Capítulo 19: The Twin
It was good while it lasted, but now Maria was over it. She wanted to go straight to what she came here to do. She took the last bite from her plate and waited for the table to be cleared before she cleared her throat and asked the question that had been on her mind.
"Why am I here?" she directed to no one in particular.
"You're here-"
"Now that you've asked, I'll say it plainly," Vincenzo interrupted his mother.
He was bored of whatever game Maria was playing. He also could not stand the sight of Roy for one more minute. He believed it was in their best interest to get to the crux of the matter before he lost control.
"I want my prototype back," he said.
"What do you mean by that? What does your prototype have to do with me" she asked, feigning confusion.
"I know you took it, Maria. Just drop this silly act of yours and hand it back to me," he warned dangerously.
"That's some serious accusation you're throwing around, VincenzoSantoro. I hope you have proof to back up this ridiculous claim if I choose to sue," she said casually, sipping her wine.
Vincenzo could not believe his ears. He knew Maria was something wicked, but he didn't expect that she'd go to this extent. She flat-out denied it when it was apparent she had taken the prototype.
"Maybe my son has not made it clear to you, and that's why you think you can run your mouth. Now let me make it clear. You will return his prototype with a lengthy apology, or I will do everything to ruin you," Viola said.
Her husband reached out to stop her from further threats, but she pushed his hands away. Maria let out a dry laugh.
"Your threats do not scare me, madam. I'm not some little child you can bully around. And also get this straight, Viola Santoro. I may look like my mother, but I am not Gisela Caruso. You do not scare me. Rather you sound like a barking dog."
Maria spat out as casually as it was to take a breath. Stunned silence ensued. Viola could not believe her audacity. She indeed was nothing like her mother. Vincenzo's father, on the other hand, was impressed. He was glad Maria could match Viola's vileness action for action.
Roy was confused at all the happenings. If he were clever enough, he would have been able to deduce what was happening. However, the discussion was out of his range, so he focused on his drink. Vincenzo, on the other hand, calculated. He knew Maria was not going to bend to words but actions.
He had a dangerous theory in his mind. He was willing to test if she continued to be stubborn. "Maybe we should reschedule another date when things are not this tense," Pietro suggested breaking the ice.
"No. Maria will give me my prototype tonight," Vincenzo insisted.
"Well, it seems I'm not being heard. I did not take your prototype, and frankly, I'm bored of this dinner. Maybe it's time we head home. Roy, what do you say?" She turned to her date, who looked too drunk.
Roy nodded at her robotically, and she had to stop herself from smacking the embarrassment out of him.
"Well then, we'll be leaving now," she said, whistling to her bodyguards to come to get Roy.
Maria's bodyguards came but split into two. Apart came to carry Roy in all drunken glory to the car while the others moved towards the bar. Vincenzo watched, already aware of what was going to occur. One of the guards made to grab Marco when someone opened fire, and a group of security men walked in.
"What is going on here?" Maria asked as some of her guards hovered around to shield her.
"Stand back," Vincenzo ordered.
"What is going on?" Viola asked, shaking. Vincenzo signaled for one of the security men to guide his parents away.
"Vince," his father called out to him.
"I'll tell you everything tomorrow. I want you out of here now," he said. He watched his parents exit then turned to Maria, who was still wondering what was happening. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag, letting it calm him.
"I was willing to let peace reign, but you chose war Marie," he said, dragging over his words. Maria scoffed.
"Marie? What gives you the right to call me that?" She asked, her voice laced with disgust.
"You see, that's the thing right there. I was willing to do right by you, but I no longer care about these rights. I don't care about these rights, so I'll call you whatever I choose," he said, moving to her.
Maria's guards stepped forward, and he followed suit so that they stood aggressively facing each other. The guards had let all staff out except Marco, between Maria's guards and Vincenzo's security officials.
"Don't move," Maria ordered, unwilling to risk the lives of any of her men. She didn't know just how far Vincenzo was willing to take this. "What do you want?" She asked him.
"Some minutes ago, it was my prototype. But now, the answer is that I want to see you suffer, and I think I know just how to," he said, blowing smoke in the air.
"Take him," he ordered, pointing to Marco, and his security officials jumped to action.
"Nooo!" She screamed, and her bodyguards got the message clear as they intercepted the kidnap attempt, and a fight broke out.
"Tell your guys to stand back or by God. They will meet their savior sooner than expected," Vincenzo threatened.
"You're not taking him anywhere," Maria said, fetching a gun from her jacket and aiming it at him.
"Why? Cuz he's Marco Caruso, right?" He asked with a wicked smile. Maria was shocked at how he managed to deduce that.
"Oh, don't look so surprised. Between your reaction to seeing him, it didn't take a genius to figure out," he smirked arrogantly.
"So you see why you can't take him?" She asked, matching his energy.
"Then stop me if you can," he said, and in the blink of an eye, he whistled, and more security guards came in. Their number had doubled, outweighing her bodyguards. They were trapped.
"Drop the gun, Maria," he commanded.
"No! Let him go first," she said, pulling the trigger. He swung into action immediately, dodging the bullet. He was shocked she pulled the trigger but didn't have time to dwell on it.
"Take him out of here," he ordered, and his guys, victorious already, did. Marco watched what was going on in confusion. He didn't understand what was going on and was truly scared.
"I said let him go!" She screamed, pulling the trigger again as she watched her brother being dragged away. Her mind went back to the plane crash and how she couldn't save her brother. Life had given her another chance, and she would be damned if she wasted it.
"Drop the gun Maria," he said again, moving to her.
"Don't move an inch closer," she said as the remainder of her guards stood behind her.
They couldn't help her save her brother from being removed because they were outnumbered, but they swore an oath to protect her. Regardless of the danger, they were in. She would be covered by all means.
"Your brother is gone. You can pull the trigger if you want to, but rest assured you won't be seeing him again" he smiled victoriously.
"Fuck you, Vincenzo! This is far from over!" She screamed, enraged by how much he enjoyed seeing her in pain.
"Well, you asked for this. I asked you to give me my prototype peacefully, and you spat in my face. You have enjoyed leniency because I choose to let off easily. No one would have done what you did and lived to tell the tale. I'll leave you to think about this the next time you want to cross me, Maria Caruso," he said.
Tipping his heart and wearing a dangerous smile, he walked away, dumbfounded at Maria. His security men followed suit. Her bodyguard quickly ran to her as she dropped to her knees.
"Go bring the car around," he ordered the rest, and they all dispersed.
"Where's Roy?" She asked her bodyguard Miguel that came with her from Germany."
"We managed to take him away before it all went down."
"He took him away," she whispered to him, trying not to tear down.
"We'll get him back," he said, raising her.
"I couldn't protect him again. I watched him take my brother away again," she said, holding unto his shirt for support.
"We didn't know we would be outnumbered this time, but I promise it won't happen again. Now let's get you out of here," Miguel said, and she nodded, too weak to reply.
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