Hutchy- Don't worry, the Angelico Mafia isn't an assassination squad or anything, they're just gangsters. But sometimes, gangsters kill too, so that's why people can call them assassins, or murderers. To make it clear, the Angelico gang is at war with the authority and its rival is the Chow gang. Anyway, you'll see what they do soon enough. Hope you enjoy this story all the same.
Chapter 11: Joy
"Joy? Joy?" Mariam repeated, dumbfound, "I still can't believe you took Enrique's advice and chose such a code name as Joy."
"I don't have any other ideas," Hilary answered from the Angelico Headquarters changing room," Besides, your code name isn't better. What does it suppose to mean?"
Mariam shook her head. Hilary threw back the curtains.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Hilary was trying out her ninja outfit. For some strange reason they gave her pale pink.
"You look cute," a male voice answered.
Both Hilary and Mariam jumped. There he was, Enrique Tornatore, leaning on the doorframe, his shirt button slightly open. He was smiling as usual.
"Enrique, this is the woman cloakroom!" Mariam shouted irritably.
"Hey, I just want to see my ninja princess," he said.
Mariam snorted. Hilary turned pink like her outfit.
"I'm the one who chose pink," Enrique said in an enchanting voice, "I think it goes well with that gorgeous chocolate hair of yours. All the enemies will surely fall for such a beauty."
Hilary looked away, blushing hotly.
"Enough of honey talk!"
This time it wasn't Mariam who interrupted but Prima. She was carrying more ninja outfits for Hilary to try.
"Rique, go away," she barked to Enrique, "Hilary, I want you to try the red. Maybe it will go better since you have red eyes."
Enrique pulled his tongue behind Prima's back and blew a kiss at Hilary before leaving, singing loudly in Italian. Hilary looked shocked.
"It's okay, that's his way of showing that he's not peeking," Prima said calmly. "Here, try this."
Hilary disappeared in the changing room again. Minutes later she came out for the inspection. Prima examined her, a hand on her chin, looking serious. Then she turned to discuss with Mariam as if Hilary was going to a fashion show or something. In the end she threw Hilary an olive green outfit.
"Check this one out."
After trying about 10 outfits, Hilary ended up with a daffodil yellow.
"I think this one will do," said Prima, looking pleased.
"Wow, Hilary! - I mean Joy, or- whatever. You look like a real ninja."
The 3 girls turned to see who said such stupidity. They weren't surprised to see Tyson in a murky brown ninja outfit.
"Max chose it for me," Tyson said, noticing them staring.
Prima shook her head.
"Seems like no one have tastes in this hou- Aww!"
Mariam had elbowed her in the stomach.
"Sorry, I don't know what made me do that," Mariam gasped.
But the others were laughing except Prima.
"Shouldn't speak bad of her boyfriend," Tyson shook his head.
"Nonsense!" Mariam grew red hot.
"Fine, I understand," Prima grimaced. "Love is so blind."
She rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Hilary," she turned to Hilary, "Let's check out the weapons."
They all went out to the circular room and took the door leading to the weapon room.
"Find a gun that you can handle," Prima told Hilary. "And you, Tyson, find a Kendo sword. Not too heavy in preference," she added.
Mariam turned the lights on, thing that Hilary and Tyson didn't do on their first visit. It put everything in an altogether different light. Instead of a feeling of foreboding, the weapons lying on the shelves looked noble and full of history. Hilary walked down the guns' aisle. There weren't just ordinary guns; some had special lasers to track the targets down while others shot nets or poison. Hilary knew she wasn't that good at shooting so she ended up choosing a medium-sized, twin guns which bullets would follow the target as far as 15 miles.
"Good choice," Prima approved when Hilary showed the gun to her. "Take this too," she gave her a small silver gun in the size of Hilary's palm. It had a sharp needle in the mouth.
"Shoots poison," Prima explained, "One injection will cause the victim to paralyze and breath with difficulty, and stay alive long enough for us to take information from it," she added grimly.
Hilary gulped.
"You can hide it easily in your ninja boots," Prima went on, "The only inconvenience is that it must be shot at least at 5 meters to the victim."
Hilary nodded.
