Chapter 101: Chapter: 101

ANDREA

Back at the villa, sitting on Alessandro's bed. My brain churned with hundreds of thoughts about what was going on. I was restless and didn't know what to think. Hours ago, after our bath and lunch on the ship, we curled into each other, dozing off after the eventful morning we had. Alessandro had received a call from Casio, which woke us up.

I don't know what the man told him, but suddenly we were getting dressed and getting ready to leave the ship. Thirty minutes later, a helicopter had flown us back to Venice.

Alessandro's face was grim after that call. Though he didn't say it, I know something bad must have happened on the drive back to the villa.

No matter how many times I asked him what was going on, he wouldn't say. His beautiful, hard face was even colder than usual.

Gone was my charming, thoughtful lover. In his place was the man I first met months ago.

I suspect Don Marco Marchetti had struck once again. I hope it wasn't either of my friends. I pray he didn't hurt them as punishment for leaving the house with Alessandro.

There was fear and loathing deep inside my heart that I've never felt for anyone except for Don Marchetti.

After the amazing time we had in these two days, I thought that at least with Alessandro by my side, things wouldn't be as bad as they would have been.

Now I'm seriously doubting whether he could take care of his grandfather. The man is a monster, there's no doubt about that, but he'd also raised Alessandro.

Could Alessandro truly be capable of killing his own grandfather, even if he's a monster? That is a question I have no answer to.

When we arrived at the villa, I was surprised to see so many cars parked along the driveway.

My surprise was magnified when we walked into the house and found so many dangerous men, chatting and drinking.

It seems there's a party, though there's no music, only a low timbre of voices talking in Italian while they sipped wine.

Alessandro had led me directly to the third floor, where his room was, not paying attention to any of the almost three dozen men obviously seeking his attention the moment we got inside the villa.

He'd also brought me some of the shopping bags from two days ago when I asked him why he brought me to his room instead of my old room.

He'd told me I'd be staying here from now on, and he'd just left. I'd been sitting there thinking, wondering what the occasion was.

What could a mafia Don be celebrating? I realized there's no one else who can answer my question except Alessandro or the Don himself.

I decided to put all the clothes we bought into his closet to distract myself from worrying. Just like the penthouse, this room is also bereft of any personal touches.

It has the bare minimum: a king-size bed, bedside tables, a walk-in closet, a fireplace, and a bathroom. There are no pictures on the walls, no curtains, and knick-knacks; there's nothing on the mirror table.

To Alessandro, it's clear this was never his home; it was just a place he lived and slept. I wonder how he'd spend all those years here. I pick up a gown and hang it up, then another.

By the time I carry the third, my mind has strayed again. I stared at the dress while my mind wandered off, and I finally realized I had been standing there with a dress staring into nothingness like a moron. I throw the dress on the bed. And storm out.

I intend to find out what the hell is going on for myself. And I know just the right place to go looking for answers. Giulia. She will know what is going on. Fortune must have shone on me because I bumped into her right outside the door.

“Giulia, it's nice to see you.”

“Miss Andrea, you're back,” she said, smiling as always. I smiled at her, grateful for all the time she takes to visit me just to check up on me.

“Yes, we just came. How's your mom?”

“She's okay, she sent me to bring you this,” she said, her eyes pointedly towards the tray of food in her hands. That's when I also realized we were still in the hallway.

“Oh, please come in, don't stay outside. And please thank Zetta for me, I miss her food for these two days I wasn't here,” I replied honestly.

“I'm sure she'll be glad to hear that.”

I nodded and waited for her as she placed the tray on the table near the fireplace.

“Giulia, there seems to be a party? Do you know what is up with that? Is it like Don's birthday or something?” For a while, Giulia looks like she's considering whether to tell me.

“No, it's not Don's birthday. There's a…” she began, but stopped when Alessandro suddenly came inside the room.

“Welcome back, Signore Marchetti,” she greeted and pivoted out of the room. Alessandro only nodded at her; his mood was even worse than it had been a few minutes ago when we came back, though you wouldn't know that just by looking at him.

I've known him for months, and that slight tick of his jaw might escape notice from others, not me. He quickly strode to the open closet and began to change into a black suit.

“Alessandro, what the hell is going on?” I asked for the umpteenth time. I was beyond frustrated by his silence, leaning against the door.

He raised his head from buttoning his shirt, then picked up a random dark tie and went to knot it, but I selected a black one that matched his suit and handed it to him.

He knots it around his neck, perfectly. When I stared into his eyes, I couldn't help but shiver. They were too cold. When his answer finally came, it was uttered with such darkness.

“Alexa is dead. I will tell you everything when I get back.”

“Who? Lexi? How did she die? Alessandro.” I was shocked. Of course, I remembered Lexi; she'd guarded me when I was with Alessandro at the penthouse back in New York.

We had a little moment a few months ago when I tried to convince her to disobey Alessandro's order during our search for Meredith. Now, she's dead. How?

“Stay in the room. Don't come downstairs, no matter what.”

“Alessandro, wait, wait!” But he was already striding out.

