Weeks Later
Vincenzo was sitting in his office drinking soda as he was looking at his cousin Vitale playing the piano. His cousin was good at playing Sicilian tunes that needed the violin.
Vitale could feel his cousin's heavy and silent stare on him. Vitale glanced up from time to time. He wanted to know if he was bothering Vincenzo at all in anyway. His cousin was a perfectionist in every way. He didn't want to be the one to ruin his mood. Vincenzo had been quite harsh and on the edge in the last few days. The last thing he wanted was to add to the tension in the air. Vincenzo didn't spend his personal time with anyone but Vitale. His cousin only preferred his company out of business hours. Vitale didn't take this trust and respect for granted. He tried to push the buttons at times to see if Vincenzo minded bending his rules and spend some personal time with other members of the Sicilian Rosario family but he did not do so. Vincenzo had simply declared only if Terza came he was going to feel like it was reason enough to have meals with his Sicilian family.
Vitale looked at the clock and finally stopped playing. Vincenzo frowned and asked "Why did you stop?"
Vitale stood up "I think I should go. I would like to help my father. We have guests coming over. I would like to assist him with the preparations."
Vincenzo walked towards him "Nonsense. He doesn't need your assistance Vitale."
Vitale said "But there is not much I can do here either Vincenzo. You are the one who makes the decisions. I am here to help but you don't wish me to interfere."
Vincenzo walked to Vitale and smiled as he stopped in front of his cousin. He put his hand on his shoulder and noticed that Vitale cringed slightly. Vincenzo sighed "I wasn't going to hit you Vitale. There is no need to cringe. I only hit my own men when they deserve it like how those guys did. They learnt they lesson. So I let them live."
Vitale nodded "I understand." No one dared breathe in front of Vincenzo normally but after today's episode no one even dared make eye contact. Vincenzo was unpredictable and had strict expectations.
Vincenzo said "Then why are you cringing? Listen Vitale. You leave this responsibility to me. I don't wish anyone else to be involved. I need to make sure that all the words come from me."
Vitale said " Of course. But you need to let me help ...."
Vincenzo said "You can help. I told you what you need to do for now."
Vitale said "Controlling Letizia is not a big task."
Vincenzo patted his cousin "Oh but it's an important task. We are already on a brink of war. I don't need her adding more wood to the fire that's already burning. I kept her safe for you but I can't guarantee I will not harm her if she breaks the rules especially when we are in a situation like this. I let you go now. But I might summon you again... sooner than you think ... So don't get too comfortable. Don't question me and expect to be called upon for duty at all times. I dismiss you if you want to. You may go."
Vitale nodded and said "Thank you. Good night." He then slightly bowed his head and walked away. He wished Vincenzo was not going to be too business like to this extent but Vincenzo had a job he to do and had no time for socialising or building bridges. He meant business. Vitale was the only Rosario he acknowledged and allowed into his personal time. He kept away and just kept his relations strictly business and formal. Even mama Adriana's invitations as the old don's wife didn't work on Vincenzo. He kept his distance. He demanded respect. He ordered his men around and he got the work done swiftly and perfectly. The business was booming and contracts were coming from the harbours. But of course there were issues that had taken place outside Sicily that Vincenzo had to deal with. Big meetings were coming up in coming days that only Vincenzo could manage.
As Vitale left the room, Vincenzo left from the other door. He made his way to the lower ground. He went to basement to the weapons room. He felt like some target practice. As he was retrieving guns, he saw his uncle Angelo sitting on the floor in the next room that had medical supplies stored in it.
Vincenzo spoke as he was looking at the choices of weapons on the wall "What's the matter Uncle? You are losing your mind? Why are you sitting on the cold hard floor?"
Angelo held his face in his hands as he was cross legged on the floor. He had no peace of mind these days and his nephew's company could be quite stressful. He missed his son a lot who was being protected in Palermo and living alongside his wife in the safe house that Vincenzo had arranged as a good temporary solution. He shouldn't have complained really. He was lucky Vincenzo had saved him from the O'Kane family's clutches when he had. He really was. Vincenzo had acted before his father could meaning he had retained the peace and had avoided an all Irish versus Italian war in New York. But the battles were in Italy now... There was so much tension in the air. Angelo felt grateful but he was disturbed by living in Sicily. His nephew was even more extreme than his father. He had seen sights he couldn't unsee.
