Ariana's POV:
As I was eating my mousse, I saw that Valente wasn't eating his. I was just about to ask but remembered that I was angry at him so I didn't. I just glanced at him and focused on my mousse.
After finishing my mousse, I saw that he was just looking at me and wasn't touching his dessert. I was really curious so I couldn't help but ask.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"I thought you were not talking to me." He asked, looking confused.
"Forget it that I asked." I huffed in anger.
"Here. Have it and don't be angry with me." He slid his plate to me.
"You think that I won't be angry with you if you just gave me sweets. I am not a kid anymore. And didn't you just say that you like chocolate and especially dark chocolate."
"Right, I forgot. Never mind." He said and picked up his fork and started eating it. I just looked at him in disbelief.
This man is really infuriating. I saw that he just had his sweets and didn't offer me again.
"Here. It's delicious. You will be missing it if you don't have even a bite." He said placing the fork in front of my mouth.
I couldn't control myself anymore and just ate it. The flavours in my mouth exploded. I must say it was really delicious. He smiled at me gently and lovingly.
"What! I am angry with you and not with the dessert." I said while avoiding his eyes.
"Don't be angry with me. Please." He said with an extremely sincere face. I couldn't stand it so I nodded reluctantly.
After having dessert we went home. After all, it was getting late and papa had told him to bring me before 10. We went home and he parked the car outside my home.
"Goonight baby." He said while not moving closer because he knew that we would be seen otherwise.
"Good night. Send me a text when you reach home." I said and got out of the car.
I waved him bye and went inside. I sighed happily. It was a nice and romantic day.
It has been a long time since I went on a date. Although I had gone on a few dates previously I feel that this one was the most meaningful and romantic. Maybe it was because I like him very much.
Just as I entered the house I saw that papa and twinnie were sitting there, watching tv.
"Twinnie, you are home. How was it?"
"Good. He shared his experience and explained everything that I was finding hard to come to terms with. Now I don't feel as conflicted as I felt before." I said with a smile on my face.
"It's good that you are now out of that phase. Princess, if you want to talk about something you can always come to find me. I will always be here for you." Papa said.
"I know papa." I gave him a big hug.
He smiled and patted my head affectionately.
"Where's mom and dad?"
"They are in their room." Twinnie replied.
"Ok I am going to their room. I think that I should talk with them also."
"Go ahead princess."
I went upstairs to the room that mom and dad were in. It was a room that was assigned to them when they first came here to stay. Papa and brothers said that they should have their room to stay here. After all, they are my parents.
I knocked on their door.
"Come in." Mom said from inside.
"Mom, dad." I called them when I went in.
"Baby girl. Come sit." Dad said and gestured to the couch that was placed there.
"Are you alright now Ari. I feel like you have become much lighter than when I saw you in the morning." Mom said.
Indeed mothers knew their children the best. If you are in pain, happiness, hurt, angry or going through any emotions, they are the first to know what is going on with their children. We don't have to say anything, just with a single glance, they could tell what was going on with their children. No one could compare to mothers in the world.
"Yes mom. I talked with Valente. As you know he took me outside so that my mood could become better. He talked with me and shared some things about his experience. I now feel much calmer than before. He is also a mafia boss. So he knew what was going on in my mind. We talked and it helped me greatly."
"That is all we need. For you to be well. I am glad that you have found someone like that. Cherish him well Ari." Mom said.
I could feel that her meaning was different than I understood. It felt like she was implying something but I didn't dwell much on it. She would tell me if there was anything.
"I will mom." I nodded. She smiled at me.
"So mom, dad, don't feel worried about me anymore. I know that you guys have been frightened because of me and I am very sorry to drag in you all of this. I promise that I will always try to keep you safe. No matter what."
"We don't blame you Ari. You are our daughter. We have raised you and loved you. How could we blame you? We are just worried for you. That something bad would happen to you. That's all. But now that you are feeling better, of course we are now relieved." Dad smiled at me and looked really relieved.
I was feeling very guilty at that moment. If it wasn't because of me, they wouldn't be in this mess. Still if I am being honest, I was also feeling very happy that they still chose to stay by my side and love me like before.
I saw that mom was looking at dad and it looked like she was signaling him something.
"Cough. Princess, we were thinking that we should now move back to our home. What do you think?" Dad said.
