Sold to the Capo-Chapter 45: WHO IS GRACE?

ADRIANA’S POV

I packed my hair into a ponytail, grabbing my joggers and headphones.

With one last look in the mirror, I was satisfied with what I saw as I walked down the stairs, stopping at the foot of the stairs when I caught sight of Vincenzo writing down something furiously on a notepad, his face scrunched up in concentration.

I stood there for a minute, just watching him and I frowned. Why did God have to bless the worst people with the best features? I couldn’t deny that he was probably the hottest guy I had ever met and I would probably fan girl over him if I didn’t know him personally.

"If you’re gonna stare, you could at least try to get a better angle" He didn’t look up, he simply leaned back, his gaze still raking over the note in his hand.

My cheeks flushed and I strolled forward, my movement tense. "Are we training today?" I asked.

I had spent five hours watching self-defense stuff online and I idealized each one in my head, even trying to practice them in the room as Vincenzo hadn’t slept at home for some weird reason. He had come home around 2 am and he had sat here ever since, making a few hushed calls and staring at papers.

"No, there’s no training today. We have something... important happening today" He said vaguely, his gaze raising to meet mine.

I was putting in airpods so that I could listen to music while jogging but I waited for him to explain and when he didn’t, I spoke up again. "So nothing today?" I asked, my tone suddenly deflated.

Damn it, I shouldn’t have been so eager for practice but here I was because I was so sure that I could throw him down today. I was that confident in my newfound skills. I literally kept trying out stuff I had learned on the internet and I think they were pretty effective.

"Are you disappointed?" He raised a brow, an amused smirk dancing on his lips.

"No" I frowned.

"Don’t worry, Tesoro... you’ll get enough time to try out your new tricks on me" He smirked seeing how my eyes widened.

Holy...

My eyes widened to the size of golf balls and the air around me suddenly felt suffocating. "What...what do you mean by that?"

Surely he can’t have known what I was doing In the room. He wasn’t even home.

His smile widened and he grabbed his phone, scrolling through it before he showed me a recording.

My face contorted into a scowl as I watched it. There was a fucking camera in the room.

"You keep a camera in the room?" My mind was working fast as I tried to know the location of that thing based on the camera angle.

"This house is loaded with cameras and even though I wasn’t home, this..." He raised his phone, a smile on his face. "...was really fun to watch from where I was. Really kept me entertained"

My fists clenched and I felt the urge to just die right there. "You made your point. So what? I was trying new stuff I saw online" I folded my arms across my chest, my pulse racing when his gaze dropped to my chest for a fraction of a second before looking back at me.

"Actually, Tesoro. If you’re hellbent on trying out the shitty stuff you learn, I could assign Salvatore to help you. He’s bored anyways and he’s getting really cranky" He suggested, a smirk on his face.

"No" I was quick to say, my eyes wide while Vincenzo burst into laughter.

Like he really laughed. His eyes creased as he did so, a slight dimple on his left cheek and I found myself staring more at his hazel eyes that brightened up, little flecks of gold as I peered harder at it.

He must have felt my scrutinizing gaze because the smile wiped and he cleared his throat, muttering a few curses under his breath. "You can’t learn good stuff from those tutorial stuff. Salvatore is a black belt and so am I but since I’m not gonna be home, you could just get it down with Salvatore. He’ll be happy to teach you" His smirk only served to frustrate me further and I sighed.

"Look, my back still hurts from where that... Caveman slammed me down! I think he shifted a bone in my hand by the way" I flexed my wrist, my words coming out in a hiss.

Vincenzo looked down at my chest for the second time and I knew it wasn’t a mistake this time. He was looking at something.

"Wait..." he suddenly moved steps forward and I staggered back but he grabbed my waist, a frown set on his face.

"I’m not gonna do anything..." he locked gazes with me and his grip tightened on my waist to keep me from moving.

I blinked rapidly, my heart pounding but I couldn’t look away from those randomly beautiful hazel eyes.

Were they always this beautiful?

Suddenly I felt it. Something was on me. I stiffened and so did Vincenzo’s grip.

"Don’t.. move... look at me" His voice was commanding and I obeyed, my breath hitching when he reached forward, his finger tickling my skin as he picked out something that was crawling down the slope of my chest.

I visibly heaved a sigh of relief when he flicked something away and his hands dropped from my waist and that was when I realized how warm his arm was around me.

What the hell was wrong with me today?

"That scared of simple bugs, are we?" he smirked and I stared at him, he was calm like he had not just done that.

Instinctively, I rubbed at the place where he had traced his finger down my neck and I cleared my throat. "Thanks for that" I managed to whisper, my heart still in my throat.

His gaze turned dark and he took a step back. "Tesoro... you don’t like me touching you... you don’t like people touching and we’ve evaded this topic every single time... not today... this is the last time I’ll ask... what happened?" He asked, his tone surprisingly calm but I could swear there was an undertone of concern.

My eyes watered and I looked down at my feet, feeling their hands all over me. It would never leave. Never, would it?

"It’s nothing" I lied, raising my gaze to meet his, watching how his eyes darkened in annoyance but he sat back down, his jaw tight.

"Suit yourself" He muttered under his breath.

"So uh... what are you doing today as you’re so busy?" I tried to change the topic.

"We’re receiving someone," He said vaguely.

"Who?"

He went silent, ignoring me and I knew he wouldn’t say a damn thing again.

Scoffing under my breath, I put on my music and jogged out of the house, nodding to the guards as I did so. Lately, they had been returning my small gestures and even the Cavalieri members who were always in their own different world from the other ranks gave me a nod and smirk or two when I passed.

Guess dinner worked after all.

I usually jogged around the property every morning to keep myself busy but today, someone stepped in my way with a smile.

I halted, a smile on my face too, removing my airpods. "Keira" I acknowledged the woman with the buzz cut.

"How’s it going for you today, Madrina" She bowed slightly in respect. They all referred to me as Madrina which was an Italian term for "Godmother" as they knew better than to call me by my name and I didn’t want them to call me Signora.

"Pretty good. You with the guys today on patrol?" I nodded behind her to some rough-looking men who were waiting for her back.

"Yeah... thought I’d come to ask you if the boss is in," She asked, putting her hands on her hips while I struggled not to stare at the scar that ran from her left ear down to her neck.

How brutal of a cut could have caused that?

"Can’t you just go check?" I asked, confused as to why she was asking that.

"Ah no, no one’s allowed near the main house for a few hours until we receive our guest. She must be kept safe at all costs" Keira smiled at me.

I removed my airpods remembering what Vincenzo had said about receiving someone but I could only grab one thing from what she said. "She?"

"Oh...they’re here" Keira nodded behind me.

I swiveled around, my eyes fixed on the black van that swerved to a stop at the mansion.

No cars came that close to the main house unless it was me or Vincenzo in it.

Frowning, I watched from afar as Val came down from the vehicle, a Stony expression on her face but my attention quickly turned to the other person alighting.

I couldn’t see her face, just a flash of golden blonde hair as the...lady was led into the house, Val right next to her.

Who the fuck...was that?

Keira seemed to know what I was thinking because she tilted her head. "You don’t know her?"

I couldn’t tear my gaze from the door of the house where the woman and Val had just walked through.

"No"

Was I supposed to?

"That’s Grace"

I had heard that name before.

Holy shit.

She was the one who the Don’s at the meeting more than a month ago when Jules was killed were talking about.

I remembered their words correctly. "Is this about Grace? I heard she’s good at what she was" Apparently, she was a sight to behold based on how they talked about her.

This Grace?