Chapter 18

I woke up and was laying down across the bed, Emiliano, to my left, laid on his side watching me sleep. He smiled when I opened my eyes, and asked,

“Are you hungry?”

I looked at him and nodded my head. I was still angry at him, but my nap neutralized my rage. He got off the bed and grabbed my hand to help me up. Emiliano smiled at me and asked,

“Can you bring down your little wooden box?”

I blushed and disappeared into the wardrobe to retrieve the box from my purse and I reappeared in the room, grabbing Don’s hand so he could escort me to the dining room.

We sat in our chairs and were served grilled sausage, veal scallopini with porcini mushroom cream sauce, chicken involtini, and a mixed salad. It was all so delicious. Emiliano told me funny stories about his childhood while we ate.

After lunch, we went back into the two story living room and lit up the joint. Emiliano took the first drag and he inhaled it until his lungs were full. He held his breath as he passed it to me and I did the same. He exhaled and said,

“Hera, I’m sorry about the house. I just don’t want you to leave Sicily.”

I took another hit of the hemp and passed it to Emiliano and finally said,

“I’m not going to be your *padrona*, Emiliano.”

He laughed as he smoked the cigarette then rested his hand on mine and said,

“You make me forget about her.”

I took my hand out from under his as the thunder rumbled and I turned away from him. Emiliano took this as an invitation to move closer to me and handed me the joint. I inhaled it and held my breath and Emiliano rested his forehead on my shoulder and whispered,

“Vorrei poterlo riprendere.”

*“I wish I could take it back.”*

I exhaled the smoke into the air and stared at Emiliano. I looked over at the fireplace and on the mantel was a huge painting of an older man in a suit with black slicked back hair. I asked Emiliano who it was and he explained it was his very stern late father. The cannabis had us feeling like teenagers and we were both laughing about growing up with strict fathers. When the weed ran out we switched to wine.

The wine mellowed us out and I asked Emiliano,

“Do you know why the Spaniards took Anka?”

Emiliano looked away and took a deep breath. I knew he didn’t like when I reminded him of *her* and their quandary. Emiliano finally said,

“Because I took action against the Spaniards using the information you gave me at the club. You were right, Hera. They had a truck of over 30 young girls. A small army of us interfered with the drop and we let the girls go.”

Emiliano covered his face in his hands then said,

“I didn’t think they would have the *audacia* to retaliate since we outnumber their family 3 to 1. Now they have Anka and I have no choice but to accept their terms.”

I sat for a moment thinking; taking a Don’s wife is an act of war, why would the Spaniards risk that? Unless they have another family backing them…? Emiliano put his hand on mine and asked,

“What are you so deep in thought about?”

I looked at him and softly shook my head. I stood and said,

“I don’t want to sit here any more. Can we go hiking? It’s so beautiful here, there has to be trails.”

Emiliano looked at me with a questioned expression and said,

“Are you serious? It’s winter.”

I began walking through the mansion when I said,

“Dress warm then.”

I got up to my room and changed into a pair of grey spandex leggings, a cream colored wool turtleneck sweater, and some brown hiking boots. When I came out of the wardrobe, Emiliano was leaning in the doorway, wearing black jogger sweatpants and a black hoodie. He looked me up and down and asked,

“Do you have to wear those pants?”

I looked down, the grey spandex hugged my legs and ass showing off their muscular build. I looked back at Emiliano, shrugged and said,

“This is all I brought.”

Emiliano reached his hand out and I took it. He took me out into the hallway and into his room. We walked up to his navy blue dresser with gold handles and Emiliano opened the bottom drawer and pulled out the boyfriend jeans I was wearing when I woke up on his boat.

“Put these on,”

He said, handing them to me. I took my shoes off and turned away from Emiliano and pulled my spandex leggings slowly over my firm ass, down my muscular thighs and off my feet. I turned and reached for the pants from Emiliano and he said,

“Don’t provoke me, Hera.”

I chuckled and took the jeans from him and put them on. Emiliano looked me up and down and said,

“Those look tighter on you.”

I shrugged my shoulders,

“I work out when I’m frustrated.”

Emiliano raised his eyebrow at me while he watched me lace up my hiking boots. When I was done changing, we went downstairs and out the front door. We walked down the driveway and through the neighborhood of equally impressive houses; down the winding road. When we were almost out of the neighborhood, Emiliano turned onto a brick path and I followed.

The brick path turned into stairs. So many stairs, winding through what looked like the woods, trees as far as the eye could see on either side. When we got to the top of the cliff, there was a gorgeous view of a beach. Emiliano looked out over the foliage and the beach and said,

“This is Taormina, I haven't been up here since Scuola Superiore, I used to bring girls up here to kiss them.”

I smiled and rolled my eyes. I asked,

“So does that mean I have to kiss you?”

Emiliano rested his hands on my waist and looked into my eyes and said,

“You’d be the first.”

I gave Emiliano a skeptical look and he laughed, shrugged his shoulders and said,

“The girls I brought up here never liked me back. I thought the journey up and this view would change their minds”

I laughed and with compassion asked,

“Awe Anka didn't kiss you either?”

Emiliano shot me a look of fire, dropped his hands off of me and said,

“I haven’t brought her up here. If she’s not sleeping then she’s drunk or shopping.”

Emiliano had a hurt look on his face as he looked down at the beach and I felt bad. I reminded him of *her*. I smiled at him and asked,

“Can I be the first?”

Emiliano turned his head towards me with a smile and asked,

“Hera! I thought you took marriages seriously!”

I walked up to Emiliano, put one hand on his hips and slipped my fingers in the waistband of his joggers to pull him closer to me so that our bodies were touching. Emiliano didn’t know what to do, I saw the look of uncertainty in his eyes. I grabbed his face and moved my lips closer and closer to his. Emiliano put his arms around me as he stared into my eyes with his same worried look. I tilted my head and before our lips could touch, I slightly moved my face and kissed Emiliano on the cheek. The Don laughed and said,

“I knew you weren’t going to kiss me.”

I was still in his arms when I shrugged and said,

“Bring me here in your next life; prima di trovare moglie e figlio.”

*“-before you have a wife and son.”*

Emiliano smiled and shook his head. He kept me in his arms as we silently looked out at the view. At this moment everything was perfect; I was in my king’s arms and we were at peace looking out over the beach, hearing the waves crash, with a picture perfect orange and yellow sunset. I wanted to be stuck here forever, and then my bliss quickly turned to frustration: Emiliano wasn’t mine, and soon he’d be holding onto another. I shrugged out of the Don’s arms and said,

“I’m ready to go back.”

Emiliano could see that I was upset but he didn’t ask about it. He was probably hurting for the same reason. I began to head back down the winding stairs when Emiliano grabbed my hand. He motioned his head and I followed him down the road that lead up to the peak. We walked on the street, hand in hand, quiet.

The road was about a quarter mile before it turned into a neighborhood and I recognized where we were. We walked past three houses and then we were walking up Emiliano’s driveway. I looked around and realized the cliff was just on the other side of Emiliano’s house. He took me the long way, through the neighborhood, to the bottom of the stairs, to get there.