For the first time since staying with the Martinellis, Gia woke up and did her business without any sign of Alvan. She had already grown accustomed to his presence in the mornings. Even though he slept off only twice in their room, he was always there in the mornings prepping for work. It was something that brought her a little bit of comfort. Even though he was different and their relationship was complicated, having him around gave her some sense of false warmth and security.
She slipped on a pair of black ripped jeans and a baggy crop top and white trainers. Her training was later in the afternoon so she had the morning to herself.
There was a knock on the door and she went to get it.
"Hello, stranger," Javan smiled at her, his cheeks dimpling as he smiled.
"Hey," she smiled back and stepped aside for him to come in. She went back to the dresser to fix her slightly damp hair.
Javan remained at the door and just leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed in front of him while he watched her finish up, "Since Alvan is not around and our plans for that club got interrupted, I was thinking we should try something else," he suggested.
Gia ran a brush through her wavy hair and shrugged, "I don't mind. I'm down for anything."
She had been dying to leave the mafia house for reasons other than trainings and missions.
"What about horse riding? Adriana is a pretty good horse rider. She can teach both of us," he said.
"I know how to ride a horse. I learnt that before I learnt how to pull a trigger," she told him with a lopsided smile in the mirror.
Javan narrowed his eyes at her, "Are you by any chance trying to mock me?"
Gia suppressed a smile and placed the brush on the dresser while looking at him innocently, "What are you talking about?"
She picked a grey ruffle scrunchie and tried to pack her hair up in a ponytail.
"I am seriously starting to dislike you," he said.
A bell rang downstairs indicating breakfast was ready and Javan could see the hesitation on her face.
"I think we should skip breakfast, go horse riding and have brunch afterwards. Maybe you could teach me how to ride," Javan said.
She looked at him gratefully through the mirror and turned to face him once she was done, "What about Adriana?"
"Already at the stables as we speak," he said with a laugh. "Family meals are always so intense for her. That's what she says. Come on but you might want to wear boots instead," glanced down at her feet.
She settled for a pair of black cowboy boots.
Few minutes later Javan was driving on high speed to the other side of the property where the stables were. He parked the car under a wooden shed and hopped out of the car. He led Gia to the stables and Adriana was already there brushing a brown horse with black tail. The horse towered over her but she didn't seem to mind at all. It swayed it's tail from side to side. It neighed a few times as if responding to whatever she was saying.
She turned at the sound of footsteps.
"Javan!" Adriana beamed at him. She was wearing black leather pants tucked into a pair of high black boots and a brown fury sleeveless shirt. Her auburn hair was up in a ponytail. "Hello, Gia," she said quite confidently pushing past her initial anxiety.
Gia gave a small wave in response while Javan wrapped an arm around Adriana.
Javan looked at both of them and grinned. "You two are going to be best friends and you're going to thank me for bringing you guys together," he said.
Adriana rolled her eyes at him and turned back to her horse.
"How is Polly doing?" he asked her and gently ran a brawny hand over the brown horse and it stepped back a little.
Gia took her time to look around the stables. There were 14 stables in total. 7 on each side and they were facing each other. Only about 7 of them seemed to be occupied.
"For the billionth time, her name is Pony," Adriana said, her small voice raising a notch higher. Her tone laced with amusement. "She doesn't like that."
"Whether it's Polly or Pony, it's the same thing to me," Javan shrugged casually and the horse blew air out through it's nostrils as if to refute him and Adriana just giggled.
Javan snorted right back at Pony and turned to Gia.
She was walking into the shed to have a proper look at the stables and treading carefully to avoid stepping on horse shite even though there was none in sight.
She stopped in front of one black stallion that stood gallantly. It lifted it's hooves up in the air and neighed at the sight of Gia.
"I think he likes you," Javan said in amusement.
"I think I'm in love," Gia said in awe of its beauty and Javan chuckled. "What's his name?"
It shuffled closer to Gia and it allowed her stroke its mane.
"Stallion."
"Stallion," she hummed still admiring him. He rubbed his neck against her as if responding to its name. "Can I take him on a ride?" she turned to Javan her eyes shimmering with hope.
"Sure," he replied.
"But that's _" Adriana tried to say something.
"There is no problem at all," Javan turned and winked at her.
He opened the stable and led Stallion out by the reins. Gia ran her hand over its face and it nuzzled into her small fingers and she couldn't help but giggle. Her eyes sparkled with warmth and her body visibly relaxed.
Two workers from the stables helped them saddle their horses and climb on them. It was her first time on a horse in a long time and she felt super excited. Once the three of them were set and ready to go, they took a few laps around the ranch with Gia and Adriana giggling to Javan's expense. He was slow and careful because he was scared.
