Adele was lying in bed as she had her eyes closed but was not asleep yet. Angelo was sitting on a sofa reading reports inside a ring binder.
Angelo became startled and the folder flew from his hand onto the tea table as he heard his name being called by his brother in law. Francesco's voice always made chills run down his spine. His presence was demanding and his voice was just purely intimidating to him even if he addressed him in the most informal way by his first name.
To Angelo's relief, Francesco's attention was not on Angelo or the fact that he didn't respond. His attention was on his wife who was now sitting up on the bed. Adele was smiling at him. It didn't take much for Adele to get Francesco's full attention. Nothing mattered in the room except Adele if she was there.
Francesco walked to her and said "Sweetheart. Do you want to come to our bedroom to sleep tonight or you would rather stay in this..." He looked around the room "small medical sanctuary under your brother's watch."
Angelo wanted to interrupt to answer but he knew better. He had to wait to be addressed now.
Adele shrugged "I don't mind."
Francesco turned to Angelo "What's the verdict on my wife's health?"
Angelo noticed how Francesco emphasised the words "my wife" instead of referring to Adele as "your sister". That set his expectations.
Angelo breathed "She is fine. Her tests are normal." He then picked up the folder and offered it to Francesco."
Francesco said "Stay in the guest room tonight. I may need you to run some tests tonight. She wasn't eating well this morning. She may be weak. Are you able to handle your commitments to stay the night?"
Angelo said "Yes. Of course. I stay as long as needed."
Adele said "I am fine Francesco. Angelo can go home tonight."
Francesco said "Sweetheart. If Angelo wishes to leave all he needs to is ask. You don't need to do the asking for him." He then gave Angelo a hard look.
Angelo said quickly "I have no where else to be. My shifts are covered in the hospital. It's all pre-arranged."
Adele said "What about your wife? She is alone at home."
Francesco said "His wife was working for military. She is trained to endure being away from family."
Angelo caught the contempt in his words. Francesco never agreed to Angelo's marriage to Elise. The fact that she was even alive was a miracle. But of course for Adele, Francesco always bent the rules as much as he could. Angelo was alive because of Adele, so was his wife and his son Austin.
Francesco leaned down, smiled, lifted her up bridal style "Let's go to bed sweetheart. Your brother is fully capable of objecting if he wishes it."
Angelo wanted to cough. Who could object to Francesco? Who had any objection? As long as his brother in law didn't order his family's demise Angelo was more than happy to serve him. Angelo was smart enough to know how lucky he was for being spared and being allowed to live the way he did after all the stunts he had pulled. He didn't take it for granted. His brother in law was a criminal but he loved Adele to death.
Adele wrapped her arms around Francesco's neck "I can walk..." Francesco opened the door and carried her to the direction of their bedroom.
Francesco said "Don't worry sweetheart. Our children are not going to disturb us. They are not going to see me carry you."
Adele asked "Where are they?"
Francesco said "Well. One is outside playing with his dogs and trying to impress his girl, one is checking on his girl to see if she can fall asleep after she has cut her medication and the other is saying goodbye outside to her man which she has been doing for the last 20 minutes." He then kicked the door open to his bedroom and said "Meanwhile, I am here holding you in my arms ... I want have the whole night without discussing my business." He put Adele down on the bed gently and then started taking off his coat as he was looking at Adele.
Adele said softly "Dont you want to talk about anything that happened today?"
Francesco shook his head as he loosened his tie "I don't want to. I will ... later...Much later... We have no secrets ... Anything you ask I will tell you by in my own time... Now, I have other things on my mind right... Like taking care of you sweetheart. So I am getting you some warm milk right now."
Adele slid under the covers "No. I am not interested in food. Please Francesco. Just come to bed for now... I am fine. I have missed you the whole day. You know I want to know about what has been happening ... but you said you don't wish to speak about it... Maybe you will tell me tonight ... about ... you know ... The fate of your family members..."
Francesco said "Sweetheart. I know that. I know you wish to know about my father, Antonio and my mother... All three are alive. They will be alive for some time... anything else?"
Adele said "I want you to be happy..."
