chapter 18- l o t s o f l o v e



"Igor's my father." I read over my fact file over and over again trying to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me because I wish they were, I really wished they were.

I had never met my real father, it was just me and my mother living together and I never really used to question her about it till someone in primary school asked me why my dad never came to pick me up from school and that was the night when I asked my mother the same question, but she always said he was a bad man and I should never ask of him again, and I didn't.

"Your lying, let me see," Valentina took the fact file from my hands and I tried to make sense of how I possibly didn't see before, and why would he be out to kill his own daughter; I mean yes, he is a bad person but it still doesn't make sense on what exactly he wants the money for.

"Wait, I thought you already have a dad?" Sebastian asked and I nodded.

"I do, but he's not my biological father, he just adopted me," I reply.

"I don't understand, why would Igor want to kill his own daughter, it doesn't make sense and why is he only appearing now?" Mateo asks.

"He's out for the money, obviously he wants to kill Mal and get his hands on it," Diego responds while the others agree.

"But I'm not twenty-five yet, legally he can't get the money till I reach of age, so why did he attempt to kill me earlier?"

"When's your birthday?" Mateo asks and everyone now turns to me waiting for an answer.

"In about a week?" Val's eyes widen and a couple of gasps are let out and I just know Val is about to give me a great speech on how I didn't tell her my birthday, which is a conversation I'd rather not have.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?! how the hell am I meant to get a party-ready for you now? That shit takes time and money Maliyah!" Val says as we get out of the car, finally arriving at the house waiting for Luca to unlock the house with the keys but I can feel Mateo just staring into the back of my skull.

I tune out everything Val is saying and I turn around to face him and his eyes immediately meet mine, showing an emotion that I couldn't really tell but whatever it was I really wanted to look into those same chocolate eyes forever, it held such power and it made me feel like I was at peace with him like home was where he was. This is crazy because I've never been able to call anywhere home that was permanent, and I really wished he was. I want to call him home.

Val tugged on my arm and pulled my stare away from Mateo and dragged me in the house toward the counter where I placed the file and I was sure she was talking about dressing me up like a barbie doll but I could only remember only a week ago where Val made me realize that I loved Mateo, where I said I couldn't love him but yet trying to do seems like such an impossible task. The only thing I want to do is to wrap my arms around him and stay in his comfort forever not ever having the fear of thinking that I'll lose him. I love Mateo, and I don't think it'll take me much longer before I end up slipping it up.

I drag Val's arm before Mateo can make his way over to u and I take her all the way to my room which I haven't slept in a while. I lock the door and began pacing around my room properly looking like a madwoman right now.

"Are you--"

"I love Mateo," I interrupt her and she raises an eyebrow while I go back to pacing back and forth trying to stop myself from possibly dying from the infrequent loss of physical contact from Mateo.

"Oh. Oh-oh wow, this-this is--"

"You know when you said I loved Mateo, a week ago and you compared him to the love of my gun?" I stop pacing around and a worried expression is clear on her face.

"Um, yeah but I--"

"Yeah, I love him more than I love guns because I only love guns but with Mateo, it's like I love, love him and it's kinda crazy because I am freaking out and I'm kinda afraid what's going to happen because we were only meant to be fucking and now I'm going to look like the idiot who caught feelings first and...and, oh shit," I stopped in my tracks to see a very concerned Valentina who cocked her head to the side a little waiting for me to finish.

"I'm the idiot who caught feelings first...oh my gosh I'm so stupid," I can feel tears at the brink of my eyes and I sink to the floor, my feelings getting a bit overwhelming.

"Hey, hey, hey," Val sits beside me while I break down into little sobs and she puts a comforting arm around me, rubbing my arm in the process, "I don't think I've ever seen you cry, well not to the point where I can see the ugly tears pouring out of you," She jokes and I nudge her playfully, earning a laugh to escape her mouth. "I know you love him, it's pretty much obvious by now and I have no doubt that he loves you too."

"Isn't there a button where you can push to turn all feelings off or something?" She laughs and I take a small strand of my hair and push it over to the top of my head.

"I wish, but unfortunately, no there isn't but what could help is if you come clean of your feelings, maybe he'd-"

"No!" I interrupt her, "I mean I don't want to be the first person to say it because what if I say it anyway he doesn't say it back, that'll be so embarrassing," I can feel tears coming back again and Val puts an arm again soothing me.

"Or, don't tell him then I guess that'll--"

"No! I mean-ugh, boys are hard," Val laughs and I get up, walking to the bathroom before Val grabs my arm.

"Here," She hands me a packet of pads and my eyes widen, realizing that I was meant to come today, "You seemed too emotional so I figured so," I laugh and give her a quick hug which she responds to quickly.

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It's probably eleven or ten I don't know, I can't remember. I was on the counter table, still skimming through any more things I can find that must relate as to how the hell the money got in there and why Igor wants it but I've only come up to a dead end. And to make it worse, the cramps feel like absolute shit, if I move from my position now I'll definitely end up crying on the floor.

My eyes got tired of reading by the single lamb beside me and I sulk, taking my glasses off and setting it on the table while putting my head and closing my eyes for a second, mostly stressed from all the things about Mateo and the whole Igor thing it's just, "Ugh," I sighed and was about to put back on my reading glasses when an arm wrapped around my waist making me panic, but I recognized the scent and relaxed in his arms.

"I figured you'd be down here," He spoke into my neck which at this point of my period gets very ticklish so I let out a contained giggle. This is why I hate myself on my period, I get all mushy, and weird.

"It's all a dead end, the whole Igor thing and where the hell the money came from; it's all just confusing." I look through the folders while Mateo lets out a soft hum, playing with the hem of my shirt with his inked hands.

"What about the relationship with Igor and your mother? What if something happened that led all the way to this?" He asks, resting his head on mine and my eyes almost widen.

"You're right..." I open back the folder, finding a little bit of energy back, "I could've sworn I saw something do with them in here," I quickly look through the folder and I finally feel like we can actually take him down.

It was a sheet of paper with cursive writing on it and it looked like it had been torn from a notebook. I take it in my hands and Mateo adjusts himself so he can also read it.

Dear Livienne,

If you have found this letter, it means either your father has taken it from my journal or I am dead and you have found out part of the truth. I first want to say that I am dearly sorry for the mess I must've put you in and I can't imagine the undeniable stress that must be handed to you right now. When I left you in the supermarket, it was only for a good reason; I had stolen a hundred million pounds after your father had made that money from selling my sister. I loved her so dearly and when Igor sold her I was livid. I looked for her everywhere but I couldn't find her anywhere. Now the money is in your account and I trust you to only do good with it, because I trust you. You've always been a great and smart child and you've never allowed anyone to have their way over you.

It won't take long till he finds out about his daughter but once he does he isn't going to hesitate to kill you, which is why you need to do it first. It seems like an evil task to you but if you don't, more and more women will be taken while he goes on killing more people in search of his money.

I need you to kill him, for the good of the women and children, please kill him Livienne. I know he's meant to be your father, but once you see how ruthless he really is you'll wish that you'd have never wished to get involved with him. Once you hit twenty-five, it won't take a while till he's using everything in his power to kill you. I hope you know how much I love you and I wish you all the best.

Lots of Love, Evangeline Halton.

Well shit.