"No dad. It's not safe yet and not in that house especially. Why don't you stay here? Are there any problems?"
"No no, there aren't any problems. We just feel embarrassed to stay here while we also have our home." Mom said.
"I know that you feel like that but mom, dad, for your own safety, you have to stay here for some time. Don't worry, if you have any problems, you can tell anyone. You also know that they all treat you both as family."
"Ok then." Dad said after some hesitation.
Mom looked at dad and he nodded at her. She seemed to understand that it was best for them to stay here. I sat with them for some time and then went to my room. As it was getting late.
When I went to my room I took out my phone. I saw that Valente had sent me a message saying that he was home.
I sent him goodnight and went to sleep.
****
Today my friends Noah and Jessy were coming to my home. They have settled down now and we thought about spending some time. They also knew about the attack that had happened as they were assigned as my bodyguards.
So I got ready and went to the living room to wait for them. Valente had texted me in the morning wishing me a good morning. I was also slowly getting used to it. The texting, caring for someone romantically and all of that.
We didn't chat for long as he had to go to work and I also had to get ready.
After waiting for some time my friends arrived.
"Ari." They both hugged me tightly.
"Hey guys."
"Are you alright?" Jessy asked.
"Yup. My family took care of them." I spoke of that day.
I still feel a little uncomfortable but knew that it was necessary.
I saw both of them exchanging galances. I know that they were worried about me but with time they would see that I was really fine now.
"So have you both settled in your homes?"
"Yup." They both said.
"Ari, the summer breaks are about to end and we have to go to university, so we have to prepare for it." Noah said.
I nodded. Yes we have received our college acceptance letters. I got the place in the university that I wanted and as they had to protect me, they also received their letters after Tony fratello made some arrangements.
Tony fratello had also made all the preparations, so we just had to go to the university and register for the classes. It was so much easier that he had made all of the preparations. As for our dormitory, Tony fratello had bought a house in which all three of us could stay. It was near the university.
"Yes, I remember. Tony fratello had arranged everything. We just have to go to the university for the registration."
"Why don't we go shopping today? We will buy everything that we need for our university. I also want to buy new clothes." Jessy exclaimed with excitement.
"Ok that's a good idea. We will go shopping and I will help you get familiar with New York. Is it your first time coming here?"
I wouldn't have asked this before I knew that they were special agents but now that I know, I felt that they would have kept many secrets from me.
"No, I have come before. It's Noah's first time though." Jessy said.
"Oh. So when do you want to go?"
"Let's go now. I also want to shop for some clothes." Noah said.
"Okay."
I sent a text to papa that we were going shopping. We took Noah's car as he had his car shipped here. After all, we all have our driving licenses and it was easy to have our own car.
****
We spent our whole day shopping and had lunch outside. We came back in the evening and Noah and Jessy went to their homes.
"How was your day princess?" Papa asked when he saw me coming home.
I handed the shopping bags to a maid and she went to place it in my room.
"It was fun, papa. We spent our whole day shopping. My friends also enjoyed their time. I think nonno did the best to assign them to be my bodyguard. That way we can be together. It's just that I feel a little guilty that they had to leave everything behind for me."
"You don't have to feel guilty princess because if not for you they would have been assigned somewhere else and then they would also have to be away from their homes and rebuild their lives somewhere else." I heard Tony fratello's voice.
He said this while coming into the room. He just came back from the company and he looked a little exhausted. It was no easy feat to manage the mafia and the companies at this large scale but he was doing his best that he could.
"I know fratello but still. Anyways, fratello sit here. Are you very tired? Why don't I give you a head massage?" I stood up and went towards him.
"You don't have to, princess." Tony fratello tried to resist.
"I am very good at this. You will feel relaxed in no time." I didn't mind his resistance and went to the bathroom.
I took some oil from the bathroom and went to the back of the sofa. I stood behind him and poured a few drops of oil on my palm. I rubbed my hands to warm it and then put my hands on his forehead. I massaged his head slowly and felt the tension melting away and he started to get relaxed.
"Princess, your hands are magical. I feel so relaxed." Tony fratello sighed in relief.
"I know. I used to give massages to mom and dad. They always felt tired after teaching at university so I learned how to give a massage."
"You are being biased again."
I was shocked to hear that and turned to see...
****
Hello dear readers.
I hope you will like the chapter.
Happy reading.
Love, Stella.