The breeze blew through her hair and she felt so happy and relaxed. The two ladies slowed down after a while of taunting Javan and finally slowed down for him to catch up.
"This has to be one of the most embarrassing days of my life," Javan said as he finally caught up with them.
Adriana laughed in that her small high pitched laughter and threw her head back, "You should pay more attention to horse riding than those your clubs."
"As fun as this is, I'd choose clubbing every day."
"You need a new hobby," Adriana said.
Gia zoned out of the conversation. For the first time in forever, the voices in her head were silent. She wasn't thinking about anything and she wasn't anxious about anything.
"Gia, are you alright?" Javan asked.
Gia glanced at the cousins looking at her and just managed a smile, "Yes. It's the first time I've been this relaxed in a really long time. The feeling almost feels _" she pondered on her next choice of word, "_it feels foreign."
Adriana smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry about my family. Sometimes I'm not even proud to be a part of them."
"Don't say that. It doesn't define who you are. There are good ones among you guys and I think that it's what you do as a person that really counts," Gia said.
"You are a good person and I hope that they see that soon," Adriana smiled.
"They are blind not to see that already," Javan said. He glanced at his watch, "Who is ready for brunch? It's almost noon," he said and the inevitable awkward silence was quickly dispersed before it even settled.
"I'm starving already," Adriana said.
"Me too," Gia said.
They raced back to the stables under the tall canopy trees that shielded them from the glistening sun. Javan had gotten better at riding and he was ecstatic while the girls just laughed at his excitement.
"Where exactly are we going to for brunch?" Adriana asked as she settled herself at the back seat of Javan's car.
It didn't really matter to Gia where they were eating at. Anywhere other than the mafia house was totally fine.
"Do you have somewhere in mind?" Javan asked as he turned on the ignition.
"Well, yes, I do actually," she replied.
x x x
Gia thanked Giovanni as she hopped out of the car in a pair of black tights and a sweatshirt. Her gym back slung over one shoulder and her Stanley cup in her other hand. Dinner was in an hour and she wanted to go up to her room to avoid everyone that could cause trouble for her.
She wasn't so lucky, Diana was at the foyer. The buxon blonde stood up as soon as she saw Gia walk in.
Gia eyed her wearily, "Have you been waiting for me?"
"Yes," she answered casually.
Gia crossed her arms in front of her and waited for her to speak.
"I want us to have a fresh start. My name is Diana," Diana said and extended her hand for a handshake.
Gia looked down at the hand and didn't move a muscle, "What is this about?" she looked back at Diana's face which was now twisted in annoyance.
"I just came nicely to ask you to leave Alvan alone. Why are you trying so hard to come between us?"
"Well, in case you have forgotten so soon, Alvan is my husband. So why are you asking me to stay away from my husband?" Gia asked coolly which only further infuriated Diana.
"What are you talking about? You two hate each other's guts so why are you even trying to win him over? Alvan was mine first."
Gia chuckled inwardly. If only.
"So what's your point?"
Diana took in a deep breath to calm herself before she lost her cool, "Just leave."
"I'm not here by choice. You should know that."
"That's not true. You can tell Alvan you don't want this marriage and you two could talk to Omri_"
Gia chuckled and Diana glared at her. Still chuckling she said, "I'm sorry. Please go on with your grand plan."
"I swear I don't like you," Diana scowled at her.
"Feeling's mutual. I don't like anybody," Gia retorted. "You sound just like a child. Maybe if you learn more about how the mafia works, maybe, just maybe Alvan will find more use for you. Other being his own exclusive _" she eyed Diana up and down, smirked and left her sentence hanging on purpose.
Diana was red with rage, "How dare you?"
"How dare me what?" Gia arched a brow at her.
"Just leave. Nobody here likes you."
"I know and I don't give a flying hoot. I am staying married to him even if doing so is going to make them end me."
"Are you really that stupid? How can you stay in a house where nobody likes you?" Diana feeling more annoyed with her. She wondered how a person could be so stupid.
"Look, Diana, I really wish that I could get out of your hair but I can't. I'm not here by choice. The lives of so many people are counting on this alliance, so forgive me if I am being 'stupid' for trying to stop an ugly war from happening," Gia made air quotes at the word 'stupid.'
"I know your type. You don't really expect me to believe that you're saving lives by taking my boyfriend from me, do you?"
"Alvan has such a taste in women," Gia sighed. "I'm done having this conversation."
She turned to walk away and Diana reached to grab her hand. She swayed easily to the side avoiding her hands and turned to Diana.
"Don't mess with me, Diana. I'm not the kind of girl you want to have a cat fight with," Gia warned coldly with a hard stare causing Diana to shrink and turn white with fear.
She turned around and left the foyer to change out of her gym clothes.