Gael

I was really surprised when I saw the owner of that red underwear I keep in my drawer. Atasha Ricci... We meet again after what happened that night. I fucking had the same symptoms as Livius. I met a woman that made me compare the girls I had before.The next day after that night we first met, I received a package. When I open it, it's a red thong. It smells like them. It's a combination of their sultry night together. "Please do. Anyway, let me just check your room number," she says.

She places a key card on the counter and meets my eyes. "Your hotel number is 277, sir. Let me call someone to send you there and assist you," she says. I look at her.

"Why don't you assist me instead?" I suggest.

Atasha shakes her head. "I have to stay here and welcome the last guest before lunch, which is a married couple. So... I can't," she explains.

I checked my watch, and it's already eleven in the morning. I look at her. "I'll leave my belongings here. Look after them, and around four, I'll be coming back. Send me to my room after."

I smiled and grabbed her palm, then placed my card key on that soft hand of hers. "You can also wait for me inside, little rabbit," he whispered huskily.

I saw that shade of pink in her cheeks. I have this urge to drag her into my room and eat her once again. "I... won't..." she says. I laugh. "Just kidding."

I left after that teasing smile and walked out. I will use this time to check the situation and meet up with that person. I had no plans of setting my foot in this place again, but a letter had changed my mind.

I promised myself that I'll come back here if I... I shake my head and go to Taormina. I have no idea why my father left a letter to a fisherman and told him to contact me after ten years. I went to the station and rode a train to reach the bay.

After almost an hour, I reach the port. I fixed my glasses and looked around. It took me almost half an hour to find the fishing boat. I didn't know how this person found me, but one thing was for sure. He's not just a fisherman. I walk on the bridge and enter the boat. I'm not alarmed or worried when it suddenly sails. I lean on the railing and wait for that person to show himself. "One thing that you shouldn't forget. Lowering your guard means death," that man says.

He comes out, and I'm right. The muscular body, the tattoo on his nape, and his demeanor. "You should say that to a ten-year-old kid or someone who doesn't know how fucked up the world is."

This stranger had the audacity to smoke and act like I'm not someone that bothers him. "You grow too much, Gael DeLuca. You look exactly like the late master," he says.

My jaw clenched. I knew from the moment I saw his tattoo that he's from the DeLuca clan. "Why did you reach out to me? What do you want? Money? Don't tell me that asshole was messing around too much?" I mocked.

This man looks at me intently. "In the end, you are still a DeLuca, young lad."

That makes me madder. This guy was implying something that rubs the wrong way for me. "I'm your old man's trusted shadow, Enzo. No one knew I'm still alive. That's why your father told me to give you his treasure chest after ten years."

Enzo grabs something on the box next to him. I pick up a familiar box. My old man usually used this treasure chest to play with me.

"He said you'll realize the combination of the key. He told me that I'll give this seven years later if you choose to continue your family business, but if you choose another path," Enzo halts. He smokes first and then continues.

I can't stop looking at the familiar treasure chest and laugh. "I'll give you that treasure chest on your wedding day. You choose to continue and build your own group, so... I'm giving it to you now. It's time for you to receive your old man's gift."

Enzo looks at me with such a serious reaction. "Emilio must have left your business for a while, but he'll come after you. He'll destroy your life because you're the fruit of Sir Gabby and Ma'am Elena's love," he added.

I frowned. But I'm not stupid. "I don't have time to listen to whatever love triangle they have. Is this all? If we're done, I'm leaving," I calmly stated. Enzo laughs. "You have your mother's eyes. The rest was your father's. Your attitude? It's the old master's sickening attitude. Be careful. You might be scarier than Emilio DeLuca," Enzo warns.

I turn back but keep my guard up. "If you need eyes in Sicily, call me. We're a hundred secret men of your dad. He seems to know that Emilio will betray him. He told us to protect this place for you," Enzo shares.

I stop taking a step and look back. "Call Marco. He's keeping an eye on Venice. Wait a sec," Enzo says. He grabs some cards inside his pocket.

"Here. Call these four scumbags if you want the current situation in Rome, Florence, and Sardinia. Also, keep an eye on Emilio. His greed is beyond what your mind can think."

Enzo gets inside the boat and sails it back to the port. Enzo toured me a little in the sea, and they stopped on different sides of the port. It's like he wants me to get familiarized with this area.

"Kiddo, don't make your life too complicated. If you wish to change your path, do it soon."

I walked out of his boat. I decided to check the beach and see how beautiful the sea of Taormina is. I took a deep breath and let the salty wind brush against his skin. My parents always bring me to Sicily every summer vacation to enjoy its beauty.

Then that tragedy happens. A vacation that shades Sicily in red. One of the reasons why I didn't want to step into this place. I sighed and looked at the treasure chest in my hand.

"What kind of things do you keep for me here, Papa? Mama, did you leave something here for me too? Damn!"

I cursed under my breath. A pang of pain rises in my heart after I remember their bloody bodies, cold and dead. I stayed for a few minutes, and when hunger struck me, I chose to eat at one of their restaurants here.

I enjoyed their cuisine, and somehow, I forgot the bitterness that this place brings to me. Around four in the afternoon, I went back to that hotel. I arrived around five. I saw a different lady at their front desk.

"Good afternoon. Welcome to Ricci Hotel and Resort. What can I do for you? I'm Mio. Are you a walk-in guest, or do you have reservations?" she asks. I was about to speak when a cough broke our conversation. I looked back and saw Atasha.

"I'll take care of him, Mio. I received him this morning." Mio smiled. "Okay, milady," she replied. Atasha looks at me.

"Sir? Let's go. I'll send you myself in your hotel room." Atasha looks at me. I smiled.

"Let's go. I'm tired, and I want to rest already," he says.