Chapter 86: Chapter: 86

ANDREA

The smell of fresh-baked bread, oregano, garlic, and other spices was what welcomed me into the large staff kitchen. Zetta was in front of the stove, stirring something in a pot, while another woman was frying something.

Giulia was busy serving lunch to more than half a dozen men, who were all seated around a dining table and hadn't yet noticed my arrival.

Three other women were busy chopping/grating and baking a lot of food, all accompanied by laughter and chatter.

“Hi,” I said a little louder than I intended, standing awkwardly at the door, which made all the men raise their heads and stare at me with various emotions.

Most were curious, while the others were aggressive, glaring at me like I had invaded their personal space; it's either that or that's their natural face.

The women, on the other hand, smiled at me warmly. I had met them all a day ago during the vendemmia (harvest). I smiled back nervously. I'd just woken up to find I had slept the morning away, and surprisingly, I still feel sleepy.

If it weren't for hunger, I would probably still be asleep. I was very happy when I saw a tray with my breakfast. After I had polished the food and taken a shower, my mind kept wandering about where Nicklaus was. I knew I hadn't dreamed him up.

The hickeys on my chest and neck, not to mention the soreness and tenderness of my nipples where he had suckled and bit, would not let me believe it's my imagination. He really was here.

When I tried my bedroom/prison cell door, I was surprised to find it unlocked, but I wasn't going to complain. Just two days ago, when I came down with Lorenzo to have breakfast, I was surprised to see the house was empty.

But now, gunmen were strategically positioned at every corner, while the maids and other staff busied themselves with cleaning and such. I was perplexed and wanted to ask why the house was suddenly in such a flurry, but no one paid me any mind.

Though I was unsure if I had tried to run out of the house, they would have stopped me. So I decided to do what is actually possible. I like to find out what is going on, and the only person who can really give me an answer is Giulia, my new friend, which brings me to how I got here.

“Hello, Andrea, come sit. I will fix you lunch, yes?” That was Zetta, smiling at me like she'd known me for years. Though she'd phrase her words as a question, she didn't wait for my answer and was already dishing me food. I smiled at the kind woman and sat on one of the dining table chairs.

I had just eaten a few minutes ago, but the delicious smells wafting through the air suddenly made my mouth water.

“Hi Giulia, how are you?” I greeted her when she pulled a chair close to me and sat down with a tray of basil leaves and a knife.

“I'm fine, thank you, but are you okay? Your face is kinda puffy,” she replied, concern written on her face. I've also noticed that too. I hope I wasn't coming down with something. It's probably because I've been sleeping too much these days.

“I'm okay, just slept too much, I guess.”

“That's good, at least you are resting.”

“Yeah, so can I ask you a question?” I asked nervously, my voice lower, not wanting the men or other women to hear what I was about to ask. Giulia discreetly glanced at the men, then nodded.

“What is going on? Why are there so many men suddenly at every corner in the house? Why is everyone so busy and frantic?” I asked, and Giulia opened her mouth to answer, but the clatter of chairs being shoved back under the table made her mouth snap shut.

We waited until the men, now through with their lunch, walked out of the kitchen. Making me release a breath I didn't know I was holding.

“The Don came back late last night. Tonight, there's going to be a dinner party with the capos, that's why everyone is busy cleaning the house and cooking,” Giulia whispers. My brows scrunched.

Okaaay! But what's a capo?

“Capos?”

“The captains! You know?” Giulia said when I stared at her blankly, looking at me like I was supposed to know everything about mafia hierarchy.

“No, I don't know. Sorry?”

“They are powerful and help keep order and mete out punishment in their jurisdiction or areas; they answer to no one except the Don and sometimes the underboss. Their position is the third in the Mafia hierarchy; first is the Don, or capo dei capi, boss of all bosses. Then there's Capo Bastone, also known as the underboss, who is the heir and future Don.” I was listening intently to all this.

“There's also the Consigliere, who is the right-hand man of the Don, powerful but not as powerful as the underboss. He strategizes and advises the Don on everything famigliaah…ah mama!” Giulia yelled, startled when Zetta placed plates of food in front of me.

“What are you girls whispering about?”

“Nothing!” Giulia answered quickly, plucking at the basil leaves, which made her mother narrow her eyes at her.

“Hmm, this is really delicious,” I said, pointing at the soup, drawing her attention away from Giulia.

“Thank you, Zetta.” I don't want to get her in trouble.

But it's really true: the thick, creamy tomato soup tasted delicious. There are pieces of meat, pasta, and vegetables in it. I've never tasted anything like it.

“You're welcome. I learned to cook from my mother. This is her recipe. I've been told my minestra maritata could heal a broken heart.” Zetta bragged.

“And she's so modest!” Giulia teased, laughing, which made her mother slap her playfully. I chuckle at their banter, which reminds me of my own mom. How much I've missed her.

As I ate, we all chatted with the women who kneaded dough, chopped, fried, and stirred. It was refreshing and distracted me from the thought of a certain gorgeous man. And also what the arrival of Don Marchetti means for me.

