Antonio

Dante and Damiela Castro were a different type of humans. Born in the Italian mafia family, these twins did everything different from what any twin set would. The Italian family's biggest happiness turned like a horror movie when ten year old Damiela murdered their nanny. Since then, till the ages of twenty five, these two had been a pain in everyone's ass.

Dad had always spoken high about their family when their father, Rossi Castro managed business. Now, with his mad spawns handling things, many aspects of our business, our modes of operation were changes to be aligned with theirs. After all, the Castros were the mightiest after their Spanish counterparts, the Salazars.

"Aren't they like sort of," Val searched for words as she entered the study. "..weird. I almost thought they would have sex that night of the party." Looking over her shoulder, she confirming on their absence before plopping on the chair.

"Everyone assumed that." I said, knowing the truth. The Castro twins were fucked up in worst ways than any Game of throne characters.

After my last meet with them, a few weeks earlier, we decided to do dealings in Mexico. With Salazar's looming threat, it was always safe to work the home grounds before venturing out again. Not that the Castors' mind any place. Those weirdoes were glad to be anywhere if given the right kind of drug and people of their choice to sleep for the night.

"Why aren't they here yet? Val played with a strand of hair before tossing it off her face. As a person who stood by my side, she too was particular about timing. Another quality which made her more attractive.

With her black dress donned to receive the twins and as a generous hostess, Val was ready to ball over our guests. Her curves remained highlighted through the soft satin hugging her body. Her crossed legs moved apart upon hearing footsteps.

Al escorted the twins into the room. As gracious as ever, Val put on the show. Her hand rose towards then, held in the air for whoever wished to take.

Dante Castro, was a man of few words but recognizable deeds. He grabbed her hand, tugging it close to his mouth as he kissed his knuckles, eying her. His brown eyes remained glued on her smiling face as he tracked her skin, unwilling to leave.

I felt the silver letter opener on my desk calling to me plunge its tip into the man eyes and gouge it out for touching my wife. Her smiling face turned to me, a joke floated out. "Someone is smitten by me, Antonio."

I could only smile at her words. Her cringe was visible as her left hand balled into a fist behind her back, turning pale. With a faster step, she moved close to him, a soft embrace and a peck on the cheek before she freed herself off his clutches.

It must be her rose and sandalwood scent, the one which rendered everyone into a state of euphoria. Dante stood transfixed at his place for a few more seconds with closed eyes, his chest heaving slowly. His gelled hair and tucked in shirt all called out to me to rush over and punch him in his face.

Instead, I grabbed the desk edges tight.

Damiela was unmoved by all this. She tossed her brown hair and shifter her long dress slit, exposing her entire leg while managing to take a seat before her brother even began the insufferable display of lust for my Val.

My Val! I reeled into those words. Was she mine?

"Mi querido, Anto," Val's words had the effect of Aloe Vera on the burn Dante inflicted. She walked across to my side, perching on the armrest on my right and dipping, turning her heels out as she kissed my cheeks. She may have used it to stake her side, her loyalty to her husband. "Estoy cansada."

She wasn't really tired but the message was clear to Dante who shifted in his seat, looking away. But was Val wasn't done with her power play.

A woman of her nature wouldn't take any sort of disrespect, even if was imagining her naked, as Dante did. If I could see it, so could she. Val snaked her left arm across my shoulder. My hand unknowingly curled over her tiny waist. It was scary, holding her as mine when she still wasn't. When she tuned and smiled, a wave of relief washed over.

Al and Agustin cleared their throat in unison as if trying to pull us out of mutual admiration for each other. Val slid on a chair next to me. Her absence was felt immediately. I touched the armrest where she sat, already longing to hold her again. Only a few meters away, this woman held the key to my sanity. I was hit with a whirlwind of emotions, unsorted feelings whenever she was around.

What were you doing to me Val?

"So what will be our role?" Damiela spoke first, leaning into the chair as her eyes danced between me and Al. "You see, we are tired of playing the mule suppliers. We need more." Her slit dress rode up with every word. Al, who sat beside watched her skin with eyes unwilling to leave the sight.

Val sighed besides me, nodding her head slowly. "If I knew this was on, I would have dressed in less clothing." She mumbled to herself.

Leaning in, I ran a finger over her exposed arm. I could see the trail of goosebumps it left in its wake. Her head tilted towards me, her eyebrow hooked up, inviting me to take her here itself. "Even with your clothes, on I am having trouble keeping that puppy off." I whispered, gently tilting my head towards Dante. "Think what would happen of its barely there." I could see her beautiful doe eyes widening with my words hitting her understanding.

Yes I was flirting with my wife. Was it a crime?

She bit her lips, leaning onto the desk. Her palm covered the side of her face. We were talking and whispering like a bunch of school kids, trying to hold onto a secret. All she did was wink at me before straightening up on the chair and eying our allies.

"You will have more chance to trade now. You will be one of our suppliers. Direct suppliers. There won't be any broker." Val drummed her fingers over the table. Dante was enticed, leaning forward to listen. His chin resting on his knuckle. "It would be yours to ours. Arms, Drugs, everything."

Val's words were a strategy. We were reeling in the Italians and reeled they were. With widened eyes and her head tossing slowly, she played the puppeteer. The twins read the documents presented to them. Crooked smile rose on their face as they scanned each word.

"Oh I am having an orgasm, just reading this." Dante announced, patting the middle of his thighs. Underneath, on the other side of the desk, Val squeezed her own hands together, scratching at her cuticles. But above the desk, she carried a million dollar smile.

