Page 11

Valencia

“Good, that is what I was aiming for.” Tito said and he laughed with me.

I loved the sound of his laughter. The man couldn’t get any sexier, could he?

Once we settled down together in the bed, I gathered my courage up and finally told him, “Deacon texted me today.”

He paused, then he asked, “What did he say?”

“He was sorry that I had to find out the way that I did. And he said, he never knew the truth. But he found out why.”

Tito sucked in a deep breath and said, “You mean, why she did it? I have wondered about that so many times since I learned the whole story about this O woman.”

I turned in the bed to look at him. “You have?” I felt surprised as it had been almost all I’d thought about since I got here.

“Hell, yeah. I mean she had two sons, why kidnap a child and raise her as your own?”

“I wondered about that too. In fact, it’s why I’m so troubled now. I need answers.”

“So? He wouldn’t tell you or what?”

“He wanted us to meet up, so he could give me something.”

“So that’s why when I came in here, you were so panicked?”

I nodded. “I feel like I can’t get on with my life until I know the reason why.”

Staring at me, he wrapped his arms around me. “Valencia, I’m not sure you can trust him.”

I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I have no fear of Deacon. If he wanted to hurt me, he could have done so in the last twenty years. He claims he didn’t know that I wasn’t his sister.”

“He looked like he knew the day you arrived here.”

“He said he did not know until he met Julianna at the deposition at her law firm.”

Tito slowly shook his head. “Damn baby, my uncle has been hunting for this guy. Like with intent to kill, you know?”

“I know.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

I paused. “I think I have tried not to think about it. But I can’t hate Deacon. He was my brother for twenty years, Tito. A person can’t just turn that love for a sibling off, ya know?”

His arms tightened around me. “I suppose you can’t really. I know that if I found out that Rocky wasn’t my brother or that Francie wasn’t my sister. It wouldn’t matter.”

He only mentioned his sister once before. He said that she was presently in Italy with their grandfather. “When is your sister coming home?”

“I’m not sure. She is with my grandfather. To tell you the truth I haven’t spoken with her since her birthday. I’m a pretty shitty brother.”

I patted his cheek. “Call her soon.”

He stared at me. “I’m trying to come up with a plan to help you.

You know that we are on lockdown since Deacon sent out that man to get you.

That’s gonna make this extremely hard to pull off.

I have never lied to my uncle or my brother.

But I can’t tell them the truth either. They will want to capture Deacon. ”

I let out a sigh and said, “Then I can’t see him.” I bit at my lower lip.

“Maybe later on?” Tito suggested.

I shook my head. “There is no later. He’s leaving the country.”

Tito leaned close and kissed my lips gently then pulled back to say, “I will take you. I told you I would help and I never break a promise.”

I caressed his cheek. “I can’t ask you to break the rules. You will have to tell lies and generally just piss your whole family off.”

“It’s happened before. Not the lies but the general pissing off part.” He gave me that cute grin of his.

“No…” I sat upright and tucked my knees up to my chest. “It’s too risky. You all have this huge gate entrance that is guarded and it has cameras too probably. We would get caught right away.”

“There’s another way,” Tito said.

I looked over at him. “What?”

“We have a secret way to enter and leave the estate.”

“Really?” I asked.

“We are a part of the Famiglia. We have enemies. Often, they are watching the road leading away from the Moon Estate.”

I stared at him. “I just can't see you as mafia.”

He chuckled and replied, “I’m not a huge part. I am a bodyguard for the Descalias.” He shrugged. “I don’t run the deals, loan sharking, gun outfits and schemes that a mademan does. I just protect my family, really. So don’t glorify me.”

I turned and grasped his jaw as I told him firmly, “I will so glorify you. You just said it. You take care of your family. That’s a huge deal to me.” I leaned in and kissed him.

He kissed me back and the kiss got heavy. I didn’t care, I was once again… lost in my passion for this man.

A knock came on my door.

Breaking apart, we both looked over at it.

Tito glanced at the clock and groaned. “We totally missed breakfast.”

