Love Me Red ✔️

To Infinity And Beyond

42

A Month Later

It was time. The day arrived.

Adeline pulled in a deep sigh and advanced a step toward the heaps of crowd that was gathered in the hall under the ground. She was wearing a cape with a hood on like everyone else's. It felt as if there was a ritual going to take place; which really was. Standing on the mezzanine, she splayed her eyes over the ground from above. The place was lit with sconces and the glass roof that illuminated moonlight. It seemed no less than a labyrinth. Connected through different passageways, her gaze permeated through people that were scattered everywhere, waiting to pick his one sight. The view brought shivers down her spine, his people, his realm. He was going to be the most influential man in the Cosa Nostra. Thousands of his people were going to be witnesses to his enthroning. He was going to claim the throne that was rightfully his. Not only that, he was going to proclaim her to his world. She wondered how the outfit was going to react to the news. The capo dei capi opting for a widower.

Adeline breathed in while observing his people's expressions when suddenly a shadow stirred her gut-feeling. On cue, she looked over her shoulder and gasped slightly watching Mariano standing close to her with his black cape and hood on. He had his eyes on people, sharply assessing each and every one of them, which then drew back to her. Adeline gave him a perplexed look.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" The clue was clear in her voice. Mariano clasped his hands and averted his gaze back to the crowd.

"I'm commanded to guard over you," He replied simply, causing a faint frown to appear on her forehead.

"Should I be watched over?" She tilted her head and asked in an undertone. Her eyes wandered around as she imagined worst-case possibilities. Somewhat she knew Kieran was overprotective of her and sent Mariano for his relief but she couldn't fight the horrors her mind was brewing, especially after the tragedies she had encountered.

"He doesn't feel at rest when you are all to yourself, you should know it better by now," He said nonchalantly. Adeline couldn't help but look back on the day when she said yes to Trenton over him asking her will for marrying Kieran. The fact he respected their traditions and her values made her fall for him even more. And ever since she endorsed his proposal, he never failed for once to prove his devotion to that little girl. He had been treating her like some princess straight out of a fairytale. He never rejected wishes, always made sure she felt wanted and loved with his gestures, attention and gifts. He once forced shopkeepers to open their stores for her. Adeline couldn't feel more blessed than she was by having him on her side. He was simply the best man she could ever have.

"He hasn't arrived," She pointed to Mariano to distract the thoughts that threatened to invade her thinking process. Those sinful nights he had promised her. Her throat parched a little for her to notice.

Mariano pressed the earpiece that he was wearing and communicated with someone in Italian through it. "He will be here any minute," Adeline nodded and tapped on her foot. Mariano glanced at her peaking toes. "You should sit," He was concerned about her condition and ordered one of his men to arrange a seat. Adeline perched on it without a word but took to her feet back the moment those double doors parted and drums started to roll louder in the air. It was the Italian tradition to honour their big shots.

Adeline's gaze fell over the silhouettes that were formed as they took steps ahead. She could tell by the shadows he was trudging in the middle while his trusted men paraded beside him. The moment was grand and majestic. Everyone was alerted and had taken over their feet as the capo dei capi marched ahead.

Her breath staggered the moment her eyes crawled to him. Blood red cape with hood on, his broad contour covered behind the premium fabric, making him look so massive and bloody powerful. It felt as if even the ground shuddered with every step he took. His army halted back while Kieran D'Angelo walked up to the stage. An old man with a priest-like appearance was waiting for him. Adeline knew better than to trust his appearance, it was just a facade, the innocent father could be no less than a deadly assassin. It confirmed when she peaked at the tattoo over his nape and right forearm.