The Mafia's One Desire

chapter 27: judgment

24 Hours Later:

Sofia Milan Chavicci

I'm not exactly sure what I'm feeling as we climb onto Alessandro's private plane. I want to go to his house, I want to see my parents, I want to see his family and meet Tatuini's kids, but there's a feeling in my gut. A bad feeling that something is going to happen. I can't have him just fly us to an unknown destination because of some maybe false feeling sitting like a rock in my stomach. 

He is concentrated on work, mostly reminiscing on what was stressful meeting for him, so I don't want to burden him any further. I also know that he would also want me to tell him. I take a sobering breath, calming my own self and trying to stop the visible shaking in my hands. 

Neither of us says anything as the captain, co-captain, and flight attendants of the plane get ready for our short but (my) anxious flight. I clear my throat as I go to sit down, but I get pulled onto his lap. His hands instantly tugging me gently into his hold.

"What's going on, love?"

"I don't want to sound like a broken record, but it's really nothing. I'm probably freaking myself out for no reason."

"Would you tell me anyway? I don't want you to feel like you can't talk to me."

"I know I can. It's not that important, and I don't want to be a burden."

His lips droop into a frown, his eyebrows being furrowed. He delicately holds the sides of my face, forcing me to look into his perfectly brown eyes.

"You are never a burden. I love you more than you know. Everything you think and say is my world. You are my entire life, my universe. You could never, ever, ever be a burden, so please don't think of yourself that way. You can tell me anything even if it's something I don't want to hear. Do you hear me?"

"I do. I love you."

Alessandro nuzzles his nose against mine; his thumbs caressing my rosey, blushing cheeks. I place my hand on his chest to steady myself as his lips begin to brush over mine. I shiver at the seemingly innocent touch, though in reality, passion soars through the both of us. Before we can decide whether we want to make out or actually discuss what I want to say, a male flight attendant named Lando comes over to choose for us. 

I fiddle with his black suit jacket as he gives Lando the announcement of leaving the two of us alone for an hour before asking us if we would like anything. He places a kiss against my temple, and Lando takes that as his cue to leave us alone and give everyone else the message. 

I lick my bottom lip as his hands travel down my sides, taking my hips in his hands. I grind forward while reaching down between the two of us. Before I can distract him with my hand, he catches it, placing it back upon his shoulder.

"You can't use your beautiful body to get out of this one, amore."

"What if I want to?"

"I'm not giving you my consent to touch me quite yet."

"Okay. I'm sorry."

"Now, would you please tell me what's going on?"

"I'm just having a bad feeling about going back to Palermo right now. I don't know what it is, but something is wrong. Seriously wrong."

"A gut feeling huh? Are you sure you weren't meant to be in the Mafia?"

"I never said anything about belonging in the Mafia, I never wanted to marry you in the first place, and most people get gut feelings."

"Are okay with being married to me now though right?"

"We're trying, but our marriage is not what we are discussing."

"Do you have any idea about the problem?"

"No, but it's not good."

"I think we should change routes then. Go somewhere else and let a couple of my men check out the area before we head back."

"Are you sure? I don't want to ruin any plans."

"I trust your judgment as much as you trust mine. If you think something is wrong, I'm going to listen to you."

"Wow, I thought you would fight me on this."

"I love you, and I trust you. Those two things are very difficult for me. If I can love you the way I do, trust you the way I do, why would I get mad at you for having intuition?"

"I thought you liked to be in charge of everything and be all alpha male."

"Things change when you fall in love. Plus, I'm still an alpha male, but I also have an alpha female next to me. I think that's incredibly beautiful."

"You're beautiful."

A husky chuckle escapes his lips as he leans in to kiss me softly. I smile against his lips, forcing him to back away from me, but he doesn't seem disappointed. If anything, he looks the happiest that I think I've ever seen him. I'm not entirely sure why he's so happy, why he looks so content, but -- not to be egotistical -- I have a feeling that I have something to do with it. At least, I hope I do. I am his wife, and I'm starting to be more accustomed (and okay) to the idea. 

He draws slow circles on my hips before lifting me up off his lap and into the seat next to him. He presses a sweet and lasting kiss against my forehead. I hum in satisfaction at the tenderness of his touch. He breaks away from me, not saying a word, and walks into the main cabin of the plane. A second later, Luca joins me, but he keeps quiet as well. Sensing he doesn't want to start a conversation, I gaze out the window to glance at the scenery below.

When Alessandro doesn't come back around five minutes after he left, I start to become nervous. I wonder if something is wrong. Is the bad thing happening now? Did I give him enough warning? Is he going to start yelling? Will he hurt someone? And if so, who? Is someone going to hurt him? Is someone going to try and hurt me? I could just be overthinking things. It could be nothing, and he's just dealing with the change of plans. 

I don't even know where he's decided to take the both of us. Maybe he's discussing the best plan of action with the crew members and our bodyguards. He could be coordinating with his men on the ground to be prepared for our arrival at the new destination and others to investigate what could be happening in Palermo. I really need to stop thinking of the worst situation first, I only stress myself out more.

Not even a moment later, just as my leg starts to jitter and my bottom lip sinks between my teeth, he appears with a smile on his face. Once he sits back down next to me, Luca stands and makes his way back to where he must have been before. I tilt my head and my eyebrows scowl as I stare after him. I'm about to question him when my husband shakes his head to tell me not to even ask the question. 

Knowing that it's probably for my benefit, I leave it alone, staring at the food in his lap. He smirks up at me, lifting his hand with a strawberry in it to my lips. I try to take it from his hand to feed myself, but he protests, saying he 'doesn't want me to lift a finger'. It's a complete waste of time to argue with him about this, so I let him do as he pleases, choosing not to pick this battle. 

Multiple times, I ask where we are going, but he only answers that it's a surprise and that I'm going to love it. Not sure what I want to do with myself, I lay my head against his shoulder and lace my hand through his while I gaze out the window. Soon after, I fall into a comfortable sleep with my man beside me.