A Wolf For The Gangster
Marchetti’s Obsession Chapter 49

Mia

Lennox

My breath hitches at the sight of that painting, my only emotion at the moment is fear as well as anxiety, I don't feel well at all. An urge to vomit comes over me, I feel dizzy from the lack of oxygen that has stopped reaching my head. -Little girl, are you all right? -The mobster tries to approach me, but I automatically recoil, glimpsing pain on his face at my rejection.

-She looks exactly like me," I whisper as best I can, I don't even recognise myself at the moment, is that why he wants me? I ask in my mind.

-That doesn't change how I feel about you," he says, Enzo runs a hand over his face and lets out a growl. Little girl," he cuts the distance between us to hug me, "I love you, they're not the same to me," he whispers.

-How can you say something like that to me? -I question, "Seeing that portrait is like looking in the mirror," he adds softly, making me doubt how he feels about me.

-Please, you must believe me, I love you," he pulls away to cup my face. I love you, Mia," he whispers, I remain silent as I watch his eyes that show how desperate and distraught he is.

-What happened to him? -I question.

-Astrid died in a war with her uncle, she protected my father from her kind and ended up with a stake in her chest," he says, his voice heavy with pain.

-I'm sorry," I don't like to see him like that, Enzo looks vulnerable right now and he doesn't even look like the grumpy mobster I knew.

-Little girl, tell me you believe my words," he asks rubbing my cheek with his thumb.

-I... believe you," he sighs in relief and kisses me.

Enzo doesn't deserve to have any more suffering in his life and all this time he's proved that I don't have to worry about the ghost of his first love.

-Thank you, little one," I hug him tightly, I can't get angry or feel anything but appreciation for Enzo, am I obsessed? I think.

(...)

The next day when I woke up, Enzo was not by my side, it was the first time this had happened, as he always wants to say good morning and stay for several minutes in bed with me, but today I found a note in which he tells me that we will see each other later and to listen to his sisters.

All this is extremely mysterious to me, Liam, on the other hand, is cared for by his grandparents, Donato was absolutely right when he told me that by coming here I would lose my son, but it is something that does not worry me because he is in good hands. The door of the room is knocked, I walk to it and I open it replaceing the triplets and their sister Karla, they don't even ask for permission and they enter the room carrying several bags in their hands.

-Good morning," I say, the women smile.

-Today we've come to help you get ready," I think it's Kusi who's talking, as she's the one with the pink strands in her hair.

-What for? -They look at each other.

-The only thing we can tell you is that you have an appointment with Enzo at 6:30 PM," Karla is the one who gives the information.

-We women are late, it's still early, but we're going to start with massages," I should mention that the Marchetti mansion is equipped with a spa centre and sauna included.

The Marchetti women drag me out of the room to take me to that area of their huge house, there I have breakfast while a woman massages and does my toenails, I have no choice but to let myself be pampered and Ashley misses this moment as he hasn't returned from his romantic date with Kendall.

My best friend must be keeping the young prince very busy, I smile and chat with the Marchetti women trying to get more information out of them that they refuse to give me. I never thought I could last this long in a spa, the worst part is that I got a waxing... well, I was the one who decided to do it, Enzo doesn't even mind that I have a little hair.

The mafioso has never said anything about it, I guess after our date I'll know his reaction to seeing me like that. At the spa the hours pass quickly, my make-up was made simple and the Marchetti women took me to the room to see the dress they have chosen for

me. -It's beautiful.

A wine red strappy dress, the neckline is discreet with a V-cut, it covers up to my knees in the front, while the back is long to touch the floor. The heels are low cream-coloured, I like it, as it's not extravagant and because of the simplicity of the fabric.

-To complete it," Karla hands me a case, I open it and replace a golden necklace with two very small emerald stones in the shape of balls, and she puts it on me.

-You certainly look beautiful," says Kaori and the others nod.

-Thank you girls," they smile.

-Enzo has been waiting for you in the living room for several minutes," says Kazuma. Have fun and give us more beautiful nephews like Liam," I deny at once. -No more babies for now.

-What a bad woman, -I say goodbye to the girls to go downstairs, I walk to the living room and there is my sexy Italian wearing a suit the same colour as my dress, he turns and stands there looking me up and down.

-Little girl, you look beautiful," I tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear, Enzo cuts the distance between us.

-Thank you, you look very handsome anyway," he smiles sideways and hands me his arm to leave the house.

Enzo opens the door of a black Ferrari for me so I can get in and I do, he closes it and turns the car around to get in the driver's side.

"Where are we going? -I ask when he puts the car in gear, he looks at me.

