CHAPTER 5

Tommaso raised an eyebrow slightly “but you see strangely enough…”

A faint smile crossed Mr Giovanni’s face as he remembers the change on his son's face whenever he sees Azzura “he remembers your daughter”

Tommaso blinked slowly.

“Azzura?”

“Yes Tom” Mr Giovanni replied as he turned fully towards Mr Tommaso again.

“The boy saw her years ago during the Verona gathering, do you remember?” Mr Giovanni asked as Mr Tommaso suddenly remembered the event clearly “ohh yes I do”

“Azzura had been very much younger then I think 10 or 11 years old then…she was still the stubborn and playful child as usual” Mr Tommaso said with a smile on his face.

“Yes you are right Tom, during the event she had accidentally spilled wine on Francesco’s black suit that evening and everyone had expected him to explode in anger at her…but surprisingly Francesco merely stared at her silently while she argued fearlessly with him hahahaha” Mr Giovanni said as both he and Mr Tommaso laughed as they remembered the matter.

“And after that for the rest of the evening his eyes kept following her across the ballroom” Mr Giovanni said once more after holding himself for a while from laughing too much.

Mr Tommaso had never thought deeply about the matter but now that his friend spoke about it, the memory felt different.

“He spoke about her afterward” Giovanni admitted calmly “even though he didn't show it or speaking about the matter steadily but I know my son”

Mr Tommaso looked genuinely surprised now “that boy barely speaks at all you know right?”

“Exactly and it is the more reason I myself was surprised” Mr Giovanni said as a brief silence followed immediately

Then Giovanni smiled darkly “and from what I know, when Francesco speaks about someone… he never forgets them, never”

The statement carried strange intensity beneath it causing Mr Tommaso to clear his throat lightly before forcing a smile.

“Well children can be unpredictable after all, what do you think ?” Mr Tommaso said as Mr Giovanni nodded.

“Yes you are right old friend” but inwardly he already knew this marriage was beyond simple interest for Francesco.

His son had chosen Azzura long ago, long before anyone realized it and once an Ndrangheta man desired something deeply he never let it go….never.

“It’s alright I will keep my family informed about this and I should inform you on the update on how it goes my good friend, and yes thank you for the hospitality I am really grateful to you old friend” Mr Tommaso said.

Mr Giovanni smiled before extending his hand firmly toward him “the pleasure is mine Tom”

The two men shook hands slowly “I should get going now” Mr Tommaso said after merrying with Mr Giovanni for a while.

He grabbed his coat in preparation to leave immediately as Mr Giovanni walked his friend out personally toward the massive doors of the mansion.

Outside the rain had finally stopped and the cold night breeze swept through the estate while luxury black vehicles waited patiently before the grand staircase.

“Alright old friend will be expecting your feedback, your feet and fleet are ever welcome in the Ndrangheta clan always and forever” Mr Giovanni said as he crossed his right hand over his chest.

“Thank you my friend” Mr Tommaso said as he enters his vehicle and took his leave out of the estate.

THE PRESENT

“True words you said there my lovely wife and truth be told I do remember that special moment I had to go through hell just to prove loyalty to an old time friend who is now the Lord of the Ndranghetas, ohh what a time to relish on the past” Mr. Tommaso said drifting back to reality as he finished reminiscing on his time with Mr Giovanni, he held Mrs. Gaia in his embrace.

The room remained quiet except for the faint crackling sound coming from the fireplace by the far end of the room. Outside, the rain had finally reduced into soft droplets sliding slowly against the tall glass windows of the Sil mansion.

Mr Tommaso’s face softened slightly as he looked down at Mrs Gaia “I am so grateful to have you as my wife” he said to himself.

For years Mrs Gaia had remained his peace and the one person capable of calming the storm hidden inside him.

“I am glad that you, my husband the strong lion who has conquered so many trials now have a clear sight on what I am hinting at exactly” Mrs. Gaia said with a sly smile on her lips.

“So what then do you think should be done now my love…. will you let your only daughter go or you send out the invite for the Ndranghetas to come pay you a nice visit?” Mrs. Gaia said after a long pause.

Mr Tommaso exhaled heavily “the truth was painful, that no matter how powerful he had become over the years there were still people above him and the Ndranghetas stood at the very top.