"Look what I found!" Tyson came back with a long sword with jagged blade.
"Do you think you can handle it?" Mariam mocked.
Tyson blushed. Their first training session didn't go well for Tyson at all. He kept missing the target and nearly cut Max's head off if it weren't for Mariam to throw a star and block the stray attack.
"Try this instead," Prima said.
She handed him a stout sword.
"What? This dwarf sword!" Tyson was outrageous.
"Train harder and we'll see," Prima replied before leaving them.
That afternoon, Hilary decided to go training again. Tyson said it was a good idea but he had to mow the lawn. Mariam and Salima were busy too and Max was nowhere to be seen. As she was making her way to the forest alone, she heard a horse neighing. She looked up and saw Enrique on a white horse. The sunlight behind him blinded her eyes, giving him auras like a god.
"Joy, what are you doing here alone?" he asked joyously.
Hilary looked around to see if someone was there but they were alone.
"I'm going to train in the woods," Hilary whispered.
"Oh, come on. You don't need training," Enrique laughed. "Come away with me. I'll take you wherever you like."
He held out his hand.
"Maybe I shouldn't," Hilary hesitated.
"It will be a pleasure for me to have a princess on my horse," he said softly, giving Hilary no choice but to accept.
He helped her mount and soon they were off. Enrique rode at a great speed causing Hilary to hold his waist tighter. His laughter tickled her cheeks as his perfume filled her mind. She still couldn't believe she was hugging the hottest guy of New York City (she read it somewhere in a magazine that Salima had brought), maybe of the whole America.
"Where are we going?" Enrique had to shout since the wind was blowing hard drowning his words.
"Heaven" Hilary shouted back.
Enrique's heaven was a chic ice cream parlor in the New York suburbs. But they had changed from horse to car in order to get there. Enrique's car was a bright red convertible.
"I feel like a Hollywood star," Hilary said as the wind blew in her hair
"You're already one, darling," Enrique laughed.
Their eyes met and Hilary couldn't help feeling a fluster in her stomach.
Now they were sitting face to face. Enrique was having a Mocha sundae while Hilary was licking the cream off her Strawberry Paradise. She noticed his eyes upon her face. It was a look of frank appraisal and, realizing she'd caught him, he didn't look away.
"Well, what do you think?" Hilary asked, a teasing smile curved on her face.
Enrique tasted his ice cream before replying, "Hmm. Delicious."
Hilary couldn't help giggling. She looked at him as he leaned back and ruffled his hair. She understood why most women couldn't resist at his charms. He is just so sexy.
"How many girl have you taken here?" Hilary asked before she could stop herself but she smiled to hide her true dread.
Enrique fell back in his chair.
"Why do you ask? Does this mean that we're on a date?" the last question was pronounced in a rather eager way.
Hilary simply laughed.
"Tell me. Just so I'll be able to decide."
Enrique fended thinking hard.
"A couple," he finally said. "But none as attractive as you."
He took her hands in his and slowly, his gaze not leaving her face he pulled it to his lips. Hilary didn't know what to do. Her body was boiling with something she couldn't describe. Excitement? Happiness? Love? The moment would have been more magical if Hilary didn't see the ring on Enrique's finger. Prima's face suddenly appeared between the two of them. Hilary instantly pulled her hand away, causing Enrique to be taken aback.
"You're engaged," she said quietly.
"So what?" Enrique sounded surprised but seeing the look on Hilary's face, he changed tone. "If it bothers you so much, I can cancel it."
"You can do that?"
"For you I can."
There was silence.
"I want to go home- well back to the villa," Hilary said as she stood up.
Enrique signed and paid before leaving. They drove back in silence.
Sorry, can't think of moreā¦
Ad for the next chapter:
"Enrique, Salima," the master called, "You're be accompanying Tyson and Hilary on their first mission."
"Sure, no problem," Enrique grinned as he leaned back in his chair.
"Listen closely. There will be no killing. Two of you will be ninjas while other two will keep and eye on the enemy. I want you to sneak into Kevin Chow's, Lee Chow's cousin, lair. He owns the most famous Chinese restaurant in NYC, the Golden Ape. Tala had reported that there'll be a secret meeting there."
See you all next time!
