Crowned love

Episode 16 The truth.

I stood in front of the mirror and wondered if this dress would suit Marco's parents' dinner tonight. I changed clothes three times, each time something did not suit me, and it was the color, cut or length of the dress. I was used to the fact that for every important event my stylist selected the outfits and accessories for me, including the hairstyle and make-up. We had the same taste, so I was always pleased with her choices.Now I was on my own, but in the end, I chose a silver dress reaching just above my knee and sandals in the same color with high heels. My hair was loose, wavy and stronger eye and lip make-up. The end result was satisfactory. I didn't know his parents and I didn't know what to expect, but I had a slight advantage because I knew their secret. I felt excited both to meet him, but also to see with my own eyes how the largest mammo family is living .I wonder if their house will be like a fortress surrounded by a huge amount of bodyguards? Surely they had their own servants who took care of the house. I came from the middle class, my parents made sure that i did not miss anything, but also taught me to respect money. I looked at my watch, Marco would be here any minute, checked my purse and heard a knock on the door.

- Mrs. Cruz, Mr. Castellino is waiting - it was Alex, both he and John were to accompany us today. I got used to their presence so much that if they weren't, I would feel strange.

-I'm ready to go out-went to the corridor and together with the security we went outside.

Marco was waiting by the big black limousine and he smiled at the sight of me. His eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of me.

-You look so beautiful my baby- he kissed me on the cheek and then opened the car door. When we sat down, I looked at him, he was wearing, as always, a well-cut dark suit and a black shirt. The raven-black color contrasted brilliantly with the color of his coal-dark eyes.

-You also look very good, this black suits you, you look like a dark prince-Marco laughed and took my hand, which he kissed.

-Thank you, I would love to be your dark prince,- I smiled and looked out the window.

The evening was warm, you could see the rays of the setting sun. I didn't know what address we were going to, but I guessed it was the suburbs of Chicago. We were escorted by two huge Suvs, in one was Alex and John, and the other was Marco's personal security. Several minutes later, we drove to a huge gate. A few men in suits guarded it, they exchanged a few words with Alex, after a while the gate opened and we drove into the yard.The house was round but in a typical Italian style, it differed from the American style. Built with brick and stone walls, it reminded me of an elegant vineyard from Sicily. My attention was also attached to beautiful herbal shutters, which perfectly blended with the large amount of greenery around. I liked it here and I felt pleasantly surprised. This was not what I expected. Apparently, I watched too many films on TV, there were many security guards patrolling the area around the house. Marco noticed me watching the surroundings. He asked;

-Do you like my family home?

-Yes! I feel pleasantly surprised - for a moment I had the impression that I was in Italy.

- OK, let's go inside, they are waiting for us - Marco led me to the main door. On the threshold, we were greeted by a beautiful woman. She was probably about sixty years old , her hair and eyes were dark, dressed in an elegant green dress. Her smile was very warm. She watched me with great interest.

- Mom, please meet Amelia -I walked over to her and pulled out my hand to greet her. She smiled and kissed my cheek.

-I am very pleased to meet you, my dear, my name is Sofia. My son told me a lot about you.-

-Thank you, , nice to meet you too- .I returned her smile

-Come to the dining room, my husband and Antonio will be joining us soon.-

The dining room was a light-filled room, and in the center was a large wooden table piled high with food. The window overlooked a huge garden full of greenery and flowers.

-You have a very beautiful house and garden- it was really nice here.

-Thank you, please call me by name, it will be easier this way-

- Of course no problem-I smiled at her. She was very nice and did not look like a typical rich lady with whom I have had teens more than once.

A few moments later, I heard footsteps on the corrander and saw two men walking towards us. One I recognized right away was Antonio's brother Marco and the other was his father. He was similar to him, he had the same tall figure, the color of his hair and eyes were the same too. They emanated the strength and masculinity with which they moved.

-Hello Amelia, I'm glad to meet you again-Antonio held out his hand in greeting

-Hi nice to see you too.- I shook his hand back

-This is my husband, Leonardo. Honey, please meet Amelia-Sofia took her husband's hand and pointed at me.

- Good evening. I am very pleased to meet you - I felt respect for him, I did not feel fear, but he looked at people as if he had x-rayed them.

- Good evening Amelia, I was curious who was the woman who turned my son's mind around. It was not that simple - the man laughed and gallantly kissed my hand.

I looked at Marco, who was standing next to me and watching everything with curiosity. He seemed pleased with the whole situation. It seemed that the official part of our mother's acquaintance was behind us and I think I did well.

-Let's finally go eat something-Marco muttered. There was a lot of food for four people, from starters to desserts. I was telling them about the Miss World elections, my visits to orphanages, hospitals and my plans for the future. They were curious about my life, they wanted get to know me. I liked their interest in my person, I felt appreciated and believed that what I was doing made sense.

-Amelia started her own foundation and she intends to continue her charity work-Marco looked at me with a smile.

-Really? -Asked his mother-Do you collect funds yourself ?-

-Yes, the last time I managed to attract a few new investors. Now we are collecting money for the renovation of the orphanage. If this goes on, we will start the work any day-I was proud of myself that I was able to go ahead.

-Our company will be very happy to support your foundation - Leonardo asked me. Marco was already proposing it to me, but I didn't want him to do it because of me. I guess his father didn't like someone opposing him, so I nodded politely and thanked him.

-Thank you, I will be very grateful for any help.-

-You're welcome, our family was not always rich, so we remember what it is like when there is a shortage of money. –Sofia looked at her husband knowingly.

-I and Antonio do not know these times anymore, but my parents grew up to be satisfied and they did not have so much color there, so they left-Marco wanted to explain what his mother mentioned.

