Ciao amore mio,

Come va? Cosa stai facendo? Thank you for being patient with me. Lord knows how long I've been working on the 36th. It wasn't easy but it was definitely worth it. Never fear loves! Never ever ever give up. Be strong. Happy reading!!! :P ;)

Here's the Thirty-sixth installation of Italian Coffee House.

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ENJOY XD. *hugs* Thank you for sticking it with me. I couldn't ask for a better squad of protagonists.

XO,

Ang

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Niccolò's Chocolate House

Chapter 36

*Nick*

"FIGLIO DI BUONA DONNA! (SON OF A BITCH)" I growled despite myself, earning an incredulous look from Danu.

"Niccolò who was that? What on earth just happened?" Julian inquired, coaxing another feral growl from deep within my chest.

"I have no idea who that less than subtle waif might be. Apparently her name is Corina." Her name tasted like venom on my tongue. Figures. Of course the name would be just as rotten the owner. At the moment, I was more than tempted to pound her until she told me where to find my wife but my intuition told me that it would be a bad move.

For her to deliver such a crafty speech to my face meant either, she was a sadistic bitch that probably had a death wish or she hadn't attended the Keller wine tasting alone. Unfortunately, my morals were against taking hands to a woman. That and, more importantly, I had no intentions of testing my theory lest something irremissable takes place. No. I had to keep a cool head and play my cards right. One thing was for certain, that woman is going to wish she hadn't just crossed my path. Subtly, I scanned the premises noting that she got into a sleek dark vehicle with two muscular fellas. I would've followed them if I didn't think there was something shady awaiting me at the end of that road. No no no Nicky! You have to be smart about this. Instead, I just memorized the plates.

Heavens, I could hear Ada's sweet voice echo in my mind. How the hell had my night come to this? Mere minutes ago, I couldn't wait to get home, crawl into bed next to my wife and make sweet merciless love to her until the sun came up. Only to learn that some arsehole had taken my other half captive. Fate could be one cruel bitch at times, she's ruthless like that. It reminded me how fragile life could be. Krysta had a mother one day and the very next, she had been orphaned. My father had always been my moral support when I was younger but lo and behold, he had lost the great battle. A battle we did not even know he had been fighting. How messed up was that? Furthermore, I had finally collided with a beautiful soul that would alter my outlook on life forever. One that was undoubtedly the most precious thing I could've ever been given in all my existence. With her, came the greatest joy I'd ever known. Only, she had been snatched up by some despotic vermin. Well to hell with fate because I'd be damned if I lost Ada.

"May I use your telephone?" The words left me before it even registered that I'd said them.

"Of course, son anything you need." Julian offered a small smile. Though I was beyond grateful for his offer, I couldn't find it within me to return it in kind. My gestational wife was being held hostage somewhere facing heaven knows what. It was unfathomable to even crack a smile after what had just occurred.

Julian took Danu's hand in his. Such a simple action conjured up feelings of warmth and longing. It also served as a kick to the gut considering my dilemma. Heaven knows if anything happened to Ada I would not forgive myself. God please let her come back to me!

"Son?" Danu's voice found me adrift in my reverie, snatching me back to reality only to witness the worried looks on both their aged features. One a mirror of the other.

"Thank you," I offered, immediately spinning on my heel taking off in the direction of their ranch house.

Their home was a grand structure, immaculate in its own right. Well-kept with an mid-western finish, which somehow managed to give me a homey sensation. However, there was no time to revel in my being there again. Even if I admired their vision. Instead, I followed the trail up the cobblestone path, my eyes drifting only to settle on the starry night sky. Just the kind of night that my wife and I cuddled to, gazing out passed the sliding door, while we talked about the future. Our future.

My heart grew wary the more I reminisced about the transcendence of our bliss, afraid that I might never get that opportunity again. Ada and I weren't the least bit perfect, but somehow that worked to our advantage. Her every flaw was my greatest treasure. Whatever little she had, they made her who she was. The woman I fell in love with. It meant that she was real and not some psychosomatic distortion of my imagination. And the thought that she would make me a father just sent me over the moon.

