Stella (Book One of Dark Souls Series)

Ossobuco

*~*
vacanza- an extended period of leisure and recreation.
*~*

Eva was a handful, but I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.

I noticed how attached she'd gotten to Adonis. The two were inseparable. If she wanted to go somewhere, she would ask him to take her. When he was out and about, she would cuddle under me and watch TV until she fell asleep. She talked to him more than she talked to me.

I was unsure on how comfortable I felt with her getting so close to him. She's only known him for a week, but it felt like she forgot she had a father. Eventually, we would have to take her back to Daniel.

In an attempt to hide from everyone a bit longer, he proposed I bring her to Italy for a few days.

I knew he was not doing it out of kindness, but to ease his mind of keeping us away from each other for so many years.

Since Adonis was not fond of Ohio, we left. I understood that he had work he had to get back to.

In Italy, school ended in June. I did not know it was different in the States. It was by luck that Eva's school year ended in May and began in August. Since it was mid-June, Daniel and I agreed that he would come get her for the school year. We agreed that one the breaks, she would stay with me.

Adonis did not want me to take her to the trailer I was in before I moved in with Gio. He said it was no place for a child to be. I also did not want her living out of my bedroom at Gaia's. He decided to set us up in the penthouse he had in Milan.

Of course, I declined. Normally, I would agree with what he says because I can be a reasonable person, but a penthouse was extreme. No amount of begging and doe eyes from Eva convinced me to say 'yes.'

The moment Adonis dropped Eva off at Daniel's to pack, the convincing began.

We were back at Hilton's and I was packing all of my clothes in my suitcase.

I felt Adonis's arms encircle my waist, so I turned around to face him.

"It is just for a couple of weeks," he began attempting to persuade me again.

"And now that I don't need the money for a lawyer, I can get us a temporary apartment in Calabria," I responded to him.

His eyes held disappointment. "Calabria is no place for a child, Estella," he said in a tender but serious tone.

I rolled my eyes and placed my hands on his chest since he was trying to bring me closer to him. "Calabria was both of our homes, Adonis," I argued softly. "Eva merita di sapere del suo luogo di nascita."

"Why don't you stay in the penthouse, but give her a tour of Calabria," he proposed. "She will still know her birthright. I know you cannot expect me to let you or your daughter live in trailer trash or shitty apartments for a month."

I pushed away from him and narrowed my eyes. "That trailer trash was my home," I snapped.

He looked taken aback. "Estella, I-"

I scoffed to cut him off. "Adonis, I do not want your money or anything tied to your family."

"I'm sorry," he spoke mockingly. "I am having troubles comprehending which part of 'self-made' you are not understanding. None of what I am offering is coming from my parents."

I could tell he was getting irritated. I remembered the day we arrived in Ohio. He yelled at me about the way I was affecting Samuel. To say the least, it hurt my feelings. I did not want a repeat of that with him. I knew that I pushed him to that point a lot.