Chapter 7 Overthinking

AEMILIO How she looked at me at my final words was a bit jarring. I had not meant to go that far, but it was hard not to. I won't like it if she ignores my rules. Each of my workers should always understand these things. Ugh! Why was I overthinking? She had no choice but to handle things like I said, and it wasn't like she was my lover or something that I would care about how she felt. She was simply someone I had mercy on, given the circumstances in which I found her. That was all. There was nothing more. I walked through the corners of the house with Evangelina hot on my tail. My hand rested casually on the butt of my gun with every move I made. There was no one else other than Evangelina who knew this part of the mansion. It was off-limits, but I had to bring her here because I couldn't think of any other soul worthy of coming here. We were finally in front of the room after so many turns. "Move back," I mumbled. She did as I said. And I knocked on the door once. I then waited. After a few minutes, the door pulled open, and my shy brother stepped out. He had on three different types of sweeter and black slacks. I sighed inwardly but still wanted to crash him into a hug. He was my everything. "How are you, Erico?" I managed. He smiled at me before looking at Evanglina. "I think I'm fine, brother, but I can't be so sure. So many things happened, and it worked on my last nerve, but other than that, I'm as good as new." I smirked. "What other things happened?" He went quiet, and I turned to Evangelina, who looked at him in shock. It was slightly funny to see both of them look awry at each other, but I suppressed the urge to smile at her. She was still someone I bought, and that gap had to remain for my respect to be given to the max. "You don't want to tell me because of her, right?" I teased. He itched the back of his head, unable to look me in the eye. My brother was a mood to the core, and I liked that about him. I fondly touched his slightly pale face, wondering if he had even had a shower today. But, of course, I would not ask him in front of Evangelina. He could get violent. "Evangelina," I called quickly. She stepped forward. "Yes, Don," she managed. Hearing her call me Don was so gratifying. No one called me that, except in general terms. I was mainly called Capone or my name. I shook the thoughts away from my head, trying to focus on the moment. She held her hands together to control her emotions—poor baby. But I looked away from her to my brother, who was equally observing her. "This is my brother, Erico, " I mumbled. "And, Erico, this is Evangelina. She will be like a friend to you, better than that hamster I got you last Christmas," I teased. He frowned lightly. "I'm not sure about that. She looks mean," he grumbled. I laughed. "You thought the hamster looked homeless, but now, you can't live without it," I teased. He shrugged. "It's a miracle I didn't kill the thing. You have to be grateful for that, brother." I smirked. "All talk and no bite," I teased. He pulled back inside as he tried to close the door, but I held it quickly. The man could be so exasperating sometimes, but I loved him for it. He gave me a look, and I smiled at him. "Won't you invite her inside?" I queried. "No, Aemilio!" He whined. I raised my brow at him. "And why not? I haven't seen you for two weeks, and you've gotten tired of my existence. That's sad, brother." "Don't be like this now?" He whined. I turned to Evangelina, and she stared at us like we were acting in some movie for her. I found that slightly amusing, but I didn't wish to get her into my drama, too. "You're being this way because of her, right?" He nodded as he used his other hand to itch the back of his hair. "Yes, I don't know her. So, why would she enter my room? I hate people who don't respect others' privacy." "I have no interest in coming into your room, Mr. Erico. I want to lay on a mat and pretend for a minute that this is not happening to me," Evangelina whined. I turned to her, and at the same time, Erico said, "I told you that she was mean like a witch." That statement only made me more annoyed, and I glared at her. She shivered in fright, obviously thinking that I would hit her, but I don't hit women. She would not ruin my plans, no matter how stubborn they claimed she was. I would straighten her up just right. "She did not mean it that way, brother. Now, let us in, or I won't come here again," I threatened my brother without looking at him once. I could hear the quiet footsteps of my brother as he stepped aside for me to get in. Evangelina followed after me as I had expected. The moment I got in, the foul stench of piss and shit hung in the air. "What the fuck, man? Why does this place stink like hell?" I asked. Erico itched the back of his hair as he shrugged. "I think it's the hamster. It's always acting up lately." "I should take him to the vet?" He moved over to me, clinging onto me tight as I wrinkled my nose a bit. "No, they'd harm the poor thing with their injections and stuff. I don't like it," he whined. I sighed. "It's not about what you like, but your pet has to be in a good condition..." He released his hold on me as he pouted while sitting down on his unmade bed. The whole place was a mess, and I had to do something. And where was the hamster? I couldn't even see it. It must be hiding under the dirty clothes on the bed and sofa. "OK, I won't take him to the vet. Happy?" I teased. Erico laughed happily at that. "I have to go, brother." As I turned to leave, I noticed that Evangelina was standing by the door, using a hand to cover her nose as she made gag reflexes. I rolled my eyes at that. None of her drama would stop the work she was about to do. When I got to her, I leaned down to her level, my lips against her ears. "He is your ward from now on. Take care of him. I know this is much better than getting insulted in the hands of Raimundo and Inació," I pointed out. She shivered harder as she stared at me while I walked out of the room. "You didn't tell me how I would care for him, Don!" She called after me. Erico's door was closed while Evanglina had her face cast in shadows. The little I could see of her face, she looked unfortunate. I gritted my teeth, mildly annoyed that I could quickly notice her disposition. "You would take care of him as a human teddy. My brother is not like us, as you've noticed. The only reason he talked so much was because of me. He is socially awkward and hates people. You need to cheer him up at all times and try to be cheerful. It's not a fucking death sentence. It's a hundred times better than that shit you were doing at Raimundo's, and you know it," I spat put in disgust.