something someone with morals and respect did, which she clearly had.

The chauffeur, who I did not bother knowing the name of already knew (I had a new driver every day unless I drove for myself, for safety reasons) already knew where we were going.

We sat in comfortable silence before I decided to do some ice-breaking.

"So, where are you from?" I asked pretending to be curious.

"South Africa," She smiled looking directly into my eyes as if staring into my soul.

"Wow, the southmost tip of Africa?" I interestingly smiled.

"Yep, that's where I'm from. What about you?"

Why was she asking me such a question? Wasn't it obvious that I was Italian? Now I could see the conversation just going South but I could not say that.

"Well, I'm from here. Born and bred here both my parents were Italians and that's why I gave this very prominent accent," I forced a smile to cover up my annoyance.

"Oh, what happened to your parents?" She showed genuine concern and I remembered I had slipped up about them.

"What do you mean?" I asked acting oblivious to what I had said.

"You used the word were, as in past tense which only happens when someone has passed on," She explained as if I didn't know already.

"Yeah, they passed on," I told the truth probably for the first time since we had met.

"I'm so sorry," She frowned, not being excessively touchy or taking advantage of the situation like most girls that knew my double life did and I kinda appreciated it.

"It's fine," I said, even if it was not fine, even if I was not fine but had to be fine.

"I'm glad that the Lord helped you rise up after you fell," Destiny smiled.

"How did he help me rise up?" Now I was genuinely curious to know how he had helped me.

"He took away your pain, wiped your tears and helped you stand up on your own two feet cause from what I can see you are an independent, smart and kind man."

That description did not match me, I was definitely not kind but I agreed I was Independent and intelligent but only because I was forced to grow up and adjust to this harsh world. I could not see how God had helped me, I fought the battle of life alone and continue fighting it alone.

"I do not see how he helped me," I replied looking as we zoomed through the almost deserted streets.

"Sometimes we do not see the Lord's hand in things, but that doesn't mean he is not working or he has forsaken you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' So the Lord will never want you to perish or fail but he wants you to prosper and live according to his will and purpose for you."

"So he did help you," She smiled as she always does.

"Okay, if you say so," I rolled my eyes and we dropped the subject falling into a boring silence as I thought through what she had said, yes it seemed too unrealistic but something told me that she was telling the truth and the Lord was with me, despite being the person I was.

"We have arrived sir, ma'am," The chauffeur said coming to a stop in front of one of the finest restaurants in Rome.

I opened the door, rounded the car and opened the door for Destiny before she could do so herself.

"Thank you," She said blushing.

"No need to thank me."

"There is a need afterall you opened the door for me," She said stepping out of the car her boot heels touching the paved cement as she pulled her laptop bag with. Something I had forgotten about.

"My mom would have given me a smack or two, if I let a lady open a door for herself," I said taking my hand into hers, still feeling tingles though better than before as I helped her out of the car.

"She seems like she was a nice woman," She smiled sadly as if I wanted anyone's pity, I had enough of people showing me sympathy when they themselves did not understand what it was I was going through.

"She was. Not that you would understand," I slipped out as I watched her delighted eyes morph into sadness. Which affected me in a weird way.

But instead of apologising, I instead instructed the chauffeur to go back as another one would be back to pick us up later on before grabbing my laptop bag and gently closing my car.

We then walked on the pavement watching the heritage of this city, old but fashionable buildings similar to the one we were entering, it was vintage style building but the blue light illuminated on it making have a Mediterranean feel, Gio had suggested this restaurant saying I quote and unquote 'What better way to win a girls heart than to take her to a fancy restaurant?' and I had agreed but it seems I will not be winning her heart meaning no spiting my stepmom, because of my big mouth.

No words were shared till we reached the entry, a young woman dressed in a sky-white shirt underneath a sea blue dress stood with a clipboard in hand.

"Good evening, sir, ma'am," She said looking specifically at me with an seductive look.

I nodded whilst Destiny said, "Good evening." Not that the women cared, I quickly scanned over her name as it read Gianna.

"Gianna, we have a reservation for two," I said as I watched her look at me as if I had not said anything.

"Gianna?" I called.

"Uhm, yes sir?" She stuttered breaking out of her frenzy.

"We have a table reservation for two," I repeated, now annoyed as I did not like repeating myself.

She finally did her job and nodded when she saw my name before leading us into the light-themed Restaurant which wasn't full due to the expensivensss of the place.

Flower pots rounded the whole Restaurant with baby blue vintage French chairs and matching round tables.

"Here are your menus, please do call me when you are ready to place an order," Gianna said still focused on me.

"You are aware that I am not the only person you are serving right?" I finally addressed her.

"Oh...Y-yes, I'm sorry," She stuttered.

"I'm not the one you should be apologising to," I deadpanned folding my arms.

"I'm sorry miss," She turned to Destiny who seemed surprised that she was apologising.

"Oh no, it's okay," Destiny smiled.

As soon as she said that Gianna scurried away and I decided to address the elephant in the room.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier," I tried to sound as sincere as I could.

She sighed, "It's okay... I-I might not understand but one person does God."

"You are a religious person, aren't you?"

"I am not religious I just believe in the Almighty God," She said.

Destiny eyes widened as she looked over her menu, "Everything is expensive," She looked like she was the one who was going to pay for the food.

"It's on me, remember," I smirked.

"Where do you get all this money, you have a driver, expensive cars and live a fancy lifestyle." She eyes me suspiciously.

"Inheritance," I said easily, and it wasn't exactly a lie, my sister and I had gotten inheritance after our parents deaths.

"Huh?"

"My parents inheritance."

"Oh, okay, then. But please do not misuse it, money lasts only for a moment," She adviced, surprising me as most girls would have asked me for money or wanted to eat it all but she actually gave me great advice. Even if I did not need it.

Maybe I was wrong about Destiny.

And that night when I went into bed I thought through her words, could it be true that God actually understood what I was going through?

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Cara- dear

Fratello- Brother

Che uomo pigro sei- what a lazy man you are.

Non vivrai per vedere un altro giorno- you will not live to see another day.