Chapter 4

I felt Mario tightening my hand a bit.

"However," his father continued. "I want to trust you with this."

I looked at him momentarily.

Mario nodded.

"I trust your judgment. You seem sure about her." his father said.

My heart raced listening to him talk about me.

It felt.....good. What is wrong with me? I am about to be kicked out!

"Of course, dad. I am sure about her. You can trust her too. She is totally unharmed," Mario said, sounding excited.

"I don't trust her," his father said, making my heart react as I flickered my eyes at him again.

He is looking at me.

It felt like a dead cold stare.

I lowered my gaze.

"I trust you, Mario. Don't make me regret it." He said, sounding like a threat instead of a warning.

"I promise you won't," Mario said.

I stared at my dirty feet, feeling awkward.

"What's your name?" Mario's dad asked.

"Oh, her name is...." Mario chipped in, but...

"Is she dumb?" His father retorted.

I gulped slightly as I looked at him. His eyes are on me, weakening my legs the more.

"M...my name is Evelyn. Evelyn Millers." I stuttered, dropping my gaze afterward.

"Or Evie," Mario said, looking at me with a smile.

I forced a little smile at him.

"Well, that is my dad, Don Adrian Morelli. The owner of this house." Mario said, gesturing at his dad. I glanced at him and locked eyes with him again.

Don Adrian.

An actual Don?

His name corresponds with his commanding and intimidating presence.

"It is nice to meet you....s...sir." I stuttered uncontrollably, upset at myself as I lowered my gaze.

"She is still in shock after the tragedy. Please pardon her." Mario said, holding me closer.

I heard a scoff from his mother.

"Take her to one of the guest rooms," his father ordered.

Another scoff of disbelief from Mario's mother caught my attention.

"Seriously?" She almost muttered.

"Thank you so much, dad," Mario said.

"She is your responsibility for now on." His father said, ignoring Mario's mother.

"Of course," Mario said, taking my hand and leading the way towards the stairs.

We walked past his parents, giving me internal pressure as we headed for the stairs.

"I will help," The young girl seated on the couch, who Mario called his cousin said, getting on her feet and following us behind.

We walked up the stairs and I couldn't control my eyes as they moved to Mario's father. He is talking with his wife.

Actually, she is doing the talking.

He seems like a man of a few words, and she must be arguing about me. She obviously doesn't like me or wants me here.

She has every right to feel that way.

As we continued climbing the broad stairs, I looked again and my eyes rested on Mario's father's back. It is very muscular and there are tattoos running up the nape of his neck. It makes me wonder how many tattoos he has.

He went out of sight the minute I got to the top stairs and the start of the long and broad hallway with high ceilings that had lined-up mini chandeliers hanging down on it and igniting the entire hallway. There is a long large carpet on the floor decorated with designs.

The walls or windows on the right side of the hallway have high black curtains covering them, and the left side of the hallway has doors and portraits on the walls.

"Hey," Mario's cousin said to me, walking next to me.

"I am Mimi like he introduced." She reminded me of her name.

"Evelyn," I said.

"Yeah. I heard. I am sorry about your parents. That's a terrible thing to happen to anyone," she said.

I nodded slightly "Thank you," I said as we walked past some doors without Mario letting go of my hand.

"You are really pretty," Mimi complimented.

I gave her a tiny smile.

Mario huffed. "Pretty? No, Mimi. She is gorgeous."

Mimi chuckled a bit and I gave another tiny smile, feeling awkward.

"You are pretty too," I decided to give a compliment too.

"Thank you," she said as Mario led us to another hallway on the left, which is as broad and long as the first hallway, but this one has doors on both sides.

How huge is this mansion?

"Don't worry, you will like it here." Mimi said, noticing my uneasiness.

I nodded, giving her a faint smile.

Finally, we got to a door and Mario opened it effortlessly. He walked in first and I followed him.

Mimi followed me behind.

My eyes roamed the spacious room. It has two white couches and a glass table close to the queen-sized bed with two nightstands on both sides of the bed, mini chandeliers on the high ceilings like the ones in the hallway, white and golden curtains and a dressing table mirror stand that is a bit close to a closed double door that looks like a closet.

This place is almost like my room. Actually, it is bigger than my room.

And it is just a guest room. What will the owner's room look like? It must be bigger than this, I am sure.

I mean, two people share it. Him and his wife.

Okay, that's enough. No thinking about the owner and his wife.

"I can see you like it," Mario said, making me look at him.

I nodded. "I do. Thank you very much."

"Nah. It is the least I could do," he said, holding my hand and rubbing my knuckles.

I smiled nervously, staring at his blue eyes on mine.

I wonder if he got it from his father.

I averted my eyes from his, killing my awkward thoughts as I looked around the room again.

"Um....I will go and get you something to change into." Mimi said, getting my attention.

"Good idea, Mimi. Thank you very much." Mario said, letting go of my hand as she walked away.

I rubbed my arms as I stared at the bed, reminding me of mine back at home with Mr Teddy on it. They all got burnt.

Along with my parents.

My heart tightened as tears approached my eyes.

"Hey," Mario called, gently turning me to him.

I lowered my gaze as a tear rolled down my eyes. His fingers reached for my chin, raising my tears-filled face to meet his concerned eyes.

"Please don't be like this." He said, his hand trailing to my hair, caressing it.

I lowered my gaze.

"I want you to know that I will find those bastards that killed your parents."

I looked at him.

He nodded. "Tomorrow we will go there and check out for anything to trace them with. Soon, they will all pay. I give you my word." He said, cupping my cheek with his hand.

I held his hand on my cheek, feeling grateful to him.

"Come here," he said, bringing me closer and wrapping me in a hug.

Still in the hug, I sniffled as something caught my eyes at the door. I looked in the direction and I locked eyes with his father standing at the door.

My heart picked up