Love, Evangeline

15.

Sitting down at a table, our waiter said, " just one moment, I'll get your dinning area set up." Mrs. Berlusconi smiled, " thank you so much." Turning to Alessandro, I asked, " are we not eating here?" " We're eating in a more, classy area," Mrs. Berlusconi said to me. I looked at her, " our occasion isn't appropriate for this setting." " This setting?" Mateo whispered to Diego. Diego held back a smile as he rubbed his jaw. As everyone talked, my mind suddenly resurfaced the dream that I had. " Hey," Dante asked. I looked at him, " you okay?" Dante asked calmly. I nodded, " yeah, I'm fine."

Suddenly, the dull sick feeling washed over me. Frowning, Dante asked as pure concern filed his tone, " Evangeline." I swallowed, Dante turned to me before asking, " have you eaten today?" " Alright, Mr and Mrs. Berlusconi your dinning area is ready for you," our waiter informed us. Everyone stood up, I looked at Dante, his eyes glued on mine.  Sending Dante a assuring smile, a scooted away from the table before standing up. As soon as I stood up, a numb sensation floated down at me, cutting off any motion or feelings in my legs.  As I stumbled backwards, Dante instantly grabbed me, pulling me close to his chest. " Woah," Alessandro said as he placed his hand on my back. I softly pushed off Dante before saying, " I'm okay." Scoffing, Dante said, " yeah because blacking out is you being okay."

I tried to walk past Dante, but he grabbed my arm. " Dante, I'm fine," I simply said. " I'm just, I'm tired." " You're a terrible liar, you know that?" Damien said. I looked at him, " I'm not about to have my sister pass out in a restaurant," Dante said. I looked at him, " hold onto my arm, and stay by me," Dante instructed. I scoffed softly, earning a subtle glare from Dante. " We're not moving until you do it," Dante promised me . Right as my mom looked back at us, I slipped my arm around Dante's. " Everything okay?" my mom asked. " Never been better," Diego said smiling. My mom eyed us before turning and following my dad, Mr. and Mrs. Berlusconi, and our waiter to our dinning area. I glanced at Dante before walking with him behind out parents.

- - -
As we walked passed tables, people in business attire conversed as they ate. Following our waiter, we came upon a door, I glanced behind before turning back around. " Enjoy your stay," our waiter said, smiling at Mr. and Mrs. Berlusconi. " I've seen this in movies," Mateo whispered to me. I looked at him, " this is the part where we all get murdered." Dante smacked Mateo on the back of his head, making both Damien and Diego chuckle. " Stay by me," Dante instructed. Mr Berlusconi opened the door, leading us in. " The people in here aren't the type we're used to," Dante said. " And since we're bringing you, they'll wanna get close to us." I frowned, " what do you mean bringing me?" " You're young, probably the youngest one here," Alessandro said as we walked through the door.

The hall was dark for a split second, until I saw a tunnel of light. Suddenly, I found my brothers moving around so that I was now in the middle of all five of them. As we got closer to the end of the hall, I was surprised to see a full on restaurant before me. This one was darker, more subtle than the one we first entered. Men and women in darker and more subtle attire sat at tables. The mouthwatering smell of food drifted its way up to me. Many tables were full of men, ranging from what looked like sixteen year olds to eighty year olds. " You comfortable yet?" Damien asked. Dante shot him as cold glare, ending the conversation.

" Here we are," Mrs. Berlusconi said as we approached a table. Attempting to keep my attention on our group, I couldn't help it as my eyes began to wonder about the restaurant. Guns were visible sitting on a few tables, as well as knives slightly hidden in belt loops. Alessandro nudged me, averting my attention to him. " Don't do that," Alessandro said. He quickly looked at the table of men I was staring at before looking back at me before addressing, " some of the people in here would want nothing more than to have us dead. The only reason we're not yet is because of Mr. and Mrs. Berlusconi." I scoffed softly, " not to make matters worse or anything," Diego added sarcastically.