Tucking his Glock under his pants. Though I know he was always armed, I wonder if he would need it tonight. Staying inside sounds good, but curiosity and sadness are eating at me. Lexi was still so young. I'm sure Alessandro is saddened by her sudden death.

I feel like I should look for him and comfort him; I barely restrained myself from sneaking out. I gave myself an hour; by the time the clock struck 9 pm, Alessandro wasn't back up. I'm going down there to investigate what is happening.

Fortunately or unfortunately, only time will tell. An hour later, Patrizio came knocking with a surprise invitation for me to join the party by none other than Don Marchetti himself.

“The Don requested your presence in the dining room,” Patrizio said, staring at me in that malicious way that never ceased to frighten me whenever his dark eyes fell on mine. Pure evil lurks in those eyes.

“I've already been brought dinner,” I replied, glancing at the tray on the fireplace table. He glanced at the tray and fixed those dark eyes on me.

“You will come with me. Don also said to dress appropriately for the occasion. I will take you to him when you're ready. You have ten minutes.” With that, he closed the door. I'm sure he was right outside waiting for me. Shit!

I stared at the closed door, wondering what I should do. Before Patrizio's arrival, I was ready to go downstairs and investigate what was going on, but now I feel trepidations crawling in my insides.

Alessandro had clearly told me not to go downstairs. If I go to this so-called dinner, I will be the only woman in the midst of deadly mafia men. That appeals to me as much as being kidnapped. But what choice do I have?

Don Marchetti controls my life right now; defying him is not an option. I did what he ordered and got ready in a long, off-the-shoulder, a-line peach dress and three-inch strap heels in the same color as my outfit.

I run a brush through my hair until it falls on my shoulders in a soft and shiny swoop. I don't have any powder for my face. Or mascara to straighten my lashes. I am ready.

So I open the door and let the devil's advocate lead me down to his master, unlike an hour ago when we arrived at the villa.

Now, soft piano music plays, accompanied by the lilting voices of men and the musical laughter of a woman, as we are close to the dining room.

My brows scrunched in confusion. I thought there was no woman with the men. I almost blurted out and asked Patrizio who the woman was.

The moment we stepped through the door, almost all two dozen pairs of eyes were suddenly on us, or rather, me. A long dining table occupied the center of the large room.

It was a different dining room, not the one I'd dined in with Lorenzo that morning more than a week ago. Platters of food, pastries, drinks, plates, and stemware covered the table.

My heart beat a staccato when I saw Don Marchetti, sitting at the head of the table, speaking to the other man I had met days ago when he gave the order to shoot Alice.

His Consigliere Beneditto, who was equally as dark-hearted as he.

This is the first time I'm seeing him without his wheelchair. He looks even darker and more powerful than he did days ago. He was old, but he certainly wasn't as frail as he was pretending to be.

He must have picked on the lull in the conversation of his men, at the same time Patrizio reached his side. He turned towards the door where I stood straight, trying not to show how nervous and scared I was.

Alessandro had told me not to leave the room; he'd told me not to come downstairs, but for whatever reason, Don Marchetti wanted me to join the dinner party.

I could feel it deep in my gut that something bad was going to happen. But I had no choice.

“Ah, Andrea, my friend, please join us. Come sit,” he ordered, smiling at me, for all its worth, that smile was like a tiger's all teeth and cold eyes. His exaggerated welcome made me even more interested in the men sitting around the long dining table than I originally was when I entered this lion's den.

Patrizio pulled out a seat for me two chairs down on his left—one of the only three unoccupied seats. Lorenzo sat on his left. It's the first time I've seen him since their fight with Alessandro days ago.

My brain screamed that I should hightail it right fucking now, but my legs were already moving, taking me to the dining table against my will.

My eyes desperately search for Alessandro, who I know is the only one who can protect me against his evil grandfather.

Unfortunately, Alessandro is nowhere to be seen. Where are you? I thought, where the fuck are you, Alessandro? When I need you.

My legs were shaking so badly that, for a second, I was grateful to sit down on the chair. That was until I saw Alessandro walk hand in hand with none other than his ex-lover, Valentina.

My heart sank in the pit of my stomach at how close and intimate they are, talking and laughing at something. They looked so perfect together, my heart squeezed uncomfortably in my chest.

The gorgeous woman was dressed in a blood red gown that accentuated her slender curves. Her dark, thick hair was straight and draped over one shoulder, her makeup done to perfection.

I told myself to look at anything in the room instead of staring at it. Still, I couldn't tear my eyes away, even as I heard Don Marchetti giving a speech, I couldn't even blink, that was until I heard my name in Don Marchetti's voice, cutting through the low chatter and laughter in the room.

“Andrea, here is a friend of mine from the States, she's also a very good friend of Alessandro's,” he said before picking up his glass of wine. He nodded at a woman at his side who handed me a glass filled with something.

“Please join me in welcoming her to our country and to the Marchetti famiglia.” The men all carry their glasses, raising them to t oast.

“Salute!”

“Salute!!”

They all cheered, clicking glasses before gulping down their drinks. That's when Alessandro's eyes finally met mine.