Taming a Dark Heart - Ch. 7 - Seeing Red (Pt 1)

****I know you guys have been waiting patiently for this chapter. The story gets a bit spicier as requested...
You guys are gonna hate me though, especially because some of you have already connected with some of the characters...
In this chapter we welcome new character Candice.

Don't forget to vote and comment :) Its much much appreciated...
Suggestions and constructive criticism welcome.

Enjoy and let me know what you think

Also just want to say thoughts and prayers go out to all families and friends of Air France flight 447***

(pic is what I think Kara looks like with her cocktail outfit on)

...Kara’s point of view...

It was the day of the cocktail party. Scary and exciting all at the same time.

I had spent the day practicing the song for the duet I was singing with Kyle. I still didn’t have a name for the song and it was bugging me. The cottage had become my favorite place in the whole villa and I had spent the whole time there. I knew I had to get ready soon.

Then I heard knocking on the door.
"Come in!"
"Hey, it’s just me" – it was Gabriele and he had a smile on his face for a change. I said "Hey" back and got up to hug him. He didn’t really hug me back, almost as though I was doing something that he just didn’t know how to do. Maybe being a mob boss made you that hard?

"So I’ve planned for a styler to come help you get ready for tonight"- he said pulling away from my hug.
"What are you trying to say..." – I crossed my arms and pretended to be really offended but struggled to not laugh.
"Well, you do need someone to help you with that dress sense..."- He smirked as he ridiculed me.
My mouth dropped open wide from shock and then he rushed to me a picked me up fireman style.
I hit his back and kicked my legs screaming and we were both laughing. Then he threw me onto the bed and we landed next to each other laughing.
"It's good to hear you laughing Gabe... I guess you’ve found something to make you smile finally?"
"Yeah... I guess so" – then I leaned over and kissed him on the lips. He looked me in the eyes for a moment and then kissed me back.

He was lying on the bed and my head was above his. I liked kissing him. He pulled me up onto him and he sat up so that I was sitting on his lap with my legs around him.
He began kissing me again and it was really passionate. His tongue was in and out of my mouth. His hands were all over me and I had my hands in his hair. We kissed like that for about a minute. It was so hot and amazing...Now I knew why so many girls liked bad-boys...

"Gabe..." – all I got was a groan as he continued kissing me on my neck. It was so intoxicating...
"Gabe, wait wait...we have to slow down otherwise we won’t be able to stop..." - I kissed his nose and held his head to try to get him to stop. I wasn’t ready yet and I was letting him know. He stopped then and nodded.

We were both out of breathe.
"I guess you’ve got to get ready now Kara. I can’t wait to see how you’ll look tonight" – he kissed me on my nose back and I smiled.
Then I heard another knock on the door.
"That will be Miguel, I’ll see you later ok?" – I nodded and I got off his lap.
Gabrielle opened the door and let Miguel in as he was on his way out.

"Senorita! Leta me see what I haf to work with"- Miguel rushed over with a bag in his hand. He was very enthusiastic with his strange accent and had his arms out as he came over to me. He was chubby and had little hair on his head but what was there was dyed this strange red...weird.
"Okay Miguel, just help Kara get ready okay. This isn’t a ball so not over-done okay?" – Miguel nodded and began playing with my hair and examining it.
I could hear Gabriele laughing as he closed the door.

***********
"Ouch!"
"I told you to look a up! Yor don’t leesen to meee!" – Miguel screamed at me as the mascara brush touched my eye. The pain...

Eventually he was done.
He began spraying water on my curls then blew the curls out. He then used his Ghd to smooth it out and curled the ends with it. I loved it.

"So whata dress are you wearing tonight?" – He spoke with that strange accent that made me want to laugh. I walked over to the rack and pulled out the silver and white strapless dress Marie-Lou and I had picked out. It wasn’t over the top at all – just like Gabriele had said. I did look at the tag and realized it was designer. I guess nothing Gabriele bought wasn’t.

It was still my own style and I really liked it. It ended just above my knees. Miguel gave me a ring to wear. I still kept my grandfathers necklace on. He applied light blue nail varnish on my finger and toe nails.

I grabbed a bunny jacket from the rack that matched the dress and pulled it on. It was getting cold outside so it was needed.
Miguel handed me a pair of silver heels and a small silver and diamante encrusted bag to match.

"Voila senorita, you are-a ready!" – I smiled when I looked in the mirror. I thought I looked cute. Not overdone and I still looked like me – except that my hair looked really good. I just hoped Gabriele would like it.

*********
...Gabriele’s point of view...

I couldn’t wait to see her. I couldn’t stop thinking about her even as the people around me came to talk. I had to go the party without her because I had to be there when my important guests arrived.

I had a drink in my hand and was nodding my head as Mr Takiyoma droned on. He was saying something about investing in the new oil sprout in Brazil or something like that. I didn’t really care at the moment. My eyes kept drifting to the door to see if she had arrived.

The venue had turned out great. It was very contemporary with the guests mingling with drinks in hand and waiters wondering around with snacks on trays.

