Honeymoon?

CHAPTER 11

"Hey Val". Sasha greeted walking up to the dinning table.

"Morning Sasha". Valeria replied with a thin smile.

Sasha picked up a sfogliatelle- a shell-shaped pastry filled with ricotta cheese and candied fruits, and bit into it, chewing as she poured herself a glass of fresh pineapple juice.

"Mmm". Sasha took a sip of the juice and looked at Valeria, balancing her elbow on the head of one of the dinning chair. "Why have breakfast alone?"

"Your brother doesn't eat with anyone, remember?". Valeria said pushing her own glass of juice back and forth.

"Your brother...". Sasha repeated and bit into her Sfogliatelle again. She waited until she chewed and swallowed before speaking again. "That term makes me think there's something going on"

Valeria's head shot up and met Sasha's blue-green eyes. Sasha rose a brow.

"Nothing". Valeria said looking down at her half-eaten plate of fruits. She looked up again but this time, to survey Sasha's outfit. She needed a change of topic.

"Wow". Valeria started, "...your outfit is just...wow".

"Yeah, he wanted a date so he'd have to take this". Sasha murmured shrugging.

"It's all... black".

"Yeah...going for dark energy. That sorta thing". Sasha paused. "And Valeria?"

"Mm?"

"Nice try on changing the topic, but I never leave a conversation half finished".

Valeria cringed. She needed help.

"Well?" Sasha stated and downed the entire glass before setting it on the table with a thud.

"Your brother agreed to the honeymoon". Valeria blurted out before she could help herself.

Sasha's eyes widened and she blinked several times, "Un-be-lie-va-ble".

"But I don't".

"What?". Sasha's brow furrowed.

"I don't want to go - I won't go".

"Why? You must. There is no room for deliberation young lady".

Valeria's eyes bulged at how familiar the statement sounded. It wasn't something she thought she'd be hearing again. Not for a long time though.

"You must". Sasha repeated and walked over to Valeria. "I'll get you a honeymoon present".

Valeria turned to Sasha who winked before catwalking out through the front door.

...

Lorenzo stepped out of his Alfa Romeo in the outskirts of Sicily where one of their hidden warehouse was burnt the previous night.

"If we came yesterday, we would've put down the fire". Rafa said as he stood next to Lorenzo, both staring at the warehouse that was now only but ashes.

"The fire department would've stopped the whole thing, Don". Damien, one of his men said.

Lorenzo folded his arms, "I was onto something yesterday. So you both can brainstorm what that was or is rather". He tapped Rafa's shoulder then Damien's before walking forward and towards the ashes.

Lorenzo stared around him with every step he took. He suddenly stopped and raised a hand to stop the men behind him from moving further.

"Stay clear".

"What is it, Don?". Rafa asked.

"Landmines".

Rafa immediately withdrew his gun as did the other men but Lorenzo raised his hand again.

"Put the weapons away, there's no one here".

"We have to be ready". Rafa explained but Lorenzo shook his head.

"They were waiting last night for us to show up but since we didn't, severe damage to our limbs was the plan?". Lorenzo said looking back around the ground at the spots with hidden landmines.

"Tony". Lorenzo called one of the men, "make arrangements for a 'Landmines' sign to be put here". He pointed the place he thought was suitable.

"Yes sir". Tony replied and excused himself.

"Fin, Roger and Gonzalez, speak to the local spies I hired and ask around. Get information and find out if they know the men that did this".

"Yes sir". The three replied in unison and also walked away, getting into a car and driving away.

Lorenzo later got into his car, withdrawing his phone only to find eight missed calls from Sasha. 

"Why so many calls?". He asked himself as he redialed her number.

"Hey hey, married man". Sasha said immediately she answered the phone.

Lorenzo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"This is not the time..."

"Heard you lost my bet".

"What bet?". Lorenzo asked, his forehead creased.

"The HM? Honeymoon? Ring a bell?".

It was short but it happened nonetheless. Lorenzo's heart thumped once in his chest. He shut his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose again.

"I will go"

"You both will go. Don't say it like you're going alone, old man". Sasha said. "Just go somewhere cool, Kay?"

"Where are you?". Lorenzo asked once the music in the background was turned on.

"Dunno". She said and immediately ended the call.

Lorenzo shook his head. What was he going to do with this sister of his?

...

Valeria folded her arms staring at the gift box Sasha had her driver - who she technically never allowed to drive her,delivered to Valeria.

"Umm, no". Valeria said unfolding her arms whilst shaking her head with her lips set in a thin line. "Can't wear this ever especially not for Mr. Grumpy De Lucan".

Valeria gathered the lingerie and put it into the box, tying the ribbon it came with in the best way she could. 

"Why would Sasha get me a lingerie?". She asked herself, walking towards her closet and hiding it in between hanged clothes.

She went back to the bed and carried the second gift, a stunning silver necklace with a small diamond pendant.

"Gorgeous". Valeria gushed and took it to her vanity, setting it on it.

Valeria's face fell and she sighed, "Since I can't paint in the secret studio anymore, I should swim to wear off this tension on my shoulders". 

She walked out of her room and made way to the swimming pool. As she made it there, a group of maids bowed slightly to her before walking away.

It occurred to her that she didn't even have anyone to speak to her except Sasha and Loren...she shook her head, except Mr. Grumpy. 

"Not that it was any different back at home in Milan though". She sighed and sat down, dipping her feet in the water.

"Should I go for the honeymoon?"

…

"Sire". 

"What is it?"

"Lorenzo and his men found out about the landmine".

The man laughed historically before taking a smoke from his pipe. Did they think unpuzzling where the landmines were hidden was a great shield from harm's way?

"They don't know that this is just the beginning. After all, who can escape the wrath of the Don who rights wrongs?"