TWO.

THE VERY NEXT DAY:

I gaze upon the grand villa where Don Valentino resides. Its towering iron gate fit for a king's fortress. 

My hands clench the iron rods with a vice-like grip, making my knuckles turn a ghastly shade of white as I wait patiently for someone to show up and face me.

Seconds pass, then minutes, followed by hours.

And still, I refuse to leave until I speak with the great Don Valentino, that makes me shiver with fear every time, he is near. 

I expel the weight of apprehension from my body as I watch one of Don Valentinos’ men exit the villa and make his way toward me. Flicking the lower-right side of his jacket open, the man rests his hand on the gun that is attached to the holster, resting his forefinger on the trigger.

“What are you doing here, Miss. Ivy?” He growls in a thick Italian accent that would have sounded hot if he weren’t working for the enemy.  

“Well, since we are on a first-name basis, I’m going to assume that you know who I am, and why I am here?” I cannot control the tone of snarkiness that coats my words with affection.

A serious look masks his face as he takes a step back from the gate. “I do know why you are here. And it gives me great pleasure to tell you that Don Valentino has given me strict orders to inform you that you can turn around and go back to the swamps where you came from.” 

“To the swamps? Do I look like Fiona from the movie Shrek?” I hiss with disdain in a high-pitched tone, feeling quite offended by his choice of words.

“No, but you do smell like trouble, and we can’t have you contaminating our air with it. Don Valentino has enough trouble on his hands as it is.” He growls. 

“But-” 

“I suggest you leave before he sees you on the security camera and comes out to see you himself.” He challenges me, cutting my sentence short with an exasperated sigh. 

Everybody in this city knows that when you have been dismissed by Don Valentino, you leave without batting an eye.

That’s unless you are willing to bear the repercussions, which could result in your death and the annihilation of your bloodline.

“Riccardo!” A familiar female voice disperses through the air, and Dip shit spins around to face the owner of the voice.

I suck on my upper teeth as I shift my gaze from Dip shit whom I now know is named Riccardo to… Sofia.

She walks towards us, running her forefinger along her gold chain necklace gracing her neckline. As her chocolate brown eyes meet my hazel irises, her blood-red coated lips pull back into a sinister smile.

“Mrs. DeLuca,” Riccardo dips his head upon saying her name. “Miss Bish-”

“Ivy, dear…” Sofia purrs as she reaches the gate, ignoring Riccardo altogether. “And what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” Dropping her hand from her neckline, she places her hands on her hips with one side of her mouth curling upwards.

“I’ve come here to speak with Don Valentino regarding Savannah,” I begin. “Now that Rose has passed, Savannah is going to need all the family she has now, more than ever. It takes a whole village to raise a child and all that.” I add.

Her eyes narrow into thin slits, “would you like to come in and see Savannah? I’m sure she would love to see you in return.”

A wave of goosebumps rides every inch of my body, “seriously?” I reply, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

Maybe I judged her too soon.

“Of course, amore. I’m not a monster, and I think it is very courageous of you to show up like this, unannounced and ready to face the devil himself.” Sofia coaxes.

“I don’t think Don Valentino will share the same sentiments, Mrs. DeLuca,” Riccardo interjects with a serious look on his face.

Sofia abruptly turns to the side to face Riccardo head-on, “you don’t need to worry about Don Valentino, I will handle him when the time arouses. Now, open this gate and allow our guest access to the villa.” She demands in an authoritative voice that makes me giggle on the inside.

Take that, Riccardo you Dip Shit! 

“Si, Mrs. DeLuca,” Riccardo responds, unlocking the gate at the same time, and he pulls one side wide open.

“Come on then, amore,” Sofia hums gently as she turns on her heel and makes her way toward the villa.

As I approach the villa, following Sofia, my eyes fixate on the extravagant plants that surround the perimeter. Towering trees, miniature gardens, and menacing gargoyle statues stand guard on either side of the entrance, beckoning me to enter the lair of the rich and powerful.

Glancing behind me, I catch sight of Riccardo tailing me with his index finger poised on the trigger of his piece yet again. A sense of unease creeps up on me, causing me to quickly return my gaze ahead of me to conceal the fiery emotions that are brewing within me.

Sofia's unexpected display of courtesy has caught me off guard. She has granted me access to enter the villa without any fuss to see Savannah.

She leads me through the lobby of the villa and straight to the other end of the estate, through another door that takes us back outside. 

“All right now, come along, little Savannah is just around the corner,” Sofia says as she continues to briskly walk through the yard.

I quicken my pace to catch up with her. After all, the last thing I need is for Don Valentino to catch me in his backyard, alone.

“Oh, Savannah honey, can you come here per favore?” Sofia calls out in a singsong voice as she stops walking.

I, too, come to a standstill as I step beside her and allow my gaze to fall on Savannah, who is sitting on a blanket, playing with her dolls. 

As she sets her dolls on the blanket, she gracefully rises to her feet, making sure the skirt of her dress remains below her kneecaps at all times.

“Buongiorno zia Sofia,” Savannah says in Italian with a soft voice as she stands in front of us with her head dipped, and her hands clasped in front of her.

“Good morning to you too, tesoro,” Sofia replies as she places her index finger under Savannahs’ chin and tilts her head upward to meet her gaze. “There is someone here that wants to see you,” Sofia drops her hand and lets it fall to her side as she uses her other hand to motion towards me.

Ever so slowly, and I swear it feels like time is slowing down, Savannah turns her head and the second our gazes collide, her eyes grow wide. 

“Mamma?” She says in a trembling voice, battling not to leap forward and wrap her small arms around my waist.

Lowering myself onto one knee, I wipe the tears that are now falling down my face and I shake my head, “no, cupcake,” my voice trembles, “I’m your Aunt Ivy, your mamma’s sister.” 

I hold my arms out for her to run into them, but a dark shadow suddenly casts over us, causing Savannah to inhale sharply and step back from Sofia.

“What is the meaning of this, Sofia?” Don Valentino snarls in a deep voice that sends a current of arousal surging through me. “Why is Roses’ sister here, on my property, without my approval?” He continues in a thick Italian accent.

He sounds pissed.

Like really pissed that if Sofia were to breathe wrongly, he would have her head on a stake.

“Ivy is Savannahs’ famiglia, Don Valentino, and you of all people know how important it is to have famiglia close by,” Sofia replies in a stern voice that fails to hide the slight tremor riding her words.

“I don’t need you to tell me what is significant and what’s not. You forget that you are a guest living under my roof, which means you must abide by my rules.” Don Valentino snaps, not having a bar of Sofias’ excuses for defying his demands.

“Perdonami, I will learn my place,” Sofia says in a hushed voice as she holds her hand out for Savannah to take, and when Savannah places her hand in Sofias’, Sofia leads her away.

"So much of you handling him, Sofia," I mutter as she saunters away, leaving me to face Don Valentino all on my own.