Chapter 22
“Here, we have all the books you need,” Carmencita informed as they stepped into the library. It was filled with books of all kinds. “All you have to do is search closely”
“Wow, this is… This is surprising. It is bigger than I thought”
“Yes. The Don loves it down here. He loves books and reads a lot too”
Rosana was shocked and speechless. How was it possible that a man like Sergio loved to read books? She wondered. It sounded so absurd. He was a ruthless man who did nothing but kill and inflict pain on poor people. What business did he have to do with books?
“I am sorry but I do not believe you”
She walked off and started checking the books, shelf by shelf. “I understand but it is the truth, my dear. Sergio, your husband is a very intelligent man”
“Of course, I know that. He is very intelligent in hurting and killing people. And oh… Little children too”
Rosana picked a book from one of the shelves and stood to look at it. She wasn’t really a book fan but she loved to read a few interesting ones.
“You do not know him too well, my dear, he is more than he seems” Carmencita paused and looked at Rosana who pretended to read the book. “And you should never judge him”
Rosana closed the book and turned to look at her. “He is a devil, a monster. That is all I know about him and it is enough”
Carmencita looked at her and smiled. Rosana had fully recovered over the past week and she was happy for her. She could now take care of herself without the help of the maids. And she looked more beautiful too.
“He is your husband”
“Yes,” She replied abruptly and smiled, pointing to the ring on her middle finger. “And this is the only thing that binds us together”
She returned the book to the shelf and rounded the corner to another where she picked out another book. Carmencita sighed and shook her head. It was no secret that Rosana hated her husband and wanted nothing to do with him.
“I know it is hard, my dear. Being stuck with a man like Sergio De Niro.” She went to stand beside her. “But you have to give it time. With time, everything will change.”
Rosana chuckled dryly. “It will not, Carmencita. He can never change. He was born that way”
“You do not know how he was born or what he went through”
“I do not care!”
“But you will have to. Because you are the only one that can change him.”
Rosana halted and turned to stare at her in surprise. What the hell was she talking about? She wondered. Had she suddenly gone crazy? How could she say something that was so dangerous and could cost her life? Something so impossible?
Sergio could never and would never change. He had already sold his soul to the devil… No, he was the devil himself and Rosana had concluded that a long time ago.
“That is why I said it will require a lot of time and patience, my dear. All you have to do is get closer to him first. Then you try to know and understand him. It is like understanding the nature of a fish before you try to catch it”
Rosana scoffed and shook her head negatively. “No… You are wrong. Sergio is not a fish and you can never catch him”
She closed the book she was holding and started walking away. How could she ask her to change a person she was afraid of? Someone whose mere presence scared the living hell out of her?
She only acted strong around him because she didn’t want to be seen as a weakness. She had once been told that the wife of a Mafia Lord can never be weak. She had to be strong and versatile. Unfortunately, Rosana was nothing close to that. Since she got married to him, she had been living in fear.
She had seen death many times. Now, all she did was avoid him at all costs. She remained in her room and stayed away from everything that happened outside to avoid getting into trouble.
“Change is a constant thing in life, my dear. And I know that one day, all of this will change for the better”
*****
*****
Rosana sat to have dinner with Sergio after two weeks of him being away. She never knew where he went and she never asked either. She was even relieved that he went away most of the time.
“You do not like to eat”Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.
“I am not hungry” She uttered and picked up her glass of wine.
“Would you rather starve, hmm? I could make that happen” Sergio responded and watched her blanche. She quickly dropped her glass of wine and picked up her cutleries.
“N… No! I will eat!”
He watched her quietly as she began to eat. A lot had changed about her and he could tell. She was no longer impetuous and daring or bold and fearless. She was now scared and could no longer speak to him without trembling.
“You are shaking, Bambolina”
She managed a gulp and responded. “I… I am not!”
She was shaking visibly, especially her hands. No matter how she tried to get herself under control, she could not stop. Not when he was sitting so close and staring intently at her.
Her heart jumped into her throat when he leaned closer. He pressed his cold fingers against her chin and pushed her face upwards to meet his. “You cannot lie to me, Bambolina. Tell me. Do I frighten you that much?”
Rosana was still shaking as she stared into his dark metallic eyes. She was still trembling and didn’t realize when a teardrop fell from her eyes. Sergio stared at it and slowly moved his thumb to trace it.
“Do I frighten you, Amore mio?”
“Yes!” She whispered as more tears rolled down her cheeks. Why was she crying? She didn’t know. But she felt the need to just let it pour out.
“Quanto?” [How much?] Sergio asked, still tracing her tears with his thumb. There was something about them that fascinated him. He had never been more engulfed in watching a person cry in his whole life.
“Tanto!.. You… You scare the living hell out of me!” [So much!]
He didn’t utter a word as he trailed his finger to her trembling lips. Slowly, he brushed the tears on her lower lips and leaned down to kiss her. Everything in her body stilled.
With wide eyes, she kept staring as he kissed her with his eyes closed. It wasn’t fiery or heated. It was deep, possessive, and slow, it made her toes curl. What was he doing? Of course, he was kissing her but why? Why was he kissing her that way, and why did it feel like there was something behind it?
“You should not be afraid of me, Amore mio” He muttered when he finally ended the kiss.
“You… You made me that way”
“Do I also make you wet, hmm?
Her eyes widened in shock as embarrassment coated her cheeks. What?!? What sort of question was that? How could he… Oh, he was such a pervert! She concluded in her mind.
“Ahh, lo faccio, non lo faccio?” [I do, do I not?] He smirked, his voice turning dark.
Rosana could feel the heat that radiated from her neck, up to her face. She had turned red already. “You do not! I merely get turned on by you!”
Sergio smirked. She was slowly regaining her boldness. “Are you sure about that, Bambolina? I can perceive the juices soaking your panties right now”
How did he know that? Rosana wondered as mortification tugged at her stomach. She was tempted to stand up and run back to her room but she remained rooted at the spot. Her face deeply flushed.
“I am sure. My panties are as dried as a bone” She shot back with a smile, fighting the urge to press her legs together. What was he trying to do to her?
“I can only believe you after I have checked it myself. What do you say, Bambolina?”
She stared back at him as her blood boiled despite the calm fa? ade she kept. She was dripping wet and that was all thanks to him. But she was never going to give him the satisfaction he needed, knowing he had made her wet and she had also lied.
She smiled and picked up her cutleries. “I wish I was, dear husband. But you see, it is impossible to become wet for a man who scares the hell out of me”
Sergio’s expression darkened and he stared at her with a predatory look in his eyes. When she saw that, her heart skipped and goosebumps covered her skin. She suddenly felt like his prey.
“Say that one more time, Bambolina, io ti sfido!” [I dare you!] His eyes were burning and dark, she couldn’t help but shudder.
Rosana remained quiet. She didn’t dare utter another word as she was afraid of what he might do. But what was wrong with him? She had only decided to play along.
A cough interrupted the intense moment and they both turned to look in the direction. Rosana heaved in relief, thankful that someone had finally distracted him. She could now breathe properly.
“Hello, brother!” The man greeted them with a charming smile and turned to Rosana. “Hello, beautiful sister-in-law!”
The man was tall with eyes, just like Sergio’s. But his eyes were different. They were bright and beautiful unlike Sergio’s. He also had the same well-defined jaw with high cheekbones. He was handsome.
Sergio had a brother! Rosana thought as she stared at him in disbelief. Carmencita had been right. She didn’t know anything about her husband.