An Escape

CHAPTER 3

"I know why you married her"

"What do you know and who are you?"

"No one you should concern yourself with. Not for now at least".

Last night's phone call rang in Lorenzo's head and he groaned. Everyone knew he married Valeria as a seal of peace between the Romano's...her family and De Lucas...his family.

But who was this that thought differently? That knew differently?

What game was he playing at?

Lorenzo dismissed the thoughts and went back to drawing blueprints for the territory expansion they were planning.

Rafael, Lorenzo's right-hand man walked into the villa's basement.

"Rafa, are the Calude tablets stocked in the bus and ready for tonights delivery?". Lorenzo asked without looking up.

The name De Luca was rearranged to make the Calude tablets, which were hard drugs that the De Lucas family trafficked.

"Yes they are". Rafael replied walking closer to the table and showing Lorenzo the iPad displaying a video of men loading a black van in a hidden warehouse.

They were transporting the calude tablets from Sicily via road transport.

"Good!. Keep tabs on them and ensure safe delivery".

Rafa nodded as Lorenzo continued working on the blueprint. Rafa's phone rang and he walked away from the table to receive the call, his brows furrowing as he listened attentively to what the person at the other end had to say. He ended the call and walked back to the table.

"Don, the men found the place where the bandits are producing fake Calude tablets". Rafa informed Lorenzo who seized what he was doing for a brief moment, his eyes narrowing.

"Get the car ready, we're leaving in 3". Lorenzo meant three minutes when he said '3'. Rafa seemed to understand because he nodded and immediately strutted away and out of the basement.

Lorenzo folded the blueprint and put it in the back pockets of his black tailored suit pants as he briskly walked out of the basement, folding the arms of his white button up shirt.

...

Valeria sat across from her mother, Isabella Romano, at La Vie et Belle, an elegant restaurant at the heart of the city, sipping her espresso and trying to appear nonchalant. 

"How are you Valeria?". Her mother asked, staring at her with her head slightly tilted. Valeria knew her mother was not asking of her wellbeing but how the marriage started off.

Valeria bit her lower lip, staring into her espresso as a load of answers flew into her head.

"Oh it's terrible mother"

"I don't want to be married to that man"

"Please, speak to father so he could reconsider".

She knew none will do her any good so instead of all those answers, she settled for..."Good!". She faked a smile, "Everything is going well, mother". Her eyes darted from her mother's bodyguard who stood a distance behind her mother and hers who stood behind her too.

Her mother, Isabella, only nodded and took a sip of her Matcha. "Everything must be good". She stated plainly making Valeria recall everything her mother has ever told her.

'But everything is not good and will never be'. Valeria thought within herself as her lips quivered.

Isabella sensed her unease and reached out across the table, to place her perfectly manicured hand over Valeria's hand. The gesture made Valeria jerk, that was the most contact she'd had for what seemed like forever.

"Marriage is a compromise, cara," Isabella said, her voice low and measured. 

Valeria knew what came after the word of endearment her mother used…Cara. Dear. She closed her eyes awaiting what her mother had to say.

"Sometimes, you must put duty before desire". Her mother went on. "But remember, a good wife is always vigilant. Never let your guard down, not even for a moment." 

Valeria opened her eyes when lost contact with her mother who sat upright and straightened. Valeria looked away, blinking away the tears that stung her eyes. She soon heard the chair slightly screech the marbel tiles of the restaurant.

"I should be on my way then". 

Valeria looked up at her mother who was already standing and dusting an invisible lint from her Dolce and Gabana fit.

"Remember what your father always says". Isabella said and put on her sunshades before walking out of the restaurant leaving Valeria alone.

Valeria sighed and leaned back into the chair with her eyes closed. She must've been like that for a while before the sound of her phone ringing startled her.

She sat upright and grabbed her phone, eyes sparkling as she saw the caller ID.

"Marco", she called with a broad smile.

"Valeria, did mother just leave?". He asked and Valeria's brows furrowed. She hadn't told Marco anything so how did he know? She looked around the restaurant but found that she was still alone, with just her bodyguards.

"Yes, how…"

"She told me". Marco interrupted and Valeria nodded thoughtfully.

"I don't trust him, Valeria," He whispered and Valeria looked from the bodyguard who was standing in her front and behind her with just a few feet distance between them.

Valeria knew better than say anything especially in front of Lorenzo's hired men.

"Lorenzo's not what he seems. Be careful." 

Valeria's heart skipped a beat as she nodded, her mind racing with the implications. What did Lorenzo seem like and how wasn't he what he seemed like?

"And remember what father says". Marco said and she heard some paperwork rustling in the background. She knew he'd get off the phone soon.

"I understand Marco, thank you".

"I have to go now but take care of yourself".

"I will, you too". And with that, the call was terminated.

…

From the restaurant to the car, back to the villa, Valeria couldn't shake off the feeling of unease about Marco's words.

She hugged herself and stared out the window of her room. There where several men standing guard around.

Remember what your father always says.

Remember what father always says.

Both her mother and brother's voice rang in her head.

"I need to go on a walk in order to clear my head. But I can't with a dozen pair of eyes around". She muttered and turned, looking around the interior of her room.

Valeria walked out the door and down the stairs, her eyes darting around the men who stood guard inside. They were everywhere.

"I wonder where there isn't one of them". She thought to herself and started walking down the hallway to nowhere in particular.

Valeria passed the men in suit that stood guard, trying to act normal even though she felt uneasy.

"I have to always find something that will reveal who Lorenzo seems to be". She whispered careful not to be heard by any of the men.

Soon, she came across a water fountain that had another hallway with no one standing guard.

"Guess there's somewhere with none of them".

As she wandered through the empty halls of that part of the villa, Valeria stumbled upon a door she hadn't noticed before. It was in fact, the only door in that hallway.

It was a large double wooden door with engravings on it, the creativity invited her to enter. And without hesitation, she accepted the invitation and pushed the door open, revealing a room filled with art supplies and half-finished canvases. 

"It's a studio", Valeria whispered with a smile and felt an inexplicable sense of belonging. Maybe, just maybe, she'd found a way to escape the prison of her marriage, if only for a little while.

She took a step forward but heard some noises outside which made her quickly leave the studio and gently close the door behind her.

As she rounded the corner to leave the hallway, the voice she heard made her jump.

"Snooping around?"