-Taormina," is all he says, I guess I can't get any information out of him, Enzo holds my hand as he drives through the streets of Cefalù. He is not a man for long conversations, I decide to look at him as he drives with his face serious and focused on the road, I can't believe that after a year away today we replace ourselves like this and following a life as if we were the best couple.

Life has not been kind to either of us, least of all Enzo, he has lived fifty years and from a very young age tormented by losing the woman he loved, I guess seeing a girl identical to his former love staining his expensive suit on the streets of Venice was shocking for the mafioso.

In all this time together, Enzo has never made mention of his life as a mafioso, I have no idea what he even does, I sigh, play dumb and avoid going into it.

"Something's bothering you, what is it? -he asks, glancing sideways at me so as not to lose sight of the road.

-It's nothing.

-Mia," he lets out my name as he gives our intertwined hands a gentle squeeze.

-What do you do in your mafia job? -I ask, Enzo looks at me and then at the road, sighs.

-I figured I should answer that question for you someday," he shifts in his seat. My family, since my grandfather's time, has been in charge of evading taxes, making weapons and sending them to countries that can buy them, not everything in the mafia is trafficking women, and although we used to do that, it stopped because my mother forbade my father to do it," he informs.

-Kara surprises me every time," he nods.

-She was brought from the United States to Sicily as a gift for my father," I'm surprised to hear him say that. Their relationship wasn't the best, but they were what each other needed at that time in their lives, they came together and forged a bond. -It's a beautiful romance.

-It was, my father was engaged to Tamara, she was very kind to my mother, as she was actually always in love with Fernando, however, the man she was assigned to marry was the Don of the Marchetti family," she says.

My father got my mother pregnant and didn't want his children to be born out of wedlock, so he broke off the engagement and so Fer and Tamara got married," she concludes.

-Is that all your family does? -I ask.

-Weapons, controlling Sicily, we are governed by five families and the maximum power is held by the Marchetti," he explains.

-And the politicians?

-They get money, nowadays two suitcases full of dollars is better than a bullet in the head," I raise my eyebrows. We do our best for Sicily, the politicians do nothing but steal money from the poor and if you look here everyone works, lives honestly and progresses if they stay faithful," he adds. -In the United States everything is different," I say.

-I know, but this is culture, it's something that comes from long before half of Sicily was born," he explains. When people get used to something it is very difficult for them to get out of it, the power of the five families is already normal for Sicilians," I don't doubt his words.

People today prefer comfort to the uncertainty of what might happen in the face of their rebellion.

(...)

The drive to Taormina was long, Enzo parks in front of a luxury shop, gets out of the car to open my door and then hands the key to the valet parking staff. The Italian gives me his arm to enter the establishment, we walk to the receptionist and she smiles. -Buonasera, signore e signora (Good evening, sir and madam) -she speaks in Italian, I don't know much, but I managed to understand those words, because if I am going to live in Sicily I must study the language of this country -vete una prenotazione? -Sì, per conto di Enzo Marchetti (Yes, on behalf of Enzo Marchetti) - the woman starts searching on the iPad.

-Signor Marchetti, mi segua per favore (Mr. Marchetti, please follow me) - he walks along, taking me with him behind the woman.

I can tell the place is popular, as the tables are full, but the woman takes us to a booth and says something to Enzo before leaving. The Italian nods to open the chair for me, I thank him and he takes a seat, it doesn't take long for the waiter to reach us and hand us the menu. -Everything is in Italian," I complain, Enzo smiles and very kindly explains the dishes available. -Ratatouille? -I ask. That reminds me of the movie about the mouse and the chef," he looks at me confused. -Mouse and chef?

-Have you seen the movie? -I question.

-To be honest, I don't watch TV," he says.

-Oh my God," I mumble, "it's a dish from France, how did it get here? -I ask.

-The tourists thought it was Italian and put it on the menu," the waiter replies as he pours some wine into our glasses, it's surprising that he speaks English and I look at him in surprise.

-Does everyone speak English here? -he denies with a smile at my question.

-I'm the only one," my companion clears his throat to get my attention and looks quite serious.

-Andare in pensione, mi occuperò io di servire il vino a mia moglie (Stand down, I'll take care of serving the wine to my wife)," he says rather expressionless, the boy nods intimidated by the look Enzo gives him and walks away. -What did you say to him? -I ask, as I could see fear in the waiter.

-Hopefully he's alive, he's flirting with you in my face," he says with a frown.

-What are you saying? He wasn't flirting with me," I respect him.

-Whatever, I didn't like the way he looked at you.

-Are you jealous? -I ask.

-Yes, very much so.