Chapter 3 #2
Axl steps closer to her and takes her hand before bending down to kiss the back of her hand.
“e` molto bello conoscerti, Luna (It’s very nice to meet you, Luna).
” Axl greets in a low voice with a smile.
I stare at him with a look of surprise as he turns to me and winks.
I grin, it seems my son has failed to tell me he knew how to speak Italian.
“Anche tu, giovane Romano (You as well, young Romano)” Luna says with her own smile.
I pat Giamo on the shoulder. “Vieni vecchio amico, lascia che ti presenti al resto della mia famiglia Come old friend, let me introduce the both of you to the rest of my family).”
Everyone was pleased to meet Giamo and Luna as I knew they would. Those two were beautiful inside and out. Luna gushed over Felix and Adam also and she and Giamo were stunned when I told them they too were my sons. I knew I would have to sit my dear friends down and explain our situation.
Once the drivers unloaded the luggage, Luna a few of the workers take them inside as I gave everyone a tour of the grounds.
The house sat high up on a cliff that overlooked all of Cafelù.
The magnificent view was one of the true selling points for me.
In the backyard, there was a large in ground pool and hot tub with several gazeboes surrounding them.
There was a pool house that could be used as a guest house as well.
A tennis court sat off to the left of the yard.
Giamo always made sure the front and backyards were alive with beautiful colored flowers and manicured hedges.
A huge fire pit sat to the right side of the house with lawn chairs and couches placed in a circle around it.
Adam about had a fit when I brought them to my twenty-car garage that housed my vast vintage automobile collection.
He was like a kid in a candy store who wanted to touch everything.
I calmed him down by telling him you could drive anyone of them while we were here.
After viewing the cars, Imani had to practically drag Adam away so we could go inside the house for them to pick their rooms. The children wanted to stay outside and play so Maxillo decided to stay with them and choose his room later.
I told him I would make sure he had a room close to the children, since as Axl has put it he has made himself their bodyguard.
I couldn’t complain because I knew nothing would happen to them if he was near.
After everyone was accommodated, we met in the grand parlor.
“Oh my God, Andres this house is amazing!” Monica shrieks as she and Axl enter the room.
“Thank you, daughter and someday it will be yours and Axl’s as well.” I tell her as I kiss her cheek.
“Wha...what?” She stammers.
I chuckle. “If something were to ever happen to me, everything I have will go to Axl. It will be up to him to decide how my assets will be divided among my other children, including Felix and Adam.”
“Are you freaking serious?!” A shocked Felix roars.
“Yes, Felix, I’m freaking serious.” I reply as Luna and Giamo walk in the room.
“Sig. Romano, il prazo sara` servitor a breve (Mr. Romano, lunch will be served soon).” Luna says smiling.
“Grazie, Luna (Thank you, Luna).” I respond turning to the others. “Luna said lunch will be served soon.
“Oh, I got to see what she does in that beautiful kitchen.” Estelle says racing to catch up with Luna.
“Me too!” Felix adds running after her.
We laugh at his excitement. Even though there was a language barrier, I know their love of cooking will bring those three together.
As the others stood around talking about the décor of the house, I pulled Axl to the side. “Come with me to my office.” He nods then whispers something into Monica’s ear before he follows me down the long hallway to my office.
When I opened the door to my office Axl stepped in looking around in amazement. “This looks just like my office.” He whispers.
“Like I’ve always told you, Axl...like father, like son.” I state as he takes in the black marble furniture with the seats and décor. “Have a seat, Axl.”
He sits in the chair that is directly in front of my desk. I sit in the chair behind my desk.
“ Perche` non mi hai detto che potevi parlare italiano (Why didn’t you tell me you could speak Italian)? Come hai imparto (How did you learn)?
Axl lowers he head. “Mia madre mi ha insegnato (My mother taught me). è passato molto tempo da quando l'ho detto. La mamma mi ha insegnato ed è così che abbiamo comunicato fino a quando mio padre... Sergio ci ha fatto smettere (It’s been a long time since I spoke it. Mom taught me and that’s how we communicated until my father... Sergio made us quit).”
Elena...I should have known she would have taught our language to Axl. “Che dire di Felix e Adam, ha insegnato anche loro (What about Felix and Adam, did she teach them too)?
After clearing his throat Axl says in English, “No, they weren’t born yet when Sergio made us stop speaking it.
He thought we were talking behind his back so he forbade us from using the language.
When I decided we would be coming here I downloaded an app to help speak the language and it was like it never left me. ”
“Do the others know you can speak it?” I ask.
“No” He replies shaking his head.
I hum as I nod my head. “We might be able to use this to our advantage.”
“I don’t understand.” Axl states with a puzzled look.
“On our way here, I got a call from Matteo stating the families want to meet with you tomorrow at noon.”
“Okay...” Axl murmurs.
“These men don’t know you can speak Italian; they will only see you as an American who just happens to be Italian.
When I say we can use this to our advantage, you will be able to understand what they are saying without their knowledge.
At some point in the meeting I will leave the room pretending to take a call, at that point if anything negative is being said in Italian, you’ll know who you can and cannot trust.”
“What about my brothers?” Axl questions.
I sigh. “Axl, this is what I was trying to tell you earlier, there will be times when only the head of the family will be called...this is one of them. You can tell Felix and Adam what took place later, but they want to meet you, the head of the Romano family.”
Axl slowly bobs his head up and down. “That’s fine, I’m sure they will understand. What should I expect or do going into this?”
I smirk. “Nothing, Axl. Just be yourself. Do not change who you are to appease these men. You are a true leader and once they see that in you, hopefully there won’t be any issues but never let your guard down just in case.”
“I never let my guard down.” Axl grunts.
“And you never should.” I counter.
“So, will the old man be there?” Axl queries with a raised brow.