Chapter 14: Chapter Fourteen

*Enzo*

Dario Moretti.

My blood ran cold hearing the name.

That piece of shit was going to marry off his daughter to the likes of that guy? Dario was the worst sort of human beings could go. He thrived on gambling, drinking, and buying escorts nightly. He had a reputation throughout the community, and it wasn’t a good one. Also, not to mention that him and his father treated the women in their families like they were objects, not people.

There only had to be one reason Alejandro was selling his daughter off to the Morettis’ and that was to gain their assets and fortune. They were one of the richest families in New York and they also had a hand in the political world.

If this was true, then we’re worse off than we first thought. Domenico royally screwed up because there is no way that Alejandro was going to give that up unless there was something far greater to bargain with.

Last night’s discussion was on how we were going to get Dom out of this without getting himself killed, but while also getting Gabby to stay where she belonged. But this new information threw a wrench in our plans and the situation just got way worser than it was before.

She stood there waiting for me to say something, but honestly if I muttered a word about it, I was going to lose my shit. The thought of that sleaze ball touching her in any way was making me see red. She deserved so much better than the life her father was planning out for her.

Taking a calming breath I start walking again. “That’s…unfortunate.” I mumble, afraid that I was going to blow my top on this subject.

At first, she doesn’t follow until I hear the crunch of the dirt of her walking behind me. We don’t say anything for a few moments until she asks,

“So, this place you’re taking me…is it well known by others? I don’t ever remember walking over here before.”

I slow down a little for her to catch up to me. “It’s known. Just a different way to get there. Once you see it, you’ll recognize it.” I mention.

The silence between us was almost a welcome one since my mind was filled of how I was going to get my dumbass cousin out of the sink hole he put himself into. The wind picked up a little giving us a nice cool breeze against our skin. I felt her sigh more than I heard it.

“I love this time of year here. Soon the grapes will be harvested. I’m going to miss picking them for the next batch of wine being created.” She sounded wistful as she said the words, making my insides tighten.

“Who knows what the future holds.” I say, hoping against hope, that it was in the best interest of us all.

“Why did you lie to me when you first saw me in that room?” She suddenly asks changing the subject on me.

It took me a few moments to reply, debating whether to tell her the truth or not. After much thought I decided to go with the truth instead. “I didn’t want it to be true that you were Gabby standing there when I opened the door. And at first, I couldn’t comprehend that it was actually you and how you were there in the first place.”

I turn to look at her, her head just reaching my shoulders. Her hair was down today, pulled back on the sides with pins letting the waves cascade down her shoulders and back. I always thought she had such gorgeous hair. It was thick, shiny, and smooth. Unlike most of the women I have seen over the years damaging their strands with harsh chemicals and products to make it look more luscious than it actually was.

Looking at her, it was like a breath of fresh air. She didn’t wear much makeup if any at all and her skin reminded me of soft peaches. I always thought she was beautiful, but now that she was older, she was breathtaking. A slight twinge hits the center of my chest at that moment. I shouldn’t be thinking of her that way. I had always viewed her as a kid sister and just because she was a young woman now shouldn’t mean that I could start lusting after her.

Besides, I’m sure that was the last thing she wanted from me right now.

“I guess it is a shock since I’ve never left here before. Honestly, even though I was angry for being kidnapped a big part of me is relieved. I know I demanded to be let go, but I was hoping that maybe being held captive wasn’t such a bad idea.”

Her eyes stayed straight ahead as she tells me this, making that twinge tighter around my heart. To be brought up in a small town with no hatred or expectations just to suddenly get thrown into a mob war with demands on who to run and ruin your life had to be a huge toll on her shoulders.

And I had to be honest too. “Once I knew for sure it was you, there was no way I was letting you go back there. Father or not, my only thought was bringing you home here with Nonno.”

She smiles a little, looking at the gravel ground as we continue to move forward. She crosses her arms over her chest. “That was a surprise, but a good one.” She then looks up at me, her smile becoming bigger yet softer. “Thank you.”

The twinge then becomes lighter, flowing outward through my chest with pure happiness. It wasn’t a feeling I have felt often and not enough of. And it made me feel a bit embarrassed. I wanted to reach out and touch her skin and make her smile even more. But I refrained myself from taking that action.

She looks forward again and comes to a stop with wide eyes. I too look up to see what had caught her attention only for me to sober up. We have finally reached our destination and although she had been happy moments before, I knew this was going to be hard for her.

According to my grandfather she didn’t get to properly say goodbye to her mother because her father took her right as soon as the service was completed. I felt it was my obligation to do this for her since she was so forcefully brought back.

I watch the tears gather in her eyes before she looks up at me just to look right back. This cemetery wasn’t just open to the public. Only locals were allowed to grant access since it was on my grandfather’s property. It was the family’s ancestors who had been buried here and Nonno had given that to Gabby’s mother when he discovered she had no family left. They had all abandoned her when she left her husband, completely disowning her.

We stop right at the front gates. I wait for her to get her composure before she looks right back at me again and asks,

“Can we go inside? Please.”