Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 72: Chapter 72

DANI
I couldn’t decide which one I should wear. These were not my clothes, not my style, but I was trying to be more flexible when it came to clothing and fashion. Honestly, I chose comfort rather than being fashionable.
“Just put on a t-shirt and jeans, Dani.” Terzo just came out of the shower with only a towel wrapped around his narrow waist. Water dropped from his wet hair down his broad shoulders and chest. “I don’t wanna be late. Don’t look at me like that. I’ll go to the room to wear.” He pressed his lips to my shoulder.
“It’s how I look at you every day. You just don’t pay attention.” I picked a white shirt, an ankle-length classic color wide skirt.
“You’re the one who said no,” he said, smirking before shutting the door behind him.
Yes, we showered together, shared a kiss, and then he asked me to join visiting the vineyards and their newly operated cheese factory.
I grabbed my bag and met him in his room. “I’m done.” I found an LV duffle bag on the floor, which reminded me of him leaving for the States today.
“I won’t take long.” He must have seen the reaction on my face. I couldn’t lie. My facial expression and my eyes were a huge giveaway. “As soon as I’m done with my work, I’ll come back.”
“If there’s no complication, I get it. You don’t have to explain.”
He gazed at me. “It’s important to us. If it’s just a business trip, I’ll take you with me.”
His phone vibrated on the bed, making me smile.
“What happened to your classic ringtone?”
He chuckled. “It could wake up the whole compound. I get it.” He pressed the answer button and put it on speaker. “Is it clear?”
“Yes. Your flight will leave in five hours.” Celestina’s voice echoed through the speaker. “Tristan and Gio will come with you. You can add more men if you feel it’s too risky.”
“It’s all good, Cee.”
“Are you sure you wanna see—” Celestina wasn’t finished when he turned off the speaker mode.
“I need to. Call you back. I have to go to the vineyards. Dani is coming with me. Ciao.”
I didn’t react, but I caught him staring at me.
He sighed before he spoke. “I wish I didn’t have to tell you this, but I’m going to see Olezka at the Agency’s penitentiary. I don’t know, my gut tells me he’s involved in this chaos. I need answers.”
“Okay. Just be careful.”
He came and lifted my chin to kiss my lips. “I will. I promise.”
Our ride to the vineyards was peaceful. The weather was great and the view was spectacular. I’d only seen this in movies. Right now, I am living in it.
“I was supposed to take you here that night when we got kidnapped.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“My father will leave first. Once Celestina finds someone to replace her, she will follow.”
“Replace her?” I looked at him.
He looked me in the eye and squeezed my knee. “Someone will take over her job. I was thinking of Tristan. I can’t hire someone from the outside. It’s hard for me to trust someone right now, especially when arranging my itinerary.”
“I’m up for the job if you can’t find one right now,” Tristan said, sitting in the passenger seat.
“What about someone from inside the house?”
His eyes flickered with interest. “Are you sure?”
“Well, she has to show me how it works. I graduated as—”
“I know, business management major. You took a certificate course in Cosmetology.”
“Right. When can I apply?”
Gio chuckled behind the wheel.
“You can’t resign when I piss you off. Consider yourself hired. Once you get home, you talk to Celestina. She will show you the work.”
“But I’m getting paid, right?”
Terzo laughed. “Yes, Dani. Not as big as you working in a corporate business, but you will get paid with bonuses.”
“Great. I’m not jobless anymore. Thank you, Don Siciliano.” I offered my hand to seal the deal.
He playfully shook my hand and pressed it to his lips. “Congratulations, mia bella.”
We finally arrived as our vehicle turned right. The signage read Casa Estelle de Silvano. The vineyards were so vast that my sight could not reach. Then the classic stonehouse that made me awe.
We were greeted by a man who spoke only in Italian. He was a little older than Gaetano. He must be someone who oversees the work.
What I only understood was my name being called as Terzo introduced me to him. I shook his hand and called him sir, making him smile.
“Fausto.”
“Mr. Fausto.”
“Just Fausto,” Terzo said.
I smiled. “This Casa is bellissimo.”
He spoke in Italian while Terzo translated it to me as we followed Fausto inside the testing room. “He said you should learn Italian now that you’re married to one.”
“I don’t think he said that. He said something like storia, generazioni di Siciliano. My guess, this has been in Siciliano for generations, but don’t worry, I’m starting to catch up.”
Then we moved on to the biggest building in the casa. My guess is it was the winery.
“You better hurry up, assistant.” Terzo held my hand as they spoke together.
The double door opened wide. I stood before the huge machinery in rows that I was so small. Some workers addressed Terzo’s presence.
All of a sudden, his features changed. I still couldn’t grasp what they were talking about, but something must have upset him.
While he talked fast, I squeezed his hand. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a machine that has stopped working. He sent a request for the parts weeks ago, but he didn’t receive replacements. Celestina must have overlooked it.”
“It was chaos at home for weeks. I’ll check it out.” I smiled to assure him that I could do the job.
“Thanks.”
When he took me to the cellar, my jaw dropped to the floor. “Wow.” There were barrel after barrel.
“I always wanted to visit a winery or go to a tasting event.”
He spoke with the man who was in charge. A few seconds later, he brought a glass and a bottle of wine.
“No, no, no. I can’t. How much does this cost?”
“I owned the winery. Drink.”
I smiled shyly. “Can I just take it home?”
Gio and Tristan laughed behind me.
“You haven’t shown her the wine cellar at home?” Tristan asked Terzo.
“Wait. You have a wine cellar at home?” My eyes widened in shock. “You, egoista.” I did not finish my words, I grabbed the wine glass. “You did not even offer me a wine, husband.”
“I’m sorry. I’d been busy punishing you.”
“Right.” My cheeks burned, a quick reminder of how he punished me last night until I admitted I was jealous.
“That’s Sicilian grapes. Nero d’Avola. One of the indigenous varieties.”
I swirled the dark red liquid and sniffed it. “I don’t even know what’s in it, but it smells peppery and tobacco.” I grabbed the bottle. “Who’s Stella? Her name is everywhere.”
Again, Gio and Tristan laughed.
“Let’s get out of here, Tris,” Gio said, laughing. “You should learn about the Siciliano clan.”
“It’s your mother-in-law.”
“Oh.” My eyes were wide as saucers. My ears were hot. I covered my mouth, feeling mortified, as if I was caught red-handed stealing his wine. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I took a sip. “It’s delicate. I taste a lot of fruits like plums and berries.”
“You have a good tasting palate.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him before he leaned down to kiss me, tasting the wine I drank. “Maybe one day, you’ll have a wine name on your own.”