The Virgin Mafia

Chapter 3

"Excuse me, sir, may I place your dessert."

Francois and Gianni went back to their senses like they were splashed with cold water and averted their attention to the waitress.

"Sure," Francois said and moved his hand to place it near Gianni's empty plate. The waitress collected the empty plates and left them smiling when she turned her back.

"Is this mine?" Gianni asked, picking the spoon beside the dessert plate.

"Yes."

Gianni starts to eat his dessert.

"Francois, do you want to eat some?"

"No."

"Ok."

Gianni continued to eat the dessert until he finished it.

Francois is just quiet and not even looking at him at all. Gianni feels uncomfortable. Suddenly he feels ignored. When he finished, he drank his water.

Gianni doesn't know how he will start a conversation again. He is contemplating and suddenly he feels nervous. Is Francois mad at me? Did I go too far?

In an hour, he committed two offenses already. If Francois is serious that he doesn't touch others or doesn't want to be touched, he must be very angry for sure. Gianni suddenly feels goosebumps creep on his body. He thinks, maybe Francois is just controlling himself not to punch him.

Gianni doesn't understand, he just wants to comfort him because he tasted the spicy chopsticks. He didn't mean it. He just wants to remove the mess on Francois's face but he doesn't expect that he will turn his head.

Gianni suddenly feels guilty. What now, is he going to ignore me like this? Gianni's eyes widened when he thought Francois would let him pay for all the food he eats.

"Francois!" Gianni suddenly stands up but grunt in pain because of the sudden stretch from his knee and looks at Francois intently.

"Yes?"

"I told you already, I don't have cash or money to pay all of this. And...and...besides, I will not eat here if you didn't bring me here. If I walk fast and you don't chase me, I am not here. I should eat at my house. If my knee is fine, you will not save me. It wasn't my fault, the driver hit the brake because there was a crazy car driver who blew his horn so loud and the driver startled and I was sleeping on the bus and I rolled and hit my knee on the steel." Gianni explained non-stop.

Francois just looks at him. Francois waved to the waitress and gave him his Platinum credit card.

Gianni slowly sits back on his chair and just keeps glancing at Francois who is still not giving him any attention.

"I...I...I'm sorry, okay. I didn't mean to touch you and I didn't know that you are serious about that matter. I'm sorry..." Gianni said while fidgeting his fingers.

"Mn."

Gianni dropped his shoulder and rolled his eyes. After what he said, his long speech. Is that all he can hear? He blew up his lower lip to his forehead in disbelief.

"Let's go." Francois stood up already and Gianni followed. Gianni picks his backpack and slowly walks. Aside from his painful knee, his stomach is full that made him walk slower. Francois stops and lets him walk first, he continues until he feels Francois's hand on his backpack trying his best to support him.

Because he sat for a long time, he didn't feel that much pain. Gianni thought the pain would be gone but it seems his knee is swollen now. Francois noticed that he struggled a lot and after hearing what Gianni said about why he is limping, he is sure now that he is the reason why he is suffering now. Food is not enough, he should have brought him to the hospital. When they reach the door of the restaurant, Francois speaks and leads him to the vacant chair, and lets him sit.

"Stay here. I'll be back."

Gianni just obeys him, he doesn't know what Francois's plan is. He waited for about three minutes and he saw a black roofless McLaren Elva parked in front of the restaurant and his eyes bulged out when he recognized the driver.

"Francois?!" Gianni mumbled.

Francois gets into the restaurant and without warning, Francois carries him in a bridal style and the guard opens the door for them. Everyone who sees them smiles widely, giggles and some are curious about what happened to Gianni.

Gianni doesn't know if he will cling his arms to Francois's neck. Afraid that the man might ignore him again or will get mad, he just put his hands on his stomach and didn't move a muscle. When they reached the car, Francois put him directly in the passenger seat and fixed the seat belt. Their faces almost touched but Gianni didn't breathe at all and tried his best not to touch Francois. Gianni almost melts from the eyes everywhere staring at them. Some are taking photos and videos, they are amazed, either because of the car or because of the two beautiful handsome men they thought showing a display of affection and the guy who owns the car is just being sweet to his man.

Gianni wanted to protest and ask but he just let Francois settle on the driver seat first before he stirred his mood again.

When Francois starts the engine, Gianni's brows furrow, and turn his body to see Francois.

"Excuse me, Mr. Rich Guy, if you are. Where are we going? My house is just five hundred meters away from that restaurant. I don't need to ride here at all. I can walk by myself."

"Hospital."

"Francois, I am fine. Tomorrow, I can run as fast as I can." Gianni complained and boasted thinking his knee will be healed overnight.

Francois didn't respond and just drove silently. Gianni finally gives up and just pouts his lips.

When they reach the hospital, Francois quickly parked the car and because Gianni is not familiar with the car thing, he doesn't know how to release the seat belt. Francois helped him and their faces almost touched again because Francois tried to reach the lock on the other side.

Gianni didn't breathe or move, afraid that he would touch Francois again, but again, without warning, Francois carried him in a bridal style and a stretcher was already waiting at the emergency door.

