CHAPTER 2

Mr. De Luca finally arrives at his destination after 20 minutes of trailing Caterina's car. He was still unsure about the source of his anger and concerns, but he didn't mind. Caterina has tickled his fancy and now he was going to see this through. He watches her as she walks into the house and gets comfortable as he plans to wait till someone comes in or out of the house.

Caterina storms into her kitchen fuming with anger and her friend, Sebastian, follows closely behind her equally angered.

"And then he says 'It doesn't have to be like this, you know.' He is such a pig!" She rants as she hops on the kitchen counter.

"What?!" Sebastian exclaims.

"I'm telling you, I would kill that man if I had the means."

"You should quit your job."

"No! No, I need the money." 

"He treats you like shit and talks to you like trash!"

"The money smells neither like shit nor like trash."

"Catty..." 

"Seb, don't Catty me. You know how difficult it is to get a new job. My dad has gone MIA for years now and isn't helping with the rent or gas bills or the light bills. I have my student loans to pay off and there's no one to pay them for me."

"There is, you just won't let me." 

"You wouldn't tell me the work you're into."

"Do you not trust me?"

"Let's not fight right now Seb. My head is pounding and I need a nap."

"I should get going."

"You're angry, aren't you?"

Sebastian doesn't reply, instead, he storms out of the house and slams the door behind him. Mr. De Luca who had been waiting patiently for any signs of distress sees him storming out of her house with his palms fisted and his ears and nose red with anger. He climbs out of his car and follows Sebastian like prey waiting for the right moment to strike.

Sebastian begins to feel like he's been followed, but it's too late now. He had made his way into an alleyway with poor illumination, but he was confident he should have no problem dealing with whoever it was. 

"Stop," Mr. De Luca says as he catches up to Sebastian. 

"So, you're the fucker who has been following me." Sebastian turns around and anger courses through Mr. De Luca's veins. He was now certain that this man was responsible for hurting Caterina.

"Sebastian Riccardo, so you're the fucker messing with her?"

"Giovanni De Luca, are you stalking me now?"

"Cut the crap and stay away from her. It's the only warning you'll get."

"What does Etna Cartel want with Caterina?" Sebastian grew weary as the possibility of Etna Cartel knowing who Caterina was crossed his mind.

"Is she some toy to Capri Clan?"

"Stay away from her!" Sebastian exclaims as he takes calculated steps towards Giovanni. "Anything that finds its way into your clutches gets totaled."

"Are you still upset about your sister? Maria knew what she was getting herself into." Giovanni taunts Sebastian, knowing he loses his focus whenever his sister is mentioned. 

"You killed her! How was she supposed to have seen that coming?"

"Oh, it was nothing personal. She was simply collateral damage."

"Collateral damage?! She was just a teenager!"

"A simple-minded teenager. Gosh, the things I made her do. You know, I could make her scream my name without even touching her"

"You pig! You took advantage of an 18-year-old and you're proud of it?"

"How is it my fault that you couldn't take care of your sister? How is it my fault that she was starved of love and attention so much that she takes it from whoever in whatever form it comes?"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh? You know, little Marie talks a lot when she is happy, and I just have my ways of making her happy. I know all about you and your family. So stay away from Caterina. Else, I'll end you."

"You stay away from her. Does she even know what you are?"

"She doesn't even know who I am. But while we're on the topic, does she know who you are and what you do?" There's a long pause between the two men. "Thought so,"

"I'm only protecting her, you fucker!"

"Oh? Like you protected little Maria?"

"Stop fucking saying her name!"

Things get heated quickly and the two end up in a fistfight. Giovanni quickly overpowers Sebastian and knocks him out cold, dumping his body behind one of the garbage cans, and exits the alleyway as if nothing had happened.

Giovanni soon finds out that his keys, phone, and wallet are missing and he rushes back to the alleyway to search for them. He has no such luck finding it due to the poor illumination. Frustrated, he sits on his car trunk, trying to remember the distance between where he is and the main road, a pay phone, or a bank. From the corner of his eyes, he sees Caterina exit her house looking like the whole world is against her. He soon forgets about his worry as he finds himself following her from a distance.

Catrina being cautious, quickly figures out she's being followed, so she keeps walking. She couldn't decide what to do. She consideres calling Sebastian but he was fuming at her when he left her house. He was all she had, so she felt alone and how she hates feeling alone. 

'I'll just go to an open area and try to shake him off.' She thinks to herself.

'This man has been following me since I left the club. His suit is too unique to consider the possibility of it being someone else. He was parked in front of my house when I came home and now he's following me. Is he another pervert?' 

Caterina could feel her blood pressure rise. She has had her fair share of assault from perverts at the casino, so the mere thought of going through something similar again sent a chill down her spine.

As if to make matters worse, the street only got quieter the further she

went. She looks around to figure out where to go from here and her blood froze.

'I am lost,'