My Mafia Madness 3

Chapter 8 - Meeting Nicholas Valentino

Shortly after their arrival, Dante was required to go and deal with some last-minute preparations for what he had planned to do here this evening; his secretive plan to propose to Alexa.

Unfortunately, he was needed in person, which meant that he would be leaving Alexa under the watchful eyes of his men.

“I’ll only be gone for twenty minutes or so. Maybe less.”

Dante spoke to assure Alexa as he held her in his masculine embrace, his tantalizing cologne circulating all around her as she smiled before she replied.

“Relax, I’m in safe hands, remember?”

Dante turned his attention towards both Luca and Cecilio as they stood just off to the side, awaiting their instructions from him.

“Do not let her out of your sight. Understood?” he commanded sternly.

“Not even for a second.”

“We got it, boss.” Luca assured him with a smile.

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye on her.”

Cecilio nodded his head as he lifted his beverage up to meet his lips.

“Just go. I’ll be fine.” Alexa gave the Don’s arm a gentle shove to get him moving.

“The sooner you go, do what you need to, the sooner you come back to me. And we can enjoy our night together.”

Dante’s eyes narrowed, as if he were having second thoughts about leaving her alone like this. Even in such a secure place.

So much had happened to Alexa lately and he promised himself that he would never allow anything else to happen to her, ever again.

He had vowed to protect her… a fool’s promise, yes, but one he intended on keeping, nevertheless.

After ensuring that Luca and Cecilio would both remain by Alexa’s side indefinitely, keeping guard of her in his absence, Dante gave his beautiful woman a quick kiss and then headed off, accompanied in person by Nicola and a few others.

As Alexa watched him depart, she decided to go and find something non-alcoholic that she could drink until he returned.

She knew nothing whatsoever of what Dante was planning and of course she thought nothing of it as she moved across towards the large open bar and ordered herself drink.

“Uh, just a glass of orange juice with ice, thanks.”

Alexa spoke with a polite smile aimed at the bartender who was working their private bar as he eventually handed it over and she reached out and took her drink.

“Thanks.”

She then turned, making her way across the VIP lounge towards the edge of the large balcony overlooking the incredible scene of the stage area down below.

Glancing out over it, she could not help the smile that formed as she watched on in silence.

Alexa had never been to a live concert before in her entire life! This was something she’d always dreamed of doing, ever since she was a teenager.

Of course, not to this sort of a massive scale. The size of this concert was beyond crazy!

The entire building was quickly filling with people and what looked like a stage area located right in the centre of the stadium section was prepared with musical instruments.

It appeared that soon enough the first performer would begin, and she stood eagerly waiting for her first ever concert to commence.

Lifting her straw to meet her glossy lips, she was about to take a sip of her non-alcoholic beverage when a stranger’s voice spoke, causing her to pause.

“It’s certainly something, isn’t it?”

His voice was deep, husky and had a heavy Italian accent to it, but it wasn’t one that she recoignised. It sounded more mature, more confident.

Frowning, she turned her head to the side.

At that moment, Alexa locked eyes on the handsome male stranger standing off to her far left.

He too was leaning over the railing of the VIP private balcony and peering down over the tens of thousands of people below.

He had a drink in his hand and his eyes seemed locked on the stage area.

Feeling it would be rude not to answer him, Alexa spoke cautiously.

“I’m sorry, were you speaking to me?”

He turned his head to meet her gaze, finally revealing to her his mesmerizingly golden amber eyes as the corner of his mouth curved upwards.

“You’re the only one out here with me, correct?” he pointed out smoothly.

Alexa suddenly found it hard to reply as she stood staring into his uniquely bright amber eyes.

They were so luminous and intensely captivating that Alexa could have sworn that if there were such thing as a werewolf, this man would have been one for sure!

They looked totally inhuman.

“I… I guess...”

She managed to force the words from her parted lips as she continued to remain in some sort of a confused trance.

She wondered to herself what the hell was wrong with her right now?

This man, whoever he was, he carried an obvious aura of wealth and power as he stood there in his expensive dark suit, casually leaning over with his arm resting on the railing.

Shaking her head to release herself from the sudden daze she had somehow fallen into, Alexa forced a smile onto her face as she spoke, turning her body to face him now.

“I’m sorry, who are you?”

The handsome stranger lowered his head as his smirk widened.

“Please, forgive my rudeness…”

He began his introduction, slowly lifting his head back up to meet her eyes once more as he pushed up from the railing, coming to stand up at his full height of six feet, two inches.

Alexa watched on as he slowly began to close the gap between them, one confident stride after the next, as if he had no sense of fear whatsoever.

“I am Nicholas… Nicholas Valentino. It appears that my business associates and I have booked out the VIP booth next to yours for this evening. And from what I can tell, our balcony and yours are connected.”

He came to stop less than a metre away from her before once again turning, leaning over and resting his arm on the railing as he had before.

“I hope this is not a problem?” he queried casually.

“No, of course not.” she quickly reassured, shaking her head.

Now feeling more comfortable with an explanation as to how this stranger had suddenly appeared on the private balcony with her, Alexa relaxed a little more.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Valentino. I’m Alexa.”

His left brow lifted ever so slightly upon hearing her name and he turned his head to the side to gaze upon her with intrigue.

“Alexa… a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” he spoke confidently.

