Chapter One

Disclaimer

This book is a modern version of the Classic Romeo and Juliet love story and it is therefore set for the most part in Sicily and Italy. The two families involved are Mafia families so some of the script is written in Italian with the English translation in brackets.  It does not distract from the story, if you cannot read Italian, read the English! Enjoy!!

'Alessandro, fermati, per favore devo riposare.'  [Alessandro, stop, please I must rest.]

The young woman fell to her knees clutching her swollen stomach her face grey as another pain racked her small, slender body,

‘Un po' più avanti Gabriella, vieni per favore solo un po' più in là, dobbiamo andare un po' più in là c'è un posto…’ [A little further Gabriella, come please just a little further, we must go a little further there is a place …]

The young man’s handsome face was creased with worry and fear as he tried to get his pretty wife to stand and move on, he could hear their enemies already getting far to close but the young woman was going nowhere. The baby she carried inside her womb was pushing it’s way into the world impatient to be born and it’s mother knew there would be no more running for her,

‘"No Alessandro, no, per favore, non più, ho bisogno di quel poco di energia che mi è rimasta per lui, mi dispiace tanto amore mio ma non è così, lui sceglie di nascere proprio qui.’  [No Alessandro, no, please, no more, I need what little energy I have left for him, I’m so sorry my love but it is not to be, he chooses to be born right here.]

Her legs gave way again and she leaned back against him they both knew there was nothing that they could do nature was going to take its course and they were helpless to stop it. Swinging her into his arms he managed to carry her into the ruines of a derelict farmhouse that would give her a little shelter and privacy. He was in awe of his brave young wife as she laboured in complete silence so they would not be detected and an hour later Gabriella pushed their son quietly into this murderously dangerous world. Alessandro cleaned them both up as best as he could using the scrapes of toweliing they had brought with them for this purpose, he wrapped the newborn in a soft clean blanket cutting off the his first startled cries by latching him instantly onto his Mothers breast. He handed Gabriella the bottle of water he had carried and sadly stroked a finger down her cheek before kissing his sons downy head it tore his heaty out that there was nothing more he could do to protect them. If he stayed to try and fight they would kill him without any mercy the young couple had discussed the possiblity endlessly  

Non dimenticare mai che ti amo mia Gabriella‘ [Never forget that I love you my Gabriella.]

He whispered as he handed her a small bag with their documents and then he kissed her lips brushing away her tears and placing his finger on them silencing her unsaid protests,

‘Vi amo sempre e per sempre, tutti e due, che Dio vi protegga Gabriella e il mio piccolo Romero’ [I love you always and forever,  both of you, may God protect you Gabriella and my little Romero.]

He blessed them both with the sign of the cross and then disappeared out of the farmhouse they were hiding in fighting back her tears Gabriella drank a little of the water and rested. A couple of hours later she rummaged in the large bag she had been carrying on their headlong flight and ate a little of the bread and cheese. She was so hungry but knew she had to ration what she had so after just a couple of bites she wrapped it back up and fed their son Romero Lucian. He had no such worries latching on to her breast and sucking greedily making her smile,                                                                                                              'Mio dolce ragazzo, se solo tutta la tua vita fosse semplice come queste poche ore che condividiamo.’ [My sweet boy if only all of your life would be as simple as these few hours we share]                                     She whispered against his soft cheek as she kissed him tenderly then strapped him to her body and walked to the edge of the ruins to look around, Seeing it was safe for her to move on she slipped out of the farm house at the opposite end to the one Alessandro had departed through. They had made their plan for this kind of scenrio and she knew what she had to do, she would not fail her husband so with a heavy heart she walked for hours until she came into the small village  Alessandro had told her about this place he had remember it sio vividly from his chiildhood and it was easy to follow his directions rge little village had hardly changed in fifteen years and she made her way to the tiny picturesque cottage on the outskirts.  The elderly woman dressed all in black said nothing as the young Mother crept from the shadowof the trees at the back of her cottage and laid the newborn baby in the delicate crib. Fighting her tears determined to be strong for Alessandro she bent her head and kissed Romero’s soft cheek,

‘Dio ti protegga mio Figlio’ [God protect you my Son]

Taking a deep breath she turned on her heel and looked into the gentle eyes of the old lady,

‘Grazie, nonna, che Dio ti benedica per questo atto altruistico. Per favore, abbi cura di nostro Figlio, Alessandro ti manda il suo amore, non ti ha mai dimenticato.’ [Thank you, Grandmother, may God Bless you for this selfless act. Please take care of our Son, Alessandro sends his love, he has never forgotten you.]                                                                                                                                                                 

She whispered tears stinging her eyes as she gazed at her son one last time imprinting him on her broken heart then left the cottage as silently as she had come in  walking painfully forward without ever looking back,

‘Dio sia con voi, figli miei’ [God be with you my children]

The elderly woman made the sign of the cross at the retreating womans back seeing the pain in her bowed shoulders as she went to find the man she loved,

‘Vi terrò nelle mie preghiere’ [I will keep you in my prayers]