just you and me, like we said

Growing up within the Torisi Villa was all you had ever known. Constant chores day in & out. Cook three meals a day. Help tend the horses. Maybe take a few minutes to ogle at Cesare Massaro.

The man you grew up beside dripped in confidence and violence. And you may have been unable to tear your gaze away from him but he always felt out of reach. You could look at him, sure; but could you talk to him? Would he talk to you? Were you allowed to chat?

Everything he did was never less than perfect in your eyes; at least you thought so. Until today.

There were always whispers of his trysts with the bar girls but this was the first you had seen it in action. Or, the sweet talk before it happened.

There he was, leaning against the wall with some girl. The same smirk on his face and wink in his eye that he sometimes gave you whenever he caught you staring from across the courtyard. You couldn’t even tell if she wanted to entertain him but you had seen enough.

Turning back the way you came, your shoulder had bumped into Enzo. His hands helped steady your shoulders before you had a chance to fall.

“Scusi, signore.”

“It is alright, signora. Have you seen Cesare? He’s supposed to help me with a delivery.”

“Ah, he seems a little busy at the moment.” You said as you pointed gestured behind you. In your attempt to flee, your brain came up with a great idea.

“What if I helped you instead?” You offered.

“Are you sure signora? We will be gone all day.” Enzo stressed to you.

“Yes. I’ve done all my chores anyway. And it’ll be good for me to get out.” You reasoned more for yourself than with Enzo.

“Alright, signora. Lets go, the car is waiting.” Enzo stated as he lead you to the front gate.

Enzo proved to be pleasant company as he drove through the roads of San Celeste. You talked about what it was like in the Torisi estate while he shared personal stories about the sulfur mines. Even though you empathized with him, he seemed to have detached himself from the mines now. A true gentleman with a good start.

The final stop had you & Enzo pulling into the driveway of Don Galante’s bar, an unexpected visit but not an unwelcome one.

Don Galante had always been a kind old man, despite his background. You beat him in a chess game once when you were the age of 14. All he had done then was congratulate you and offer to play again another time. (You were still convinced that he let you win).

“Signora! What a pleasant surprise!” Don Galante greeted gleefully.

“Don Galante, pleasure to see you again. I apologize that this isn’t a social visit.” You replied. Another voice you hadn’t heard of in a while resounded behind the Don.

“Ah! My principessa comes to see me again!” Leo dramatically sighed as he walked out of his grandfather’s bar. He had offered you his hand in helping to step out of the front seat of the car. You shook your head with laughter as you accepted his hand.

“Leo, I’m not a principessa.” The first genuine smile finally crept onto your face since this gloomy morning.

“But your beauty is beyond compare, cara. How could I ever think of you as anything but?” With your hand still in his, he lifted it for a gentle kiss on your knuckles. That same boyish smirk you saw as a child now playing on his cheeks. But it looks different now. Less awkward. More sure of himself.

Maybe your stomach fluttered a bit.

“Leo, we have wine to deliver.” You said hurriedly so as to get your world back in motion.

You, Enzo, and Leo stored the wine in the back storage room while the Don counted everything. Well, more like Leo argued with you for about 10 minutes not to do any heavy lifting since he can ‘do it for you’. You just loaded the crates into the bar anyway, completely out to spite him. After the last box was accounted for and put away, Leo tried to tempt you both into staying.

“I’m not sure if we can. We have at least one more delivery before we’re expected back at the estate.” You explained regretfully.

Leo quickly looked at his grandfather and whatever silent conversation they had passed as soon as it started.

“How about this. I will go with Enzo for the last delivery and you play a game with my grandson to pass the time? Eh? Seems fair enough to me.” You knew better than to challenge the Don on something like this, even when it was just a friendly suggestion.

You watched as Enzo gave an encouraging nod to you and drove off with the Don in the car, saying he’ll be back to pick you up later. Leo led you to an outside table where his grandfather’s chess set usually resides. Ever the gentleman, he pulled out the chair for you.

“I’m not sure how well my skills are now. I haven’t played in a while.” You relented.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you, principessa.” He stated as he set the board.

The afternoon was filled with laughter of old childhood stories and catching up on the interests you haven’t told each other in a while. It felt familiar, relaxing. Time stood still with him.

He felt like home.

That’s what you were trying to look for. Not the temptation that Cesare could provide or even the kindness Enzo had. Connecting with Leo felt like a bonding of your souls. You weren’t sure if he could feel it too. He probably didn’t.

Over the course of the first game, he had bested you. With moves you noticed that didn’t bruise your ego.

“How about a wager?” You leaned on the table.

“What kind, signora?” He leaned towards you with equal fervor.

“If I win, I get to have a bottle of that American Whisky.” You prodded.

“And if I win?” He probed lightly.

“Whatever you want, singore” You teased.

Leo took a breath before he responded.

“What I want is something you couldn’t fathom.” He said more to himself than to you.

“Name it after you win.”

“After, principessa?”

“If you win.”

Leo took one look at the reset board and moved his pawn into position.

“I do love a good wager, cara.”

The next half an hour you were on the edge of your seat. You were trying to understand his moves while playing your own. With two quick decisions he had you in checkmate. It had happened so fast that you gripped the table in disbelief.

“You cheated!” You angrily yelled; while still smiling.

“Merda, you wound me! I would never cheat on you.” He placed his hand over his heart as his smirk crept onto his face again. It was something in his eyes that made you believe his words. Did he mean in all aspects?

“Claim your prize, Leo.” You rolled your eyes back playfully while pretending to pout about losing.

“A night. With you” Well, that certainly pushed the air out of your lungs.

“Leo, that’s not funny. I’m not one of your prostitutes.” You tried to simmer your offense as your hands sat in your lap.

“I meant dinner, principessa.” He chuckled as he got up and walked towards you. “I wouldn’t mind what you were insinuating either. But I fear just one night with you won’t be enough.” He said the last sentence almost to himself.

He offered his hand again to help you out of the chair. With a finesse you hadn’t seen from him; both of your hands were brought up to his mouth as he laid kisses upon each knhckle.

“Think about it, principessa. A meal. Candlelight. American Whisky. Driving you home and kissing you goodnight. Maybe more if you invite me in.”

“Leo, that last part would only happen with my future husband.” You had said to get yourself out of your star struck gaze.

“That’s my dream, cara. I have to keep my future wife satisfied, don’t I? Let you have a taste before we wed. Rather, let me have a taste.” He let his hand travel behind you to pluck a flower from a nearby pot and tuck it behind your ear.

You heard the car pull up before you saw it, causing you to step back from him before giving your answer. Don Galante got out of the car as you put some distance between you & Leo; stepping around him to approach the still running vehicle.

Just as you had settled yourself into the seat, you grabbed Enzo’s shoulder to signal him not to drive yet. This could easily be the stupidest or smartest decision of your life. But you’ll never know if you never try.

“Leo!” You shouted over the engine. He turned to you, quickly masking what might have been hurt over his face.

“Tomorrow night. At 7. Don’t be late.” You relented.

A genuine smile split his face this time.

“For you, my principessa? Never.” He stated.

You sat back down on the seat and glanced at Enzo.

“Minchia, what?” You groaned. He just shook his head fondly before his comment.

“I didn’t say anything.” Enzo said before he drove back to the villa with a teasing smirk on his face.

You hadn’t even noticed your arrival home as the flower Leo gave you twiddled with in your hands. So enthralled that you let your body take you to your room just based on muscle memory alone, entranced by the flower. Almost giggling, despite your age.