A Deal With The Devil | Ben Barnes | Sebastian Stan

Chapter 5

Francesca

"I was so curious about you, signorina. When we learned that signor Luca was getting married, we couldn't believe it at first, but here you are – proof that it's actually happening."

I forced myself to look away from the windows and for the first time acknowledge the person behind the steering wheel. He was young, a man whom I wouldn't have looked twice at if I would've met him in a different way. Don't get me wrong, he was handsome, but his beauty was still raw, he was still growing into the man he was supposed to be. But this wasn't what bothered me. It was the fact that he was too joyful and chatty. Too normal to be a mafia man.

And considering the fact that Luca trusted him to take me from my family and bring me to him said a lot about this man's abilities.

"You must be incredibly happy about all this. Marrying Luca Rossi is an honor."

I puffed, fighting the urge to laugh at his remark.

"But he's lucky too. You are incredibly beautiful, signorina." He looked at me with those brown eyes of his and smiled. His compliment was an innocent one and for a moment he reminded me of my brother.

"Thank you" I say. "And please, stop calling me signorina, I have a name."

"Oh, I know, but I'm not sure signore Luca would like to hear me call you by your name."

"That's his problem. But like I said, I have a name and I want you to use it. I'm not your master or something" I start explaining. For a brief moment something in my mind reminded me that by marrying Luca I would be something of a mistress. I quickly shook away the thought. "So, you'll call me Francesca and I'll call you -"

I stop realizing I didn't know his name.

"Tommaso" he says his name even though he probably said it before.

"Nice to meet you, Tommaso" I say offering him a little smile. Despite the fact that I hated everything that was happening to me, I came to realization that I can't change anything, at least not now. For that I have to make sure I'll have an easy life in the mafia. And the easiest way to do that was to gain as much allies as possible.

"Likewise" he answers happily. He returned his gaze to the road, driving carefully as we were approaching the monastery. "It's easier this way actually considering that we'll spend a lot of time together."

"We will" I ask confused.

"Yeah, I'll be wherever you'll be. I'm to be your guardaspalle."

I blinked rapidly having a hard time understanding his words. Bodyguard. Tommaso will be my bodyguard. Stupid of me to believe that I'll be free to roam the streets of Palermo alone. Stupid of me to believe I will be let free when there was no reason to trust me. Ah, cazzo!

"You didn't know" Tommaso states the obvious.

"No, I didn't" I confirm.

"Don't worry. My job is to protect you, not bother you. Now, come on, we're here" Tommaso hurries me, climbing out of the car moment in which he showed me that behind all those smiles he was still a dangerous man. The gun he carried at his back told me so.

I followed him out of the car and watched him grab my suitcases from the trunk. I looked around and was surprised to see that there was no one around. A few shadows could be seen high up on the walls, but that was all. If I didn't know better, I would think this place was abandoned. 

As we entered the house, a chill ran down my spine reminding me of how cold this place was. I was running my hands down my arms trying to shake the cold when I heard footsteps coming toward me.