Alexa scoffed, closing her eyes for a moment before she spoke again and reopened them.

“Nice pick-up line… does it ever work?”

Nicholas gave a deep chuckle as his grin widened.

“More often than not.” he replied honestly, tilting his head off to the side in embarrassment at being called out on his attempt.

Alexa too giggled at his emanating charm, shaking her head from side to side. This man was clearly a ladies’ man, and he knew it!

“Well, let me stop you right there, Mr. Valentino.” she announced.

“I’m afraid you’d only be wasting your time attempting anything with me. You see, I’m already spoken for.”

She paused, glancing down at her belly which had only just started to show a slight bump from her current pregnancy.

“In more ways than one.” she added.

As she did, Nicholas followed her gaze and watched as she placed her free hand onto her tiny bump, proudly smiling at the prospect of becoming a mother for the first time.

Both of his brows shot upwards as he came to stand from the railing, feigning surprise.

“Wait, you’re…” he started his query, gesturing downwards at her belly.

Alexa nodded her head, replying for him.

“Pregnant, yes.” she confirmed, happily nodding her head.

“How far along, if you don’t mind me asking?” Nicholas enquired, purely out of curiosity.

“Just a little over twelve weeks now. I’ve only just managed to get over the whole morning sickness phase of it.” she admitted openly.

“I see…” Nicholas mused.

“And who is the lucky man?”

“His name is Dante.” she replied, failing to leave out his surname for obvious reasons.

“He’s very excited about becoming a father.”

“Who wouldn’t be?”

Nicholas spoke with a grin, glancing around behind her as he asked his next question.

“And where is this… Dante of yours? Why is he not here with you?”

Alexa turned around as she gave her reply.

“Oh, he had something he needed to do… he’s a very busy man.” she explained.

“Hmmm…”

Nicholas almost hummed his response, a fake smile appearing on his face to hide his devious thoughts in that very moment.

Eventually, he seemed to snap out of his thoughts and spoke with an eagerly upbeat tone.

“Well, it appears that congratulations are in order for the mother to be…” he announced, lifting his drink up as if he were making a toast on her behalf.

“A toast, to family.”

Alexa seemed caught off guard by his sudden toast but soon smiled and lifted her glass of juice as well, repeating his comment.

“To family.”

With that, the two clinked their glasses together before they each took a drink, just as a voice spoke up from behind them.

“Who the hell are you?” Luca barked.

Alexa and Nicholas turned around to meet the serious expression of both Luca and Cecilio who had just arrived out on the balcony area with them.

Both henchmen had their hands resting on the handles of their guns as they stood staring the stranger down, their expressions hinting obvious warning.

“Luca, Cecilio, it’s alright-”

Alexa began to try and explain this unplanned situation, but Cecilio spoke over her with a tone of harsh authority.

“-He asked you a question!” Cecilio demanded from the stranger.

“Who are you and what are you doing out here? This area is privately reserved for the evening.”

Nicholas, acting confused by being confronted by these two well-dressed men, frowned.

Upon noticing their aggression, he immediately began to move backwards, away from Alexa as he glanced at her in question.

“Alexa, do you know these men?” he asked her.

“Step away from her, right now. I’m warning you!” Luca commanded sternly.

Alexa, infuriated by being ignored by Luca and Cecilio, suddenly found herself stepping in to defend Nicholas from them.

“Hey, that’s enough!” Alexa snapped at them angrily.

But even in her angered state, both henchmen remained defensive of her, confronting this strange man who they had found out on the balcony with their Capo’s woman.

“Alexa, come on…” Cecilio urged.

“Come back inside.”

As he spoke, Cecilio reached out his hand for Alexa, urging her to step away from the unknown man.

But she glanced at his outstretched hand and frowned.

“No.” she snapped, surprising both henchmen who appeared baffled by her defiance.

“You’re both being incredibly rude right now.”

“Alexa, I’m not kidding around.” Cecilio demanded.

“Get back inside, now!”

But Alexa remained defiant within her beliefs as she instead stood her ground.

She thought it was the two of them who were being unreasonable right now, not her!

“I’m not going anywhere.” she announced confidently.

Closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, Cecilio let out a frustrated growl from deep down within his throat at her defiance.

“Look, perhaps I should leave.”

Nicholas suddenly spoke, with a half-hearted smile as he turned to look at Alexa in apology.

“I don’t want to cause any problems.”

“That’s a good idea.” Cecilio announced, faking a smile.

Alexa, feeling incredibly embarrassed by the way that Luca and Cecilio had treated Nicholas just now, turned to face him as she began to apologise.

“I’m really sorry about them. They’re… very protective.” she explained, furrowing her brows together in embarrassment.

“It’s no problem, really. It was nice meeting you.” he assured her with a dazzling smile.

“I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, Alexa.”

“You too, Nicholas.” she replied with a smile.

With that, he turned and strolled back towards his area of the VIP section, where several other men wearing business suits stood waiting, each with drinks and lit cigars in their hands.

Closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh of frustration to try and calm herself, Alexa opened them again and turned around, making her way back inside with both henchmen.

Even though Alexa knew why both Luca and Cecilio had been so protective of her in that moment, she couldn’t help but feel like a captive, now more than ever.

She could only hope that this wasn’t how she would be spending the entire evening at such an exciting concert!