Chapter 42 Eric

"Eric, this vineyard has been in our family for many generations," Ítalo says, looking at the vast purple expanse in front of us.

"I understand, sir. I hope not to disappoint you."

"We will teach you everything you need to know. And besides, you are a successful businessman. You know how to handle money. And that is very important for our empire."

"I see. And what exactly would be my role?" I ask, wanting to play my trump card.

"You would be our next 'del capo.' The highest leader of our organization. The man who makes the most important decisions. Of course, money is a bonus. But, the most important thing is power," he declares, trying to contain his smile, as if he already expected this.

"I understand. But, I need to think about this. It's a very important decision."

"Of course, my son-in-law. I did not expect an immediate answer. But, I wanted to show you the property and give you an idea of what you could have if you accepted this position."

"I appreciate it, sir. And this property is amazing. I see a lot of land, warehouses, a lot of labor, and even a part for tourism."

"Yes, my son-in-law. This is one of our largest vineyards. And we want to expand even more. But, this is something you could do for us if you accepted the position of del capo."

"I will think about it, sir. And thank you for showing me all of this."

I had already visited Ariele's grandfather's vineyard many times. Every time I went there, I was more impressed by the magnitude of the property. I had always dreamed of having something like this, something that could make me feel like a king. And this property was a direct ticket to the mafia royalty.

Every grapevine, every bottle of wine was a symbol of the power and prestige that would come with the position of del capo. I could imagine the banquet that would be being the ultimate leader of the Italian mafia. I would be the king, the most powerful man in the most powerful criminal organization in the world. And all of this because of a marriage.

I knew that the position of del capo was not something to be taken lightly. I would have no choice but to follow the mafia's traditions, including violence and bloodshed. But, I was willing to do whatever it took to be the highest leader of the organization.

I was ready to take on this role, to lead this criminal organization, and control the Italian mafia. I knew it would be difficult and dangerous, but I was willing to pay the price. A vineyard that meant much more than just grapes and wine. It was my path to power and prestige. It was my ticket to being the king.

After visiting the vineyard with Ariele's grandfather, we sat down for lunch together. We talked more about the vineyard and the family. It was a pleasant lunch, with good food and delicious wine. But then, something happened.

Romeo, Italo's nephew, arrived and joined us at the table. I had never spoken to him before, although we had been in the same places a few times. Ariele's grandfather made a brief introduction between us.

"Romeo, this is Eric, my son-in-law. He is here to see the vineyard and discuss some business."

"Hello, Eric. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Romeo," I said, shaking his hand.

But inside, I wasn't very happy with Romeo's presence. I knew he was in charge of the New York mafia and had nothing to do with our business here in Italy. I was Ariele's husband, Italo's granddaughter, and I had the right to be here and make important decisions.

I kept my composure, however, and continued the conversation with Romeo. I knew I needed to be careful about what I said and how I acted, especially because I was still pretending to consider Italo's offer to become the next del capo.

"So, Romeo, do you have business here in Italy?"

"Yes, we have some business here. But mainly, I'm here to visit family."

I smiled politely, but inside, I was seething. I knew I needed to act calmly and think carefully before making any decisions. I didn't want to be just a pawn in the mafia; I wanted to be the highest leader. And for that, I needed to be prepared. But first, I needed to find out more about the situation and the people involved.

After a long day of negotiations, I finally returned home and found Ariele in the living room. She looked as beautiful as ever, sitting on the couch, reading a book.

"Hello, my dear. I missed you," I said, kissing her lips as she came to me.

"Hello, love. How was your day?"

"It was a long and tiring day. But I finally made some progress with your grandfather."

"That's great! He must be very happy. And I'm also happy to see you getting along."

"And I'm happy to be here. And now, how about we have dinner?"

"Of course, I prepared something special for you. I hope you like it."

"I'm looking forward to trying it. And how did you spend your day?"

"I was busy organizing some things for the party we'll have tomorrow. I wanted it to be perfect for my first 'dama da famiglia' tea."

"I'm sure it will be perfect," I said, kissing her lips again, our gazes locked.

"Thank you. I heard that my cousin arrived today. Did you meet him?"

"Yes, I met him. Your grandfather made the introduction. He's in charge of the New York mafia."

"I see. And what was your impression of him?"

"I didn't like him very much, to be honest. I think he has nothing to do with our empire. I'm the husband of the del capo's granddaughter, and I have the right to be in the mafia's chair if that's his intention," I made it clear to Ariele, in a way that I wanted her to make it clear to her grandfather.

"I understand how you feel. But remember, he's family too. And we need to respect the decisions Grandpa makes."

"You're right. And I won't let it shake me. I have you by my side, and that's all that matters," she smiled, our lips meeting again, but I wanted more than that kiss. I picked her up, and we went to our room.

Never leaving the lure of her mouth, Ariele was as receptive as I was on fire.

Romeo would have to do much more than just show up to intimidate me, and if Ariele was the main piece, I wouldn't be afraid to move her.

Later...

"Eric, I need to ask you something very important," Ariele says, her blue eyes shining under my bare chest as her arms rest there.

"Of course. What's going on?"

"I can't stand Cassandra's persecution anymore. She's always watching me and following me. I want more privacy for both of us."

"I understand, Ariele. What are you thinking of doing?"

"I would like us to buy another house in a more secluded location. What do you think?"

"I agree, Ariele. But I don't want to leave our current home. I have a stronghold here, and I can't leave Toni without protection."

"I understand, Eric. But we can build a new house somewhere else."

"That sounds great, dear. But we'll need to build the house from scratch. There's plenty of space here."

"I know. But I'm sure it will be worth it. We'll have the privacy we need and a new home for both of us."

"Alright, dear. Let's do it. But I want to keep our current house for my niece, Toni. I've been responsible for her since my brother died."

"Of course. That's very noble of you. I agree to keep the house for Toni."

"Thank you, Ariele. And I want you to know that Cassandra doesn't matter to me. But I have a responsibility to Toni. That's why I can't just leave our current house."

"I understand, Eric. And I support your decision."

"Great. Then let's start looking for an architect to design our new home. And I want you to choose all the details, from the wall colors to the furniture."

"I'll love doing that, Eric. And I'm sure our new home will be wonderful."

After our time together, I kissed Ariele's forehead and picked her up, giving her a little scare as she laughed. We went to the bathroom together, taking a quick shower before getting dressed and heading to the kitchen.

There, Ariele had prepared a delicious dinner with homemade pasta and a red sauce that seemed to come straight from the best restaurant in Italy. I was happy to see that she enjoyed cooking because I loved her food.

We sat down at the table together and started eating, discussing how the new house would be and the details we could incorporate.

We finished eating, and Ariele got up to start cleaning the kitchen. I joined her, helping to wash the dishes and dry everything. When we were done, I pulled her close to me, kissing her again with passion.

"You're amazing," I told her, smiling.

She smiled back, placing her hand on my face. - "You too, my love," she replied.

We hugged for a while, simply enjoying each other's company. I knew I had to be careful with these moments of affection; Ariele needed to believe in the perfect fairy tale, not in me.