17. Elena
Chapter seventeen
Elena
The smell of guanciale sizzling in a pan wafts through my nose, pulling me from sleep. It brings back old memories; Mother in the kitchen with a small apron around her waist while Bella and I ran around, shrieking excitedly.
That was a long time ago, but I half expect to see Mother smiling down at me when I open my eyes.
Instead, I’m staring at intricate frescoes painted on the ceiling above. My brow furrows. I turn my gaze to where Puddles should be fast asleep on the floor, but instead, he’s snuggled up in bed beside me. Then it clicks in my head. I’m still in Adriano Bellandini’s house.
My phone vibrates right at that moment. It’s an email from an unfamiliar address, and I almost ignore it, thinking it’s another death threat, but then my eyes catch something exciting.
It’s the email’s subject line: Partnership Proposal: Elané x Bourne Retail. My finger taps on it, and as my eyes scan through, excitement bubbles in my chest.
Yes!
I’d reached out to a number of large-scale retailers across Manhattan, proposing a profitable partnership deal, and the top person on my list, Isaac Bourne, just responded positively.
The email ends with a request for a meeting to sign the necessary MOUs.
How the hell do I get out of this fucking fortress now?
When Adriano left the house yesterday, I took the liberty of walking around, and I would have gotten completely lost if it weren't for Kristina, the house chef.
An idea pops into my mind. I could sneak out now that Adriano has probably left and Kristina is preparing her spaghetti carbonara in the kitchen.
Scrambling to my feet, I grab a drowsy Puddles and the leather duffel bag containing my clothes, which Adriano had brought with us.
Besides this deal, Enzo could wake up and demand to see me any day now. And if he finds out I’ve not been home… I shake my head. That’s not happening.
I turn the lock open and head out, only to run into Adriano pacing the hallway. He turns those piercing eyes toward me when he hears the door open.
He stands still for the longest moment, his eyes running over me in silent question. I swallow dryly.
“Thank you for accommodating me, but I need to get going.”
“Get back inside,” he snaps.
My brain is working faster than usual now, thinking of an excuse I can give. I need to leave this house as fast as possible.
“I need to see Enzo.”
He darts an indifferent look at me. “Enzo’s in one of the best hospitals in Manhattan. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Um...I-I have to attend meetings. I’m the face of my brand, you know. I can't just fail to show up.”
His eyes run over me again, stopping momentarily at the duffel bag in my hand. Sweat instantly forms on my palms.
“Lose the bag and head down for breakfast.” Then he turns around and walks away.
Groaning, I drop the duffel bag beside me and sink to the ground. “It’s always one prison or the other for us, isn’t it?” I whisper to Puddles, who whines in response.
Right now, I have no other choice but to play it cool with Adriano until I can find a way out of here, since I know he won’t let me leave on my own.
Rolling the bag back into the room, I fix my hair into a messy bun and head downstairs. The entire house is filled with the aroma of eggs, parmesan, and black pepper. My stomach rumbles as I arrive at the dining table, seeing the creamy, eggy sauce coating the spaghetti.
Kristina bows slightly when she sees me. I met her yesterday when I came down for breakfast, and she wasn’t as terrible as I thought.
Though she was cautious, she told me briefly how she’s been with the Bellandini family for forty years, first working for Adriano’s father and now for his son.
“Would you like a cup of coffee, ma’am?” she asks as she heads over to the coffee pot to pour me a cup, splashing a generous amount of milk into it, just like she saw me do yesterday.
“Thank you very much.” The warmth of the cup seeps through my hands as I guide Puddles to the table. Adriano’s seated at the head of the table, newspaper in one hand and a pasta-filled fork in the other.
“What’s the event?” Adriano’s voice rings out, breaking the silence between us.
Kristina brings a tray of food, setting down my plate before me and a bowl of dog food before Puddles. I smile gratefully at her.
“Isaac Bourne, a major skincare retailer, has agreed to partner with me as his main product supplier. I need to meet with him to sign some contracts.”
He nods, shoving a forkful into his mouth. I expect him to say something else, but he’s completely silent until he has wolfed down his plate of pasta and the glass of freshly squeezed pineapple juice on the side.
“I’ll drive you,” is all he says as he rises to his feet and heads back up the stairs.
I sigh wearily, holding my head in my hands as he walks out.
I wish I could meet a genie who’d make every single thing return to how it was.
I should never have moved to Manhattan, and I shouldn’t have been involved with Adriano Bellandini.
And I sure as hell shouldn’t go to bed and wake up scared for my life.
“Are you alright?” Kristina’s eyes twinkle gently as she takes the seat Adriano just left.
“Yes, thank you.” A tear threatens to spill from the corner of my eye, but I grit my teeth, holding it in.
“Adriano may not be the best of men, but he is a good man.”
“No killer is a good man,” I scoff gently at her.
A sad smile appears on her lips. “He does what he has to do to survive. If he doesn’t kill, he’ll be killed. It’s the sad reality of this dark world he was born into.” She reaches a hand over mine. “Neither of you chose this life, but now that you have it, live it the best way you can.”
With that, she rises to her feet, excusing herself back to the kitchen.
So what if he didn’t choose this life? He chose all of the other decisions he made as soon as he became an adult. Nothing can ever make me reconsider the loathsome feeling I’ve developed toward him over the last couple of days.
I stand up and head over to the bedroom to take a shower.
It’s almost noon when I’m done dressing in a pair of tailored black pants, a silk blouse, and statement jewelry.
As soon as I walk down the stairs, I see him in that charcoal black suit, his eyes framed with dark sunglasses. An involuntary flutter sparks in my stomach…
He looks like a dark storm sent to invade the earth…no, sent to invade my heart, specifically.
But you just said you hate him. My subconscious screams at me.
I clear my throat a little too loudly in embarrassment. I’m obviously physically attracted to him, but that’s all it is. A sexual pull.
My heart can never belong to a man who’d look me in the eye and take away the closest thing to a father I ever had.
I’d have made an effort to get out of this hellhole myself and run as far away from this man as possible, but I can’t do that right now.
Some wacko out there is trying desperately to snuff out my life, my family has been destroyed, and the only other person who would’ve protected me with his life is still in critical condition.
The option of my sister is a no-go; so, as irresponsible as it sounds, Adriano’s the only one I can rely on to keep me safe right now.
I don’t say a single word to him as he pulls the front seat door open for me. Kristina had assured me that I could keep Puddles with her in the house, which was a huge relief, as I didn’t plan on bringing him along.
He slides into the driver’s seat, starting up the ignition. “Where to?”
“Central City Avenue.”
As the car rolls out of the garage, a flood of questions swirls in my head. How does he feel after all this? Fulfilled? Regretful? Why exactly is he protecting me now? Does he care—
No. I quickly shake my head. A monster like him wouldn’t feel a thing… and protect me after? That’s probably just to appease his foolish ego.
My heart aches at the thought, so I make a resolution. I’ll let him protect me until Enzo’s back on his feet and can reassemble the mafia.
I don’t know how long that will take, but as long as I can stay alive during that time, I’ll do whatever is required of me. Besides, I can’t risk dying yet. I have something very important I must accomplish…
Taking revenge on Adriano Bellandini for everything he’s done to me and my loved ones.