Vincenzo stood towering over his uncle as he was loading his gun "Do you want to come for a inspection tour with me?"
Angelo didn't look up and swallowed hard. He still had the memory of the last time he had been with Vincenzo. He had been dealing with the aftermath until now and he was in that basement after he had tried to heal the casualties.
Angelo sighed "Can I see my wife and kids instead Vincenzo please? It's my night off."
Vincenzo said "No. Your wife and son are in a guarded building. They are safe. You don't need to check on them."
Angelo pleaded "I miss them. Please."
Vincenzo said "I might ask for Austin to be transferred here soon to see but you won't see your wife for a while. That's my decision. I didn't like your last conversation with her. I don't want her to convince you to betray our family again. I will let you see her once I deal with the repercussions of giving her a safe house amongst my people."
Angelo looked up shakily "You will?"
Vincenzo said "Of course. Uncle. I won't torture you if that's what you are wondering. I told you I will save her life and yours. It's best if you are not near her though. She is an FBI agent. She can play with your mind and may even take you hostage. So when it's all over you can see her. It may take years."
Angelo asked "Years?"
Vincenzo said "Yes. She is alive because you are my mother's brother. She is alive because I don't want you to mourn your wife. Tristan wants her to suffer. She has no protection. It's a miracle if Tristan doesn't unleash machine guns on us for keeping her here when he turns up eventually. Don't you see seriousness of what she has done? She tried to fool Flora Canavarro in helping her to frame sancia Giovanni. Your wife went after an empress in a deadly game. I might negotiate regarding Austin to get him back to America but your wife is another story. Now get up Uncle. It can make me look bad if my uncle is in a cold basement. What am I meant to tell my mother if she calls and asks to talk to you? My uncle is in the basement banging his head against the wall because he misses his traitor wife. You think this is hell? You have no idea what Tristan can do to you and your family. Tristan won't hurt Austin. I don't think he will. So I might negotiate about him but your wife is a dead target walking."
Angelo slowly got up.
Vincenzo said "Good. Are you coming?"
Angelo swallowed hard. He looked down silently. "I can't refuse your orders... Why do you ask? You ask no one else. You demand so they can't refuse."
Vincenzo said "You are family Uncle. So are you coming?"
Angelo still didn't look up "I can't be much use to you for the rest of the night. But I will come if you wish it."
Vincenzo rolled his eyes. He knew his uncle wanted to avoid coming out with him. The last time his uncle had become sick seeing the sights of handy work. Vincenzo had no idea how his uncle had remained so innocent while serving his father. Probably his father was too soft on him. He was fragile.
Vincenzo could order around his uncle but he went easy on him "Fine. I give you the night off but expect more work tomorrow or even later tonight. Who knows when the Irish may show up. They will come uninvited. Who knows when Tristan and his people will show up." He then left without another word.
Angelo said "Thank you." He then watched his nephew disappear through the door. Angelo had little energy left but he managed to get to the top of the stairs. He watched his nephew through the windows. His men were already opening the door for him and taking orders. It was easy doing his job. His men knew what to expect. They worked around the clock. They were loyal too.
Angelo was way too tired. He collapsed on the floor and his eye lids felt heavy. Sleeping was a way of coping with his fears and distress. It was the only time he felt peace.
Hours later, Vitale found Angelo on the floor. He sighed. He walked to him and shook him awake "Wake up Dr Lombardi."
As Angelo opened his eyes, he saw Vitale's urgent tone "I need you to come with us. Sorry to wake you up. Vincenzo said not to wake you up if you are asleep but it's best if you come. We are going to the harbour. You are our best doctor. If our men get injured we need you."
Angelo rubbed his eyes and nodded. "Is there a war happening at the harbour?"
Vitale helped Angelo get up and lead him to the exit of the mansion "No body knows. We expect trouble always. Only Vincenzo knows."
After they exited the building, they split. Angelo got into the medical equipment car and Vitale got into Vincenzo's car. As he sat opposite his cousin he asked "What is happening at the harbour? Why did you summon us?"
Vincenzo gave the signal to the driver to move as he said "War or peace. Either way we win."
Vitale sighed "Seriously? Vincenzo you can tell me."
