Rosalia is going to face Ermanno again!

Let's see what happens?😁😁

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

He was back!

His voice was enough to paralyse me on my spot. The scene from the basement flashed before my eyes and my dread intensified. My heart rate spiked while my hands started trembling.

He was back!

Licking my dry lips, I took a shaky breath and slowly turned around to face him. He was standing on the threshold of the kitchen, blocking it completely, which was my only route for escape. His gaze was completely trained on me and it seemed like he was challenging me to run away from him.

We were interrupted by Adele, who came to stand beside me and spoke, "You can't keep her chained here, Ermanno!"

He shifted his gaze to her and spoke, "I am not chaining her. It's just that it is not safe for her to go out alone."

"And who would dare to harm her, knowing she is under your protection?" she asked him with a raised eyebrow and her hands on her waist.

He looked at her meaningfully and spoke, "Luca Martinez."

That was enough to shut her up as she made an 'o' with her lips.

What?!

Who was Luca Martinez?

Was he enough powerful to make man like Ermanno D'Amelio cautious?

But why?

I needed to find about that man. Maybe, he could help me. I made a mental note to ask about him from Adele in private. Maybe, I could get some information from her. She seemed to know about the guy.

He spoke again, "But if Rosa wants to go for shopping, I can take her." His penetrating was again focused on me.

I was willing my voice to come out to deny him when Adele commented, "So mean of you! You always refuse to accompany me anywhere."

He ignored her and kept staring at me expectantly to speak. I finally spoke in a timid voice, "Ummm... I don't think I need anything right now."

He gently spoke again, "I am not asking if you need anything, I am asking if you want to go?"

I was struck by the gentleness in his voice, which was clearly reflecting in his bluish-green eyes. How on earth can a cruel man like him speak with such softness? However, I shook my head in denial.

Disappointment flashed in his eyes, which quickly disappeared just as it had appeared. Composing himself, he spoke again, "Alright! If you want, just let me know about it."

And then, he smiled and I felt like I was struck by a lightening.

His smile was so gorgeous!

He looked even more appealing with his soft lips curled upwards. He even had dimples while smiling.

I was totally swooning internally!

My ogling session was cut off by Francesca, who called everyone for breakfast.

Adele exclaimed, "Oh! I was so hungry. Let's go!"

She grabbed my hand and started dragging me along with her. Ermanno was looking at me all the time and followed us from behind, after we left the kitchen.

Before anyone could take a seat, he hurriedly went ahead and pulled out the same chair for me, he had pulled out a day before, next to his. I quietly went and sat on it.

He seemed content with my obedience, while Adele whistled in a teasing manner. She took a seat across mine.

The table was yet again filled with mouth-watering assortments, consisting of fritatas, Italian cloud eggs, pancakes, cannoli and coffee. Ermanno served me before serving himself. Adele teased us on it too.

I kept quiet all the time, while she kept on talking to Ermanno, who was nodding at her or spoke only when necessary.

After everyone was done with their meal, he looked at me cautiously and spoke, "Actually, my grandfather wanted to meet you, so he is coming here for dinner, tonight."

I looked at him fearfully. If he was so ruthless, how ruthless would be the man who brought him up like that?

Sensing my fear, he spoke, "I know it is too soon and all of it must be overwhelming for you. But trust me, I couldn't delay it even after trying. Nonno is really stubborn and is adamant on meeting you. So, please get ready on time. He is very punctual and is very particular in these matters."

I nodded at him in reply. But my mind was screaming at me how would I survive two Mafias in the same room?

He turned to Adele and spoke, "If you want, you can join us too."

She smiled at him and replied, "Actually, dad wants me home tonight. So, I guess, I'll have to skip it. Maybe, next time."

He nodded, "Okay."

He again looked at me tenderly and spoke, "See you later tonight, Rosa."

I hummed at him in response and lowered my gaze towards the empty plate and started playing with the idle lying fork. Sighing, he got up from his seat and took his leave. I was glad that I didn't had to interact with him anymore.

