Chapter 82: Chapter: 82

ANDREA

That night, after Lorenzo sent me back to my room, I couldn't go to sleep. I was terrified for my life and my future. I have read a few mafia romance novels and had never believed that there's actually a mafia famiglia in the real world, but here I am, proven wrong. Capture by the freaking Cosa Nostra.

When my bedroom door swung open the next morning, while I was busy doing my daily exercise since my capture, Lorenzo was the last person I expected to see. He stood inside the room, tall and imposing in all-black dress pants and a black V-neck shirt; today, his long hair was up in a bun. I blinked, surprised to see him here and a little scared that he'd come to retaliate for what I did yesterday.

I was dressed in the same silk pajamas I wore yesterday, the only difference being that they were drenched in sweat. I woke earlier today and didn't know what to do. I was also starving, exercising should have been the last thing I should be doing, but I hated sitting and thinking about my circumstance and what's going to happen to me when this Ombra, whoever the fuck he is, refused to show up.

“Are you here to hurt me?” I asked Lorenzo, in a small voice, panting from my exercise, as I stared at him with wide eyes, there's a white bandage wrapped around his palm, bile rose in my throat. I did that. Trepidation made my stomach clench; it was a wonder how I managed to keep the fear inside at bay.

Lorenzo's face wasn't as welcoming as it was yesterday, but I didn't see any malice or anger on it either. He didn't give me an answer; instead, he took me in from head to toe before he spoke, until I became uncomfortable and fidgety.

“Take a bath and come meet me downstairs,” his voice was like a whip with none of yesterday’s charm. Honestly, I much prefer it that way.

He didn't wait for me like he did yesterday to get ready; instead, he walked out and closed the door behind him. I was surprised when I didn't hear the lock click into place, sweat dripping down my face as my stomach knotted with anticipation. Why does he want me to come downstairs? Does he want to punish me out there? Is his grandfather back from wherever he went?

I wouldn't get my answers by standing here and getting sick with worry, so I rushed into the adjoining bathroom, with a change of clothes in hand, just as I had yesterday, and took a bath. Five minutes later, I walk out of my prison by myself.

There was no one guarding the door; they were confident I couldn't run away, and they knew I knew what would be waiting for me outside this huge mansion. I had been fooled the first time into thinking I could escape, only to find out the hard way that there's no way I was leaving here without the permission of my kidnapper—Lorenzo's grandfather.

Lorenzo was seated at the dining table. We ate breakfast yesterday before I stabbed him and tried to make a run for it. I hesitantly walk up to him, still wondering what this is about. He motioned me to sit down, I pulled one of the seats and sat my ass down.

I wore a maroon dress that was slightly above my knees, dipping around the waist, while the rest flowed down. My feet were in flats, the same ones from yesterday morning. I sat there fidgeting nervously, sneaking glances at Lorenzo, who was busy texting on his phone.

I decided to apologize for what I had done and was about to speak when the door closest to the dining area opened, and two women walked into the space, carrying trays of food.

“Hello, I am Zetta, this is my daughter Giulia,” the older woman introduced in heavily accented English, her face lit up with a contagious smile after she had finished placing all the delicious food on the table.

Her daughter, Giulia, is a gorgeous young woman, maybe a few years younger than me. She's petite with dark brown hair and a beautiful smile, just like her mother. I couldn't help smiling back at them nervously.

“I'm Andrea,” I extend my hand, making friends in this place wouldn't hurt, it might actually help. Who knows, they might even help me escape.

“Nice to meet you, Andrea. Please enjoy your breakfast, and if you need anything, just see me. Just follow through this door, and you'll find me in the staff kitchen anytime,”

I smiled at her, then glanced at Lorenzo, who was no longer busy with his phone but instead staring at me with something I didn't understand. I doubt I will be allowed to roam around the property on my own, but I nonetheless thank her.

“That's very nice of you, thank you!”

“Enjoy your food, Signore Marchetti,” Zetta said, hugging the tray to her generous bosom.

“Grazie, Zetta. Giulia è felice di vederti tornata.”(Giulia, glad to see that you’re back.)

“Grazie Signore,” Giulia replied to whatever it was he said to her, blushing hard.

“Miss Andrea, you must come to the vineyards. It's the Vendemmia period, you will love it,” said Giulia with excitement.

“Yes, you should go, Giulia can take you there,” Zetta encouraged. I gulped and looked at Lorenzo with a question.

“Vendemmia is harvest time, the grapes are ripe this time of year,” he explained.

“Oh, I don't know if I could come, but I would certainly like to see how it is done,” I said nervously, biting my lip and blinking, because suddenly I felt like crying. Both women look crestfallen with my answer.

“She'll be there, I will take her myself,” Lorenzo replied, making both women smile, before they left us to our dinner.

“You're letting me go out after everything?” I asked, not understanding why he would allow me to visit the vineyards after yesterday's event. He surprisingly smiled at me.

“For some reason, I couldn't stay angry at you, Bella, that and the fact that I understand why you did what you did. Anyone in your position would have done the same,” he said.

“But I wouldn't want to push me a second time, you wouldn't like the consequences when I'm angry, Bella.” His voice was dark and threatening. I swallow hard. I don't doubt that Lorenzo is capable of the worst things, cold-blooded murder included.

