Sold to the Capo-Chapter 36: SNOW

ADRIANA’S POV

I groaned, swinging my legs off the bed, my head in my hands.

Did I drink?

The memories came rushing back and I remembered that I indeed did have a few glasses of wine with the Cavalieri members yesterday. Thank fuck that I didn’t take a whole lot more than I can handle because I knew that I would have done something entirely stupid.

I was always like that.

"You’re awake" A low gravelly voice from the doorway made the hair on my skin stand on ends.

Cursing silently, I looked up to see Vincenzo leaning on the doorway, a blank look on his face while he nursed a mug of something steaming in his hands.

We stared at each other for a few seconds, neither of us wanting to break their gaze until he sighed and looked down at his cup, a frown appearing on his face. "Want some?"

I was this close to turning around because there was no way he was talking to me. My lips were tightly sealed as I looked at him unsure when I was going to receive my scolding and punishment for what I had done.

What could he do anyway? Lock me up in the dungeon? Was there a dungeon? No that was archaic but then again, this whole thing does seem arㅡ

"Pretty sure I’m waiting for a reply" He pushed himself off the doorway and sauntered in fully. "What’s on your mind this fine morning, Tesoro?"

He was being nice and I didn’t like that, was something happening? I used the opportunity to look him over while covering myself more with the duvet.

He was wearing a white woolen sweater and black formal trousers and this was probably the only time I had seen him in something like that. Why was everywhere so cold?

"Uh... I... look I want to apologize about yesterday" I quickly blurted it out.

His eyes darkened and he raised a brow. "Not sure if I asked for an apology, a simple explanation would suffice, thank you"

Right, an explanation. I did not have one. None at all.

I opened my mouth and then closed it back. "Uh... I’ll have some coffee" I quickly tried to change for topic.

He frowned and handed his mug over to me. "Here"

I stared down at the mug and then back at the man. "Why are you giving me this? I thought you would make some for me"

"You don’t get to make demands, in fact, I’m supposed to be locking you up in the dungeon right now" He retorted.

So there was a dungeon.

He stared at me long and hard before a chuckle slipped past his lips and it sounded genuine, it wasn’t much but it was enough to make me look back at him. I had never heard him give such a genuine laugh.

"Do you really think I have a dungeon? What’s next? You’re gonna think Henry is the duke and you’re the queen of hearts. What is wrong with you, Tesoro?"

I looked away, my cheeks heating up. Son of a bitch.

Without answering, I stood up suddenly, a wave of dizziness hitting me and I stumbled slightly just as Vincenzo quickly put out a hand to steady me.

Okay, something was seriously wrong here.

"Why are you here this morning? Why did you cut your trip short?" I asked, making my way to the door, aware that he was right behind me, following me down the stairs.

"Because I happened to receive a call telling me my wife was throwing a party without me, at this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if you hosted a wedding between Salvatore and..." He paused at that and I stopped at the middle of the descent down the stairs.

"Who’s the Salvatore guy? He said he was your cousin"

"He is" Vincenzo continued walking down the stairs to meet me, his eyes fixed on me.

"Look, I just wanted to get to know your men better"

"Don’t ever do it again" His tone turned hard and he was suddenly standing right in front of me, my back pressed against the banister as I struggled to avoid the cold glint in his eyes.

Here it was. My scolding.

I didn’t answer. I just cleared my throat and kept walking down the stairs, stopping at the bottom of it, my gaze darting to the dining table which didn’t have food as usual.

When I woke up, there was usually an array of dishes but today, it was empty. Was this my punishment? No food?

Vincenzo walked past me, nodding to Henry who had just entered the house, and went straight upstairs.

"If you want to do something like that next time, inform me, Tesoro. You don’t meddle in my men’s affairs like that, you could end up in deep trouble" Vincenzo suddenly spoke, grabbing an apple off the dining table.

"What’s happening?" I muttered, watching how Henry came down the stairs, a suitcase in his hands, this time he glanced over at me with a small smile which I immediately returned then he walked out of the house.

"Making great friends with Henry so it is. Isn’t it funny that you’re trying to make friends with everyone under me but you detest the man of the house" Vincenzo nodded to himself, a small smirk appearing.

"There’s not much to like about you, you know?" I retorted, about to start going back up the stairs to grab a cardigan or something.

It looked like it was snowing outside already. First snow of the year and I can’t even enjoy it like I used to. Great.

"Wait" Vincenzo suddenly said making me halt again.

Curse this man for thinking he could just control me whenever he wanted.

"What?" I turned around, waiting for him to spit out whatever he wanted to say.

"How’s it going with your father? The locations I gave you, are you looking into them?" His tone turned softer, his eyes still as dark as ever.

My lips quivered at that. I was in fact not making any progress. "I’m making calls. There’s progress" I lied through my teeth.

He watched me for a moment longer than necessary but his expression never shifted, I knew he could tell I was lying but somehow he didn’t call me out on it.

"Get ready in an hour," he said.

I knew something was happening. "Where are we going this time? Wait, let me guess. Another strip club so that you can force me to hang upside down from the ceiling in exchange for giving me more information?" My tone was sarcastic but the bitterness in it was almost palpable.

It wasn’t until I realized how he was looking at me with a frown that I quickly zipped my mouth shut. "Where are we going?" I repeated, my grip on the cold banister tightening.

"A trip"

"What? You never take me on your business trips" I muttered, unsure where this conversation was heading.

"Well, you have proved that you are not someone I can keep alone in my house. What’s next? Are you going to invite my father over for a princess tea party?" He said, a mocking undertone in his voice.

Cliche.

He didn’t wait for me to finish my thinking, he looked at the watch strapped to his wrist and then back at me. "Now you have 58 minutes"

I immediately turned on my heels and started bounding up the stairs with one thought in mind.

Curse him.