Chapter Six

It's been about a week since the whole Alessandro/Vincenzo drama and things have been quiet ever since, at least on my end. Alessandro on the other hand has been quite jumpy and unsettled, as though he was waiting for something to jump out of the bushes and stab him in the back. He came over to my place some two hours ago and every ten to fifteen minutes, he would get up and go look out the window.

He was so tensed, he refused to let Antonio out of his sight. He even carried his cot down to the living room so he could be 'properly looked after'. I'm guessing he's freaked out by Vincenzo.

"Are you okay, Al?"

"Yeah, sure. Why won't I be?"

"I don't know. You've been jittery for some time now...is it because of Vincenzo?"

He shook his head and then lowered it. I knew something was wrong, but he just doesn't want to tell me, at least not yet.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing..."

"Don't tell me that. I can smell your lie from a mile away."

He heaved and shook his head before raising it and his eyes met mine.

"It's my ex-wife."

"What about her?"

"She's coming back to Italy."

"So?"

"She wants to see Ana..."

"Okay...don't you want her to see her kid?"

"You don't know Henrietta; she's not coming to Italy for Ana. She's coming for me..."

"And she'll use Ana?"

"Yes. Ana still loves her mother, even mentions her from time to time. Henrietta makes sure she is not to be forgotten either, she calls every once in a while."

Wow. This Henrietta seemed like something to be worried about. But why did she leave if she still loved Alessandro?

"Is that why you're so jumpy?"

Even though I could see why he would be worried about the whole ex-wife issue, it wasn't to the extent that he would keep looking over his shoulder like an escaped convict.

"Yes, that's it."

That wasn't convincing. Not at all.

"Tell me everything Al. It won't help you to bottle it all up inside..."

I moved closer to him on the couch and began to massage his temples. He sighed and leaned into my touch.

"There's something else but I'm afraid that if I tell you...you'll leave."

"Nothing can make me leave you, Al."

He sat up and took my hands in his and pulled me into his thighs, burying his head in my neck. He wrapped his hand around me tight and held on.

"What I'm about to tell you is the old me, I left that life a long time ago. Please don't judge me for it."

"Okay."

"I was born into the Italian Mafia and since I got to the age of reasoning, up until six years ago, I was actively involved in their activities..."

I froze.

He was a member of the mafia?!

The one that sells young girls and drugs and weapons?!

"...I was supposed to be the next in line as my father was the sitting don at the time, but I had already decided earlier on in my life that that wasn't a life I wanted to live. And I wanted a family...that's dangerous in the mafia because once your rivals are aware of your family, they go after them. That's how my mother died."

"You've left so why does it still bother you?"

"Henrietta's father is the head of the English mafia. He's been trying to reconcile us both since the divorce but since we were both unwilling to get back together, there wasn't much he could do. Now his daughter wants back in, he's been sending threats. I'm worried about you and my son."

"Your son?"

"Antonio, I see him as mine and no matter the cost I want you both to be safe."

He looks so cute right now, I leaned down and nuzzled our noses together.

"Move in with me."

"What?"

"Please, I want to see you and Antonio every day and for my peace of mind please."

I can almost say that I and Antonio have been living with Al for some time now, we spend more time over at his place than in ours. And Antonio and Ana have a special bond, Antonio would be two soon and there are four words he pronounced are Mama, Dada, Al, and Ana.

"Okay, when do we move in?"

"Tomorrow. But you guys can come home with me today."

I nodded and continued to rub his temples until Antonio woke and Alessandro found a much better distraction.

....................................................................

We moved into Alessandro's house almost a week now and we're now fully settled. Ana has been so happy and hyper that sometimes I have to tell the cook to cut down on her sugar intake.

Antonio's birthday was in three days, we've been preparing. We've sent out invitations, we even sent to Al's family- his mother's side that is. Ana insisted on the cake and decorations and thankfully it wasn't pink or girly. Everything was set, all we were waiting for was the day to come.

Alessandro has been much calmer since we moved and that's good, the last thing I want is a cranky Al on my son's birthday.

Antonio was excited about his birthday, I guess he is beginning to understand the significance of certain days. Throughout the time he was been dressed up by the designers- as per Al's request- he was ecstatic.

The party had already begun and was in full swing, his aunts, uncles, and cousins were our only guests as we don't keep friends and thankfully they brought their kids. Everything was going just fine until we heard a knock on the door. I opened it up and there was a tall and leggy blonde lady next to another tall blonde man who I assumed to be her father.

"Can I help you?"

The lady looked at me from her head down to my toes and then looked at the man standing next to her. She tried to push her way past me but there was no way I was letting some stranger boss me in my own house...well, Alessandro's house that is.

"I'll ask again since you didn't quite get me the first time. Can I help you?"

I stood akimbo, making sure I blocked the entire doorway.

"Who are you?"

"You just asked your question missy."

"I'm Alessandro's wife, Henrietta."

So, this was the Henrietta. Based on what I've heard about her, I wasn't quite surprised by her attitude.

