Sold to the Capo-Chapter 81: A SEALED FATE

ADRIANA’S POV

He was looking down at me, waiting for me to say something but it never came.

I refused to speak because what was I supposed to say? Yes, I think I’m jealous, and I hate myself for it because I shouldn’t care about what he did in private when it didn’t concern me, but here I was, mad because he had something with Valentina and chose to keep it away from me.

What about Grace? Did he ever have something with Grace? Suddenly I was curious.

"What about Grace?" I blurted out instead of the answer that he was waiting for.

He blinked surprised at my question. "What about her?" He looked confused then it suddenly dawned on him because he rubbed his face and let out a curse in Italian. "God no, Tesoro. Why would you think that? I never had a thing with Grace, okay?" He chuckled.

My cheeks heated up and I felt like a fool for even asking him something like that. Great, now he would stand on the ground that I was jealous.

Nice one, Adriana.

He was instead looking down at me, waiting for me to say something else so I just blurted the first thing that came to mind. "You can’t blame me for thinking like that. You’re always in her quarters so I just assumed..."

"Firstly, I’m not always in her quarters, and secondly, she’s a hacker; of course, I’ll need to see her most times because I gave her the stuff to do, which I need to have reports on," He said with a small smirk.

Oh.

That explained the private room she had locked herself up in.

"She’s busy with a job now right?" I asked, trying mostly to just deflect from the stuff I had been asking before.

His facial expression darkened and he looked at me almost suspiciously. "Did she tell you something?" His tone has suddenly become darker.

"Uh no, she did not. I’m just asking. She seemed busy when I went to her house" I yawned, feeling tired already.

He seemed relieved for some weird reason. "Yes, I did give her work but she’s done with it" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Out of sheer curiosity, I found myself asking. "What type of job did you give her?"

Vincenzo looked at me for a split second, different emotions warring in his expression. "I wanted her to find someone," He said at last.

Oh. Why did he then look like it was something so private that he couldn’t tell me about it?

"Did she find him?" I asked again. "Or her" I quickly corrected myself.

He hesitated once more, and that look of confusion crossed his face again, but he answered me, his voice tight. "Yes"

I wanted to ask him who it was, but he already looked so stressed with the questions I was asking him, so I held back, willing to give him time. I had given him enough shocks for the day.

He stared down at me, a small smile on his lips. "You still didn’t answer my question"

My heart deflated at that. He still brought it up, why couldn’t he just leave it be?

"I think you already know my answer" I bit back, refusing to look him in the eye. Of course, I was jealous.

He chuckled softly and leaned down to stare at me, forcing my gaze to meet his. "I don’t think I know yet. I want you to tell me" He muttered.

Little piece of...

"No, I’m not jealous," I said instead of the actual answer. "You’re the only one who’s jealous"

Something like confusion flickered in his eyes for a split second then his expression turned serious again. "You sure? You didn’t seem too...calm to hear it"

I didn’t answer him. Instead, I started looking at my nails, avoiding his piercing eyes; it was like he was waiting for me to reveal something that wasn’t there.

"So I’m the only one jealous?" He asked again, his voice husky.

I refused to look up, refused to acknowledge the tingle the sound of his voice had left in its wake. If I ever acknowledged any of these things, I was setting myself up for something that I wouldn’t be able to handle but that still didn’t stop me from asking. "Why are you jealous anyways? Do you like me or something, Vincenzo?" I asked, staring down at my fingers and fiddling with them, my voice softer than I had meant it to be.

Then he was silent. Like he had no answer to that.

"I..." he paused and straightened up, confusion in his gaze; this had to be the most time I had seen him this confused. "No, of course not. Why would you say that?" He scoffed, his voice tight as he struggled to clear his throat.

I don’t know why but I was a bit let down by his answer. What was I even hoping to hear anyway? I knew that he didn’t like me, so what? It’s not like I liked him that way; I was just attracted to him. A passing infatuation no doubt.

Refusing to look up at him again after his answer, I stopped looking at my nails and focused on the almost silent ticking of the clock in the living room.

Suddenly he spoke up, clearing his throat for the second time that minute. "Does that mean you forgive me?"

I shrugged, finally looking up at him, a sad smile on my face, which I tried to hide but failed miserably.

"I’m not mad at you, Vincenzo and you know it. I was just curious, but if it makes you feel better, yes, I do forgive you." I smiled at him even though my lips quivered with the action.

He let out a sigh of relief that was exaggerated, an amused smile on his face. "That’s great, thanks"

An uncomfortable silence passed then I spoke up, my voice a slight whisper. "Have you decided?" I croaked.

He looked down at me confused. "What?"

"If I leave...or stay..." I muttered.

He was silent for a minute then he cleared his throat. I looked up at him, noticing how he wasn’t looking at me again and immediately I knew my fate from that look.

"You’re leaving," He said, his voice low.

And my fate was sealed. I was leaving.