Francesco got into the bed and laid down on his side facing Adele as she mirrored his posture "I am happy ... when I have you sweetheart. I have been happy ever since I found you. Happiness does not mean harsh realities stop. They may even just be begin. I had you ever since I found you... At the back of my mind I always think of you... You are my world sweetheart..."
Adele said "I keep making mistakes sometimes..."
Francesco said "Of course. You can make mistakes sometimes ... But I still love you the same way... just like how you still love me with my flaws..."
Adele reached her hand to his face and stroked his cheek "Aren't you getting changed to your pyjamas? What's with the formal trousers and shirt still on?"
Francesco leaned close "We have guests right now... I wait until O'Neil is gone. He is still out there... He may disturb me tonight... I want to be dressed up ready..."
Adele gasped "O'Neil is in the house?"
Francesco nodded "Yes. He is waiting for his kids to take them home... I am expecting a phone call from him when he gets home... He may ask me to leave in the middle of the night if he spots anything suspicious on the way..."
Adele said "You Trust O'Neil more than you trust anyone else..."
Francesco said "You distrust his son more than anyone else..."
Adele breathed deeply "I am sorry."
Francesco said "Don't be. It's nothing to apologise for sweetheart. He is his father's son. What you do or say won't make him change his feelings towards our daughter. You must know that already."
Adele remained silent. She didn't know what to say back.
Francesco said "I never wanted to be related to O'Neil. His troublesome bloodline can be a blessing but it can be a curse too... He is a good ally and friend. But he can be a dangerous enemy too ... I didn't know which way Tristan would incline. He seems to be loyal to his father..."
Adele stated "You approve of Tristan. How about my approval?"
Francesco said "I approve of my daughter's choices. I told you sweetheart. You can raise our daughter as you wish, but I told you our daughter won't be forced on choices of any kind unless it's regarding her safety."
Adele said "She will never be happy with someone like Tristan..."
Francesco sighed "The daughter we have raised will walk away from a relationship if she endures anything but respect. Allow our daughter to make her own choices and live with the consequences of her actions. It's her responsibility. She is turning seventeen in a few months. At this age she knows right from wrong. The only one who I permit to end that relationship is Vienna... Its her choice. I wont take it away from her... I expect Tristan to fight for her and he will... He will always love our daughter and fight for her... Sweetheart... Men fight for their women sometimes... I fought for you. I wont ever apologise for fighting for you... I did take your feelings into consideration while I did it... I took prisoners. Tristan might not take prisoners. Unless he does it for our daughter. I won't worry for our daughter. I would worry about anyone who is going to cross Tristan. Fighting is within Tristan's nature... Just like how loyalty, respect and faithfulness is part of him thats inseparable... Sweetheart... You can continue to disapprove
Adele argued "You would have interfered if someone out of her league asked her out."
Francesco said "Yes. I would have. I will. I wont let anyone put her at any risk or hurt her..."
Adele said "But you allow her near Tristan who is ... a monster.."
Francesco said "A monster that reminds you of me when we first met..."
Adele tried to defend herself "No... I didnt say that..."
He looked into her eyes " Have I ever hurt you?"
Adele said "No."
Adele said "What if he is going to hurt our daughter and you cant stop him?"
Francesco said "I know I wont live forever. I cant protect our daughter forever.... Think about it sweetheart... No one could stop me if I wanted to hurt you but I didnt. I wasn't that kind of a man to hurt my woman... Tristan is not that kind of a man to hurt our daughter... But I know the main reason why you are so afraid of our daughter choosing Tristan of all the eligible males of her age..." Francesco climbed on top of Adele and put his weight on his hands on either side of her as he leaned down planting kisses on her neck and the side of her face."
Adele sucked in her breath "You do..."
Francesco he started kissing her neck line as he whispered "You are afraid that she makes him jealous ... like how you made me jealous with O'Connor."
Adele froze in her spot and swallowed hard. She could feel her heart beats...
Francesco said "Do you deny it?"
Adele was unable to say anything. She shook her head.
Francesco said in a deep voice "I thought not..." He then kissed her lips.