The Dinner I

It took Luca longer than he'd like to admit for the meaning of those words to register in his brain.

I want you to meet my future wife.

Oh, h*ll no!

He sprung to his feet just as the door to Adonis's fancy study slammed shut, in pursuit of the man himself. 

"Tell me you're joking." 

Adonis paused in his steps, fixed him with a cool, then shrugged as if to say, 'If that's what you want.'

"I'm joking."

"Thank God." Luca breathed. "And for one second I thought you were actually serious about finding a wife." 

Adonis stopped once again. This time, he had reached the top of the grand staircase that led to the living room. He turned to Luca.

"I wasn't joking about you meeting my wife—well, fiancè for now." 

"You just said you were joking." 

"Because you asked me to." He retorted and resumed his journey down the stairs. 

Knowing Luca, it'd take another minute or two for him to fully grasp the situation, but that was just how he was. Whenever he was smart, he was smart to the core, and whenever he was stupid, well...

"Mario," Adonis boomed as soon as he stepped into the room, and a ginger-haired boy who looked to be no more than twenty-two strolled in with a lazy grin.

"Yes, boss." 

"Go pick the girl. You know where she lives, right? If you don't, you can just call Freddy; he's been watching her since she left the hotel this morning."

He instructed. 

Mario and Freddy were brothers—twin brothers to be exact—and they were one of the few Adonis could trust after Luca. They were just fourteen when Adonis found them locked in a cell during one of the raids he had conducted in Italy. He had personally taken them under his wing; it was not like he had a choice. They couldn't remember much about where they were from. The only information they had on the boys was that they were brought in at ten years old for sexual trade.

For four years they were rented to people in high places who had a fetish for little boys but didn't want their secret to be known.

Bastards! Adonis had thought. For someone who rarely showed emotions, the absence of life present at the joint when the raid ended, spoke volumes of the rage he felt.

Everyone in the mafia knew not to be involved with human trafficking; it was one of the worst things for even them. 

Freddy and Mario had to go through a lot to be where they are now. Being the youngest ones in the family, everyone had come to accept them despite their inability to be serious about anything.

Based on everything they had been through, it was a miracle that they even smiled. 

Mario mocked salute and turned to leave the room when Adonis spoke again.

"She'll be a little sensitive. Tell Freddy I said I want you two on your best behaviour." 

"Yes, boss," he called out as he exited the room. 

Adonis looked back at Luca, who was still standing at the top of the stairs, gaping at him with his mouth wide open.

"You're not coming down? She'll be here soon." 

Absentmindedly, Luca took one step after the other until he reached the foot of the staircase, stopping right in front of Adonis.

He opened his mouth to speak.

Then closed it.

He opened it again.

Then closed it.

Taking a deep breath, he squinted his eyes at Adonis and raised his hand to point an admonishing finger at him.

"I've been trying to wrap my head around what you said, but I just can't. Everything about that sentence was wrong." 

Adonis folded his arms across his chest in contemplation.

"Is it that hard to believe?"

"Uh, yes!"

"Then I guess Nonno would not believe me either when I tell him I fell in love and would like to get married in a week." 

"You'll be better off at convincing him that you have an illegitimate child instead." Luca mused.

"What is that supposed to mean—

"No. You tell me what you're on about Adonis. What the h*ll have you done? Just two days ago, you were pleading with your nonno to get rid of the clause, and now you're saying you've found a wife? You were not even in a relationship." 

Adonis grunted.

"I am not in the habit of pleading." 

"Well, I believe that's the term you use when a person makes an emotional appeal." 

Luca snorted at the image of Adonis's six-foot-three massive stature, following his grandfather around with clasped hands and a plea still fresh in his mind.

"I simply was asking him to consider the gravity of the clause, but that is beside the point." 

"Moreover, I've known you for years, and you have always detested the idea of being committed. H*ll, you never sleep with the same woman twice." 

Adonis nodded in agreement, staring at his hands.

"There's no other way I can convince you then?"

"No. You don't sound the littlest bit convincing."

"Good. If you don't believe that, that means Nonno wouldn't. I'll have to do a lot of convincing then." 

Luca wore an offended look.

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

"I was trying ways to break the news. It's like you said, I don't know her, and we met for the first time yesterday, but you were wrong about one thing—I slept with her more than once." 

The sound of screeching tyres subtly filled their ears, and they both gazed out the window.

She had arrived.

Luca abruptly remembered.

"Wait, you didn't exactly tell me how you handled the aphrodisiac situation. You couldn't have taken care of it yourself...

He trailed off in silence at the warning look Adonis threw at him.

"What? I've heard stories." 

Adonis rolled his eyes in reply.

"She's the one."

"She's the— holy sh*t Adonis!"

Just then, the door to the living room was thrown open, and Cara walked in. A grim look on her face, with Freddy and Mario right behind her. 

She unconsciously glanced around and a small smile replaced the grim look on her face, appreciation flashing in her eyes right before she spotted Adonis and Luca standing just by the staircase.

The smile was replaced with a more grim look, and she inhaled deeply before walking up to him.

"I thought we were to meet at a restaurant, Mr. Bernardi." 

Luca's mouth fell open for the second time, his eyes screamed at Adonis for answers.

Mr what?

Adonis ignored him and brought his attention back to Cara. He gave her a once-over. Those were definitely not the first words he expected to hear.

Cocking his head to the side, he studied her for a minute, taking his time before he responded.

"Welcome Bellissima." 

Luca felt his eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

"Bellissiwhat?"

****

Italian Vocabulary 

Bellissima means gorgeous.

Nonno means grandfather.