Chapter Nine

Their families soon caught up with them and they did not try to run, there was no point they were surrounded so they held each other tightly and spoke of their love looking into each other's eyes. They knew what was coming and Alessandro had waited until he heard the safety catches being clicked off the guns and then he had kissed passionately. He knew she would close her eyes as she gave herself up to his kiss and he did the same clutching her against him as the guns were fired and their young lives extinguished.

For once Ricardo controlled his rage at the young man from his hated rival's family and he had let them be buried together wrapped in each other's arms, in death as in life. He believed the lies they told that the baby was stillborn and as he had done what he set out to do, destroy his enemies even though it had cost him his daughter he had forbidden her name to ever be mentioned again. That was until Nonna had made her fateful call and discovering his Grandson was alive and well in her care had sent him into a murderous rage until she told him to shut up and listen to her. No one else could have spoken to him like that but he actually did what he was told and a slow smile spread across his face. It seemed that fate had a final twist in the tragic love story that had been his daughter's life. She had tried to keep the boy from him but karma was a hard mistress and he was finally going to get his hands on her precious son.

‘Ecco, ti ho detto di sederti fuori dall'ufficio e aspettare fino a quando non ti ho detto diversamente.] [There you are I told you to sit outside the office and wait until I told you otherwise.]

Romero jumped off the stool and stood behind the Chef his beautiful eyes wide with fear,

‘Smettila di spaventare il bambino Toni, aveva fame non ha fatto nulla di male' [Stop scaring the child Toni, he was hungry he has done nothing wrong]

The Chef admonished the Guard and gently he untangled the boy from his whites and smiled at him,

‘Non aver paura Romero, Toni è un grande orsacchiotto, non ti farà del male.’ [Don't be afraid Romero, Toni is a big teddy bear, he won't hurt you.]

He pushed him forward and the child looked up at the huge muscled Guard who was taken in again by his sheer physical beauty not wanting him to be scared again he smiled and reached out to ruffle his chestnut curls,

‘Dai ragazzo, non ti farò del male, ma faremmo meglio a riportarti dai tuoi zii. [Come on kid I won't hurt you but we had better get you back to your Uncles]

Taking his hand firmly the Guard led him back to the office and this time he took him inside,

‘Santa Maria, Madre di Dio, è l'immagine di quel fottuto ragazzo’ [Holy Mary, Mother of God, he's the image of that fucking boy.]

Alessandro turned his stunning blue eyes onto the older man sitting in the chair, he appeared huge to his young eyes but he was also very old,

‘Ah ora vedo che aveva gli occhi di Gabriella. Beh, la nonna aveva ragione come sempre non si può negare chi siano i suoi genitori.’ [Ah, now I see he has Gabriella's eyes. Well, Nonna was right as always there is no denying who his parents are]

Romero felt like he was under a microscope the way the three men scrutinised him and some instinct told him he did not need to be afraid of them so he tugged his hand free and walked forward.

‘Tu sei mio nonno’ [You are my Grandfather]

He declared looking up into the blue eyes so like his own but faded with age impressing the elderly Grand Don with his spirit,

‘Lo sai di sicuro ragazzo?’[You know that for sure do you boy?]

Romero stood in front of him his brilliant blue eyes ablaze,

‘Sì, perché ho i tuoi occhi' [Yes because I have your eyes]

Ricardo frowned at the boy's impudence and then he chuckled the sound bubbling up from his chest,

‘Mi piaci ragazzo. Sei sicuramente mio nipote.’ [I like you, boy. You are definitely my Grandson.]

He stood and ruffled Romero’s hair like the Guard had done then turned to his Sons,

‘Inizia ad addestrarlo oggi. Tra un anno si unirà a me. Assicurati che sia pronto.Ho bisogno di lui obbediente con quegli sguardi da bel ragazzo, sarà una risorsa. Conosco quelli che pagheranno bene per un tale angelo’ [Begin training him today. In one year he will join me. Make sure he is ready. I need him obedient with those pretty boy looks he will be an asset. I know those who will pay well for such an angel. ]

‘Sì papà’ [Yes Papa]

They responded as the old man left the office and when he closed the door, Rico sat in his chair,

‘Sai parlare inglese Brat?’ [Can you speak English Brat?]

He asked Romero who frowned but nodded, Nonna had insisted he learned English and he spoke it fluently but wisely he said,

‘Un piccolo zio.’ [A little Uncle]

Rico reacted as if he had been slapped,

‘Non chiamarmi mai così, chiamami Rico e lui Miguel, il tempo dirà se riuscirai a guadagnarti il diritto di chiamarci i tuoi zii. Il tuo sangue è così contaminato che sarà un duro lavoro.’ [Do not ever call me that boy, you call me Rico and him you call Miguel, time will tell if you can earn the right to call us your Uncles. Your blood is so tainted it will be hard work.]

Alessandro frowned he did not understand the insult but it hurt nonetheless, he had hoped his Uncles would be friendly and care for him like his Nonna had. He was very wrong, they never physically hurt him, they did not have to, their disdain was painfully obvious and nothing he did was ever good enough for them. They had started his training immediately, he was taken to a gym and put through his paces he was only ten but they made sure his schedule was punishing. Cardio for an hour to build his stamina, then another hour on weights and stretches to build his strength, and finally an hour in the pool for all-round fitness.