71. Family Ties & Weddings (Part 2)

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Arturo was now getting tired of answering repetitive, pointless questions. He was not complaining out of respect for Anna. Only for Anna. After answering to everyone in the room and the Don, he knew this session had to end at some point. They had been there for a while now.

The Don was smiling at that point "I do approve of you son. You have shown today that you truly love Anna and respect this family. Welcome to the family...."

Arturo thought himself "Finally, about time you stopped this nonsense. I was not leaving without her either way" But of course he didn't say it out loud and politely smiled "Thank you Don. I appreciate your approval sir."

Then the men around the room congratulated him except O'Neil who made sure he was the last one to do so getting enough attention from the room when he spoke " I offer my congratulations for this holly union. I would like to say that whether I am invited to your wedding or not, I will be there at the door step of the church, congratulating you and wishing you well. O'Neils don't miss weddings..."

The Don spoke " I am sure Arturo will invite everyone in this room. Isn't that correct son?"

Arturo narrowed his eyes at O'Neil but then turned to the Don " The more people the merrier but .... My Anna would be making the decisions about the invites too just like how she would decide about when she would like to visit Sicily. I would assess her safety and well being every time. If it is within her best interests to be close to a certain soul then I would protest. If O'Neil is no threat to my family, he would be invited. As it stands, he won't be an uninvited guest. I assure you. " But he thought to himself " He would be an unwanted guest by me, always". He was now looking at O'Neil with a hard expression.

The Don stood up "very well. Now that all is clear, if there are no further questions, lets make our way to the celebrations and announce the good news that Arturo is part of the family. It is time for a party. Our large living room is transformed into a party room now. Guests are due to arrive shortly and there is dance and music. After a quick rest, I expect all of you in the living room when the first guests arrive. This party is in honour of my grandson getting engaged of course. I hope that would be where Francesco would announce the date and venue of the wedding." He then turned to Arturo " Do not take too long arranging the engagement party and the wedding. I am not getting younger.."

O'Neil cleared his throat " Sir, that is a vital point you mentioned. The wedding date must be sooner than later.."

Arturo turned to him sharply "Of course that is a vital point and Anna would think about it...." He cut O'Neil off before he set a date for the wedding. Arturo thought to himself "This Irish is totally asking for it."

The Don looked around the room " See you at the party shortly." He then walked to the exit as the others followed. But not all left. Arturo stopped O'Neil from leaving by blocking his path. As he was making his way to the door. Arturo asked "Nice watch you have there."

O'Neil chuckled "Oh, I like to be on time for everything, you see. I arrived here before you did by seconds but i was earlier. I could order you a watch like this."

Arturo looked behind him and saw the door closed behind the last person. He then turned around "I am surprised you didn't attack me just now. My back was turned to you. You are a back stabber."

O'Neil put his hand on his heart and spoke in a mocking tone " Come on. A back stabber. Me?" He then laughed "I would like to use a different word. I look at myself as an opportunist. When I see a chance, I take it. But I know I could attack you..... Well, I knew you expected me to attack you so I didn't. Also, this is the Don's home and he calls you son. You are closer to the Don than I am now. So why risk it? But if you wish, I can challenge you to a duel. A fist fight out there. That way no one can complain. Are you up for a fist fight?"

Arturo shook his head as he put his hands behind his back " No. Not today. Maybe in Milan. There is a party tonight. I can't spill blood when wedding celebrations are coming up."

O'Neil spoke " Don't be so sure of yourself. But tell me one thing.... When are you finalising the situation with Amaranta and Alessio? You are avoiding the inevitable. You shouldn't. You do know I will not release them into your care until you arrange for their pardon and the deal must be sealed in the same church. Amaranta will marry Costanzo and Alessio will marry your sister Alicia. Then Ambrogio will marry your cousin Portia. Everyone wins. Give me a date. A date that comes before your wedding."

Arturo spoke " What is in all this for you? Why have you thrown yourself into this? I want to destroy the Voltolinis and your interference is not welcome. You are the unwanted obstacle here. If you push this, I will make you regret it."

O'Neil spoke " You can't change my mind Arturo. I am backing up the peaceful way. Give up on going after the Voltolinis and getting a pointless revenge. It would be Francesco and I against you. Besides... Costanzo loves Amaranta."

Arturo gave out a bitter laugh " Why do you care for Costanzo's love life?"

O'Neil shrugged " I prefer peace in this case. I don't live in Italy. Having a mob war would be too messy in a different country. I can't have my number one ally, Francesco joining you against the Voltolinis."

Arturo stated " I don't need Francesco's help. I have the Marcianos."

O'Neil spoke " But he would have to enter if Ambrogio is free. Francesco would get involved. I don't want that."

Arturo spoke " I don't care for what you want. You should know that...."

Suddenly the door opened and Pietro entered with a frown on his face "Here you are.... Why did you remain here? The Don is waiting Arturo. The Don wants to announce you as his future son in law to every one waiting in the living room. Lets go."

