Chapter 17
Davide
Two months have passed since Okoye has gotten away. Angelo has turned over every stone trying to find him and Isaac, but it’s like they’ve disappeared from the face of the earth, which I knew was impossible. They were still out there, and I was waiting for them to resurface.
I got my guns back that night. The shit in the other crates I let Snaps and his men take.
They got my crates loaded in cargo trucks and took them to the shipyard, where they were sent back to Cefalù.
Once all of that was taken care of, we left the warehouse and headed back to the condo to pick up our bags then go to the jet.
As much as I loved Miami, I needed to get back to my homeland.
I didn’t trust that Okoye still might be lurking around waiting to ambush us.
India slept most of the flight. I tried to comfort her as much as I could because I know she was hurting. That only added to my determination to find Okoye and making him die a painful death.
It took some time, but since we’ve been back, India was returning to her old sassy self.
She asked to call her mother, Adaego, one day to check on her.
I gave her the burner phone to use because I didn’t know if Okoye had her phone tapped.
They both cried when they heard the other's voice. Surprisingly, her mother told her she was proud of her for standing up to her father. She went on to say she had tried to do so in the past, but behind closed doors, her father would hit her for stepping out of place. That was why she was the one to convince Okoye to send India to the private school and college far away. Adaego didn’t want her to be subjected to what she went through.
She wanted India to become her own woman, who could stand up for herself.
She also added that she was against the arranged marriage and revealed that her and Okoye’s was arranged too.
India asked if she had spoken to or seen him or Isaac.
Adaego relayed to her that the last time she had heard from her father was the night after the shit went down at the warehouse.
He told her things went bad, and he and Isaac were going to lay low for a while.
She hasn’t spoken to him since. India offered for her come stay with us, but Adaego declined, stating she needed to stay there to see after her people since Okoye has disappeared.
India said she understood and would call later to check up on her.
Then came the point in the call where she told Adaego about me.
Adaego was happy for her daughter. She asked to speak to me.
India grinned when she handed the phone over to me.
“Hello, Mrs. Okoye”
“Hello, Davide. I want to first tell you thank you for keeping India safe. She’s special and didn’t deserve the life her father was trying to throw her in.”
“There’s no need to thank me, Mrs. Okoye. I would do everything in my power to keep my angel safe.” I honestly tell her.
“From what India told me, I know you would. Take care of her, Davide. Don’t let her father get his hands on her. Promise me that you will always love and protect her.”
“I promise, Mrs. Okoye.”
“Good, now let me speak back with India. I know I’ll be talking to you soon.” She finishes.
I hand the phone back to India and leave the office to give her some privacy to continue talking with her mother.
India seemed happier after the call with her mother.
She was more at peace, and I was thankful to her mother for that.
We spent the first week locked in the house away from all the bull shit outside it.
It ended when I reminded her, she was still owed a tour of the city.
We got out of bed and took a shower that led to her screaming my name as I fucked her up against the shower tiles.
Finally, cleaned and dressed, we jumped in my convertible Lamborghini.
I drove the long way to the city so she could see the beautiful countryside of Cefalù.
When we arrived in the city, I parked in front of Little Heaven, the café we Dons held our meetings in.
No one would dare fuck with my shit parked here.
I got out, then went around to India’s side and opened her door for her.
She stepped out, looking beautiful in her peach-colored sundress and tan espadrilles.
Once again, she had her hair pulled up into a curly ponytail showing off my angel wings.
We must’ve stopped at every vendor to see what they were selling.
My hands were full of bags with trinkets, clothes, perfumes, and other items India wanted or thought I would need too.
As we were walking, we came along one of the best jewelry shops in the city.
I nudged India to go inside. We looked at the many pieces they had on display.
I saw the piece I was interested in as India was browsing the cases when the salesman came over to me.
“Can I help you, sir?”
Sitting the bags at my feet, I motion for him to follow me to the case on my right.
I point to the piece of jewelry on display, bringing my finger to my lips so he wouldn’t say shit.
He smiles as he goes behind the case and removes it, then hands it to me.