Gosh, there's no telling the toll recent events have on her petite form, moreover, our little trio. A sudden chill ran through me at the thought of something grave happening to either of them. If anything were to occurr, I don't know how I could ever forgive myself. Heck, I was having a hard time now as it is. It would be a miracle, if I didn't lose it altogether.

It was futile to dwell on the negative though there was an onslaught of unsavory scenarios running through my mind making it virtually impossible not to. I mentally slapped myself, putting my fear of the unknown on the back burner. What I did next would have a permanent impact on the outcome and I would do everything in my power - exploit every avenue available - to get my wife back. I continue up the path which was lit on either side reminding me of a landing strip. Ridiculous that this night, innocent in its beauty, didn't let on that anything was amiss. Drawing nigh to the porch, a nervous pang entered my stomach.

The closer I got, the more familiar the cellphone that woman had left me, though for reasons I could not yet decipher. Not two steps from the stairway, my feet froze. Suddenly, it dawned on me that the very device I now held in my hand, had been in my wife's possession a few hours earlier. The design was unique and held a deeper meaning than I ever imagined possible. It was the very same I'd bought for Ada the fateful evening of our very first failed date. The evening I grew irrevocably possessive and determined to make her officially mine.

Pricks! Yet another growl escaped me despite my best attempts to suppress it. Those morons, whoever had taken my Ada hostage, got off on playing a very dark and dirty game. They probably thought it a neat trick. However, they didn't account for their game turning lethal the second they decided to send this to me. It certainly would not fare well for anyone involved in the plot, no matter how much they begged for mercy in the end. In a nutshell, they had just dangled a man's family as leverage, in the hopes of intimidating him. If anything, the bold move had marked their headstones.

"Niccolò ... son?" Julian's voice called me back to earth. He had halted in his movements as well, evidently concerned by my erratic behavior. A subtle reminder that this wasn't some bad prank, but a literal living nightmare.

Thing was, umpteen times during the better part of the day, the overwhelming urge to check in on my wife had clutched me. To ensure everything was going well. To see if there was anything she needed, because if there was, I swear I'd dropped everything and be there in a heartbeat.

Ada had gone out with Krysta and Tionnè, and had sent me a text earlier on using this very phone. They went to do whatever women did on their day-off.

A thought had occurred to me. Would they understand my need to see Ada, her being gestational and all? Despite the fact that I was well within my rights to touch bases with my wife, that was her time to grow and do whatever she pleased with it. I wanted to give Ada her space. She could revel in her newfound jubilee and I would be powerless to protest it solely because, for all intents and purposes, she deserved nothing less than to be happy. Tenfold. It would've been selfish to intrude on her girl-time for the sake of my obsession.

Danu waited at the top the stairs, holding the door open, for us to come inside. From there, I found my way through the modernized living space to the refined kitchen with ease. As memory served, I knew there would be a bright red telephone hanging against the beige interior. Fetching the receiver from the hook, I dialed the number to my home phone. Barely two rings later, the call connected and the line became active.

"Krysta?" I began, my voice stable though I was livid. I almost cried into the mouthpiece, but somehow I was able to mask my inner turmoil with expertness.

Muffled cries reached me through the earpiece, my heart sinking at the sound. God! There was no way to explain the relief that flooded me to know that she was in one piece. Was it insensitive to thank God that she wasn't taken as well? It must've taken something from her to witness such a terrible occurrence. The hair on my arms stood at attention as my vision blurred with unshed tears.

God knows I had a myriad of questions to ask, though I settled for one at the moment. However, before I could get my words across, Krysta began.

"Nikki? Nikki I'm sorry." I clenched my fists at the sound knowing full well what she was about to divulge though I didn't stop her. "I'm so so sorry. I'm such an idiot. I-I'm so sorry. Ada, she's been kidnapped."

