Bella Mafia

Chapter 56

Vincent just glared at her. "James? Why are you asking about him!?" His tone was less than friendly causing Calli to visibly flinch, making him feel bad.

"Jesus it was just a question!" Calli yelled back. He stood to his feet and stalked to her. Capturing her between his body and the wall, his hands above her head, towering above her.

"Remember who you're talking to" he threatened. "How could I forget" she scoffed. "Calli!" his voice boomed, making her jump again.

"It was something Bri said and I just wanted to know for Christ sake! Never mind!" She swiped a tear away angrily as she stalked to the door, her hand was on the handle when Vincent spoke up.

"He's dead." He didn't sugarcoat it, due to the fact that they'd promised each other honesty. He watched her body stiffen at his answer.

"Did you kill him?" He wasn't surprised by her question because he had played this scenario over and over in his mind, knowing that it would eventually come up.

"He was threatening you and saying things about you that I will not repeat and if you must know, I'm not sorry. I did what I had to, to keep you safe."

He watched her shoulders slump in relief and then she turned and walked towards the bed where he sat and standing between his legs, she put her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to catch her gaze.

"Thank you" she whispered, tears in her eyes. "You don't think me a monster?" Vincent asked her. Catching him off guard, she threw back her head and laughed.

"Oh my God you are such a hot-blooded Italian! Of course not you dork! I was afraid of him, afraid I would have to look over my shoulder and now I don't. I can marry you in peace." Her words affected him greatly.

"Are you always going to be this hot headed?" Calli asked softly. He scoffed. "Are you always going to be this stubborn?" She rubbed her hands through his hair and whispered "Touché."

He took both her hands in his and brought them to his lips, his eyes closing at the contact and the comfort it brought.

"Let's get Bri and go see your dad and then you're mine the rest of the day, Mr. Siranni" she said, lowering her lips to his. "Si, gattina, but you don't just have me for the rest of the day, you have me forever." Vincent pulled her to his lap and kissed her roughly.

They found Alberto in his study and when he looked up and saw Calli, Bri and Vincent, he bid them to come in. "How are you three doing?" He asked affectionately.

"Um, Alberto I had something I wanted to discuss with you or rather ask you" Calli started, making Alberto put his pen down and come around to the front of his desk.

"What is it, mi figlia?" He asked. Calli looked at Vincent, he smiled and nodded for her to go on, so she cleared her throat and continued.

"Bri, I want your input on this as well because you are Alberto's daughter, but papa I wanted to know if you would walk me down the aisle" Calli was toying with her hands the whole time, looking at Bri first and then Alberto.

"Dad I think it's a wonderful idea and you should feel honored" Bri spoke up, smiling at Calli. The elder Siranni nodded, rubbing his chin before verbalizing anything.

"Calli I would be honored to do this wonderful thing you have asked. It would be my privilege to join your hand and my son's, so yes! I will!" His answer boomed and excited the two girls immensely.

Calli threw her arms around Alberto and cried softly as his big arms came around her, comforting her with fatherly words. Bri even teared up a bit, while Vincent looked on with satisfaction.

Calli had brought this family even closer together, if that was even possible and right here, right now, his famiglia was stronger than it'd ever been.

Once that was done, Alberto went back to work, Bri went to spend the day with Luca and Vincent and Calli went to the kitchen to prepare for their date.

Vincent's mom was in the kitchen and greeted them with a heartfelt smile. "Good morning my darlings" she said, kissing Vincent first and then Calli.

"Tesoro, everything is ready and in that basket" she said pointing to a worn picnic basket on the table. "You can grab the blanket on your way out and the wine, the corkscrew is in the basket. Now shoo, enjoy your day" she said forcing them out the door.

Vincent grabbed the blanket, the same one that he'd used the night he proposed to Calli and then it hit him. They were going back to his tree, the place where he'd asked her to marry him.

They walked quietly, holding hands, as they crossed the wooden bridge, down the path and through the clearing.

Vincent spread out the blanket, took the basket from Calli and sat it on the ground. He watched her reach into the basket and pull out her phone.

She looked as if she was searching for a song and finally finding it, she pressed play, stood up and took Vincent's hand.

The song she picked to dance to was Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers which was a very romantic song and one of her favorites.

He loved the way she felt in his arms, the warmth of her body and her scent. It was hard for him to express how he felt, first of all, he didn't, express his feelings and second, this sense of belonging and unconditional love was all new to him as well.

The only thing he cared about was that she knew this, how he felt, and he would show her everyday because life was not guaranteed.

"This is very relaxing, fiore" Vincent said, his lips to her ear, inhaling her scent. "I'm glad you like it" she responded as the song ended.

She took his hand and motioned for them to sit on the blanket. "You want to open the wine while I get everything else out?" Calli asked, handing him the corkscrew.

While he set to that task, he watched her bring out small plates, napkins, a container of what looked like antipasto, another container with what he hoped was his mom's chicken salad, a container of fresh fruit and finally ciabatta bread.

He was impressed and touched that she'd gone to all of this effort for him, for them. After pouring their wine and handing her a glass, she said "To you, mi Vincenzo, because I wanted you to know that you will always have this, me and your home to fall back to when it's been a bad day."

They enjoyed their meal, laughed and talked about the wedding and their honeymoon, happy times and they would need it, these memories.