CHAPTER 16

Lorenzo kept a bland and neutral face despite Rosa's persuasion to smile for the family photo. As soon as the photo session was over Lorenzo walked over to the secluded part of the courtyard to relax.

He watched as everyone partied and danced with glee while nursing a glass of VITA E VITE, VALVERRA'S wine brand.

Marcello had personally escorted his two friends who had come for the wedding to the airport and even though no one could tell them apart, one word from him always sent them flying as they realized that he was the wrong twin.

Now they all watched him warily like they were expecting him to explode as usual. He couldn't fault them, he hardly trusted anyone besides his brother and he hated the company of others.

Aunt Amelita walked over to him with a frown,

"Smile more Lorenzo you won't die trying" she warned poking him in his muscled arm with her index finger. Lorenzo leveled a blank stare at her for seconds which had her sighing in defeat.

"Fine, but it's a waste of your good looks because the ladies are afraid to approach you," She said rolling her eyes as she sat beside him.

"Wise choice if you ask me," he said in a gruff voice, shrugging as he brought the delicious-tasting wine to his lips and took a sip.

"Why would you say that Enzo? Look at Marcello already hitting off with his first love and at the rate they are going, we will see be expecting a wedding soon" she said excitedly,

"I am happy for Marcello's Aunt, but marriage isn't making it to the top 50 of my list of important events anytime soon" Lorenzo scoffed, Aunt Amelita smacked his arm,

"Have you forgotten you're the Boss and need a Lady?" She hissed and Lorenzo groaned.

"If I find the woman worthy of being my Lady then I'll not waste a day before I wife her Until then let me have peace" Lorenzo growled, his usual violent temper surfacing due to his Aunty's persistent questions.

Aunt Amelita noticed his mood change and knew her time was up,

"Think about what I said Enzo, I would love for you to settle down with a nice young lady who will love and care for you, you have been alone for too long" she whispered then with a soft pat on his arm, she left.

Lorenzo nodded once and went back to observing the party, his eyes clashed with Uncle Pietro's which kept drifting to where he was. Lorenzo leveled his gaze which had frosted over, the older man narrowed his eyes and then looked away.

He has a feeling that his uncle was responsible for the poisoned harvest and death of those innocent farmers but he didn't want to act until he got the response from Raffaele. Somehow if his uncle could get a hold of those poisons, he was probably the one who killed the former boss.

It was getting late and he wondered if Marcello was on his way home, suddenly he felt someone's gaze on him, with skills honed from years of fighting and defending himself and Marcello, he turned swiftly to his left in case someone was monitoring him.

There by the fountain where the crowd was less sat the most ethereal being he had ever set his eyes on. Lorenzo sat up immediately stunned, his gaze trained on her.

'Who is she?' He wondered, she didn't look like family and she also wasn't on the list of guests he received. He continued watching her keenly trying to remember where he had seen her face.

He quickly asked one of his men who was an expert in siphoning information to give him a list of every information of guests who weren't family or business partners while still keeping his eyes on her, almost afraid to blink and find out that it was all an illusion.

She had been distracted and was now talking to someone who had stopped by to talk to her. After the person left she turned back to him. On seeing that he was looking at her, she broke into a sweet smile.

Beautiful couldn't describe her, with skin so fair like pearls under the moonlight, such luscious hair and a face like that of an angel, she glowed. The beautiful silvery dress draped around her like a second skin, drawing attention to the soft curves of her body.

Lorenzo was rendered speechless as he watched her every move, the delicate and fluid movement each laced with grace. Something intrigued him about this woman. Something he could not begin to fathom.

She left the fountain side and headed out to where the table stood, laden with all types of assorted dishes. There she piled a small plate with cookies and took a small bite of one cookie before nodding appreciatively at the taste.

He moved to follow but one of his men came to him to deliver a message causing him to take his eyes off her.

"Boss Luca is back and wants to meet up with you soon, he said to tell you that all is clear at the moment but he wants to deliver an important message," he said briskly, standing with legs slightly apart as he stood beside his boss.

Lorenzo nodded as he pondered on the news, if Luca said it was clear then it meant that he had dealt with the miscreants.

Luca was the caporegime in charge of his strongest men, he was also the one Lorenzo sent to unmask a small group of miscreants that had been smuggling firearms into Sicily under the guise of the mafia.

Luca was going to be the next underboss of the Alfredos after his father retired which was drawing closer and was a perfect and exemplary leader, even more competent than his father.

Lorenzo had every right to declare him the new underboss since his accomplishments were outstanding, but he requested to work directly under Lorenzo after Lorenzo was made boss and since then proved to be one of Lorenzo's best men.

"Tell him I'll send for him whenever I'm ready" he ordered, and the man gave a curt nod and left. Lorenzo's eyes drifted to the table, quickly seeking out the beauty from earlier, but he couldn't see her anywhere.

As he was about to shove it off his mind and retire, a little boy came up to him with a small napkin. Lorenzo was immediately alert, his mind went to Marcello and he got worried.

He had let his guard down and this could be a message bearing either a warning or a threat.

"Uncle, the beautiful lady asked me to give you this," the child said, pointing towards a direction across from where Lorenzo stood.

He quickly checked to see who the boy was pointing at but saw no one, he searched quickly for Uncle Pietro, and there he was drunk dancing with his wife.

Lorenzo opened the napkin slowly, holding it at arm's length in case it was poisoned. It was just an ordinary napkin, but on it was written in bold letters,

'MEET ME AT THE BEACH NOW AND COME ALONE'

He frowned, who would send a child to give him this? Even if it was just a wedding reception, the house was heavily guarded so an intruder wouldn't try anything stupid.

There was only one way to find out, Lorenzo looked around to be sure no one strange was lurking around then with a slight nod he signaled one of his men camouflaging in the corner to follow him, then he headed for the beach.