Adopted – Episode 17

ADOPTED – Episode 17

© Happy William

Anne stood at the doorway and watched silently as Emilio played. His back was slightly hunched, and his handsome face was sad. She wondered what could have made him that way. The tune of the song touched her, and although she didn’t know the words, Anne knew surely that it was a sad song.

What made him so sad today?

She was lost in thought that she didn’t hear that he’d stopped playing, and was running his hands along the polished wood.

“Don’t stand there, come on in,” he said, snapping her out of her thought.

She smiled and rubbed her arms nervously.

“I got carried away. You play so well.”

“Would you like to try?” he asked with a smile that was perkier.

Anne nodded and slipped onto the seat beside him.

And soon his hands went over hers, guiding the fingers along each ivory key. The touch was electric; and she wondered if he felt it too. Suddenly his woodspice cologne that had a mixture of fruity outdoor scent filled her nostrils. She breathed in deeply, then turned to find him watching her too.

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They’d stopped playing. Emilio was now playing instead with her fingers, lifting them and intertwining his in hers. Her hands were delicate, and pale, but it fitted in his perfectly.

He knew he was towing on a tightrope. He knew there was something more to just thinking about her, and wanting to be with her.

He knew this was wrong. Because Anne didn’t deserve someone like him.

He placed the back of her hand against his lips and pressed a small kiss there, watching as her eyes widened, just as they did when he almost kissed her. And that’s what he wanted to do.

Instead, he said, “Go get dressed. I want to take you out.”

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Hugging the wrap around her shoulder, and dressed in simple nondescript clothes, Portia made her way through the bright streets of Rome towards a clutter of houses. Small but neat. She looked over her shoulder once and twice, making sure nobody saw her. Of course they wouldn’t suspect her.

She knocked lightly but urgently on the door, and it opened at once. She entered, and the door shut behind her.

She now removed the baggy out clothes she wore, to reveal a sparkly amber dress and jeweleries. She walked through the old corridor, that was just an entrance into the fabulously huge hall that screamed money.

Portia smiled to herself.

Sitting at a huge table with a bottle of wine and a half drunk cup was Dante Castillo, in tailored Italian suits and handmade shoes. He puffed on a fat stick of cigar and eyed her as she approached.

She sat in front of him and crossed her legs.

“Did you miss me darling?” she asked with a flirty smile, and giggled as he motioned her into a room.

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What to wear…what to wear…

Feet tapping rapidly on the ground, Anne scanned her wardrobe for what to wear. Jeans, t-shirts… a skirt.. no dress. Emilio had told her to dress up, that he was taking her out to dinner. And here she was at loss.

I knew I should have brought that green dress mom bought, she thought to herself and plopped on the bed, with a palm cupping her cheek.

Then the door rang, and she opened it to find Prudence standing with a package in one hand and a bright smile.

“Hurry, we’ve gotta get you dressed! This is from Emilio,” she added on second thought and unwrapped the crystal blue dress from the pack, and Anne gasped.

“Wow,” she said.

“I know. And he thinks it’ll fit you. I think so too.”

She smiled again and pushed Anne into the dressing room.

Almost thirty minutes just to wax her skin! And boy did that hurt. But Anne felt beautiful. She’d never felt beautiful, with her foster mother making sure of that. But this…

“What’s the occasion?” she asked as Sophia styled her hair. Sophia had come in while she was in the bathroom.

“Stop talking. You’ll ruin everything!” Sophia whined like a baby.

“Sì Anne. We don’t want to spoil this,” Prudence added.

“Spoil what?” Anne asked.

“You’re going out with Emilio, right?”

“Yes, but it’s nothing special—-”

“What ever. Now hold still. The pin has to keep this chignon in place and… ta da!”

Anne stared at herself in the mirror, not believing that that was her.

And when she wore the dress, she felt like a completely different person.

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The gun in the holster across his shoulder… check. Emilio carried it all times. You could never trust anybody.

And now the velvet box….checked.

He pulled at the tie around his neck.

Dios, this was suffocating.

He never wore ties. Formal shits.

He unbuttoned the first two buttons and slipped a pale blue scarf around his neck, tucking it firmly in place.

Much better.

And now the ring….

Dios, he was sweating like hell!!

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#Casa_Del_Salvatore

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Anne’s POV

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As I descended the stairs one at a time because of the uncomfortable shoes I wore, I saw Emilio standing in a corner, in deep conversation with Prudence, who was waving her arms about in a frantic gesture, while he replied in low tones. I wondered what they were talking about, because she looked tremendously worried. I hoped it wasn’t Portia or Sergio, but I had a weird feeling that it had something to do with me. I knew that there was something Emilio was hiding from me; but I couldn’t exactly guess what.

Prudence noticed me first, and then tapped his shoulder and pointed at me.

Uh oh.

He kept his eyes on me until I reached the last landing, then held his hand out to me.

“You look beautiful,” he said as I took his hand.

“Aww, flatters,” I replied because I didn’t know what else to say.

“They’re not flatters, mia bellezza,” he said and led me out to a waiting limo, not before he exchanged a look with Prudence that said, ‘Not now, drop it’.

“What’s wrong with her?” I asked.

“Something trivial. Don’t let it bother you.”

“OK.”

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Prudence’s POV

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I couldn’t help but pace after Emilio and Anne left.

If there was any moment he should tell her about his dealings with the mafia, his involvement, and the other things, it was now. Before he engaged her, as he said he was planning to. Because after that, there’ll be no going back.

