Changes
Felicia
“You’re being silly, Nero. I am fine to visit with your sister and Olivia at a restaurant without an entire entourage of your men at the table next to ours,” I announce loudly while walking into Nero’s home office.
He raises an eyebrow. “What makes you think they were there to watch over you three trouble-makers? Perhaps they decided to have lunch together and it was a coincidence that they chose the same restaurant.” Sarcasm riddles his voice.
I walk to the desk and Nero swivels his chair around as I climb onto his lap. “Honey, I know that the events of last week were scary and I’ll be the first to admit that I was afraid I’d never see you again, but, here I am. Safe in your arms in our house. We can’t live in fear,” I remind him of the words he’s said to me in the past. I caress his cheek, placing my forehead against his.
“I can’t go through that again, dolce mio. I cannot relive that agony of not knowing where you were or what they were doing to you,” he growls.
“You’re letting Dario and Livio live with the idea that you don’t trust them with me. They did everything they could. Dario almost died for me. I don’t want them feeling this way. They look defeated and don’t even look at me anymore. They barely talk to me. They are strung so tight I think they are going to snap,” I confess my concerns.
“I can’t help how I feel, baby.” He stares at me with sad eyes.
“Then let’s do something about it. Teach me to defend myself. Or, even better, work with Livio, Dario, and me to make us a stronger team. Teach me to shoot a gun. Please, honey, we need to find some normal. We need to move forward,” I plead.
“Okay, I will talk to them. However, you will have three guards until I feel that you know how to adequately shoot and get away,” he barters.
“Thank you.” I kiss his lips.
He allows the kiss, but still he pulls back from me. Ever since that horrific event, Nero will only kiss me and hold me. He holds me at night but has not instigated sex. I am beginning to think he’s losing interest. I want to say something, but this is not something I am comfortable in discussing with all that has happened in the last few weeks. Essentially, we are still newlyweds, but in our world with the chaos that occurs, the simplicity of getting to know one another isn’t an option.
“I have a few more calls to make before dinner. Let me see to them and then we can make plans for your training.” Nero kisses my nose.
I sigh. “I’ll let you finish. Six o’clock for dinner?” I ask.
“Perfect.” He squeezes my waist before letting me up.
Nero
I watch her walk out my door and I fight the urge to call her back. I have been watching her closely since she was taken.
They would have succeeded in creating a personal torture for my soul, but I would have fought them to the end. It was luck and Reno’s honor that brought Felicia back to me virtually unharmed. I am still shocked that Reno wants peace between the two families. His father was a ruthless bastard and it took years of persuasion to convince him of the truce the first time. With one fell swoop, that truce disappeared when my father accused him of deceit, and he’d never wanted to rectify the situation.
I did a lot of digging into Moreno Viale. Every man said the same; he is fair yet ruthless when provoked. He is nothing like his father and is dedicated to his brothers, mother, and his Casa (his mafia Famiglia). Traditions run deep within our roots. Marriage between two rival families has been one way of creating a trust and peace. When he asked for a wife from our side of the family, I was stunned. This woman would become the wife of a Don, a very prestige role. I was more shocked when he called today to arrange a meeting with Anna’s father to discuss the union.
I was glad to hear that Onofrio was agreeable to the match. In all honesty, I believe it is more than he expected for his daughter. Anna is a lovely girl, but she is over the age for marriage by our culture. She is sweet and kind and very docile however lacks the elegance of a Don’s wife or even that of an underboss. I’m happy that I did not have to push the importance of his commitment to our family with Onofrio to entice him to make the right decision. After my conversation with Giorgio, her brother, is more concerned for Anna’s safety and well-being. I reassured him that I have thoroughly investigated Reno and have found that his past lovers and his wife never once suffered at his hand. This placated him and I think the meeting we have scheduled in a few days will seal this deal.
Felicia hasn’t shown any signs of repercussions after the kidnapping, thank God. I still think that their death was too swift and not anywhere close to being painful enough. Knowing that my Aunt Silvia was the leader of this scheme is playing with my father’s heart. I can see that he is suffering greatly from the betrayal. Father has started going through the company of men who work for us, taking special measures to investigate each one and their associations. He is talking more adamantly that I prepare myself to take over the as Don. I think he will wait until Grazia is married before stepping down because he will want to have final say in her union.
The bruise and stitches have disappeared, yet, I worry that one day the impact of what could have happened will hit my wife. Healing the mind is a much more difficult process than healing the body. I lay awake at night watching her for signs of nightmares. Watching her sleep beside me makes we want to wake her slowly with sensuous kisses until she is panting for me. Lately, everything she does makes me hard for her. The way she smiles; the way she struts into my office to argue; the way she slides into my lap to snuggle. Everything has been sheer torture. I want to give her time to have our life settle back to normal, but she is making it very difficult.
So much has changed. Father’s push for me to take on a larger role along side of him, Reno’s pact with our family, an impending marriage, and the task of separating the rats from the family. It seems that the truer words were never said: “The only constant is change.”