Marry Me, Mr Consigliere

The sound of a gunshot hit her ears as she was about to climb the veranda, she glanced around again to see the cars parked around. “They aren't cops!” she muttered and climbed the stairs, pushed the door back a bit and the blood running in her veins drained that moment. Her breathing became faster as she was overwhelmed with fear, and her feet stiffened on the floor.

“Goodbye!'' That was a masculine voice, followed by the sound of a released bullet. She closed the door and stepped back. A hot ball of tears streamed down her eyes. “Just a few minutes and you left me, I can't forget this—I must avenge you,” she muttered, her fist clenched.

The sound of footsteps approaching the door attracted her attention, she thought of watching them leave but she recalled that she might be killed, and she needed to live to avenge her parent's death. So she tiptoed away from that point and sneaked to the side of the building while her eyes were still darting around, wanting to see whoever it was that just shot her parents to death.

A group of men dressed in suits with their faces covered walked out of the building, then stood at the center of the compound, looking around. “Boss had ordered that we return with her, so search around for her and make sure she doesn't see her parent's corpse….” the head amongst them ordered.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear that order, instead, she leaned her back on the wall, weeping silently. Just in a twinkle of an eye, she lost her parents.

“I found her!” a deep masculine voice drew her attention. She turned to see the masked man walking towards her. She shook her head. “I can't let them take me after killing my parents, I must live to find out who's behind this and take revenge.” she thought and took to her heels, and then the man went after her.

She thought of going through the front gate but she reconsidered running down the balcony with trepidation and fear to the backyard—yet, they all went after her. She jumped the fence for the first time and fell to the ground. The pain she felt almost pulled her down, but she struggled on her feet and was caught at that moment.

Her eyes burning in anger and fear. “Let go of me!” she screamed, but the man held her tighter. “Just be calm, I won't harm you,” he assured her but she kicked her leg beneath his thighs and ran away while he groaned in pain.

After a few minutes, she felt like passing out, so she hid in a corner to take a rest.

“Why would they kill Mom and Dad? Who sent them?” she blew hot air through her mouth. The sound of a car that stopped caught her attention, she peeped to see them coming out of the car. “How did they locate me?” She looked around but there was no way out again except to run deeper into the uncompleted building.

Since there was no other option, and she wouldn't let them catch her, she ran deeper into the building, hoping to see a way out. They followed different directions after her and she noticed it, so she climbed through the window and jumped off the building—a huge arm grabbed her immediately and drew her along, but her face was covered.

“Let me go!” she yelled, and her mouth was sealed. At this point, she gave up, hoping that they would take her to whoever it was that sent them to murder her parents.

Like it wasn't enough, the stranger lifted her onto his shoulder while on a run. She was looking at the ground and could see that it was a man carrying her, but he wasn't in a suit like the others. “Who are you and where are you taking me to?” she questioned but got no reply.

“I'll put you down, then you'll choose whether to go to them or stay here.” Before she could say a word, she found herself standing before a stoutly built man. Her mouth was agape as she admired such a handsome man who saved her life. “Don't be too reckless next time…” he warned her and was about to leave but she obstructed his way.

“Why did you save me? We don't know each other right?” she queried, hoping for a reply.

He ran his fingers through her hair making her feel calm. “You owe me your body for the night, but I think you should take a rest for now ... .We'll talk about that later,” he replied.

Her brows furrowed. She could recall her father telling her how her hospital bills were cleared by a mafia consigliere in exchange of offering her body to him for a night, and she had that in mind, knowing that mafias don't joke with their deals—that's why she must pay him back for saving her life or she would have been dead due to the fatal accident.

“That's why I saved you. You can’t die without paying me,” he added.

She nodded with a slight smile. “I wasn't going to die, that's why I'm on a run—and I'll pay you with my body,” she said, rumbling her clothes. He scoffed and dipped his hand into his back pocket, then handed a little gun to her. “What is it for? I can't….”

“Didn't your father tell you? I'm a mafia consigliere, and we don't make a step without a gun.” he smiled and frowned immediately. “But, there's no bullet in it, just needles that can stop one's limb from functioning.”

“What are you trying to say?” she asked curiously, still staring at the gun.

He held her. “If you're beside me, you must be strong, vibrant, and smart—so try and be that way until the deal is over.”

She exhaled a deep breath. “I can't….”

“Those guys will soon be here and you must live, right? Then you have to shoot the needles at their legs while we are on the run.” he gestured and made a step but she stopped him again. “Mafias are wealthy and they all have expensive cars, where's yours?” she asked, since she already knew everything about mafias, their villa isn't far from the heart of Rio where mafias reside.

He arched his brows. “You forgot that this is a bush? Or you expect me to come here with it?” he shook his head in disbelief. “I was having fun with one of the burglars that visited my home here before I sighted you on the run and the guys after you. That doesn't mean that I'm your savior—my car is parked far away from here.”

She held his right hand. “Let's go so I can end the deal and go my way,” she uttered and he took his hands away and moved. She sniffed, watching him. “What insolence!” she cursed and followed him immediately.

They walked in the bush for a few minutes before they came out of the main road where his car and his men were waiting, and then he directed her to the car.

“Be fast!” he ordered her as he noticed the sound of cars coming closer, he knew it was the guys after her. “I wonder why they are after her and who sent them….” he dipped his hands into his pockets.

“They look familiar!” one of his men uttered as the cars stopped and the guys alighted from the car, rushing to where they were.

He stood firm and watched them come closer. “How may I help you?” he asked, waiting for their response, but one of them rushed to the car where the lady had entered.

“I'll shoot him once he comes closer.” She comforted herself and watched as the guy opened the door, then he let out one of the needles into his leg, causing him to fall to the ground. “Sit tight!” She heard a voice from the driver's seat and lifted her face. It was her savior, so she shut the door immediately.

“What of your men?” she asked anxiously.

He hissed. “They will take care of themselves. It's getting late, I have to break the deal and take you back home on time,” he replied while increasing the speed of the car since he sighted one of the opponent's cars after them. “Put on the seat belt, it's going to be a rough ride,” he warned her, and she did that immediately.

It was a rough ride indeed until they showed up before a gate.

“What's this place?” she questioned.

“My house! You'll stay here just for a night.” he climbed down from the car and she did so as well.

She admired the building so well and walked closer to him, then held his hand. “What's your name, Consigliere?”

He glanced at her and scoffed. “Noah, but I hate it when you refer to me by name.”

“Then I'll call you Mr Consigliere.” she smiled widely while still holding him. “My name is Cloe!” she announced and he nodded. She swallowed hard, recalling that they would only be together for the night and she would finally become a wanderer.