I nodded. “And Zia Maria hates that.”

“She sure does,” he said as he got out of the bed and looked for his clothes.

“Go into the bathroom,” I said as I picked my dress up and donned it quickly.

“What?” He stared at me.

I shooed at him then knelt to grab his tie. “Get dressed!” I handed it to him.

Grabbing it, he rushed into the bathroom and shut the door.

I hurried over to the door, just as another knock sounded. Yanking my dress down, I swung it open.

Zia, herself, stood there.

Oh gosh, Tito’s mom was here as he hid in my bathroom.

Smiling, she paused to take a closer look at me. “Are you okay, mia cara?”

Nodding my head, I replied, “Yes, I am. I-I overslept. I’m sorry.”

“I wasn’t worried.” She smiled at me. “I know that Tito comes to get you every morning.”

I had no idea how to reply, so I simply nodded at her.

“So, is he here?” she asked.

I instantly nodded again. No use in lying as I could tell she knew already.

She beamed at me now. “Oh, bene! Bene,” she exclaimed as she looked excited.

Then she paused to say, “I saved you both a plate. Come get it in the kitchen when you are…when you um...” She chuckled and placed her hands together like in prayer.

“You just do not know how long I waited for this day to come!” She laughed then turned to scurry down the hallway.

I blinked hard as I stared at her disappearing form. Turning, I closed the door.

Tito stood there. “She knows.”

I laughed as I gave him a nod. “She seems to.”

“No, there’s no seems to about that woman.” He smiled as he sat and put his socks on his feet. “If Mama knows something, she knows it. In fact, I think that’s why she came knocking on your door.” He put his shoes on now. “She wanted to verify that we were together.”

I grinned at him and tugged my sundress off. “Why would she think that?”

Pausing his shoe lace tying, he slowly peered up along my nude body. “Maledettamente caldo!” He lapsed into shocked Italian.

I grabbed my bra from the bed as I laughed. “I need to put my undergarments on. That sundress is a little see-thru.”

“It is?” he asked as he stood and picked his jacket up from the chairback. “I am telling you that if we didn't have things to do…” He came over and grasped my shoulders. “I wouldn’t allow you to wear any clothes or to leave this room for several days.”

I smiled at him. “And I would love that. You are one yummy man.”

He looked reluctant to do so but he let go of me and he stepped back. “So go ahead, commit the ultimate sin, cover that hot body up.”

I burst out laughing and stepped into my panties, then put my bra on. Finally, I slipped the dress over my body again.

“Boooo!” he exclaimed.

I chuckled. “For me…” I gave him a once over. “I can’t decide if you in a sexy Italian suit is better. Or you in your birthday suit?”

“As a man, well any man, we would all vote for nude. It is always better.”

I giggled as I slipped my sandals on. Then I raised my hands to touch both sides of my head. “Do I need to brush my hair?”

He tilted his head as he stared at me. “You look well loved.”

I bit my lip and asked, “Really? There’s a look for that?”

Nodding, he grasped my hand. “And the one you’re wearing right now,” he stated quietly. “...is a look I intend to see on you every day for the rest of my life.”

My mouth popped open. He really meant this stuff. Like the forever stuff.

At my amazed expression, Tito chuckled again and lifted my chin with his finger, closing my mouth. “Ok, Valen, let’s go. Maybe Mama will—”

I raised my hand up at him and cut him short. “What did you just call me?”

He took my raised hand, turned it over and gently kissed my palm. Raising his head, he admitted, “I called you Valen.”

His hot mouth on my palm felt so warm and for a few seconds I almost forgot what we were talking about. I shook my head as I remembered. “But why?”

“It fits you. I hope it’s ok?”

I slowly nodded at him. I think anything this man might do would be fine with me. He might just be all the things I wanted in a guy, and then some. “Yeah, I kinda like it.”

“Ok, sweet Valen. Let’s go eat.” He grinned at me and held my hand in his as he led me out the door.

We made our way down the hall and paused when his brother Rocky was heading toward us.