Gianni saw Francois talking to a tall guy wearing a white robe and surgical mask and followed him inside the emergency room.

Outside the emergency room, Francois is walking here and there while thinking hard. Since this afternoon, a lot of things have happened to him unexpectedly. He just wants to visit his Dad and show up to let him know that he is doing great. If his Dad didn't see him for one week, he is worried already and it may affect his health. Francois loves his father so much. Like his mother, he doesn't want to give stress and worries to his mom. His mom is also a CEO and manages their multi-business. She inherited it from his French family because she is the only daughter and heir of the LaRue Corporation while his Dad is an heir of the Ducati Corporation. Francois has a half-brother from his mother's side who is a General Surgeon named Matteo LaRue, the owner, and CEO of the hospital where he brought Gianni.

Francois has his own business. At the age of twenty-seven, he built and owned five malls in Italy, was a franchise owner of ten coffee shops, and had ten famous Italian restaurants inside his malls. Daily he is randomly monitoring it personally. But of course, he has tons of trusted employees who will monitor it for him directly.

On top of that, the Ducati is known in society as White Mafia and Francois is the great and only grandson of the famous Mafia leader back in the 1950s. His late great-grandfather was a bad guy who becomes one of the heroes of the country who helped during World War 2. For those who don't know Ducati's or Francois's background and their family history, people stay away from them or even be scared of meeting them personally. If they hear about a bloody and mysterious crime, people automatically blame it on the triad and mafia who don't exist at all. Gangsters or some bad guys intentionally pretend as mafias or members of triads. But nowadays, mafias or triads are gone and the authorities are fully aware and can recognize the real mobsters and gangsters. People thought, triads are just hiding and attacking when they want to and crime news will flash suddenly the next morning.

Since he was a kid, Francois suffered from bullying because of his family name Ducati, but because his parents taught him how to deal with it, he survived and didn't make many friends. He only has four faithful and loyal friends he can count on.

Francois learns to distance himself from people. He never interacts and does not even enter any relationship, besides he is not attracted to women. That is crystal clear to his parents. Francois is thankful for having a supportive half-brother and loving parents.

Francois hates skinship if he is not close to someone. He doesn't like a clingy person and a talkative one. But today, he met one. And he is now contemplating how Gianni turns his world upside down in less than three hours.

He is busy recalling what had happened earlier when the door swung open and a nurse came out pushing a wheelchair with a patient sitting on it followed by a doctor.

Gianni can't look at Francois and just listen to the doctor.

"Brother, how is he?"

"His knee is swollen and has bruises from the hit of the steel. He must not force it to walk or it will become severe."

"What will I do then?"

"Let him rest until he recovers. I will visit him at your house every other day to see his condition is ok. Francois, don't worry..he is fine." Matteo taps his shoulder and leaves because he has a new patient to be treated.

Gianni on the other hand keeps cursing on his thoughts while listening to the conversation earlier. They are brothers? That doctor is his brother? What? He will visit me at Francois's house, what does he mean by that?

Gianni wanted to ask Francois but suddenly the nurse pushed his wheelchair and Francois followed.

When they reach the lobby, Francois carries him again to his car. He was shocked when he saw the surroundings were all dark. When he checked his wristwatch, his eyes widened. He taps his forehead and heaved a sigh. Now what, his auntie will worry soon. Not only that, but he is also worried about his newly found job.

Francois is driving peacefully and just keeps glancing at him secretly. Gianni is fuming inside now. his world collapsed when he realized he would lose his job because he cannot resume his work according to the doctor for almost a month. Deep inside he is cursing the driver of the car that made him like this. When I find you, I will let you pay.

Gianni noticed that their way was not going to their house.

"Ahm, excuse me, Mr. Rich Guy, where are you heading? Our house is not like this."

"I know."

"What do you mean?"

"I already told Auntie Sue."

"Do you know her, our house?"

"Mn."

Earlier, as soon as Gianni entered the emergency room, Francois sent his men to search for Gianni's house and send his message about Gianni's condition. Auntie Sue feels worried but they assure Gianni is in good hands.

"What did you tell her?"

"You cannot come home."

"Whaaaaaaaaaat?"

"I'll take care of you."

Gianni stops talking and trying to understand the situation and he is puzzled and confused. What the hell, why suddenly Francois is taking care of him and why is he bringing him home? His home? What is his concern if he is injured and how did he quickly inform his Auntie Sue? So many questions he wanted to ask but he has no guts to do so.

Gianni tried to recall what had happened today and after he got out of the company. Just this morning he is excited and had a peaceful job, now he lost it already just a few hours ago. He cursed that driver who made the bus driver startled. Now he can't walk properly, which means he has no job.

I'm gonna kill you.

Meanwhile, Francois keeps blaming himself for being impatient earlier and thought that Gianni missed his bus stop already, that is why he blows his horn that bad to call the attention of the bus driver and wake up his passengers whom he thought Gianni is sleeping. He didn't mean to end up like this.

Francois is thinking about how he will tell Gianni that he is doing this because of guiltiness, really guilty. And he was the crazy car driver Gianni mentioned earlier.