Learning to Love

Chapter 1

"Dante i do love you. But you're hard headed and full of crap!!" Isabella said in an almost scolding voice. She knew that Dante would have his way. For some reason he always got to her. Not only was he her only remaining reminder of her daughter and her husband, but also he was unwell and she could give anything to make him feel better. He was so sad since his accident. She wished she could wipe off that sadness and desperation he was trying so hard to hide.

Watching his grandmother cave brought a smile on Dante's face. She was a tough woman who had built an empire. Everyone around her respected and feared her. He was the only one who dared say some things to her. He wanted the girl he had impregnated about six years ago brought to his house. She deserved a good life. If she had any kids with her, she could be taught how to run some businesses and maybe inherit some. It was only the right thing to do.

"I'll have Luca go look for her baby. Anything to bring a smile on your face," Isabella hugged her grandson.

"I'm headed to the lavender fields. At least they smell good and they don't make demands." She said picking a small basket.

"Take Luca with you Nana. It will make me smile," Dante told her.

"Your demands never end, do they?".

With that, Isabella left the mansion with a huge security guard trailing after her but not before sending out her most trusted men to go look for the girl Dante wanted brought home.

They drove to the fields and within thirty minutes, she could see the plantation. She wanted to walk alone but the big guy could not leave her alone. She smelled the fresh air and just remembered herself as a carefree little girl running around with her twin brother in lavender fields. Then, they weren't as rich but they had everything they wanted. She chuckled at her own thoughts and kept walking. She listened to the whisper of the wind and enjoyed the quietness of the fields. At some point she thought she heard a whimper but couldn't believe her ears until she heard it again.

"Luca did you hear anything?" She asked the huge man towering beside her.

"Yes ma'am. A whimper. I am trying to locate the direction from which it came."

He replied.

Within a few minutes, Luca had decided he knew where the sound was coming from.Since he couldn't afford to be careless, he called for back up and asked Madam Isabella to walk behind him. It could be a trap for all he knew.

"Oh my God," Isabella almost screamed at the sight of a woman with two kids. The whimpers were from the girl who seemed very weak. The boy and the woman were both out and she hoped they weren't dead.

Luca quickly checked their pulses.

"Both alive but very weak pulses. They need attention immediately." Luca barked into his walkie talkie and within minutes there was an ambulance with them. For some reason Isabella wanted to comfort the whimpering girl so she rode with them.

Since Dante's accident, there had been a medical facility within their land that was equipped with everything needed. The doctor was well paid and so were the nurses. Any specialist required was jetted in on demand.

It took a few minutes to revive the girl. The woman and the little boy were however not as lucky. Isabella ordered the doctor to do his best and also ask for specialists if need be.

She wanted Luca to help him carry the girl to the main house, but she couldn't allow the man to touch her. When he tried reaching out to her, she shrank and hid behind Isabella. She was too weak so Isabella carried her. She knew she'd be taken care of by Cameron.

Isabella studied the kid. She had a bruise on her cheek which seemed recent. Looking at her closely one could see a few marks here and there. She wanted to ask a lot of questions but she held back. The girl was starving and the hungrily ate all soup given to her. Isabella wanted to reach out hug her, but she held back. This child seemed fragile yet very strong. She had known pain from an early age.

When she was done eating, she was taken by Cameron. A guest room had been prepared soon as they had gotten into the house.

Soon as she left, Luca who had been hovering around came and sat.

"Nobody has reported missing persons. It will take about a day for my guys to find out where the woman is from."

"Do so as soon as possible. And Luca, no word about this. However you find that information should be discreet. They could be in danger. Whoever did this, I'd love to meet him and have a word." Isabella said quietly.

At this even Luca shivered. He knew that Isabella showed no mercy. She was raised in a mafia family and had every training. If her husband hadn't convinced her of a clean start, she'd probably be the mafia boss instead of her twin brother Matteo. Only a few people knew this. She always wanted it kept that way.

*****

In Enzo's residence, Lucia couldn't believe her luck. The men in front of her bore the best news she had heard in a long time. They wanted Valerie to go live with the man who had impregnated her. Little did they know, they never met Valerie and they probably wouldn't ever meet her. From what she had gathered, the little w***e had ran away with her bastards. They were probably dead somewhere from what Lucian had told her. She'd call the same girl she had given them years ago. Her sister's child who had been conveniently pregnant and wanted it gotten rid of. She was beautiful, ambitious and owed Lucia for raising her. They were going to be rich.