Stella's Own

Part 9

At Bred and Wine that night the Bruni family was seated in their private table away from prying ears but in eye shot of the dinner theater stage up in the balcony. Stella was looking at the menus even though she was going to order her regular.

The server came up and set down the bottle requested by her father, then leaned into Stella's ear. Puzzled on why he would do this she went ridged. "Antonio is here to see you in the kitchen."  Her spine froze. Why would he follow her to a respectable place?

Stella pulled out her phone and texted her father. "Antonio is here and he wants to see me."

He father took his phone out of his label pocket and read the message. Looking up at her he shook his head no.

She texted back, "I'll take Dante with me. It'll be fine. This is our territory anyway."

Her father sighed then texted back. "Don't say yes to anything." He warned.

Stella looked over to where Dante was standing by the balcony and made eye contact with him. Standing up she whispered, "Follow me."

Once they rounded the corner to the stairwell she explained. "That bastard Antonio is here to see me."

Dante stopped and grabbed her arm from behind. "Why the hell are you obliging?"

Stella ripped her arm away. "Because it's curios that he's on our turf requesting for a conversation. Peculiar isn't it?"

Continuing into the kitchen she saw him standing against a sink waiting for her. A few of his men were by the back door, no visible guns though.

"Why are you here?" Stella questioned.

He looked down at his shoes and smiled. Then leaned up and walked towards her, hands in his pockets. Dante stepped closer out of precaution.

"I figured the princess would see me on her own turf. I've come to warn you." He answered.

Stella shook her head in curiosity. He was the enemy here, why would he warn her about anything?

"Words gotten around that the daughter of Bruni is set to inherit the empire. And your uncle doesn't seem very happy about that." He explained.

"My father can deal with him. What did you come to warn me about?" Stella stood her ground.

Antonio got closer and she could feel his breath on her face. "That there is going to be an attempt to take your fathers life."

Stella backed up from him. Eyeing him in disbelief. There is no way that the enemy would be helping her. "By my own Uncle?" Even though her Uncle is not one to favor her taking power there is no way he would go that low and kill her father just so he can have control of the empire.

Antonio sighed, then leaned close to her ear, "Someone is persuading your uncle and I still don't know who." Then he leaned back and could feel the death stare coming from Dante.

"What's in it for you?" She questioned.

His smile grew devlishly. "If your father dies, and your uncle takes over, he'll be gunning for my assessts faster then I can get out of the city."

"So by helping me you're saving yourself." She simplified.

Antonio shrugged. "My offer from the other day still stands princess." He then winked at her and turned to walk out of the kitchen.

Stella's mind was racing now. Her fathers life was in danger from his own brother, and now Antonio is warning her out of saving his own hide? Something seems too warm about Antonio. Does he somehow know that she found out which cartel is coming after him?