"One condition," Val glanced at the documents placed in front of her. "Last time our mules were children and pregnant woman. We cannot have that." She raised her hand before Damiela's mouth could even opened in refusal. "If you say those people are monitored the least, then that's not a good enough answer for us."

The room fell silent. Damiela didn't utter a word but turned to her brother for help. After a brief pause, Dante placed his hand over the table, flexing his muscular arms.

"No woman and children." he nodded in approval.

"But how will we send-"

Damiela's words were cut short when he waved a hand in the air. She sighed in frustration, turning her attention to the man who was drooling over her, Alejandro.

"But we have a condition too, Antonio," Dante leaned back, watching me. "We get the first cut. Half of everything."

"Are you crazy? We would be left with nothing after that." Agustin protested. He looked over to me and then snapped back at the twins. "This was your plan all along, isn't it? You knew what we wanted and you jacked up your rates."

Damiela patted his hand, smiling. "What plan? You think my brother and I have any plan?" Her pretense laugh was cringe worthy. I watched as Dante smiled through it all along. "No. We don't have any plan, little one." He addressed Agustin but I knew what he meant.

Vultures were circling.

They knew our weakness, they smelled blood from distance. We needed a stronghold and the Italians were our kingpin. With them by our side, it was only the Argentinians and the Russians we needed to put Salazar in his place. The deal was a loss but I would rather suffer with money than pride.

Val's hand snaked into mine, giving a gentle squeeze. Her smile gave me a shift of focus. We were doing this for a reason. Survival. Stronghold. We needed to stand together in this. All against one was the game.

"Done," I said. Al tossed his hand in the air while Agustin cocked his head in disagreement, falling back into his chair. For them, it was the worst decision. Only I knew what we got out of it. "Send your men to overlook everything."

Damiela rose from his chair along with Dante. It was a unilateral contract but one that needed to be made. After rounds of handshakes and signings, Damiela announced, "I will stay and overlook for a week before I send my men. I will be at your disposal."

Those last words were directed towards Al, who although was visibly sad, smiled for her.

Dinner went smoothly. Only a few times did Dante tried his hands over Val who in her rough but kind approach set his back to his place. I was feeling on top of the world. There was nothing which would bring us down now. Nothing.

With Dante retiring to our guest room escorted by Agustin and Al and Damiela whispering through their eyes, the pounding they decided on, it was only me and Val who were left behind at the dinner table.

Help cleared the remaining plates from the table. We watched each other, playing with the last piece of food. Somehow, the silence of the company was enjoyable.

Ahem.

I looked up to see Valentina eying me curiously.

"Is there something you want to ask about the merger?" I asked, knowing whatever she portrayed the study was all an act. The part of a powerful couple that we conjured to get Dante to back off. I wouldn't be surprised if she too had her doubts like Alejandro and Agustin.

"No," she placed her fork on the plate, gulping down water before straightening. "That decision was necessary. We need to be stronger than Salazar." She tugged her hair behind her ears as I waited for her follow up question. It was coming. Although a part of me was relieved that she understood my decision even without me having to explain.

A bond was forged between us, of unspoken understanding.

"What I wanted to know was why you choose to marry me?" her eyes danced over the dinner table as her plated were cleared. Sipping last of my drink, I stood up, she followed.

"It was for your business," was my half answer. I wanted to confess that the decision was to get Maria off my back but it ceased to be the reason anymore. I had started respecting Val not only as my wife but as a woman who was driven by rationale for business. We would have been at loss in Spain, had it not been for her tactics.

Val moved ahead, nodding at my answer.

"Wait," I called out. The part of me which enjoyed her company also hated seeing her leave. I wanted her to stay. My answer would. "It started as business. But.." I felt blood rush to my face. Avoiding her eyes, I viewed the floor. Her heels clacked closer to me. Patiently, she allowed me my time.

"It started as business but it has become more than that. You are a valuable partner for business."

God. Just spill it. There may not come another time and place like this. Spill.

"Okay. Thanks for telling me that." She said, walking away.

My hand held hers, pulling her back. This time, it wasn't my ego pinning her down, it was my weakness. I wanted to tell her things, confess her influence over me but fear gripped my heart in its clutches.

Last time I opened up to someone, she made me fall for her and left me to die alone. Her absence was only replaced with hookers and booze. I wasn't ready for that again. I wasn't ready to take the leap of faith this time.

"Antonio," Val picked up my fallen face. Her wide brown eyes emitted warmth under which I wanted to let go of my inhibitions. "I know you are scared, I am too. But I wanted to tell you that I may not have been fully into this marriage on day one, but.." she closed her eyes, sighing. "..that has changed now. I am committed to this contract. You and I, we will make this contact work. For the world, I will always be yours."

My heart plunged into the darkness at her words. Bottomless pit of darkness. I was scared to take chance with her but Val shut any chance of it altogether. The crossroads at which I stood seemed clear. It wasn't only I, who was scared. She too was.

"For the world, you will be mine, Val. But what about when you are alone?" I asked, hearing the sounds and voices in me calm down. They all awaited her response.

Her eyes darted off the floor and danced over my face. "I was never anyone's, Antonio. Never will be."

She moved back and walked away, letting me stew in the dim dining room light. I watched her, trained as an assassin to kill but never taught to love. Scared to love, trust or even believe anyone. Her hurt was as deep as mine. She lost people through betrayal, mine was lost to death. We both were scared in life and scared to acknowledge of needing help.

I watched as my Val walked away. A girl who cried on my lap one day, walked away from my hold, my heart today. She sealing our fates shut.

~

Some stories start as they end.

Let me know if there two knuckleheads would every speak their hearts?

Let me know in the comments :)