Vincenzo stated " We are meeting people."
Vitale asked "Are they enemy or friend?"
Vincenzo said "It's a private property we are going to at the harbour. It has an underground meeting room. Relax. It's our property I recently purchased. We are hosting a meeting. But it can get ugly. Accidents happen when voltolinis are around."
Vitale coughed "Voltolinis?"
Vincenzo stated "Yes. Scorpious is here too amongst other Italians who do business in this region."
Vitale said " I bet he is here for other business too. I won't let him take Tiziana away... He wants to take her to Arturo Agostini's house until the issue with your uncle Angelo is resolved. I would rather my sister is in Sicily. It can get messy. Tristan is not ordinary. I can't read his next move. No one can. So if Scorpious wants to protect my sister, he will let her in peace here... I get that he is on our side but Vincenzo... My parents left Milan so we could build a force here on a Sicilian front... Tiziana will be fine here..."
Vincenzo said "She will be. You can't keep Scorpious content. Uncle Pietro coming here created distance between Scorpious and Tiziana. I warned your father. But he didn't leave Tiziana behind with my aunt Anna. She would have been fine alone in Milan with Amethyst. But your father made the decision and I let it be. After all. I don't mind getting on Scorpious's nerves. Your sister should do what she wishes."
Vitale took a deep breath of relief. Vincenzo was in business mode but he prioritised him and his sister. Vitale was certain other rosarios didn't matter to Vincenzo but him and Tiziana did. When he had gained the courage to ask his cousin why, Vincenzo had replied "Because you and your sister never wronged my father." That was it. All members of the family had been alive back in the day when Francesco Rosario had cut off ties with Sicilians. He didn't want to pursue. He didn't want to know too much.
When they reached the harbour in and the cars stopped, Vincenzo got off the car and so did Vitale.
Vincenzo said "That's our private property, a sea side villa. Just wait for a few minutes. The men will arrive soon. But, let's be safe... Get the men to search the area."
Vitale nodded and ordered some of the men to go search for any souls nearby who were not meant to be there.
Vincenzo decided to have some soda while he was waiting. He always had bottles of his favourite American finest drink in his car. He got in his car and opened a bottle. The taste reminded him of home. As he was drinking he looked outside the window and as he was just about to relax he coughed and almost spilt the soda on his suit. Vitale was escorting Terza towards his car. How in the world was she going to explain to him why she was there? She was trespassing and he was pretty certain no one knew she was there. He cursed her journalism part time projects. That was it. She was there to interview some famous faces who were going to be in this meeting. Some of them were on her radar.
Terza's heart was beating fast in her heart. When Vitale had found the hiding place of her car, she knew she had some explaining to do. She was ready. She was meant to be in her bed right now in her dormitories in her host school this week. But she couldn't resist dropping by. When she had arrived she didn't mind needing to explain her actions to Vincenzo. Her parents were going to get mad but not too mad. She had her own personal body guards she had hired who were of course outnumbered by Rosarios but she had been safe even when breaking the rules. Only rosarios could have busted her since it was their land. She was sure she could face Vincenzo if needed. She was pretty certain.
Terza was confident. But then she saw the car door open and Vincenzo looking at her in that way that only he could. She lost her breath. He was mad. She regretted coming immediately. Behind his eyes were promise that she was going to pay but more alarmingly there was some mystery. She couldn't read him. She couldn't predict what he was going to do next. She froze and stopped walking hoping for a escape.
Vincenzo walked towards her as she was cursing her decision in her mind. It was too soon to have a face off with him especially since the Irish Italian relations were on rocks. She looked into his eyes expecting him to speak but he didn't. He stood in front of her and with a heavy stare not leaving her eyes, he grabbed her hand in his and lead her away. She didn't speak. He glanced at her when they were out of earshot and whispered "Terza ... " They were now inside a property that she assumed belonged to him because it said Rosario winery and also there were Rosario armed men who bowed. She heard him murmur "My Woman. Only you can touch my soul. Only you can do this...You make me go mad...." Terza found herself backed against a wall at the side of the property where there was no one. It happened quick. She his hands pinned her arms to the wall. He brushed his lips to hers. That was him giving her a chance to protest. She didn't. So he went ahead and he attached his lips to hers as he overwhelmed her with his punishing kisses.