And if she found it out, it would all be a shatter.

There was no doubt that Emilio felt something for Anne, and she did so too.

I always observed the way they looked at each other, and how Emilio’s commitment to the gang had begun to wane because he spent more time with her.

But if he didn’t tell her now, then everything would crumble.

“What is it?” Sophia asked from behind me.

“Emilio is keeping too many secrets from her. This could never work.”

She nodded. “Maybe he’ll tell her. Maybe he’s just waiting for the right time.”

“Oh, Dio mio, I hope so. Have you seen Signora Portia around?”

“I haven’t. And I have to get going. Mother will need my help and Serafina is too much of a baby to know how to care for a pregnant woman.”

“Sì, go. I’ll come by soon.”

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#Casa_Del_Amante

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Anne’s POV

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Fergus opened the door, and I stepped out behind Emilio, and offered him a small smile.

Oh, I forgot that he was expressionless.

I stuck my tongue out at him, and he flinched a little. Gotcha.

Then I became aware of my hand in Emilio’s as he took me towards the most magnificent restaurant I’ve ever seen. The name was Casa Des Amante, although I didn’t know the meaning. I’ll have to check my Italian/English dictionary.

He took me along, past the outside that had tables for two or more all around, and the inside too. I noticed that almost everyone were seated in twos…single, double and triple date.

OMG, I’m on a date!?

Now I’m super shy.

A waitress met us halfway.

“Mr Salvatore, you have a reservation,” she said with a flirty smile.

She was nice looking though; and a very bosomy blonde. I felt small in comparison.

She led us to a table on the balcony; the only one there.

“Is there anything more you’d like me to do for you, Mr Salvatore?” she asked, still in that tone. I felt like saying ‘Hello, I’m here too!’ but I kept quiet.

“Sì. Two things actually. First, meet my date, Anne. And second, get another waiter.” He waved her away, and she gave me a hateful glare b4 stomping off.

I swallowed my laughter and released it through my nose.

“Something funny, cara?” Emilio asked with a raised eyebrow and an amused smirk.

“She was flirting,” I said plainly.

“Oh, was she now? Too bad I didn’t notice,” he said with mock regret that had me laughing out.

“You knew!” I accused.

“I didn’t. I was too busy admiring you to notice anything else,” he said, and I felt the heat in my cheeks.

“You really should stop , else you’ll see me turn to a tomato.”

He chuckled. “It’ll be my pleasure. It’s cute though.”

“What is?”

“Your cheeks. They get so rosy…. like now.”

“Stop it,” I said and placed both hands over them.

A waiter came and took our orders for the entrées, main course and desserts.

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Dante Castillo took the phone away from his ear and kept it on the mantle.

“News from my man,” he began and kissed Portia’s shoulder, who snuggled close to him in the bed. “They saw him enter Casa des Amante. Alone, apart from the girl he was with.”

Another kiss on her neck.

“Possibly the American. But Emilio never goes anywhere alone,” she pointed out.

“Well he was alone, as far as they could tell. I’m thinking of…how do I say it…hitting two birds with one stone? ”

Portia laughed. “Good idea.”

Dante placed a call back to his man. “Eliminate them,” he said simply.

Then, “But this seems too easy, don’t you think?”

“It doesn’t matter. He’ll be out of the way, and then Sergio will take over the Mafia, and the vineyards, while you’ll be the controlling factor.”

“I like that,” he said thoughtfully. “And I also like this,” he pinched her nip*le under the sheets, and she screamed from the sheer pleasure.

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Emilio’s POV

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We were halfway into the main course, kebab in cinnamon shavings and vegetable salad.

Anne kept commenting on how good Italian dishes actually were, and how she’d been so prejudiced to have condemned them at just a glance.

My phone beeped for the third time, and I picked it up in annoyance to look at the text from Felipe.

You really need to step in, boss. We’re ready to launch the next attack, and Sergio is here.

Sergio? What was he doing there!?

I replied, Keep things from getting heated. I’m busy. Inform Vittorio to get the bas***d outta there!

“Is something wrong?” Anne asked again, and I realized that I was frowning.

“Nothing , just trouble with work. It’s fine,” I replied and kept the phone on the table.

“Anne, give me your hand,” I said, holding out mine.

She looked at me confused at first, but held it out.

I slipped the ring on , and watched as her eyes and mouth widened. The ring was perfect on her; just a thin silver band with a diamond at its center that glittered in the pale blue light over head.

“I hope you like it. I just thought that just because our wedding is an agreement our parents made doesn’t mean…. well, I really don’t know what else to say,” I rubbed the back of my neck while waiting for her reaction.

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Anne’s POV

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I was lost for words, and I’m sure that if a fly flew past, it would have perches on my opened mouth.

I looked to Emilio, who seemed rather unsure of this all.

Finally I shut my mouth.

“Emilio, it’s perfect,” I replied, covering his hand with mine.

But it wasn’t perfect. Yet the thought that he cared enough to….. we may both have our secrets, but it didn’t seem to matter now as he leaned towards me.

His eyes we’re on my lips, then flickered to my eyes, as if seeking permission, the then back to my lips.

I knew he wanted to kiss me, and I wanted to too.

But his eyes looked away once more, this time to a spot behind me.

Then they widened in surprise as he pulled my head down with so much force, and I heard the sound of a gunshot behind me.

To be continued

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