Undercover Love (Draft 1)

Chapter Four

As I step out of the limousine, I am immediately struck by the grandeur of the Italian restaurant before me. The name of the establishment is "Il Giardino di Amore," and it exudes an air of sophistication and elegance that is simply breathtaking. 

          The host greets us with a warm smile before his face drops as he notices Liam beside me. "Mr Amato! Right this way!" He rushes out, refusing to make eye contact . He leads us through the bustling dining room to a private corner, where we are seated at a beautifully set table. I allow myself a moment to take in the beauty around me.

          The interior of the restaurant is nothing short of magnificent. The walls are adorned with intricate murals depicting scenes from Italian history, and the ceiling is painted with a stunning fresco that seems to come alive in the flickering candlelight. The tables are draped in crisp white linens, and each place setting is meticulously arranged with gleaming silverware and sparkling crystal glasses. 

          The soft glow of the candles casts a warm, inviting light over everything, and the gentle strains of classical music fill the air. It's as if we've been transported to another time and place, where luxury and indulgence are the norm.

          Our waiter approaches us with a timid smile. His impeccable manners and charming accent, despite his obvious fear of the man in front of me, adding to the overall ambiance of the restaurant. He presents us with menus that are filled with dishes I can't even begin to pronounce before walking away.

          Liam seems to notice my struggle as he lets out a quick chuckle. "Do you need some help, amore mio?" He smiles as I blush. 

          "If you wouldn't mind? I can't speak a lick of Italian." I laugh, my eyes still searching for any words that I may understand. 

          "I recommend the Cacio e pepe. It's my favourite dish here." He doesn't even look at his menu as he speaks. 

          "You must come here a lot if you don't even have to check the menu?" I ask him, taking a sip from one of the complimentary glasses of water placed on the table. He lets out a short sigh. 

          "Not as much as I would like. Work keeps me pretty busy, so when you boldly asked me to accompany you to dinner - I couldn't pass on the opportunity to share this place with you." He shrugs. 

          I go to try my luck and ask what about his work keeps him so busy, but the waiter hurriedly makes his way back over to us. I look at Liam, allowing him to order for us both since I have zero intention of butchering any pronounciations. "We'll get two Cacio e Pepes and a bottle of Nebiollo with two chilled glasses." Liam grunts to the shaking boy as he jots down our order. 

          "Thank you so much." I smile at the waiter, attempting to ease his fear. I'm not the only one aware of what the Amato family are capable of. Now I just need Liam to tell me himself.

          A new waiter brings a bucket full of ice with a bottle of red wine, accompanied by two glasses, to our table a moment later. I thank him as he pours us each a glass before he leaves again. As we wait for our food to arrive, I take in my surroundings once more. The other diners seem to be enjoying themselves immensely, their laughter and conversation filling the air. The waitstaff move about gracefully, attending to each table with care and precision. 

          "Why do all of the workers here seem so fearful around you?" I ask, turning to face Liam once again. For a moment, there's silence between us as Liam considers my question. His expression doesn't change, but I can sense a shift in his energy, a subtle shift that tells me he's not entirely comfortable with this line of questioning. 

          "I don't know what you're talking about," he says finally, his voice low and measured. But I'm not willing to let it go that easily. 

          "Come on Liam," I press. "I've been watching them since we got here. They're clearly intimidated by you for some reason." 

          "Is that so?" He raises an eyebrow at me, his lips curling into a faint smirk. 

          I nod, feeling a surge of courage within me. "Yeah. So what do you do for work? Are you some kind of enforcer or something?" 

          Liam's expression darkens at my words, and for a moment I think he might be onto me. But then he takes a deep breath and seems to compose himself. "I'm not an enforcer," he says finally, his voice low and dangerous. "But let's just say that people know better than to mess with me."

          Our food arrives, interrupting me before I can try and press any further. I take a small bite and close my eyes as the flavours hit my tongue. It's every bit as delicious as it looks. Each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures, perfectly balanced and expertly prepared. As we savor our meal, I can't help but forget the tension surrounding us from our prior conversation. 

          "This is incredible." I moan, my eyes meeting Liams. I notice him shift in his seat slightly before he nods at me. 

          "I told you, this is my favourite dish here." He smiles at me. 

          His eyes are still shrouded in darkness, making me worry that I may have completely blown any chances of him opening up to me. "I'm sorry if I said anything to anger you. I just want to know more about you. Isn't that the whole point of a date?" I sigh, looking down at my now empty plate. 

          I hear Liam drink the rest of his wine before pouring more into our glasses. "I'm not angry, tesoro. It's just not something I really like to talk about. If you knew the truth about me and my work, you'd run for the hills." He attempts to lighten his tone, but I can tell that he truly believes what he's saying. 

          I mean, if this wasn't my job, he'd probably be right. I don't think any ordinary, sane woman would stick around if she knew he was a Mafia Don. 

          "That may be true, but surely that's my choice to make? I'd rather find out and be able to make my decision now than not know and find out when it's too late for me to run if I want to." I shrug, trying to make my gaze seem reassuring as I stare into his eyes. 

          Carefully, I reach my hand across the table and wrap my fingers around his. "I can't promise that I won't run. But I can promise that I won't tell anyone." I smile at him comfortingly despite my blatant lie. 

          He stares at me for a second and I can see the conflict in his eyes as he thinks it over. "Even if you did run, I'd be stupid to let you get very far." He says with a teasing grin, but I can see the seriousness behind his eyes. 

          "I'm not worth chasing after, trust me." I laugh. "Does that mean you'll tell me what it is that you do?" I smile at him with hopeful eyes. His beckons the waiter to bring the cheque before turning to face me again.

          "Not here."