Page 11 of The Hitman's Rose

Chapter Six

Ademaro

We returned to the compound over an hour ago. Giovanni summoned Rosaline to his office the moment we arrived. No one was allowed in, not even a guard. It was just the two of them.

Out of all of the years being around Giovanni never had he had a one-on-one meeting with someone. Not even family. His meeting with Rosaline put me on edge. I stood in the hallway calm on the surface but a ball of nerves on the inside.

Was Rosaline safe? Did Giovanni plan to harm her? Or maybe something else?

Get a fucking grip,I scold myself.

Giovanni wasn’t that type of man and I knew it. He cared deeply for Rosaline as though she was his daughter. I was just being a schmuck. A testerone-charged, rage-filled, fucking schmuck.

The sound of the office door opening has those of us in the hallway standing tall. Rosaline appears with Giovanni by her side. Rosaline’s eyes are red and puffy. She’s been crying.

Instinctively, I want to reach for her, pull her against me, and tell her everything would be okay. However, my duty and loyalty to Giovanni has me frozen in place. Never has it been so hard to do what is expected of me. Choosing between Giovanni and Rosaline is like choosing between blood and air; both are necessary for life.

“Jacobi? Mikael? Escort Rosaline to her room or the garden,” Giovanni says, placing a hand on her shoulder. “If you need me, send for me. Okay?”

“Yes, Signore Tacchelli,” Rosaline whispers. Her body shakes as she undoubtedly tries to hold back her tears.

“Okay. Take her.”

“Yes, Boss,” Jacobi and Mikael reply in unison then lead Rosaline down the hallway and out of sight.

“Ademaro, I want to speak to you,” Giovanni states, stepping back inside his office. I follow behind him. “Close the door.” He doesn’t even look back at me as he rounds his desk and sits down.

I quietly close the door then walk over to the desk. Giovanni’s dark aura has me worried about the conversation ahead. I’ve never seen him like this.

“Have a seat, Ademaro,” he instructs.

“Yes, Boss.” I take a seat. My back is straight and my hands rest on my lap. I am prepared for whatever order he might give.

“Can you be any more uptight, Ademaro?” Giovanni laughs. “You look all tense and shit.”

“Boss?”

“You’re sitting all proper and shit.” He mimics how I’m sitting while he continues laughing. “Did you think I was mean and yelled at Rosaline for liking you?”

“What?” I blurt. “What do you mean, Boss?”

“You two were like love-sick pups during dinner then again at breakfast,” he grins. “I’ve never seen you have emotion in your eyes, Ademaro. I was beginning to think you were a robot or something.”

“A robot,” I repeat with a chuckle. “I’m not a robot, Boss. Just do what I’m told.”

“You’re a good man, Ademaro.”

“Thank you, Boss.”

Giovanni’s fatherly tone and kind eyes are making me uneasy. It isn’t like him. He is never an asshole to me; however, we never do heart to hearts.

“I mean no disrespect, Boss, but are you okay?” I ask. Giovanni slaps his hand on the desk and erupts with laughter. Whole-hearted laughter.

“This kid here,” he says when his laughter finally stifles. “I’m fine. Just need to talk to you about some things. I didn’t want any ears. Just the two of us.”

“I understand, Boss.”

“Rosaline’s sister, Adrianna…” He pauses and leans back in his chair. “Adrianna killed Franciszek.”

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