Francesca Romano

Chapter 35 | Yes

Francesca's point of view

All past attempts at love or at least some kind of affection have failed me. Including Reid. I was desperate with him, wanting to feel something. Each time I kissed him I used my fear of guns as an excuse to pull away because it didn't feel right.

Tonight I sat on King's lap and unintentionally felt something I had no idea I'd feel. I saw something in his eyes change. Tonight he wasn't quiet or distant. He was here with me and wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. He was paying attention to me. He closed his eyes every time our lips collided unlike Reid who would keep his eyes open as he tried to undress me. Forgetting that night after the club was a mistake. If I had allowed myself to remember earlier I would've hunted that man down and kissed him a long time ago. Germany was a beautiful place but it's not waiting for him. I'm waiting for him, for a second chance. A sober chance. This could be what I was looking for and didn't even realize it.

As I drove home my head flashed memories of tonight. Over and over and over again. His beauty was damn near one of a kind. Not everything from that night was clear but I do remember looking at his pretty lips for the first time. I got to see what they felt like.

As I pulled into my driveway I noticed the lights on and was excited to see Beverly back home. She didn't say she'd be back, I always loved her surprises. I walked into my home and it smelled of food. I kicked my shoes off by the door and hung my bag on the doorknob. "Eve, what are you cooking?" I said as I walked to the living room.

Instead of an answer I stopped in my tracks. Beverly strapped to a chair crying for me. Her mouth taped over. On the floor in front of her was Giovanni. Bloody and passed out cold. I pulled the tape off of Beverly but she only cried louder. I dropped to my knees and pulled his limp body onto my lap. He was bleeding from his forehead, nose, knuckles, and lip. All busted and bruised. I slapped his face trying to get him to gain consciousness.

"He's in the kitchen." Beverly sobbed and I looked up to her in fear as a man stood tall behind her. I only held Giovanni closer as he bled and this familiar man held a knife to Beverly's face. She cried and cried and cried. Like any human would but I couldn't at the moment. The most important person in my life was dying in my hands. "Francesca, did you miss me?" The man said. "Did you like my notes?" I immediately remembered all the cards left around my room. And that night in my hospital. "Adams?" I asked through a whimper. "Halston Adams, darling. I'm a man of patience really. But you had me here waiting hours for you and your little friends kept popping up." He said walking around Beverly and kneeling down in front of me and Giovanni.

"You have to let me help him." I begged as I stared at the knife he dragged down Gio's arm. "As I waited for you I made dinner, come eat." Water rimmed my eyes as I looked up to him. "Now or he loses a hand." He placed the tape over Beverly's mouth once again and walked to my dining room. My hands trembled as I placed Giovanni's body back onto the floor. I stood up and slowly turned the corner to see Halston sitting at the table. It was all set up with flowers and candles. A red gift box sat next to him and his plate of food. He pointed to the opposite side of the table where there was another plate. "Sit. We have business to discuss." He said.

I stood still and stared at him, unable to move my body knowing my best friend was tied up and beaten and my brother was half dead on my floor. "The faster we get through this, the faster I'll let you help them." Fear filled my head and body as I dragged my feet to my seat. I sat down and watched as he ate. "Eat." He told me. "I'm full." I whispered looking down at the plate of mashed potatoes and steak. "Eat now." He slammed on the table causing things to shift and my heart to come out of my mouth. I picked up a fork and took a bite. Fast enough it came back up. Not that it was nasty, I just couldn't keep anything down. He laughed and wiped the corner of his mouth.

"So Francesca, beautiful name for a beautiful girl." He winked at me. "But I don't mix business with pleasure and this is business." He shrugged and looked down at himself, covered in Giovanni's and Beverly's blood. "I'll give you whatever money you want." I pleaded. "Just let us go." He just laughed again and a tear fell down my face. "I don't want your money, I want my revenge. And I have a feeling you know who." I was frantic in my seat as I was gifted with my hands. "I've done nothing to you. My brother has never hurt anyone. Beverly neither." He continued to eat his food.

"At first I was going to use Gabriele, you know that Starfire built one. But then I saw you at that hospital looking beautiful. I knew soon the boys would have to come to you for your little contract. Sorry about that by the way." I was confused and tried so hard to block Beverly's screaming out of my head but she only got louder, I felt her pain as if it was mine. "I'm guessing you were with one of the De' Luca brothers tonight?" He looked up with his eyebrows raised. "You answer when I speak to you!" He screamed at me, more tears falling. "Yes." I whispered.

"Good good. See me and those boys were friends. Grew up together. I was their brother once. Until they tried to light me up in bloody flames. Literally that is." He was clearly sad and upset. "I can see why." I said to him through my labored breathing. It wasn't the first time I've been sat down and spoken to like this before. He was going to give me two options and one I wouldn't be able to resist. Yet I still find it in me to be a smartass, because he clearly needed something bad. I wiped my tears and he chuckled. "That's your mothers tongue right there."

"I want you to drive those brothers apart so when I rip Reid's head off and have you send it to King, he knows they died on bad terms just like they tried with me." He yelled and stomped his feet. Then pushed the give box towards me and stood up walking over to me. "That's the box I'll put his head in." I looked forward as he leaned down and moved inches to my face. "A beautiful girl like you could have two brothers go insane." He kissed the corner of my lips and the tears just fell and this time wouldn't stop. "Or I'll kill your brother and friend in there, then everyone you've ever loved. That beautiful mother of yours, I see where you get your looks. We've worked together before."

"They hate me, please just let me go." He grabbed my face and made me look at him. "No no no. If those two are anything like I remember, King is obsessed with you while Reid is waiting his turn with you. A turn he won't miss out on. Honestly I think I might have my way with you as well." I felt dirty in my own skin as he talked to me. "They tried to kill me, after they threw me out of the business claiming it was family work. Like I wasn't family. I don't care how you do it. Date them, fake paper work, tell lies to them each. I wouldn't care if you got knocked up by one, I just want them to hate each other. The hate they made me feel for them the night they lured me into that building to kill me."

I cried as he held my face so tight he was pulling me from my seat. As he stopped talking I noticed it was quiet. Beverly most likely passed out. I bit my tongue as he looked down to my lips. "Say yes baby. Tell me you'll help me." I closed my eyes and didn't answer, waiting for some impossible miracle. "Or little bro won't ever wake up again." I devoted my whole childhood to saving and protecting Giovanni. From dad, and strangers, and moms mood swings. Now I'll be protecting him from someone I wish I'd let die all those days ago.

I opened my eyes to him still waiting, yet I still couldn't answer. He moved his hand down to my neck and pulled me out of my seat. He slammed me against the wall and I felt my head pound over and over. "Yes." I screamed. He didn't let go of my neck and held me higher off the ground. "Yes you will, and at the end of this we'll both be happy." He dropped me and I fell to my knees. "I will come here asking for an update every Friday. You better have one and I'll be listening. Oh, and don't bother telling your cop friend." He walked away and I heard the door slam shut.