"Oh, you're Al's EX wife."

"The divorce is only temporary; we'd be back together in no time. It was just a lover's quarrel."

"Oh? That wasn't what Al told me. How is your lover? Did he dump you already? Is that why you're here?"

"Just who do you think you are?!"

She took a step forward to do only Heavens know what, but I felt a hand on my waist pulling me back into a hard chest. I knew who it was already.

"Henrietta, Matteo, what are you doing here? I don't remember inviting you to my son's birthday."

It always warms my heart whenever I hear him call Antonio his son. It made me feel happy that Antonio could have someone as reliable as my Al.

"What son are you talking about and who is this woman?"

"My son is Antonio and this...is my fiancée, Elena. Now, what are you doing here?"

Anger was written all over her face and I knew that if given the opportunity, she would kill me. I mean, she's a mafia daughter so I know she's not worried about the law and disposing of my body shouldn't be a problem for her.

Just then, Ana came running to us. When she got to the door, it was like she could sense the tension in the air because she stopped and looked at all of us one by one before settling her eyes on her mother.

"Is everything okay, mommy?"

"Yes, Ana. I just met this lady; does she live here?"

Ana immediately came over to my side and took my hand.

"Mommy, this is Elena. She's dad's girlfriend and she's so amazing and she's got this cute baby Antonio...Dad says he's going to be my brother very soon and I can't wait!!! She also has an amazing house!!! Can you believe that?!!!"

If Henrietta didn't like me before, she liked me a whole lot lesser now. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears.

"Yes...yes, can you also believe something? I and your uncle Matteo would be staying for a month."

Okay, what?!!!

I looked at Alessandro for answers, but he looked just as lost as I was. I looked at Henrietta and she had a Cheshire grin on her face, and it was then I realized that this was her plan, put us in a situation where it was going to be difficult to refuse Ana. Ana on the other hand was completely oblivious to the tension and silent messages passed between all four adults and were jumping up and down. I decided that I was going to play this woman in her own game.

"Hey Ana, that's not all. She's going to be staying right next to us!"

"Really? You're the best Elena!!!"

She hugs my legs and runs back to join the party.

What's so special about her staying next to me and Alessandro's room?

I and Al make some certain unholy noises in our room which was why we moved Ana and Antonio's rooms down the hall. Let's just say I am petty, and I wanted her to hear what she could never have. I and Al screwing our brains out.

The rest of the day went by without much drama, thankfully, but Henrietta and her brother kept giving me and my son stink eyes. It was beginning to irk me; I was getting some really bad vibes from them both off them. The kind of vibes you get and the first thing that comes to mind is 911 or how fast you can get to your gun. I felt the intense need to protect Antonio and even Ana.

Dinner was at best civil, everyone held on tight to the things they wanted to say which I was thankful for because honestly, I was tired to deal with any more drama tonight. We all went up to bed without any much ado, I guess we were all tired.

I groggily woke up to some angry human banging on our door, my legs and nether regions are a little sore from last night's rendezvous. I tapped Al on the chest, he woke up but only pulled me closer to him and I could feel him already hardening.

"We need to wake up, Al. Someone's at the door."

He looked towards the door and groaned.

"Who's it?!"

"It's me!"

What did Henrietta want this morning? I knew it was a mistake allowing her to stay here with us. Al tried getting up, but I pushed him back down to the bed and got out instead. I walked over to the mirror naked and made sure my hair was extra messy, I heard a whistle from the bed, so I bent over and gave him a better view of my derriere. I walked to the door stark naked and winked at Alessandro before opening it up, the look on Henrietta's face was priceless. Her mouth hung open and her eyes were so wide, they looked like they would pop out of their sockets anytime soon. Her eyes roamed my body from my messed-up hair down to my toes, she recovered much too soon for my taste and cleared her throat.

"Get me, Alessandro, I need to speak to him."

The audacity of this woman is appalling and almost funny.

"As you can see, we're kinda busy and my Al is a little indisposed."

"I don't care for whatever immoral act you guys are up to. I want to see my husband!"

"He isn't your husband, he's mine. Okay?"

I slammed the door in her face and slipped the lock into place, I was so busy bonding with Henrietta I didn't hear when Al left the bed and stood behind the door. He pulled me and hugged me.

"You good?"

"I'm pissed."

"Well, I have something that can un-piss you."

"Please never say that word again!"

He led me to the closet and pulled out a jewelry box from one of the drawers and got down on one knee.

"Elena, would you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"

"Yes, Alessandro."

He slipped the ring on my finger and stood up. The ring was an elegant diamond ring with some tiny stones around the band, I don't know much about precious stones but even I could tell that this was expensive.

"It was my mom's. Before she died she always wanted whoever would be my wife to have it."

It was like I began to feel some sort of connection to his mother and I never even met her. I leaned up and pecked Al on the lips. I was happy and for now, I didn't want to think about Vincenzo, I knew that time would come, and he would have to know but I didn't want that affecting anything.

It was a time to celebrate and celebrate we did.