*Chyna's POV*
I turned to face the voice,so if he does pull the trigger,at least then I'll know exactly who to haunt.
"Chyna?"Zane exclaimed when he saw my face,the dark murderous shadow ghosting him fizzled into the air like he was never there.
Had I not seen him facilitate a torture chamber,the shine in his eyes would have fooled me. I was not completely out of danger yet.
"Long time no see Zane."I greeted,getting up on my feet.
He pulled my gun from behind him with a wide grin spreading across his face.
"This yours?"
"Yes."I nodded,extending my muddy hand but he pulled it back,dangling it like a toy.
"You don't really expect me to give it back to you,do you?"
"I was your mentor for a reason,I,if not anyone,knows better than to set my expectations on a man like–"
My eyes caught sight of my nails mid sentence and I gasped audibly.
"These nails are disgusting."
Zane glances at them with concern,the gun still at my head.
"How long ago did you get them done?"
"Just yesterday."I groaned."This mud hunt make it look hideous.
"Yeah,"he bobs his head. "That's why you don't try to sneak a gun to a weapon-free event."
"Fine,my bad" My shoulders dropped. "But it's not technically my fault cause the gun isn't mine."
A mischievous glow hits his face. "Is that so?"
I nodded. "It's Arturo's."
He blinks slowly. "Arturo knows you are here?"
"Yes,how did you think I got in?"
He laughs dryly.
"And I'm the stupid one,"he mutters."Does Vincenzo know you are here?"
"He will."
Zane raised an eyebrow. "Soon."
"With your gun in hand?"
"I wasn't planning an assassination you paranoid man."I lie with a straight face."As I said,it's not even mine."
His eyes narrow suspiciously as he lowered the gun.
He doubts me..I would too,it's not every day you see me crouching in dirt and putting my nails in jeopardy just to try to retrieve a gun that wasn't even mine.
"Call him then,"I said confidently.
This was a bet gambling lords wouldn't be brave to take–Arturo had specifically warned me about drama,he was still forever loyal to Vincenzo,and Zane had already found me out.
The easy way here was to simply feed me to the wolves.
At least I know what choice I would have made.
I maintained a cool facade as Arturo's number rang.
He picked up on the first ring.
"Where the fuck are you?"Arturo snaps."And why did you abandon your post?"
"I'm with your girlfriend,she was doing a bit of gardening so I came to say hi."
"What?"
Zane stayed silent,I think he deliberately does it to piss Arturo off.
"What do you mean my girlfriend?"Arturo exclaims. "Who?"
"Let's not pretend you have a roster here–have you forgotten your darling Chyna?"
I'm sure Arturo's face twisted into a nasty frown but I confidently smiled at Zane instead.
"She's saying you gave her a gun to keep in a flower pot?"
I hold my breath.
A second passed,two seconds passed and I swallowed,feeling my shield crack.
"Yes." He answered after a very long two seconds. "Bring it to me and tell her we'll talk later."
Zane chuckled and cut the call.
"You too are crazy but it's not my problem."
I release a breath I wasn't aware I was holding as Zane walks away.
"Oh and by the way,"he yells over his shoulder. "Welcome back."
I nod softly and returned to the bathroom,this time locking the door behind me to prevent any disruptions.
Plan one was an unfortunate disaster,Arturo will scold the life out of me after this but I wasn't giving up.
I washed up and quickly returned to the reception hall,this time my face held high.
Zane was going to eventually tell Vincenzo I was here anyway,the cameras were not a problem anymore.
I let the click off my heels fill my ears as people were slowly beginning to recognise my face.
I found my way to the cake,unbothered by the brief glances and murmurs I received.
I stared at it for a long while and cut myself a bite of the tres leches cake tower that stood in the middle of the hall.
The idea came to me as I sliced through the cake,revealing a stunning raspberry paste that dripped from between the layers.
It would be bloody work but it was effective.
I glanced around the room again and Vincenzo with his business associates.
He was distracted.
Another sweep at the room and I found Evangeline and a mystery woman walking outside.
I smiled quietly to myself. The idiots had gone into a blind spot.
If this wasn't a sign from God himself he wanted to meet his daughter,I don't know what was.
I licked the icing off the small dining knife and followed them closely.
They tried to be vigilant–I'll give them that,they genuinely did.
But when you were Vincenzo's team mate for four years,two years out of practice would be stupid to think it could rob the stealth out of you.
They eventually stopped behind some trees,whispering frantically among themselves.
This was my chance to strike,all I needed to do was–
My feet abruptly came to a stop as the conversation's wording was beginning to reach my ear drums.
"Luca is already safe and on a flight to Estonia as we speak."Evangeline says. "I just saw the video."
I let my grip loosen on the knife. Who thw fuck is Luca?
"So you are backing out."the other woman hissed at her. "What about your father,what if the video was pre recorded–what if-"
"He signed a contract."
"A contract?Are you insane?"I can almost hear her bite back a profanity. "Luca's life is on the line and you think a contract does anything? Do you even have the slightest idea of the man you are dealing with here?"
If I was included in the conversation,I would have said the profanity myself,she must be even more foolish than I am to think a signed paper will stop him from having his way.
They go silent for a while and I'm almost tempted to peek to be sure they aren't doing hand signals at this point.
"Do you trust him?"the lady asks.
"No."Evangeline murmurs.
"Are you happy with your marriage–Have you thrown in the towel about your father's death–that Luca–the man you claimed you loved so much has lost everything because of you?"
"That's enough–"
"If you were enough,you'd actually stand up and do something about it,rather than cosplay in a black dress."
"I didn't reject your offer."Evangeline says. "I'll be your spy,but under one condition–"
I felt my heart leap in my chest,my brain zoning out the rest of the words –she was going to spy on Vincenzo?
The Vincenzo? And for a lovely too-oh this is gold.
My first instinct was to go and kill her right then and there–to save Vincenzo,to stop her from putting the entire family business in jeopardy for her own selfish goals.
But something restrained me,an idea-a better idea…he wouldn't believe me if I told him why I killed her anyway,they'll pin it all on jealousy and that'll be an ugly story to tell our kids.
Instead of using my own hands to do the trick,why don't I let Vincenzo do it? Or his family–the Del Toros will be thrilled to know that their new member was a mole.
And even if Vincenzo had already softened for her,I know the family well enough to trust they'll get the job done.
And I'll be the saviour–his saviour.
Back into the family…into the team,the good graces.
And my competition will be a dumb rotting corpse.
I quietly backed away from the tree,forcing all my joints to only leap for joy when I was out of sight.
Two birds with one,beautiful,deadly stone.
And here I was about to spill blood on my new custom dress.
Evangeline has presented her own head on a silver platter.
And I'll be sure to take a bite.