"Krys, Io so (Krys, I know)." My jaw tightened at the reminder. Those pricks would soon regret the day they trifled with my family. Personally, I would see to it that they grieved the day they decided to commit such a heinous act. "Va tutto bene?(Are you alright?)"

"No, Non sono Nikki. Dio quanto sono idiota. (No, I'm not Nikki. God I'm such an idiot.)" My sister wasn't one to loose her bearings easily and to hear her in such a frantic state served to get me riled. She was anything but an idiot. I, on the other hand, not so much.

"Sorellina, tutto cio non e stato ideato da te. (Sis listen to me, none of this is your doing)," It surprised me that my words came out so calm, that my voice did little to betray the turmoil buried just beneath the surface. "E non sei un idiota. Ho paura che quel titolo sia practicamente riservato a me. (And you are not an idiot. I fear that title is ultimately reserved for me.)"

"Ce l'avevo Nikki, era mia, lo giuro, ma mi è sfuggita. (I had her Nikki, I did, I swear but she slipped away)" My eyes shut at the mention of my wife. Lord knows she didn't deserved this and it didn't help that she's pregnant either.

"Rispondimi, c'e la polizia li? (Answer me this. Is the police there?)" It was ill-conceived to think that no one had called the police. They had no idea what that trick had said to me but they were trying to help.

"Si, (Yes)" Krysta replied, her tone rising, evidently curious as to what I was getting at.

"Krys, la gente che ha le sue istruzioni a sinistra che non abbiamo coinvolto la polizia. (Krys, the people who have her left instructions that we not get the police involved.)"

"Oh, non preoccuparti, so cosa fare. (Oh, don't worry I got this.)"

"Sarò a casa il prima possibile, (I'll be home as soon as possible,)"

"Stai attento, fratellone. (Be safe big brother.)"

"Ti voglio bene, sorellina. (I love you sis)"

"Ti voglio bene anche io. (I love you to)" The line was silent as the call ended.

Taking a deep breath, to clear my mind of any distraction, I entered the living room to find Danu and Julian changed into something more casual. Julian held two duffel bags, both looked prepared to go on a hunt. I suppressed a cry, marveling at how much they cared for me. It was enough that they, to, were mortified at what had happened and no doubt want to help. However, for what I was about to do next, they couldn't be involved. Therefore, I had to go alone.

"I would expect nothing less of you two, but you can't be anywhere near this. If anything happened to you-"

"-Niccolo, son, as long as you need us we will never withhold help from you. Just know that when you are ready to ask, we'll be right here." At that, I took them both into my arms and they encased me in their's.

"Thank you," I replied, kissing them both on their cheeks before they released me.

On route back to the city, I stopped at the depot to pick up a few burner phones. Given my current state, a little way from the establishment, I rolled the car to the side of the road. If I was to go through with this call, it was wise for me to be focused. I shifted the gear into park before reaching into my wallet, fetching a decade old business card. The ink had nearly vanished making it a struggle to read the number listed there on it.

--

Late one evening, I had taken Krysta to the playground near the old apartment complex that had been our home. She had been in her glee despite what darkness had smeared her childhood and I made sure of that. It helped that there wasn't much that had to be done to keep her amused.

At the time, my life was a bit of a juggle between working at a restaurant as a trainee and taking evening classes so that I could further my dream and one day open a restaurant of my own. While I worked she was at school, and with what free time I had, we spent together at the park.

What money I earned from my job was funneled into food stuff and keeping that roof over our heads. There wasn't money left for trips to special places, not with my hours anyway. The playground was a cure-all and my sister could never get enough of the merry-go-round anyway making it a win-win.

Krysta had been giddy with excitement, giggling as she tried to walk in a straight line. Spinning on the merry-go-round had obviously left her with a high, that and it had been her third time when a man approached me.

He was short but muscular, had a full head of thick ebony hair, striking blue eyes and he wore a pair of round glasses.

"If only they could remain young, untainted and innocent forever." He said, pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose, his rich accent setting off familiar bells as it was identical to mine.