-I also come from the middle class. I have never experienced poverty, but I had to work for everything myself.

-Your parents must be proud of you-asked Leonardo

- They always repeat this, but the achievers were not happy when I took part in the competition, they preferred that after graduation I would immediately start a career in some company. I wanted to give myself a year and do what I dreamed of.- it's just like I thought, I added silently.

-Parents are always worried about their children. It's normal but I'm sure I'm glad that they have such a smart daughter-Sofia looked at me with interest. I must admit that I like her.

The rest of the evening spit on us very quickly. I was shown around the garden, which was taken care of by the lady of the house herself. She liked flowers and other plants. When saying goodbye, the Castellino made me promise that I would visit them again and I would love to, because I felt very comfortable with them. They did not exalt themselves. On the contrary, they were very natural in what they did.

Marco, driving me home, told the driver to stop in a park two streets from mine. I looked at him surprised.

-Did something happen?-, I asked.

-No nothing, I just wanted to talk to you about something quietly-he spoke in a soft voice but seemed tense.

-Is it related to my stalker? -maybe he knows something and I'm afraid to tell you about it.

-Unfortunately, this case hasn't moved yet - I watched him carefully, I think I know what's bothering him. He decided to tell me what his family was up to. After tonight, he can't hide it anymore, he knows I'm not a fool and I'll start asking questions. I decided to wait, let him tell me the truth and I would listen to him. On the one hand, I was a bit angry that he delayed so long, but on the other hand, I understood him.

We sat on a bench by the lake, the night was beautiful, starry, the trees were slightly rustling with the wind. I felt a slight chill in my shoulders. Marco noticed it and he covered me with his jacket. It was nice to inhale his citrus scent, I felt my feelings for him deepening day by day. I was not afraid of that, he provided me with security, a sense of stability and, I was important to him. He proved it to me more than once.

-Amelia, you are a very beautiful and intelligent woman. Before I met you, I swore that love did not exist. For the past year, my mother has been pressing me to find a wife. There are even arranged marriages in our family, which I wanted to avoid, but in the end I took that into account. The women around me are pretty but we don't have common topics. They were only interested in money and how to spend it, and I wanted something more than my life. I focused on my work and tried not to think about marriage until I met you. You are different. When you asked me for help and protection, I was happy because I felt the understanding that united us and I hoped to continue our relationship.-

I smiled at the memory of our meeting in his consortium, I remember being afraid to go there after my friend informed me that Marco was a gangster. But I knew that only he could help me effectively and I was right.

-There is one thing I have not told you about myself and I hope you will understand why I did not tell you before. I am responsible not only for myself but also for my family. - he was nervous, he was clenching his fists until his knuckles hurt, I saw a throbbing vein on his neck. I felt sorry for him to see how he was worried about what he had to tell me and I hesitated to see if somehow it would not help him, but he warned me by telling me.

-My business is not entirely legal, the corporation is, but there is something else. I am Marco Castellino and I run the Chicago mafia, one of the biggest in the USA. - he pushed the air out of his mouth and looked at me. This look was full of hope but also sadness. He was afraid of how I would react.

-I know who you are Marco,-I said quietly.

-How is it? Who do you know from?-

-From Anna, she advised me to go to you for help. She knew that only you have such opportunities precisely because of what you do-I was also relieved that I could talk to him about it openly and not make any more guesses.

-So don't you mind? Are you not afraid of me? -I know what he was thinking about, but contrary to appearances, I was not afraid of him but his world, brutal and full of violence.

-I am not afraid, but I do not know if I will be able to relate in your world because I do not know him. I know that you carry a gun with you, you have your bodyguards and I guess you have illegal interests - I know from the movies that they deal in weapons and drugs.

-Everything is correct. I will not lie to you that my world is no different from yours because it is not. It can be brutal and cruel as a boss, I have to keep my finger on the pulse, before my dad managed everything, but now he gives me the authority . I will try to keep you away from dangerous matters and keep you safe. We'll eliminate all threats, starting with your stalker.- Marco seemed pleased with my reply. Maybe he thought that I would like to break contact with him. I was also worried about another point that I had to discuss with him.

-Listen, I'm glad you told me about it, it will be easier for us to still get to know each other, but I want to ask you for something - his eyebrows rose high at the question.

- Until now, I am wearing a crown and I want our relationship to remain hidden. Not only because you are one of the top sponsors, but also for your affiliation with the mafia. It is not about me as a private person, but my image as a public person, thanks to whom I can help others. If people find out, he loses his trust in me, do you understand?-I was hoping that he had got to know me enough and he knows how important it is, we can still meet. But I want to avoid media hype.Marco was silent for a moment. I saw what he was pondering, then he spoke up.

-I will not hide that I would like to praise you in front of the whole world, but you are right, it will be the best. It is also about your safety. Knowing me makes you my weak point and, thanks to this, my enemies could use it-I was glad that we understood each other and he would not press, and it occurred to me that being in the mafi is associated with a big danger.

-Thank you for after all you gave us a chance and I promise not to destroy it-. He took my already cool hand and kissed. I shivered a little from the cold, a little with excitement.

-I don't know where all this will lead us, but I want to give us a chance. - I said.

-So I can call you my woman, go unofficially so far-smiled pleased with himself.

-It looks like - I felt excited, I believed in what brought us together.

Marco leaned over and kissed me passionately on the lips. The kiss was possessive, it marked the area as if he wanted to leave his mark on my lips. I wrapped my arms around him very tightly and pressed tightly against his strong, muscular body. I felt so good with him and I wanted to stay with him forever. There is a gangster who can kill people, but I felt that he would do anything for me to even cause a war to save me.