The Mafia's Woman

Chapter 9

-Marcello-

I smirk when I see her get in the car with Valerio and Jenna. The fire burned in her eyes when she spoke to me about my alleged family. She saw me with Valentina and her children and thought that was my life. She just didn't give me a chance to tell her how far from the truth that is.

"Is that her?" Giovanni is standing next to me. He follows my gaze to Valerio's car.

"go away." I answer and he starts laughing.

I told Giovanni about my adventure in NY. Not the details and not that I think she might be the one, but about how scary it was that we clicked so well. And also how I woke up in an empty room. He called me that morning to ask when I was coming back, because he wanted a tattoo. Otherwise, I would never have told him. I get in the car with Ricco, who still has a spot available, with only two children left in the back.

"You have to stay away from that chick!" I hear Ricco say and he takes Vivian's hand. In the rear-view mirror he looks at me.

"Why?" I ask him.

"Seriously Marce! With what you do and her work. That's asking for trouble." He answers.

I shrug my shoulders. "I'm an architect and for the kick I set tattoos."

Vivian laughs and she squeezes Ricco's hand. He sighs and kisses her hand. Ricco hasn't finished his speech yet, but I'm not listening anymore and start pulling crazy faces at Lucas, his oldest son of three years. He imitates me and Vivian laughs at us.

When we get there I get out and hit Ricco on the back. "Good conversation dad." I joke and walk away from him.

Don't feel like listening any longer. He's never been able to stop me from anything and that's not going to happen now, because I know I want her.

If only for once. But there's something that draws me to her and I don't want to let go of that just yet. Enrico stands at the entrance and I hug him. He pats my shoulder.

"How is it?" he asks.

"All right, you?" I answer. He laughs and nods. "Always the man of few words."

I smile and walk on, I see the rest of the family already in the restaurant and I walk to Valerio and Jenna.

"Hey, congratulations," I shout.

"Hey!" Jenna breaks away from Valerio and hugs me. Valerio quickly pulls her out of my arms again. Which makes me and Jenna laugh.

"No worries." I answer and hug him. "You know me, I'm not going for taken women."

Jenna smiles and grabs my arm.

"What do you think of Cam?" she asks.

I shake my head. Not because I don't like Cam, but I don't like interfering.

"What a beautiful woman she is!" she exclaims and I start laughing. Valerio laughs too and pulls Jenna back.

"He wants you not to interfere." Jenna looks up at me from him.

When everyone moved here, Valerio and I were the only two singles, which created a bond between us. I have seen the relationship between the two grow and Jenna is now also my friend. The ladies come walking and everyone is looking for a place at the table. I know Chris next to me on one side and Ricco on the other. Right across from me is Cam with Jenna.

"Oh Cam, this is Marcello." Jenna starts and I shake my head.

"We met." I answer.

I see Ricco and Chris fall silent and my eyes drill straight into Camilla's. She blushes and scrapes her throat. "Yes in New York a few weeks ago."

Jenna's mouth falls open and closed again. I smirk and take a sip of the water.

"Where?" asks Ricco.

"In Stefano's club," I answer.

"Well, look at that." Jenna laughs awkwardly and she turns to Camilla. Valentina comes to sit on the other side of Camilla and Vincenzo sits down next to her. Valentina and Camilla talk and laugh and it amazes me how easily Camilla can switch conversations between Jenna and Valentina.

"Tell me you didn't do her," Ricco whispers. I turn to him.

"I thought a gentleman never kisses and tells?" I ask. He shakes his head.

"This is asking for trouble." He answers and I sigh.

"Stay out of it," I answer.

During the meal, I don't say much. That's not new, so it doesn't stand out to anyone. I follow the conversations around me, but my eyes keep going back to the woman right across from me.

When everyone goes home.

She also gets up. I hear her say that she is walking home because it is close by. Everything in me wants to go after her, wants to stop her, but I don't.

I have to find a way to let her go. I know this, but why is my heart telling me something different?

In the weeks that follow, I follow her. I know, I'm a stalker and what I do can't be done, but I can't let her go. Something pulls me towards her all the time. I've tried not to think about her, to focus on other women, but none does it for me. It is her and she is the only one.

I get off the plane and a big black car is waiting for me. The rear door opens and an old friend gets out.

"Marcello!" He smirks and I hug my old friend.

"I didn't expect you here?" I ask him. He shrugs his shoulders and we get in the car.

"Maccini called the boss, I'm here to make sure everything happens quietly and make sure a certain lady stays out of your business." He answers and my eyebrow goes up.

"Cam." He answers.

"Cam?" I ask.

"She does mafia business, I saw you go into the hotel together in New York a few weeks ago. I then shielded all your data from her. Only Luca and Paulo's are open, but your names have all been removed. She won't find a link." He answers.

"Why?" I ask.

Ian starts laughing. "You made a deal, you would stop all that s**t and in return, the FBI would never reveal your names or come after you, that's why." He answers and shrugs his shoulders.

"I know Cam, I've been following her since she came out of police school. She is special. She has no idea about her life."

I nod. "A conversation for another time."

He nods and we arrive at the large villa.

I get out and take in the villa. My bag in my hand and I check the weapon on my back. Everything is in the right place.

"I have an appointment," I say to the man in the suit at the front door. He nods and picks up a phone. "The artist is here." he puts the phone down. The door opens and another man walks out. I recognize the little balding man and when he sees me he smiles.

"Marcello, welcome!" His thick Italian accent is clearly audible.

"English or Italian? What is your preference." He asks. When I want to answer Ian answers for me "English, I should be able to follow it."

The man looks from Ian to me and nods. The two don't shake hands and we follow the balding man as he explains to me why he let me fly here from Dallas.

Three days in Italy is a welcome distraction from my boring weeks in Cliffs. Maybe this is exactly what I need, to be able to let go of Cam.

We walk down the stairs.

"He's in that room." Mr. Maccini points to a door. "And he still has to live to tell me, Marcello." I nod. I put my bag down and take a hat out of my bag and pull it over my head.

Only my eyes are still visible. Something I always do when they have to live. I don't feel like them recognize me when I'm sitting in a bar or in a restaurant somewhere.

"Ian are you going with me?" I ask. He shakes his head

"My stomach." He puts on a dirty face.

Ian is tough and rough, except when there is torture. The thoughts alone make him nauseous enough.

I enter the room with Mr. Maccini next to me. The man has already had quite a few blows, but not enough, to be seen in his eyes full of fear when I put my bag on one of the empty tables. I start by unpacking and cleaning the table first before I put my black towel on it.

Maccini uses the time to prepare my victim.

"Ah Julio, you thought with a big punch in your face that I was done with you?" he laughs.

I turn one of my little drills on the device.

"I asked my friend here for help and believe me, you're going to tell me who it was who betrayed me." Maccini starts laughing harder.

I turn to the man and take a good look at him. He shakes his head and keeps his mouth shut. That will soon change when I touch him

"I let the artist work and I hear it when you want to talk." Maccini nods at me and leaves the room and I start my work and turn on the drill.

Twenty minutes later I walk out of the building, the money in my bag. Ian next to me.

"That didn't take long." He notes. I start laughing. "No, not even five minutes and then he screamed for Maccini."

We get back in the car, Ian back to Washington and I go by my grandparents here in Italy, enjoying the sun and the delicious food that my grandmother cooks.