"Can I help you?" It was odd. He seemed so out of place here. Not to mention, I'd been observing him subtly a while now and had been fairly certain that none of the other children present were his. The notion left me in a heightened sense of awareness, as alarm bells went haywire.

"No but you look like you could use some." He scrutinized me, a grim look taking his features.

"Whatever you're selling, I'm not buying." Clearly, he was dealing in something. The question was what, and whatever it was, I wanted no part in it. I had enough to problems as it was.

"No one should be abandoned."

How on earth did he-

"Who are you?" Maybe, I looked harmless but I would throw down my gauntlet to keep Krysta safe. She was all I had.

"I'm someone who wants to see you flourish. If you ever want to ensure her future give me a call." He took out a card handing it to me. Against my better judgement, I accepted it wanting him to leave, which he ultimately did without so much as another word. I took my sister's hand not liking the least bit that that man knew more intimate details about us than he was letting on. In other words, we were exposed out here in the open, but to who and what?

I took Krysta to chef school with me. She would sit at the back of and quietly observe as my classmates and I practiced various methods of cooking. It took her mind off things but I became more skeptical of my surroundings.

--

This was probably the worst idea I could come up with, but desperate times called for out-of-the-box methods. At this point, it was the best bad idea I could fathom. Steeling my resolve, I took a deep breathe before entering the digits into the phone and hitting send. Funny how fate had a way of making us do things we'd otherwise never do.

"Signor Salvatore, mi dispiace interromperla a quest'ora, ma ho un problema con il giardinaggio. (Mr. Salvatore, I'm sorry to interrupt at such a late hour but I have a gardening problem.)"

"Signor Casimiro, infatti, è meglio che faccia presto perché mi ha appena interrotto mentre leggevo le fiabe alle mie bambine. (Mr. Casimiro you better make this short and sweet because in fact, you've just interrupted storytime)"

"C'è una rosa nera a cui tengo molto più di ogni altra. E' stata ricoperta dalle erbacce. (There is a black rose that I cherish most of flora. It has been overrun by weeds)"

"E allora usa un sarchiello, Signor Casimiro. (So call a weeder Mr. Casimiro)"

"Temo che la cosa non sia così semplice. E' un processo molto più delicato in natura. Non l'avrei scomodata se ci fosse stato un altro modo. (I'm afraid the task isn't that simple. It is more delicate in nature. I wouldn't have called if there was another way)"

"E allora perché dovrei aiutarla? Non è proprio lei quello che ha eluso i miei affari in passato? Perché ora io non dovrei fare lo stesso con lei? (So why should I help you? Is it not you who shunned my business in the past? Why shouldn't I do the same to you now?)"

"Signore, con il massimo rispetto e senza cattiveria, non è forse vero che alle vostre figlie piaccia il giardino, giusto? Che tipo di insegnamento pensa di dare a loro se non dà una mano per curarlo? (I mean this respectfully sir and with no malice, your daughters must love your garden? What kind of a message would you be sending them if you didn't help to save another?)"

"Mmmm... bene. (Mmmm ... very well)"

"Ho soltanto bisogno che queste erbacce vengano rimosse, ma poi sarò io a occuparmene in modo che il problema non si verifichi più. (I just need these weeds to be pacified but I'll get a handle on things so that the problem doesn't recur.)"

"Anche se capisco la tua brutta situazione, non ti aiutero. Ho gia il mio giardino di cui occuparmi. Ti auguro buona fortuna con il tuo. (Though I sympathize with your plight, I won't help you. I have my own garden to look after as it is. I wish you Godspeed with yours.)"

"Signor Salvatore, la prego- (Mr. Salvatore, please-)"

"-Arrivederci, Signor Casimiro.(-Goodbye, Mr. Casimiro)" The very last words before the line went static.

Dammit. The base of my palms slammed against the steering as I yelled in frustration. It was nothing to pursue those pricks alone but for Ada's sake, there had to be a well-coordinated effort. I didn't like taking a chance on my wife's safety but it seemed to be the only option I had left.