I take it and examine it’s craftmanship.
It was perfect. I give the salesman a thumbs-up before going to stand behind India.
I lean in, pressing my chest against her back.
“Do you see anything you like?”
“They’re all beautiful.” She replies, looking down in the case.
I bring my arm around her with the piece of jewelry in my hand.
“What about this?” She gasps, staring at the five-carat diamond ring.
“Do you think this is beautiful enough for my wife to wear?” She nods her head up and down.
“Would you make it even more beautiful by wearing it and becoming my wife, angel?”
India turns in my arms with tears falling from her eyes. She places a soft kiss on my lips. “Is that a yes, angel?”
“Yes, Davide, yes!” She answers with excitement.
I place the ring on her left ring finger before laying a passionate kiss on her. When I pull back, I had to smile at my beautiful angel, who was now my fiancée.
“Oh, my God! We’re engaged, Davide!” India squeals, holding the ring out in front of her. It would need to be sized, but it looked perfect on her hand.
“Yes, angel, we are. That first day when I brought you to the estate, I knew then I wasn’t going to let you go. You were going to be my wife, not some two-bit hustler’s. I love you, my angel.”
“I love you too, my Don.” She whispers with her palm on my cheek. I capture her lips again, letting every ounce of my love flow through that kiss.
“Ahem,” Coming from the salesman behind us. “Excuse me, sir, but we have a goldsmith on staff here at the shop who could have that sized for you in about an hour if you want to wait.”
“Yes, that would be fine. Can we leave our bags here while we continue to shop?” I ask.
“Of course, I’ll put them behind the display case until you return. Take your time, the ring will be ready when you return.” He turns to India. “Now, let’s get you fitted for the right size.”
India takes the ring off then follows him to the case at the front of the store where he sizes her finger. When he’s finished, the salesman tells us that he’ll take it straight back to the goldsmith, and he’d would see us soon.
We left out the shop on cloud nine. We hit up a few more vendors until we ran into Luca, his wife Melinda, Matteo, and his wife, Bridgette. They must have decided to come out and enjoy the beautiful day we were having.
“Davide, good to see you,” Luca greets, holding out his hand.
I shake it. “You too, Luca. Hello, Melinda.”
“Hello, Davide,” she returns.
“Matteo, Bridgette, good to see you two as well,” I state.
“You too, man. Where have you been? We haven’t seen or heard from you in a while?” Matteo asks, shaking my hand.
I glance at India, who smiles. A huge grin spreads across my face before I turn back to them. “Well, I’ve been kind of busy. Guys, let me introduce you to my fiancée, India Okoye.” India and I both laugh when their eyes dash back and forth from us.
“Wait a minute! You mean to tell me you found someone to marry your arrogant ass?” Luca teases. “India, you have my deepest sympathy, but welcome to the fold.” He tells her as he pulls her into a hug.
Matteo hugs her next. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” India says to both of them.
“Yes, now we have another woman to add to our sister circle.” Melinda gushes before she and Bridgette hug her too.
“Oh, we definitely have to get together to help plan your wedding,” Bridgette adds.
“Thank you, ladies I would appreciate that,” India tells them.
“This calls for a celebration! I say we meet at Calabresi’s tonight to commemorate this joyous occasion!” Luca cheers.
“Absolutely! We won’t take no for an answer either!” Matteo adds.
“Well, then I guess we’ll see you guys tonight then,” I confirm.
We talked for a little bit more with India exchanging numbers with Melinda and Bridgette. I got her a new untraceable phone after she spoke to her mother. I wanted her to be able to call her mother whenever she wanted too.
After we agreed to meet at Calabresi’s at seven o’clock tonight.
India and I continued shopping with the local vendors and picking up more items. When I looked at my watch, an hour and a half had passed since we left the jewelry shop.
We began to make our way back. India insisted we stop at the vendor who was selling Caprese salads.
She wanted to see if their salad was as good as the one chef made for her at the estate.
We watched as the vendor prepared the salad.
India asked that he add extra dressing. When the vendor was done, he put the salad in a Styrofoam container and gave her extra dressing on the side.