The ringing of a phone made us all go quiet. Zetta quickly rinsed and wiped her hands on her apron before picking up the phone. She didn't say a word; she only listened.

After a few seconds, Zetta put the phone down and looked at me. Instantly, my guard was up. She gave me a tight smile; it wasn't her normal cheerful smile. This one was strained. Something was up, and it's about me. We exchanged glances with Giulia and me.

“Don Marchetti wants to see you now, Miss Andrea,” Zetta said, lightly trying to act like her normal self. But I didn't buy it. Everything had been wonderful; I was enjoying my time with the mother, daughter, and other women.

But now I suddenly feel sick. This was the same man who had kidnapped me all the way from Paris to Italy; he had his men threaten and beat the shit out of my friends and locked me up for days. This is the head of the freaking Marchetti fucking Famiglia!

As I follow Zetta through the doors and hallways of the house, sweat drips down my body, my stomach clenched with anxiety and dread. To say I was terrified was an understatement. After days of not knowing who was responsible for my kidnapping, I'm finally going to meet him and probably find out the reason I was kidnapped in the first place.

A secret cowardly part of me wishes Shadow were here so I wouldn't be alone when I meet my kidnapper. Though there are many unanswered questions and issues between us, as the saying goes, the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know.

When we finally stopped outside a huge mahogany double door, Zetta knocked, and we waited. My heart pounds so fucking loud, deafening me, I thought there's no way she didn't hear it. We finally walked into the large room when a deep, unfamiliar voice bade us entry. My eyes were fixed on the darkwood floor, as if the secret of the universe were hidden there.

“Thank you, Zetta. You may go now,” my head jerked up when I heard a voice I had never expected, even in my wildest dreams, to hear in this place.

Don?!

Don, my friend, I said goodbye to more than a week ago in Paris, is suddenly here! How? And more importantly, why? I was so shocked, I didn't even realize Zetta had left until I heard the door click shut behind her.

Don was seated behind a big mahogany desk, though he was still in his wheelchair. He looked entirely different from the man I knew, the man who had chatted with me, laughed, and argued world politics with me. This man looks stronger, darker, more sinister, and more powerful.

“Don? What the fuck is going on here?!” I couldn't help the outburst. For a split second, I thought he was kidnapped because he'd associated himself with me, which didn't even make sense. I mean, why would anyone go to the trouble of kidnapping an old man I had known for only a month!

“Patrizio, have you not taught your charge how to talk to her superiors?”

Another voice asked. My eyes whirl in the direction the voice came from. That's when I realized there are actually four men in the room with me. I realized the room was a cigar lounge from the slight smell of expensive cigarettes. As I took them in, I tried to make sense of what was going on.

Don, whom I thought stood for Donald, turns out to be Don Marchetti. Patrizio, Nicklaus, aka Shadow, and a man I didn't know and hadn't seen before occupy the room.

The fourth man is also the man who asked whether I was taught how to talk to my superiors as if Patrizio were my father or something. He seems to think he was powerful from the way he carries himself, probably one of the capos Giulia was talking about, or the other, what was it she said the adviser is called? I shake my head. I honestly don't care right now!

Patrizio was standing stoically, while Shadow and the man were all seated on the couches on the left side of the room comfortably, when my eyes lingered a bit longer on his hardened face. Nicklaus!

I realize he was surprised to see me here, though you wouldn't have seen it on his face, but I had lived with the man, and I have learned to read the little nuances on his face.

Why can't my life be just normal? Ever since I met Nicklaus-fucking-Ombra, my life has gone to shit. Everything is not what it seems, and everyone is not who they say they are. It's like a freaking soap opera!

“Buona sera, my friend Katie. Or should I say, Andrea? Forgive my Consigliere Benedetto, I believe you have met Patrizio and, of course, Alessandro?" He introduced us as if we were business associates and were here for a meeting.

When I stared at Nicklaus, whom he'd just called Alessandro, I felt utterly confused. Just how many damn names does the man have? First it was Nicklaus, then Ombra, and now Alessandro?

“Ah, I see the questions in your eyes. Your boyfriend here is my grandson, Alessandro Marchetti. The underboss of the Marchetti Famiglia!” the fuck is he talking about!!

“What?!”

“You forget your manners, Katie, I mean Andrea. Is it okay if I call you by your real name?” I just stared at him.

“Wonderful! I think we should drop the pretense we're way past that anyway. And friends should say hello to each other first whenever they meet, don't you think? Or don't Americans greet their friends?” Don replied in that cheerful grandfatherly voice.

“We actually do, we value our friends and friendship, and we certainly don't kidnap our friends. But you were never my friend. So why don't you cut the bullshit and tell me why you had me kidnapped? I have never done anything to you to deserve this. Why am I here?” I asked, almost whispering.

Because suddenly I felt tired, drained. Like all my energy has been sapped away, and all I wanted was to sleep for a long time. Emotionally, I don't even know what I was feeling at the moment anymore.