6
1106 Words
Vincenzo’s frame caught into my field of vision, and I looked up to meet his obsidian gaze that had softened with concern.
“What’s the matter? You suddenly stopped walking.” he said as he placed a hand to my forehead. “The sun is hot. I’m sorry, I should have been more observant.” his thick brows knitted together as he apologized. I blinked. Then smiled. Did he think I was tired?
“Of course not. I just…never mind.” no use bringing up nothing. My eyes went to his empty hands. “Huh? Did you get robbed? Where are the shopping bags?”
“Robbed? No. I called Lucky and sanchez to bring the car around. They’ll handle the shopping bags.” Lucky and sanchez. I remember them. “But if you’re tired, we could always go back to the hotel.”
“No! There’s still so much we haven’t done yet,” I protested. I wasn’t ready to call it a day just after one round of shopping.
“Fine. But I think you deserve a treat. There’s a cafe.”
“I could eat,” I admitted.
~~
“And this is for you…”
“You’re spoiling me,” I said, turning my wrist to admire the delicate gold bracelet Vincenzo put on me just now. A small olive branch charm dangled from it.
“You’re my wife. Spoiling you is the bare minimum,” he said smoothly, eyes glittering. We were now inside the cafe, seated near the large window. The view from in here was nice. “Besides, this is your city.”
I tilted my head, grinning. “Is it?”
“It is now.”
I didn’t argue with that. Being here… it was surreal. Something about Athens stirred a sense of belonging deep in my bones, even though this was technically my first time here. I couldn’t explain it—but I didn’t want to dwell too much on it either.
The owner, an older man with a thick gray beard and kind eyes, greeted Vincenzo in fluent Greek. I blinked, surprised.
“You speak Greek?” I asked once the man had left.
He gave me a lazy smile. “Enough to get us food.”
“How do you know all these places?” I asked, genuinely curious. “And people?”
He shrugged. “Athens was good to me once. A long time ago. I used to handle business here.”
When the waitress came to take our orders, I couldn’t resist trying out the pastries. The waitress brought me a platter of souvlaki, grilled halloumi, warm pita, and creamy tzatziki. Food I’ve only ever seen on tv. I could barely pronounce some of their names. I moaned softly just after the first bite.
Vincenzo had coffee, no milk, just dark and hot, like him. My man looked so out of place here—tall, brooding, dressed in black like he was ready to be photographed for a mafia magazine cover.
“Oh my god. This is so good.”
Vincenzo chuckled. “You’re quite adorable dolcezz.”
His unexpected complement had me blushing with my spoon halfway into my mouth. I swallowed hard. “Gezze. You’re so cheesy.” I grumbled softly. He just laughed. “You know that waitress was staring at you right? I think she likes you.”
It was hard to not notice the special attention Vincenzo got from women. In the boutique, on the streets, and now in here. Not to mention how pretty this waitress was.
“Really? I barely noticed.” he shrugged with a smirk.
“Barely? So you did notice it!”
“Of course.” he admitted freely. I pressed my lips into a thin line. I wasn’t jealous or anything, but I didn’t know how to feel about this. Vincenzo is a handsome man. Of course he’d draw attention. Maybe next time I’ll have him wear a bag over his head when we go out. But that’ll just be silly.
“You have that look again, Princepssa.” Vincenzo laughed out loud. The first time I’ve heard him laugh like that. It sounded so smooth. “You don’t need to feel anything about those women, my love.” he reached over the table and grabbed my hand, his thumb brushed over my fingers as he subtly caressed the wedding ring around it. “…I only have eys for you. I’m yours. Today, tomorrow, and until the day we leave this world. Even in my next life, it’ll still be you.”
I was speechless. I wanted to say something. But the words died in my throat. My face turned red, and my heart felt full. Finally after staring at him like an i***t, wondering what to say, I cleared my throat “W-who are you, and what have you done to that intense mafia man.”
“I can be intense in other ways my love.” his grip on my hand tightened, sending a shock wave of electricity up my arm.
After that we spoke about trivial things. He told me about his mother, and his time here in Athens with his siblings. Turned out his mother was part Greek too.
“Hey, Vince?”
“Yeah?”
“Just a random question, but, do you remember that night at the casino when we met Derrida?” I asked. I didn’t know why I was bringing it up now, but I just had to ask. Vincenzo gave it a thought, then nodded with a smile.
“How could I forget that night?” he winked. “What’s the matter?”
“Whatever happened to that guy?”
“What guy?” he arched one of his thick brows in question and I placed my elbows on the table and leaned in.
“The fatty from the casino who tried talking to me.”
If there was a change in his mood, he did well not to show it. He brought the glass of water to his lips and drank from it. Taking a slow delebrate slurp before placing it back down. He leaned back into his seat and crossed his leg over one.
“What about him?” He asked in a dull, and almost bored tone.
“Nothing.” I shrugged, and leaned back into my own chair. “He seemed like he was afraid of you.”
“Everyone’s afraid of me, princess.”
“True. I don’t even know why I’m bringing it up. I guess I’m just curious how his night ended.”
“Hm…”
- Writer
