Page 22 of Capuleto

"My dear, you gave us such a fright. We thought you had died," she said as she hugged me solicitously. "Tell us, what happened to you in Santorini?"

She had stepped up the level of distance between us. I kept my skeptical look to myself, as my mother was not very given to effusiveness.

I felt the expectant glances on me. This was the million-dollar question, the one everyone wanted the answer to.

I had the same feeling a politician might have before the final campaign rally, the one he had to deliver in hostile territory to scrape together as many votes as he could steal from the opposition.

I took a breath and looked at them all.

"Before I answer, I'd like to thank you all for your concern," I had to modify my tone slightly or they'd realize the deceit. "I can't tell you much about what happened, because those bastards kept me in a kind of half-sleep most of the time, due to the narcotics. They must have drugged me to keep me from causing trouble. All I know is that they took me out by boat, I stayed six days in a secluded cabin, where a tray was brought to me a couple of times a day, and they administered the next dose that would blur my mind again. I know because when they prepared me at the club, I asked what day it was. I wasn't even sure of the date."

"How horrible!" murmured Juliet.

"Did you see or hear anything that might suggest who your captors were?" That was Massimo, who squinted, trying to pry more information.

"My memories are somewhat vague. Maybe I heard something, but I don't remember. The woman who kidnapped me was my only contact with the outside. And as I wasn't fully coherent, I could barely exchange a few words. I tried to offer her money. She paid no attention. However, given the recent events, only one name keeps repeating in my mind." I paused to look at them all. "Cheng." It wasn't exactly a blatant lie. My brother and that damn Chinese woman were in business together, so indirectly she had something to do with it.

"I knew it!" exploded Massimo, slamming his fist into his palm. "We need to organize, talk to Giuliano, and start a much more forceful offensive. We've been too lenient with the Asians, and now they take us for weak."

"Father, I don't think this is the time to have this conversation." My husband looked towards my mother, Juliet, and Irisha.

"Sorry, you're right, son. There are too delicate ears in this room. Can we gather and call your uncle?" R nodded, looking at his father. My father-in-law changed his perspective and addressed me calmly. "Thank you for the effort, beautiful, you can stay with the women, you need a few days to recover."

"I'm fine," I argued, with no desire to be left out of the equation. Massimo raised his hand.

"Don't contradict me on this. When you're better, you can rejoin Romeo, until then, my son will keep you updated on the decisions made, and we hope to have your consensus."

"My father-in-law had moved up to where I was standing next to my mother. Inside, I was trembling with rage. I didn't like being sidelined as if I didn’t matter, and Massimo was a sexist, like most men in the mafia. Even if I wanted to rebel, I couldn't afford to. I was supposed to have been consuming narcotics for a week and my health was not optimal. I couldn't show full agility. My father-in-law reached out his hand to help me down the last step and gave me two kisses on the cheeks.

"Just need a couple of days," I said, restrained. He gave me a condescending smile and patted my hand.

"You take as long as you need, Nikita. I know you're a tough woman, like your mother, but even the hardest rock can be worn down by a mere drop of water. Let us take care of you for a few days. I promise you won’t be sidelined, if that’s what worries you. You have my word."

"I hope so, because that’s what it seemed like." No matter how much I had wanted to restrain myself, my father-in-law wouldn't have believed my lack of annoyance anyway. He gave me another smile and patted my hand.

I didn't miss the glance he exchanged with my mother. It made me nauseous, and it had nothing to do with the drug.

Massimo went over to his son, and Aleksa took the opportunity to approach me before following the other roosters.

"I'm glad to see you’re well, Mrs. Koroleva," he addressed me with the expected respect.

"Thank you, Aleksa. You’re looking better. How are the ribs?" He had a somber, sad, and somewhat gaunt look. Could it be because he missed Andrey?

"As the doctor says, I am making adequate progress. I hope you don't mind what I'm going to tell you, but I called Andrey to calm him down. If it had been the other way around, I would have appreciated the call." I smiled inwardly. Romeo's man was totally smitten with mine; I didn't know how the others hadn’t noticed."

"I'll call him in a while, I was planning to do it to discuss some matters he needed to handle. As soon as everything is resolved, I'll have him come back immediately, I like having Andrey close," the relief flooded his face. "I appreciate you letting him know. You make a good team." He looked at me nervously and simply nodded.

The men disappeared through the garage, surely heading to the adjoining room to talk in peace. I clenched my fists, eager to follow them, instead of going out to the terrace with "the women."

Brutus came running towards me and I was unable to contain his joy. The dog smothered me with licks, drools, and cuddles, while Juliet and Irisha tried to get him off me.

Ana María came out when she heard the girls' screams and together we managed to control him.

"I missed you too, buddy." I scratched his head before he was taken to his kennel under house arrest.

My sister and Juliet didn't stop chattering. Irisha, about the traumas the experience might leave me with, and my sister-in-law, giving me advice on how to overcome it. Two years of psychology sure were useful! My mother stayed unusually on the sidelines.

After twenty minutes, my head was about to explode. Luckily, it was time to pick up Adriano from school. So, my sister and sister-in-law stood up to go get him with one of the bodyguards they had been assigned. Apparently, they had been doing it all week, as Romeo was not in full capacity.

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