Page 50 of Unrestricted
I’ve brought a lot of harm to the people in Adriano’s world. It feels good to have done something nice for a change.
"What are you looking forward to?" Adriano asks as he strolls into the kitchen.
He's wearing shorts and a running vest. He must have left his sneakers at the door because he's in his socks now.
"I thought you were going for a run," I say.
"I did. Ten kilometers."
My jaw drops and Giuliana laughs. "Annoying, isn't it? He runs halfway to Rome and back and he looks like he was out for a stroll."
Now I know I was right not to run from him in Edinburgh. If he can run ten kilometers without breaking a sweat, he'd have caught me with embarrassing ease.
"Would you like a coffee?" I ask.
"An espresso." I'm beginning to wonder if the word please would actually choke him because I don't think I've ever heard him utter it.
"Bring it upstairs. I have to pack."
"You're leaving?" Giuliana asks.
"Business. It will just take a day or two." He walks over to his mother and bends to kiss her cheek. "Don't worry about the wedding. He will not be coming."
"Adriano, I'm not asking for that."
"No, but I'm telling you how it will be. You'll have a much nicer time without him. Nobody wants him there anyway."
Before she can dispute that, Adriano turns and walks away, his word final. I look at Giuliana who's frowning deeply as she tries to process what he said.
"Are you okay with that?" I ask. "With going to the wedding alone?"
She twists her lips to the side and then smiles. "You know, I think I am. Adriano's right, I'll be able to relax without Maurizio breathing down my neck, criticizing everything I say or do. Besides, I'll have Adriano there and Benito and Helena."
"His mother's invited?"
"Of course. When the boys were young, Ava, Helena and I used to get together whenever we could. It wasn't easy with Ava being in New York, but she brought her family here for holidays."
I could never have imagined the Volantes as an example of an open and accepting family but it seems I misjudged. It gives me hope for the future, that one day my sins will be forgiven and I'll be welcomed into the fold. I catch myself and shake my head.
What am I thinking? I'm only here until Adriano decides what to do with me. Whatever he has planned I doubt it includes a happy ever after. Even if Gabriele and his brothers allowed it, a fairytale ending is not what I deserve.
Clearing my throat before that self-pitying thought can affect me, I go to make Adriano's coffee.
"Better take this up to him," I tell Giuliana as I walk past her.
As I reach the door, I'm startled by a man I've never seen before. In his early twenties, I'd guess, he's tall and fair-haired with blue eyes. He'd look like he belonged in a commercial for surfing holidays if it wasn't for the black suit and tie.
"Signorina Moretti?" he asks.
"Yes."
He holds out a hand. "I'm Simone. Adriano asked me to introduce myself."
"Okay," I say slowly.
"I'll be staying here while Adriano is away, in case you need anything."
A temporary jailer, then. He doesn't look too scary though you can never tell with these men. Adriano's smile could convince the world he dropped from heaven but he's far from angelic. Unless you compare him to Lucifer, of course.
