The Enemy's Son

War

After treating her injuries, Luca helps her elevate her leg by placing it on a small pillow.

"So um... I know this might sound strange to you, but huhhhh..."

Valentina smiles, she knows this is the part where he proposes, he's already blushing hard even, "I know what you're thinking, I met the old woman too, she really seemed like a psychic"

"Yh, maybe we should invite her to the wedding"

Valentina reaches over and hugs him, "Yh, if we manage to find her"

Valentina knew the person should be dead by now, she likes tying up loose ends.

She grins, "Make sure to invite your parents okay?"

"Yes, of course"

Valentina's grin widens, she can't wait to see Alessandro's face.

"What about your parents?"

Valentine stiffened slightly.

Luca senses it and pulled away to look at her, "I'm sorry, if you don't wanna talk about them... it's okay, I just wanna make you happy"

Valentina looks at him, no wonder Alessandro left him out of the mafia business, he wouldn't survive a week, and she's the one who gets to break him.

"It's okay, I'm an orphan"

"Oh, sorry about that.... AHHH"

Valentina suddenly jerks at his scream, "What, what's wrong?" *Has he figured it out? No, he seems to gullible for that*

"I'm sorry, i didn't even ask for your name"

She stretches her hand for a handshake, "Valentina, Valentina Moretti"

"Luca De Luca", he takes her soft hand in his.

She watches his face carefully, he doesn't seem to recognise the name, perfect.

"Can I stay with you tonight? With my ankle and all"

"Of course, I'll get dinner started"

After eating dinner together, Valentina pretends to fall asleep on the couch.

Luca came back from the kitchen, wiping his wet hands with a small towel, looking down at her.

"Goodnight beautiful"

He gently scooped her up, carrying her in a bridal carry into the guestroom.

"I'll see you in the morning okay?" He says softly after checking the pillows and elevating her foot, making sure she's warm under the covers before leaving.

After confirming he has left Valentina opens her eyes, "Wow, so the De Luca family can produce a gentleman like him, too bad he's only a pawn in my game"

In his room, Luca phones his father. He answered on the second ring.

"Hey Luca, is something the matter?"

"Actually the opposite, I found someone to get married to, you should see her too dad, she's nice, polite, and absolutely breathtaking"

"Really? I never knew you had a girlfriend"

Luca pauses, he knows how his dad feels about superstitions.

"She's my secret girlfriend dad, she wasn't ready to be known, until now"

"What's her name?"

"Valentina Moretti"

Silence on the phone.

"Dad?"

"Sorry, I think I heard you wrong, you said Valentina Moretti?"

"Yes"

Silence again.

"Dad?"

"Huh... son, it's late, I'll talk to you in the morning"

Before Luca can say goodnight, Alessandro hangs up.

In the morning.

"Are you sure you should be moving? You're not letting it rest"

"Relax darling husband, I'm fine, there's just this important meeting"

"Let me get you crutches first"

"I SAID I'M FINE", Valentina snaps.

She realised she slipped up, "I'm sorry, it's just stress"

Luca smiles, understanding, "Oh, if you want to postpone the wedding then..."

"No"

Luca looks confused.

Valentina immediately gets into character and starts sobbing, "Before my father died, he wished that I get married, I... I just want to fulfill that wish, and fate gave me a chance, Luca... tell me... is that wrong?"

Luca immediately goes to hold her, "No, no, it isn't, I understand Valentina"

She smiles into his shoulder, sucker.

When Valentina got into her estate, she removed her bandages and set the ankle straight herself, "I've had worse injuries"

Valentina smiles when she reaches her office and saw the summons letter on her table, "Oh Alessandro you fool of a man"

The De Luca estate is packed with cars belonging to different families of the mafia community. Valentina smiles ear to ear all through, she's enjoying this.

All the leaders of each family sat at the round table.

Once all are fitted, Alessandro gets up, "Fellow Dons of the mafia community, I invited you here to discuss something important", his eyes briefly flash to Valentina as she holds back a laugh, "Valentina Moretti somehow approached my heir and forced him into marriage with her"

Murmurs and whispers start almost immediately.

A single tap of a cane puts an end to it.

The eldest, Don Vincenzo, "Valentina... is this true?"

"Yes elder, but I didn't persuade or force Luca..."

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY HIS NAME" Alessandro snaps and he hits the table.

"ALESSANDRO REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE", Vincenzo raises his voice for the first time in the meeting. Nobody dares speak.

"Valentina Moretti... if Alessandro De Luca manages to present any evidence that suggest you have ulterior motives concerning the marriage you'll be removed from your current seat at the high table"

"I have nothing to hide elder"

"I hope you speak the truth Moretti, it'd be a shame for the efforts of your forefathers to go to waste"

The meeting concludes.

As Valentina is getting ready to leave with her guards, she hears heavy footsteps.

It's Alessandro, and his bodyguards.

"Father-in-law"

Alessandro's voice drops low and dangerous, "Listen here you witch, if any scratch appears on my son, I'll burn your entire estate down to the ground"

"It's cute you think empty threats will work on me"

"You brat..."

"You old fossil" she cut in, "if you try in anyway to stop this marriage, I'll tell Luca exactly what you're hiding"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play innocent Alessandro, how would your precious weak son feel when he finds out you killed his mother and pursued the same woman my father was in love with, let's not talk about the big old mafia secret you're 'protecting' him from, I wonder how he'd react when he finds out his father is a murderer"

Alessandro is quiet.

"That's what I thought", she gets into the car and leaves.

Alessandro is left frustrated. She may have won the battle, but he's gonna win the war.