“I'm sorry for yesterday and thank you,” I said. It's time I start playing nice.

“It's already forgiven, and you're welcome,” he fucking winked at me and made me blush.

We ate our food in a surprisingly comfortable silence; my big plan had sailed off the boat. I've already shown my hand, and in so doing, I've made Lorenzo cautious of me. His guards will always be watching me as a flight risk.

So it's better if I cool off until they let their guards down, which isn't going to be anytime soon. Afterward, Lorenzo led me out of the mansion. My heart jackhammered when I saw several men playing cards outside; some of them had their guns tucked into their pants, while others kept theirs right in front of them.

They nodded respectfully to Lorenzo, while he nodded back arrogantly. There's a hardness to him that wasn't there when it was just him and me. I, on the other hand, refused to make eye contact with any of the guys.

I walked with Lorenzo across the mansion and into what seemed to be acres and acres of land filled with ripe grapes, which were being harvested by men and women whose chatter and laughter carried all the way.

“Grandfather is old school in so many ways, but most especially when it comes to his vineyards. He prefers having them harvest the traditional way rather than with machines; luckily for him, we have all these people already working for us,” Lorenzo said as he handed me a ripe bunch of grapes.

“Thank you!” I said, and popped a grape into my mouth.

“So all these people work and live here?” I asked before popping another grape into my mouth.

“Yes, most have worked and lived here all their lives, like Zetta,” he assured. To anyone, it might sound like just a normal conversation, but to my ears, it sounded like a warning—a warning to not count on anyone betraying his family and saving me. Yeah, I understood that loud and clear.

“Wow, they are like a literal family, so Giulia was born here in Villa Marchetti?” I acted dumb, like I didn't understand his warning.

“There's a village not far from here, that's where she was born; they didn't move into Villa Marchetti until she was five. Half of the workers have homes in the village.”

Just then, I saw Giulia waving and smiling at me as she bounded over to where we stood watching them work.

“Come, Miss Andrea, I will show you everything.”

“Go ahead, just don't make me regret bringing you out,” Lorenzo said, his eyes dark with warning. I'm not an idiot! There are like a hundred people around us, half of whom have a gun strapped to their bodies. Where would I go?

Giulia pulled me to the group of people working and introduced me to them, but Lorenzo turned and walked away. Everyone was so kind; it was like they didn't notice, or were blinded by, the Mafia surrounding us, probably because they are part of the mafia, and used to these people and the violence, though I'm yet to see any violence.

The hours flew away while I was in the vineyards helping, while they worked, chatted, and laughed. I tried to listen and understand them. They were all trying to speak to me in English, which had resulted in roars of laughter as those who know English laugh at those who don't.

I had smiled, eaten the delicious food Zetta and some of the women had delivered, and laughed with them before Lorenzo finally came for me. It was after three in the afternoon. I heard someone say the time, I wouldn't have known, since I don't have my phone with me.

“You look happy,” Lorenzo observed as we walked back to the villa.

“Thank you, I had a fun time, Giulia was very kind, so were the others,” I confessed, smiling at him. He covered the steps between us so suddenly that my heart beat triple, and my eyes widened. He lifted a lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ears, making my eyes blink at him nervously.

“And me? Am I not nice to you?” he whispered seductively. Man, is he gorgeous. He'd change into blue jeans and a button-up black shirt.

“I…uh. You…you're nice, thank…thank you,” I stammered, before taking a step back. He grinned at me.

But he didn't say anything more; he just started walking to the house. I hesitated a moment before I walked after him. Lorenzo led me back to my room and told me he would come and get me at dinner time tonight!

When the door closed after him, I was left perplexed. I didn't know what to think or what to make of Lorenzo. He's kind to me; surely there's a punchline.

I went to the bathroom and took a shower, then I sat on the bed after changing the dress into another black dress. I sat on the bed and kept thinking of everything that's going on in my life at this moment.

There's one pressing matter I needed to address, and I can't fucking do that here. Not to mention, I still worried about Beth and Saul. I didn't know how exhausted I was until hours later, when I woke up and saw that it was dark. I probably missed our dinner.

I would have thought sleeping all these days and staying in this room would make it hard for me to sleep for a long time. But here I was sleeping after a bit of work. I went to the bathroom, splashed some water on my face, and rinsed my mouth. Patrizio was at the threshold waiting for me when I came out.

“Signore Marchetti said to let you know he's waiting for you to have dinner with you,” he said, frowning at me.

“Oh, alright. Lead the way,” I replied, pretending not to notice how he hated me.

I followed him through the hallway and down the stairs. I was halfway down when a deep husky voice vibrated through me like an electrical whip. A voice that had whispered wicked things to me, ordered and bossed me around.

He might be speaking in a different language, but I would recognize that voice anywhere. Six and almost half feet of pure menacing manliness stood below me, talking to Lorenzo in Italian. Deadly, ruthless, and gorgeous!

Nicklaus.

No, Ombra!

Like he'd heard my inner voice call to him, he raised his dark head, and our eyes clashed into each other. Dark blue to emerald green!