Olivia thought Pedro had some serious issues to attend to, however, after reaching the villa she always stayed at. He asked her to freshen up. After an awkward night, Pedro had been acting strange, she showed up and got dressed up. He, too, got dressed up in a black suit. He didn't call for a drive or a crazy escort like he normally did, just the two of them.
She got in his car and he asked her to calm herself. Of course, everything about the man scared her. He was someone difficult to read. Pedro was unpredictable, any woman would be frightened to be with him for a very long time.
Every minute she spent with him, she felt as if she wouldn't make it alive.
“I'm a monster… you are afraid,” he said, startling her, Olivia realized she had been looking at him the whole time. Averting her eyes, she sunk into her seat. The man chuckled and focused his eyes on the road ahead.
“I can be afraid… but I can't if you tell me about yourself,” she said fiddling with her hands, several times she had asked him to tell her his story. He already knew about her. She wanted to know him.
“There has to be a good reason… you can't just know about me… without a valid reason,” Pedro said, glancing at her, she looked up at him, and he had a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
“Where are we going?” It was pointless saying anything to Pedro. Ask him a question, and he twisted it in his way.
“I want you to meet someone special,” the man said just as they took a left turn, Olivia's eyes narrowed when she noticed where the road led to.
“Cemetery,” she mumbled just as the car came to a stop, Pedro gave her a side glance when he unbuckled the seatbelt. Olivia was a little hesitant, but he nodded at her.
“Come,” opened the door and stepped out, Pedro didn't waste time but walked around the car to help her out, hence opening the door. He extended his hand to Olivia. She took it and slowly stepped out, the warm breeze pushed some strands of hair on her face which she tucked behind her ear and adjusted the dress she was wearing.
“Flowers, you can't go empty-handed,” Pedro muttered gesturing for the flowers a man was selling at a side flower shop, she nodded and reached for a purse when he stopped her.
“Wait here,” he said, letting go of his hand and he rushed across the small road which separated the Cemetery area, Olivia glanced around. It was vast and greenery. A breath of fresh air, who was she going to meet? Olivia was nervous, but when Pedro came back with a bunch of exotic fresh flowers. He took her hand again and led her down the pavement leading inside. A few guards were walking around. The Cemetery looked high class, nothing scary as she saw in movies. The flowers around were bright and exotic, the tall trees blowing cool air which made her shiver.
After a while both reached their destination, there were many Graves around with tombstones nicely placed. Cleaned and well-kept. Pedro led her to the one to the far side. It had a Marble tombstone, a more polished appearance. Olivia stood beside Pedro who leaned down and placed his flowers on top, she did the same although not sure. However, when she read the name on the headstone, she secretly glanced at Pedro. His expression had changed, it wasn't dark or deadly but serious and held sadness.
“Meet my mother, Kate Ramirez,” Pedro muttered looking at her and grabbing her hand. Olivia felt a sharp pain in her heart. Shifting her gaze back to the grave, she didn't know what to say, then gave a slight bow of respect.
“You were right… no matter how bad one is… it doesn't mean something good wouldn't happen to them…,” Pedro murmured with a half smile, a smile Olivia hadn't seen before. He smiled yes but not like this, even his eyes glimmered beautifully “Mom, she's Olivia… someone special to me,” Pedro said, surprising Olivia, her gaze shifted to him, and he was still smiling while facing forward. She felt her knees weakening, her mouth turning dry.
“Have some respect and say hi, will you,” he leaned down and whispered in her ear, out of embarrassment Olivia nodded awkwardly and let go of him?
“Nice to meet you mother… you have a crazy son,” she crouched a little and said with a smile, moved the flowers together and stayed at the headstone for a while.
He looked calm when they were there and even more well-behaved. Olivia wondered how Pedro would have been like if his mom was around. Maybe he would have been more docile and controlled.
“I grew up in Italy, in a mafia family… my grandfather was the most powerful man in those times,” Pedro began his explanation when they bought some ice cream from the roadside and sat in the shade where some people were having a quiet afternoon.
“Mom wasn't a fan of what my grandfather used to do. She chose her path,” he added as he attempted to try eating ice cream but placed the spoon on the wooden table.
“It's nice, just try it” Olivia coaxed with her mouthful. “Stop wasting good ice cream, here… open up,” she frowned and took a spoonful from her cup and extended her hand to him. Pedro seemed shocked, but Olivia smiled and featured him to try.
“It's cold and…,” Olivia took the opportunity to open his mouth and shoved the spoon in his mouth. Pedro was caught by surprise at her mischievousness. However, the deed was already done.
“And?” She waited for him to rate how it tasted.
“I think yours is better. Let's share,” he replied and quickly shoved his bowl of ice cream away and attempted to get Olivia's when she slapped his hand away.
“It's the same dummy, here have yours, and I'll have mine,” she chuckled at how silly he was behaving, Pedro pouted and scanned his bowl and shoved it away.
“ I think it tastes better when we share,” he grinned and scooped closer to her. Olivia was helpless as she let him do as he wanted. Hence, she called the ice cream guy.
“Please bring us something bigger,”
“Yes ma'am,” the man wearing a white uniform said with a low bow and quickly went away.
“Don't tell me you never had this when you were young, tell me, how did you become all this cruel and scary, how did she die?” Olivia asked looking up at him, Pedro was a little hesitant to tell her. But he felt she needed to know. He didn't trust anyone in his life, but for the first time. A woman was showing honesty.
“My mom died in the hands of the Garcias… she was nearly burned to death… I wasn't at home when it happened, but our neighbors saw my house on fire and charged in,” Pedro said, lowering his head. Olivia saw how he was having difficulty voicing his words. She didn't expect his mom to have done horribly.
“It's okay, you… you don't have to tell me if it hurts you,” it wasn't easy for him, she could relate to him. It seemed Antonia loved burning people alive, she did it with her parents and Pedro's mom. Just how cruel the woman was.
“You wanted to know,” he said with a frown a few minutes ago, she was bothering him. And now she has changed her mind.
“I know, but… let's talk about something else… like what you like,” she suggested, maybe he wasn't ready to hear his story. The sadness in his eyes was something she hated seeing, but for the day. She wanted him to let go and have fun. Just a day together.
Meanwhile, by the roadside, somewhere hidden. A black car had parked, the tinted windows rolled down and a woman wearing sunglasses.
“Why did that man come to see Kate? What's his relationship with her?” Antonia muttered, wondering why she saw Pedro at Kate's grave. Did this mean Kate has another son? But that couldn't be because she knew late only had one son, and he died years ago.
Thinking up to that, Antonia had suspicions. It seemed two people she got rid of had come to life. One was Kate's son, if she wasn't mistaken, and the other one was Olivia Altamirano.