Mafia Princess

Chapter Eighty-Five

Twilight...not mine (sigh).

Chapter Eighty-Five

After our bath, Edward and I went to pick up Carino. The vet had informed us that she was perfectly healthy. I asked if she was missing or anything. The vet explained that she wasn't microchipped or spayed. The vet said that Carino, for all intents and purposes, was our cat. I scheduled an appointment to get her fixed for the following week when my father and Emmett came into Italy.

The cat definitely took to Edward more so than to me. Carino would follow Edward around, playing with his shoelaces or pouncing on his watch when it glittered in the sunlight. Edward grumbled good-naturedly, but I could tell he had an affection for the cat. However, I think he needed to take two zyrtec a day, plus a Benadryl at night. He was a mess.

The Wednesday prior to my father's arrival, we went over to Mario and Francesca's for another meal. Mario and Edward were in the range while I was in the kitchen with Francesca. I was cutting up vegetables while she was working on assembling some eggplant parmesan. "Edward really is dreamy," she said in Italian.

"He is," I smiled, responding also in Italian. "He's amazing."

"How is he in bed?" Francesca asked, her brows waggling.

"I wouldn't know. We're taking it slow," I said, furrowing my brow. "Something's hold him back, Francesca."

"Could he be lying to you? Maybe he has a wife and kids somewhere?" she snickered.

"It's not that," I deadpanned. "No ring or even an indention on his finger." I sat quietly, looking at my vegetables. "I love him, Francesca."

"I know you do," she whispered, putting the eggplant into the oven. "You look at him the same way your father did when he looked at your momma." She turned and put her hands on her hips. "He looks at you the same way."

"Then, why is he holding back?" I asked.

"He's a man. He's afraid," Francesca responded, taking my hands. "Mario and I, we dated for ten years before he got down on one knee. Granted, he was terrified of my father and my father insisted that my husband request his permission to marry me. Ten years we dated. Another two years before we were married."

"Did you make love?" I asked, blushing.

"Mario was insatiable. Annie was in the oven when I walked down the aisle," she snickered. "Is Edward a virgin?"

"No, but he's inexperienced. He was hurt tremendously by his birth father as a child," I explained. "He can't bear to be touched."

"That's why you asked me not to hug him," Francesca mused.

"Apparently, his father 'hugged' him to try and break every single rib in his body," I frowned. "I know there's more, but he hasn't told me."

"What monster would do that to a child?" Francesca snarled. "That's bullshit. Edward's father is an asshole and I wish he were dead for ruining such a wonderful man."

"He's already dead," I said flatly. "Edward fought back when he was thirteen and stabbed him to death."

"Edward? Soft-spoken, respectful, kind Edward?" Francesca asked, her eyes wide with shock.

"His father had just pummeled his mother to death. He was angry," I answered. I looked at her. "What if he is lying about something?"

"Can you overlook the lie?"

"It depends on what it is," I shrugged. "If he's lying about who he is, then I don't think so. But, if the lie is that he's a closet Justin Bieber fan, then, I can handle that."

"Why would Edward lie about who he is?" Francesca questioned.

"He killed his father, Francesca. He moved from Chicago to Seattle for a new start. What if he is a serial killer? What if his name isn't Edward Masen? What if it's Robert Thomas or something?" I frowned. "Or Edgar Smalls?"

"Bella, you are over imagining everything," she soothed. "I think your father's job is getting to you. You are so suspicious about everything."

"Francesca, I came here to Italy because someone tried to blow me up. Blow up Edward," I spat bitterly. "I have every right to be suspicious."

"Do you know who attacked you?"

"Aro Volturi," I answered, getting up from the chair and stalking to the window. Edward and Mario were walking back to the house. Mario was chatting to Edward, who was smiling and nodding happily. "He put a hit out on my father, too. We lost a dear friend because of his vendetta towards my family."

"I've heard of the Volturi," Francesca muttered. "They're trying to spread from Sicily to here, in Sorrento and Positano. Marcus and Caius are brutal. Personally, I think they had something to do with Mario's accident because he has sworn his allegiance with your dad."

"No," I breathed.

"Mario won't do anything about it, because it'll just make it worse," she explained. "We can protect ourselves if we can stay under the radar, but the message has been sent."

"Everything smells delicious," Mario boomed in English as he walked into the house. "Francesca, you are the best cook."

"Someone needs to keep you fed," Francesca snickered. "Dinner will be ready in an hour, okay?"

Edward walked over to me and he sat down next to me on the bench. Tenderly, his lips met mine in the sweetest of kisses. I melted against him and decided that I loved him more than I ever thought I could and when he's ready to tell me about whatever he's hiding, he will.

A/N: Recipe for eggplant parmesan is on my blog and tumblr. It's really good...like so good that I want to make it right now. I also forgot to put pictures of Mario and Francesca. They're on the blog and tumblr, too. Find me on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation or on Twitter: tufano79. Leave me some lovin!

Oo���$�'