Chapter 5: Announcing your identity.

The cool touch of his ring on my neck was a contrast to his warm breath. 

Biting down on my bottom lip was all I could do to suppress the whimper that almost escaped.

Like salvation, something vibrated loudly in my jacket.

Flora's phone.

Marco pulled away like a cold breeze and was out of the bathroom before I could react.

I nearly cursed at the interruption.

My fingers stumbled around trying to find the phone beneath Marco's thick jacket.

I finally found it.

Flora was calling.

I almost answered, but I couldn't bring myself to.

Flora was my best friend, she'd know immediately that something was wrong and I couldn't handle her hassling after everything.

Also, I was smart enough to not contact my friends after my near death experience.

I wouldn't want to make her a target.

So I declined the call instead.

Flora's text lit up the screen immediately.

“I suddenly couldn't wait until tomorrow night to see you. Where are you? Did you see the news? Your music climbed the top ten most streamed today. I and the other girls are going out to celebrate. Text me when you're free okay? XOXO”

I sighed then turned off the phone.

This wasn't the life I wanted.

I should be celebrating the success of my music career, not hiding from assassin's and running from my mob boss father.

After cleaning up any mess I made, I deliberately delayed an extra five minutes before coming out to the living room.

The kitchen area was lit, a single glass of fruit juice and a plate of sandwiches sat on the white marble.

My stomach grumbled as I approached. I was starving.

I sat on the kitchen stool and ravished the food like a scavenger. 

I was about to lick the side of my lips when I noticed Marco walk into the room.

My cheeks flushed and I grabbed a tissue for the job instead.

“Marco?”

His shoulder tensed for a mili-second before he turned to me.

“That's your name right?” I was cautious of his indifferent expression. “You told me last night—”

“Don't say it.” He said.

“What?” My brows furrowed in confusion.

“Don't say my name to anyone else.” 

He saw my face scrunch even more and added, “Just do as I say, Principessa,” in a softer tone.

Fine.

Your name, your problems.

“Why are you calling me that?” I asked instead.

He joined me in the kitchen.

I couldn't help but notice how he sat far across from me when the chair next to me was empty.

“Principessa?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “My dad calls me that.”

“Because you are,” he said.

“What?” 

“A princess.”

The irony.

I wasn't a princess.

I was a Popstar.

I was an illegitimate daughter.

Anything but princess. That's why I disliked dad calling me that.

But when Marco said it, it wasn't just an endearment.

It felt like… a title.

“What should I call you then?” I changed the topic.

“Why?” His warm gaze fell on me from across the table.

“You said not to call you Marco, to anyone. But you saved me twice already. How am I supposed to—”

“Don't tell anyone I saved you.” He read my mind.

“Do you have something to hide?” I huffed and he chuckled. 

A low, deep chuckle.

“I'm Marco Vitale.”

He said it like that explained everything.

Somehow, it did.

I remember dad saying that no one has ever seen Marco Vitale's true face and lived to tell it.

My eyes widened at the reminder of who I was sitting before.

“You're not going to…” I hesitated. “...kill me, right?”

“It'll be a waste to go through all that trouble saving you, only to kill you again, don't you think?”

I swallowed. “Then, why did you save me?”

Something flickered behind his gaze, I couldn't catch it before it was gone.

He raised his left hand to check his watch.

Silver and cold.

Just like him.

“Mmm,” he mumbled. “Time's up. Let's go.”

I got up quickly after him. “Where are we going?”

“You need to return home.”

“No.” I seemed to be very keen on saying this word today. “I don't want to go home.”

“It's almost dark, Principessa. Your father's men would have found the cars and bodies hours ago. If you don't return, a war might ensue.” He explained it to me like he was telling a child.

I pouted pitifully.

That seemed to be a wrong move because his gaze darkened immediately.

“Staying with me isn't an option, Principessa. You'll be safe with your family.”

Does that mean I won't be safe with you?

We had a stand off for a minute, then I sighed defeatedly.

He was right.

I should return to my father.

To accountable safety.

Marco was still a stranger I didn't know, yet I was shamelessly about to beg him to let me stay.

“Fine.”

An hour later, I arrived on the Leone estate in a paid Uber Marco had arranged.

He was driving, but no one knew that.

Three minutes after they probably spotted us in the surveillance, Dante and his men had us surrounded. 

I climbed out of the car and willingly approached them.

No one spared Marco a second glance.

For a man as domineering as he was, he pulled off a plain driver's disguise too easily.

“Gabriella.” Dante said.

“I'm fine.” I replied. “I ran away before anything could happen.”

Surprisingly Dad was also here.

“Did you really not see who killed those men?” He asked.

I shook my head then buried myself in his embrace.

“Dad, I shouldn't have run off. I'm sorry.”

I don't know why I was trying so hard to distract them from the truth.

Maybe I just wanted to keep Marco to myself.

It was the best thing anyway. Marco had saved my life twice, the least I could do was cover up for him.

At that moment, the Uber drove away.

I turned to stare at it and wondered if I'd ever see him again.

***

Dad's voice brought me back to the present, he was giving extensive orders on La Famiglia's protection.

I sank deeper into the couch in his office.

He wouldn't let me out of his sight.

“Gabriella,” he suddenly called me. Using my name, I noted. “Prepare yourself. I'm announcing your identity at a banquet tomorrow.”