“Hey bro, where ya been all morning?” Rocky asked. Then he dropped his gaze to our joined hands. His eyes shot back up to our faces and he asked, “Oh, wow, veramente?”

I wasn’t sure what that word meant, but I knew my face had just turned pink as heat flooded my cheeks.

Tito glanced over at me then looked back at his brother. “Yes, really, bro. So excuse us, we are gonna have a late breakfast,” he told Rocky.

“Ok, ok.” Rocky smiled at us. “So later, we have the weekly report to go over. Even though not much happened this week, being on lockdown. I think I’m gonna go out of my mind here.” He shook his head. “Meet ya in like an hour, ok?”

“Maybe we can do it later?” Tito asked as he glanced at me. “We kind of planned a walk to the lake.”

Rocky raised his hands. “Sure, sure. It can wait.” He beamed at us then went around us. “Have a good day!” He went down the hall.

Tito kept a hold of my hand and headed us down the hall.

“Are we going to the lake?” I asked him.

“In a way, we are,” he replied. “I never lie to my brother and I won’t start now.”

I felt bad, as I stopped walking. I didn’t want him to lie, or hide anything from his family because of me.

“And I never want to be the reason you have to. I’m not sure about this anymore, Tito.

I mean, I was being selfish in my panic this morning, pressuring you to help me. I don’t feel so good about that now.”

“This is important, Valen. You need to know the truth. How can you and I move on together if this huge secret is hanging over us?”

“Us?” I asked as I stared at him.

“Hell yeah.” He nodded at me. “Anything that affects you…affects me.” He turned to gently smooth his fingertips along my cheek. “It is us now. I never had a steady girl. But I do know I want you with me and if something is a problem for you…it’s a problem for me too.”

I had no words. Tears filled my eyes as I don’t think anyone ever like…pledged their loyalty to me like this…or at all.

“Baby, don’t cry.” He swiped a fallen tear from my cheek with his thumb.

“I-I’m trying not to,” I whined.

Tito chuckled. “You are too cute.” He tugged on my hand.

I felt like my world had righted somehow and the anxiety I experienced this morning was just a bad memory now.

As he led me down the stairs, I felt giddy.

Had I ever felt like this? No, I don’t think so.

Like even my earlier worries seemed to fade away.

Everything around me suddenly looked brighter.

I never experienced this sensation before.

My body had somehow become lighter. A laugh was just inside my throat, waiting to burst out.

The feelings I experienced were foreign to me.

Completely unknown. Happiness. Hope, joy. Was this love?

Oh, my God! I am in love with Tito Bruno!

Now the words of a few love songs I always liked finally made sense! Most never did before. An old one I remembered played in my head and suddenly I was humming it.

Tito looked over at me and raised his brows.

I laughed and said, “A song is playing in my head.”

He grinned at me and asked, “What song?”

I shrugged and replied, “It’s an old song now, but it’s beautiful…” I cleared my throat and sang, “Don't ask me…What you know is true…Don't have to tell you…I love your precious heart. ”

Halting in his tracks, Tito stared at me. “You can sing?”

I stared at him then laughed. “Yes, Tito. Anyone can sing.”

Shaking his head, he said, “Not like that they can’t! Your voice is beautiful.” He rubbed his arms. “I got goosebumps!”

I shook my head. “Thank you but—”

“No buts,” he said. “Your voice was made for singing.” He again took my hand in his.

I walked on air now… he loved my singing voice too? Yes, I always loved to sing, but I only did it when I was alone. I never felt brave enough to share it with anyone before. I really believed he meant it too.

Wearing huge smiles, we walked into the kitchen.

My twin Julianna stood there with her boyfriend, Romeo. She turned to me and said, “Did you know about Deacon?” she asked as she stared at me.

It felt like I had just dropped through the clouds beneath my feet, falling like one does in a bad dream, all the way down to the hard cement of reality.

The jolt of it made the music in my head halt with a screeching sound.

Then my colorful world swirled up into the ether as it literally melted away.

And just like a beautiful technicolor dream fading when you finally wake up, everything left behind simply turned to black and white.