Adele loudly clapped her hands which caught my attention. With a wide grin, she announced, "Let's watch some movies. We can't go out, but we can definitely have some fun here."

I was a nervous wreck from the inside, so I thought that I could definitely use some distraction. Nodding, I got up.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

We were sitting in the living room, watching a rom-com. Or I could say that only Adele was watching it, because I failed to concentrate on what was playing on the screen. Rather, I was dreading what would happen when I would meet Alessandro.

I wish there was some way to avoid the dinner with him. But the issue was that I didn't had enough courage to defy his orders. I didn't had a death wish! I prayed for some miracle to happen.

But how could I expect a miracle to happen when my own destiny was conspiring against me. It was my own bad luck in the first place, that I suddenly got trapped in between the Mafias out of the blue. A week before, I had not even imagined to meet a local goon and there, my fate had bound me to a Mafia King himself.

I wondered how Lucie and Albert were. Whenever I tried to ask my parents about them, they dodged the question and changed the topic. I wish I could find a way to escape all that sooner!

Suddenly, my brain registered the name of the person, about whom I had planned to ask about, from Adele in private.

Luca Martinez

Now was the time. No one was around. I turned to her, who was deeply engrossed in the television, and interrupted her, "Adele."

She turned to me confused and spoke, "Yeah?"

I hesitantly spoke, "Can I ask you something?"

She warmly smiled at me and said, "You don't have to take permission, Rosalia. Just shoot!"

Fidgeting with the ring on my finger, I timidly voiced out my thought, "Actually, I wanted to ask who is Luca Martinez?"

All the colour drained from her face. It was clear that she was not expecting me to ask that.

She frantically looked around and scooted closer to me. Then, she quietly asked me, "Why are you asking about him?"

I was confused at her reaction.

Just who was he to keep her or Ermanno on the edge?

Why the mere mention of his name made them so serious?

I replied her, "I heard his name in the morning from Ermanno, when he was talking to you. Seeing the reaction of both of you, I just got curious."

She told me in a serious tone, "Just know this, Rosalia. Don't ever mention his name again, especially not in front of Ermanno."

"Why?" I asked in a dread-filled voice.

She answered, "Just know that he isn't a good man and you must stay cautious of him, especially now, when you are related to Ermanno."

"But..." I again tried to get information about him, but she interrupted me, "No buts, Rosalia. It is almost a forbidden topic here. Ermanno mentioned his name in the morning only to make me realise the severity of the situation."

I reluctantly nodded at her. I couldn't get anything from her. She didn't give me any clue about him except that he was dangerous. But so was Ermanno. And people feared him too. So what exactly happened that he was cautious of that Luca guy? Was he not afraid of Ermanno? And why?

But who was he exactly?!

I had to find some other way to reveal his mystry. But who would tell me?

My mental battle was discontinued by her, "Don't stress over all that, Rosalia. You don't need to worry about him. I am sure that Ermanno won't let any harm come near you. I can bet that he would protect you with his life."

I gave her a fake smile in return. She then, squeezed my hand in reassurance and resumed the movie, while I continued my mental battle.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

After lunch, we randomly talked about ourselves. After that, she helped me get ready for the dinner. She chose for me a long, white top with 3-4th sleeves and a black jeans. I wore my white sneakers to complete the outfit.

She then, made a messy bun on top of my head with little fringes here and there. I lastly applied a thick coat of mascara along with a lipgloss.

After I got completely ready, she wished me all the luck in the world and bade me good bye.

And then, I started counting minutes until I would be presented in front of another ruthless Mafia.

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

Hello my lovely readers!

How was the chapter?

The biggest mystery... Who is Luca Martinez?

Why was Ermanno so cautious of him?

And why was taking his name a forbidden territory?

Rosalia is going to meet Alessandro, Ermanno’s nonno... How do you expect their meeting to go?😉😉

A 🤩🤩

🌟

💭🗯

😇

~A...