Meal Together

Chapter 5

"Uuu, Enzo is here". 

Sasha whispered to Valeria as Lorenzo walked into the dinning room where Sasha and Valeria were already seated. The table was set with fine china and crystal glasses, and the aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air.

Valeria became tense and focused solely on her meal choosing to ignore Lorenzo and she silently prayed that he would not sit and have a meal with them.

He took his seat without saying a word and the maid immediately got to serving him his meal. Sasha's eyes darted between him and Valeria.

"Ahem!". Sasha widened her eyes at Lorenzo. "No hi? Hello? Good evening ladies?".

Lorenzo placed his napkin on his thigh before looking up at Sasha first then Valeria who was still focused on her meal.

"Good evening ladies". Lorenzo muttered picking up his cutlery.

"Better!". Sasha beamed and patted the napkin at both corners of her lips. "Fancy seeing you at dinner Enzo".

"Why's that?".

Valeria looked up.

"Umm, you know...". Sasha shrugged, "... you're sort of a loner especially while having your meals?".

"I eat with you Alessandra".

Lorenzo knew how to get Sasha to stop talking. Calling her by her given name always did the trick.

"Arghhh, you're unbelievable Lorenzo De Luca". Sasha said and picked up her phone mindlessly scrolling through it.

"Ahem". Lorenzo took a sip of his water. "How do you find your stay here?".

Valeria looked up because she wasn't daft and knew he was speaking to her. She swallowed and stared at Sasha who was not paying them any attention.

"What?".

"Your stay here". He repeated, "how's it?"

Was he really asking her that? Even if she told him her stay there was awful, would he let her go back to her family?

She guessed not and stuck to her rehearsed answer.

"It's... it's okay. The villa's beautiful and the attendants are all nice". Valeria added a smile though Lorenzo wasn't looking at her. He was paying attention to his meal and eating as though he didn't just ask her a question.

"Uh!". Sasha dropped her phone and Valeria's gaze moved to her. "What is wrong with both of you?".

Sasha did not wait for any of them to reply, not that they would have replied anyway but she continued either way.

"Are we in some nineties sit-com? Hello? You're both married. Act like it, geez".

"And what would you have us do? Play twenty questions?". Lorenzo asked dropping his cutlery.

"At least that would be better than...", Sasha waved a hand between both Lorenzo and Valeria, "...than this".

Lorenzo sighed, running a hand over stubble.

"And what would you know about being married, young lady?".

"A lot". Sasha stated simply, shifting her half-empty plate away and placing her clasped hands on the table. "If I were married, you know what my husband and I would do?".

Lorenzo leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms, raising a brow. Valeria followed his movements with her eyes and saw the muscle in his arm flex. She looked away when he glanced at her, her cheeks heating up from being caught gawking.

"Go on". Lorenzo jerked his chin, focusing his attention back on Sasha.

"We would...", she searched for what to say and glanced around the room like answers were floating in the air. Lorenzo shook his head and sat upright ready to carry on with his meal.

Valeria put a spoon full of salad dressing in her mouth.

"We would go on a honeymoon". Sasha completed and Valeria choked on the salad. A maid was by her side in an instant and filled her glass with water.

If Lorenzo had any thoughts about what Sasha just said, he didn't show it. He was just staring at Sasha who did same with intensity. Valeria took a little sip of the water and coughed.

"Sorz Val". Sasha said looking truly sorry. Her sorry was 'Sorz'. Valeria nodded and waved a little to indicate that she was alright.

"Absolutely not".

"Absolutely yes!". Sasha retorted and shot Lorenzo a look. "What better way to know your bride than a honeymoon Enzo? Think about it".

...

Lorenzo drove to a district that was in the vicinity of the De Luca territory and parked in a dark alley. He hid his shotgun at the back of his tailored suit pants and got out of the car.

He walked through the dark streets and towards a new building where an older man, a few years older than Lorenzo was hanging a closed sign on the door. As the man was about to close the door, Lorenzo placed his feet, stopping the door from closing.

"What the...?". The man looked angry as he stared at Lorenzo. "We're closed mister".

"No you're not". Lorenzo answered and the man looked confused for a moment, making Lorenzo take advantage of his distraction and push the door ajar. The man fell to the floor.

"This is harassment". The man forced out as he tried getting up.

Lorenzo chuckled dryly, "Not if it guarantees your safety".

"Forcing your way into my store is no way to guarantee my safety".

"You have a sharp tongue, don't you?". Lorenzo pushed him down and placed his feet on the man's chest, bending low so he could see the man's face. "What if I had it cut off? You see...", he said withdrawing a pocket knife, snapping it open and running a finger over the sharp edge. "I get irritated by talkatives".

The man immediately covered both hands over his mouth which made Lorenzo chuckle again but get serious immediately.

"Now, where's the money?".

"What...what money sir?".

"You weren't told, were you?".

The man shook his head vigorously with his hands still over his mouth. 

"I need an answer from you".

"N-no".

"Someone was being quite stubborn when my men came to get the protection money from local businesses, the don has come to pay him a visit". Lorenzo's feet pushed the man further that he tried pushing off Lorenzo's leg but couldn't.

"I own this district, I own you". Lorenzo growled.

The man's eyes widened in realization and this pleased Lorenzo.

"For...forgive me boss. The ...Your money is ready".

"Now you're talking". Lorenzo tapped the man's cheek and carried his feet off, standing upright and dusting his white button up shirt.

...

Back in the villa, Valeria tossed and turned on the queen size bed.

"Uh!". She scrambled to a sitting position and looked around the room. "I couldn't sleep since I saw Lorenzo drive out in his Chevrolet, I wonder what sought of business he has by this time of the night".

Valeria got out of bed and secured her robe tightly before quietly walking out of the room careful not to make a sound.

"If I can just gain entry into his office". Valeria whispered as she walked down the staircase, looking around for Lorenzo's men. The ones who always stood stoic around as though they were statues.

Valeria stepped down the last step and turned towards the direction of Lorenzo's office.

"Ahem!".

The noise startled her and she turned only to come face-to-face with Rafa whom she knew was Lorenzo's right hand man. He was standing by the doorway, his face laced with suspicion.

"What are you doing down here?" he asked, his voice low and menacing. 

Valeria's heart skipped several beats as she tried to think of an excuse, but before she could come up with anything, Rafa's expression turned serious. "It's late, were you top toeing somewhere?".

Valeria would've rolled her eyes if not for the panick she was experiencing inside. She tried to maintain a calm exterior, but she was panicking and she hoped Rafa wouldn't notice.

"I was... looking for Lorenzo".

"He's out". Rafa's response was curt and dismissive. "And what would be so important that cannot wait till tomorrow?".

"We're married. Whatever it is, is none of your business".

Valeria turned briskly and walked back up the stairs to her room. As she closed the door behind her and leaned on it with a hand to her chest, she wondered what she had gotten herself into.

...

"I wasn't expecting you to go alone". Rafa said to Lorenzo when he got back to the villa early the next day before dawn.

"How where things here while I was gone?".

"The real question should be, what was Valeria doing while you were gone?"

Lorenzo looked at him with creased forehead.

"What do you mean?".

"I can't say for sure what she was about doing or what is going on in that head of hers but I don't trust her".

"Keep an eye on her".