Chapter 7 Mystery

• ### DIEGO
• I stared at the two fools before me, munching away like they had no problem in the world.
• “This is better than what Betty serves us back in New York, isn't it?” Carlo questioned Seb, his fork twisting in the pasta set before him, his cup of espresso coming next after he quickly swallowed what he had munched.
• For men who were so skilled with their guns, they acted like fools most times, but they never disappointed me. That is why I still keep them around.
• “It’s because you are an Italian, you fool. It’s going to taste great on your poor tongue,” Seb retorted. He was the less annoying one. He didn't wear his emotions on his sleeve just like me, but he cared for Carlo, even though he was never going to admit it.
• Lost in their argument, I didn’t notice a new presence in the room until a sharp sound drew me out of it, my face turning to the intruder.
• I am always vigilant and attentive, but here I am facing a new individual who manages to enter a place without me knowing.
• Eva, was it?
• She held a bucket and her cleaning utensils.
• I have personally ordered the redirection of chores. This particular maid got my attention. It's been a few days since my arrival in this manor, and I’ve managed to entangle myself in fishing out the rat in the empire and within the manor.
• There is something entirely different about this maid, just like how she came in here without me knowing, which is unusual. She acts strange.
• Another factor was that she has this unusual bravery. No servants in this whole manor have the guts to look me in the eyes, but she has done it three times now, and this one makes the fourth as she looked at me across the end of the dining table in my quarters.
• “I have been ordered to clean the dining room, Signore.”
• You see, even the way she speaks differs. She didn’t ask to clean, she just stated it.
• I studied her features: her blue eyes sharp, her waist-length brown hair tied into a bun.
• It was criminal to have such length of hair.
• She was probably five six feet tall, but even the large maid gown wasn’t enough to cover her obvious curves.
• “And what is your name, cutie pie?” Carlo asked, his attention focused on the additional presence in the room, and so was Seb’s.
• “Eva,” she answered rather confidently, then commenced working, ignoring us like we didn’t exist.
• I returned my gaze back to my food, silently munching, but my mind was everywhere but the food.
• The dining table looked rather deserted. I preferred being alone, but since it was impossible to do that with the boys around, I just chose to adapt.
• Two people were assigned to my quarters, specifically because I didn’t want too many people around me. So I picked Eva and left the other choice for Lucia.
• The other choice, who just entered now, had a face that portrayed a cunning look, and a sheepish smile plastered itself on her face as she looked down, avoiding my eyes, which I didn’t bother keeping on her for long.
• “Signore,” she greeted. I didn’t respond.
• “We just finished cleaning the hallway. We will begin with the dining with your permission.”
• Now this is what Eva didn’t do. Permission.
• “Carry on,” Carlo filled in since it was taking me time to approve.
• “Make sure you don’t come any closer to the table till we are done,” I voiced out.
• My instinct drew my gaze back to Eva, fast enough to see her fist balled by her side.
• I sure am going to have fun with this one.
• My phone buzzed, vibrating through my pocket. I drew it out and placed it to my ear.
• “Sì,” I answered, uninterested.
• (Yes: Italian)
• My shoulders tensed as the words that filtered through the phone sank in.
• “Sono sulla mia strada.”
• (I am on my way: Italian)
• I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Carlo and Seb stopped eating, sensing the shift in my demeanor.
• “We're leaving,” I said, pocketing my phone. “Finish your meal quickly. We have work to do.”
• Eva’s eyes flickered with curiosity but quickly returned to her task. She was good at hiding her emotions, but I could see through the mask.
• Seb who has been sitting all calm and quiet during this moment, voiced out.
• “What is wrong?”
• “Don't ask me any questions, just get your ass off that table and follow me” I barked, irritated at the continuous questions.
• As I headed out of the room, I glanced back one last time. Eva was methodically cleaning, but her mind was somewhere else. I could tell she was more than she seemed, and I intended to find out exactly what that was.
• For now, I had other pressing matters to attend to. But Eva was on my pending list to do and I never let anything slip through my net.
• By the time I get back from this, I am going to play, and play hard I will, I didn't really have concrete reason to suspect her but I really wanted to break her.
• But I needed to ask a few more questions
• and then I picked up. It's been a long time since I played and finally I got a plaything.
• This game was just begining.