Then the worst thing happened. She walked in.
Not Kara. Her.
She walked over to me swaying her hips with a stupid smirk on her face. Her long blond hair and a definitive mole just above her lip irritated me now so much. She was wearing a revealing crimson dress and black heels. She fluttered her eyelashes as she came over.
"Gabriele, so good to see you again" – she leaned into me and kissed my cheek. She had totally interrupted Mr Takiyoma in the process.
"Mr Takiyoma, I will talk again with you later"- you can never make people unhappy for no reason in this business. I ignored her and began walking away.
"So what, now you are going to ignore me poonky?"
"Look, I don’t know what the hell you are doing here Candice. I don’t have time for your bullshit now" – I had leaned in next to her and told her in her ear to avoid anyone noticing.
"Ooo your still feisty, I love that about you..." – She touched my arm and ran her hand along it trying to seduce me.

"Oh um, Hi Gabriele..." – I spun around to see Kara standing slightly behind Candice. She had her head down and her hands together behind her back holding her bag. Did Candice have to be around now?
I pushed past Candice and grabbed Kara’s hand kissing her cheek.
"Kara, you look amazing" – she really did. I loved the way her hair flowed around her face and the touch of make-up made her look even more beautiful to me.
"And who is this Gabriele?" – Candice was trying my patience.
"Candice, this is my girlfriend- Kara" – I heard Kara and Candice’s breath catch as I said "girlfriend". I felt Kara’s hand tighten around mine and she was looking at me.
"Excuse us" – and I pulled Kara away. I wanted to get away from Candice.

"Who was that Gabriele?" – Kara asked as I pulled her with me.
"No-one important, don’t worry"

***************
...Kara’s point of view...

I couldn’t get that girl Candice off my mind. I often saw her staring at Gabriele and I. Why was she touching him like that when I had arrived?
He was socializing with a mean looking man when I felt a tap on the shoulder.

"Hey Kara, you look so good!" – Marie-Lou hugged me. She looked cute too. She had on a black dress with a pink sash across the middle. Her hair was up and she had matching shoes.
"You too Marie"
"Hey Kara.." – I turned around to see Danny. He was looking smart along with 99% of the men in the room with their black suits and white ties.
"You two look great"
"Thanks Danny! You too" – he was so sweet. I could see the cast on his leg as he wobbled along to the punch stand.

I looked at Marie standing quietly.
"Marie-Lou how come you don’t have a boyfriend?" – I know it sounded brash but I guess that’s me.
"Oh, um, I battle to talk to guys Kara..."

Before I could reply I watched Candice go over to Gabriele again. She had a drink in her hand that she handed to him. I felt the blood drain from my face when she kissed him on the cheek and hooked her arm around his. Who the hell was she?
"Oh no, what is she doing here..." – Marie-Lou said as she looked in the direction I was looking.
Gabriele unlinked their arms and excused himself from the conversation. He came over to the three of us.

"Gabriele, who is she? Why is she all over you....?" – I was getting angry.
"Kara, don’t worry. I’ll tell you about her later okay?" – I watched as Marie-Lou frowned but kept quiet. Gabriele drank the drink .
"Kara, the man walking over to us now may look meek but believe me he’s big trouble..."

"Mr Lombardi, who is this beautiful young woman?" – The man was a bit shorter than Gabriele and had a thick mustache.
"This is my girlfriend – Kara Rossi" – I noticed the subtle shock on the man’s face at the mention of my surname.
"The pleasure is all mine Miss Rossi" – he picked my hand up and kissed it. I felt my cheeks go red.

Just then James walked up to us and pulled Gabriele away.
"Will you excuse me Mr Adam" – Gabriele said and Mr Adam nodded. I watched him walk outside with James. It looked like something serious had happened.
I heard Gabriele say in an angry voice to James: "What? He’s escaped from the hospital!"

***********
...Danny’s point of view...

She looked so pretty tonight. I really thought she was the prettiest girl at the party. I could see she was into Mr Lombardi. And he definitely wanted her. But who was that girl, Candice with the revealing dress on that kept flirting with him? I could see it hurt Kara.

Mr Lombardi had been gone quite a while now. I hadn’t seen him inside for awhile.
"Danny, have you seen Gabriele?" – Kara looked worried as she tried to find him.
There were a lot of people around and I hadn’t seen him since James had taken him outside.
I made my way outside to see if I could find him. I searched where I could and saw James.
"Have you seen Mr Lombardi James?"
"No, the last time I saw him was about a half hour ago"
"Thanks"

I could see Marie-Lou and Kara walking around inside trying to find him. I knew that they were worried. I was too. I knew Gabriele could fight. If any of the men here had to take him on he would fight back. He was a really tough guy. I also knew that some of the scariest people on this side of the world were at the party. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to Gabriele, but I also didn’t like seeing Kara worried like that. She already had so much to deal with.

I decided I had checked just about everywhere outside. Maybe he had left the party and would come back later? Or maybe he was in trouble?

I hobbled to the bathroom outside because I needed to go before heading back inside.
As I turned the corner I saw a gun and something red.

Oh no.

***I Know, I know - its evil of me but I guess you'll have to wait for Pt 2 to find out whats happened ;)***