Arturo nodded "Very well. I will follow you". As Pietro walked out, Arturo kneed O'Neil in his stomach making him fall back to lean on the table. He then walked away to the door.

O'Neil grinned as he rubbed his stomach and then walked after him "Oh, I give you that for free since I think I earned that with all those questions."

Pietro lead Arturo and O'Neil to the living room and as they entered, the Don announced as he was standing in the middle of the room surrounded by men and women of his household "Welcome to the family Arturo. I give you my blessing for you to marry Anna."

Suddenly the people cheered and walked to Arturo surrounding him expressing congratulations, hugging him and kissing him.

O'Neil was watching at the side chuckling. He looked at Costanzo who politely congratulated Arturo and then returned to a corner of the room with a distant look in his eyes. O'Neil walked to him "If you want to mourn Elize, do it privately. This is time for celebration. The Don would notice your sour mood."

Costanzo gave him a cold look and then looked on as the crowed around Arturo were dispersing. "I don't think I wish to discuss this..."

O'Neil spoke "Wise move. Don't discuss it with me. I can keep Amaranta safe as long as Francesco demands it but I don't think I want to save Elize. She deserves to die. She is an undercover agent. She is a special operations cop. We are criminals. Let her die. Which is it Costanzo? You either want Amaranta to be your wife or you don't? You cant have two women. You can only save one..."

Costanzo wasn't looking at O'Neil. He was standing stiffly leaning to the window hoping ignoring O'Neil would have been enough to make him go away. He looked on as violinists and pianists entered playing songs and wine was served as people sat around the room. Guests were arriving through the door too whom were mostly Sicilian crime bosses or businessmen.

Costanzo whispered "I know that O'Neil."

O'Neil sighed "If you know that then what's with the face of yours? You are swimming against the tide here."

O'Neil stopped talking as he saw a man with a tray of wine glasses approaching the empty corner. It was a good thing that the living room was massive and everyone was dispersed. they were in the far corner and no one bothered them. O'Neil picked up a wine glass and so did Costanzo.

O'Neil took a sip from his glass and watched the servant walk away. He made a face " This is not Irish liquor .... but this will do for now. See Costanzo, I don't hold my favourite Irish cream whiskey in my hand but I pretend I do....."

Costanzo spoke "This is the finest wine in this region..."

O'Neil nodded "Of course. I do not dispute that. I am just saying I want Irish Cream whiskey but that's not an option. We want certain options in life we cant have but we must work with what we have. Elize is dead. Let her go...."

Costanzo turned to O'Neil "Why do you care about what happens with Elize?"

O'Neil spoke "I don't. There are consequences if you try to save her."

Costanzo whispered "I wont get caught. I will get her out. I will run away and hide her in the American Embassy. Then I will return here. I would marry Amaranta."

O'Neil spoke in a disapproving tone "Your plan is a weak one.... If you are caught trying to rescue her and run away, you will be charged with desertion by the Don. You know the heavy punishments for desertion in the Rosario family. Don't you? Francesco is familiar with it. When he was caught running away when he was nine years old, he was forced to kill the one responsible. If you are caught, you will have many painful punishments to look forward to. But the one that breaks you is what the Don will do to you at first. As the first punishment, the Don will take you to that dungeon of his and would ask you to kill Elize. You will have to pull a trigger while you are looking into her eyes. You will have to shoot between her eyes. Either way she is dead but you don't want to be the one killing her. Do you? Francesco should have made you kill her, when you tried to marry her and ran to that church but he didn't. He showed mercy on your soul."

Costanzo spoke "I will take my chances..."

O'Neil shook his head "You shouldn't. You have no chance. The Don's security in here is like no other I have seen. You wont get within a mile out of here by yourself. With all my resources and with Francesco's resources combined, you would have a chance but we wont declare war on the Don for this. It would be a long and bloody war. Why do it? Just ask your aunt Patricia and she may be able to get Elize to live. She is your only chance. She has a special place with the Don and her daughter is getting married. Consider this my only hint to you. I don't even know why I am helping you. I owe Francesco favours. He saved my life with his parachuting classes and also taught me how to hold my liquor. Something my old man even didn't do. He is the older brother I never had. That is the difference between you and I. I appreciate what I have but you don't. You wish for what you like to have or pursue what you cant have and more often you try to have what you used to have in the past. You must start paying attention to what you have or you would lose it all. I just give you warnings. It is within your interest to listen."

O'Neil then walked away "Make up your mind." He walked towards his wife who was sitting with Pietro and his wife on a table listening to the Violin being played and Italian man singing in the far corner. He could tell everyone was waiting for the next song to be a dance song so they could get up and Dance. So he shouted at the violinists "Make it a dance song."

The violinists stopped playing and looked at the Don who ordered "Do as the guest wishes." The violinists nodded to the singer and they started a song that was suitable for dance.

O'Neil smiled at his wife and took her hand in his "Let go dance darling."

As O'Neil was dancing with his wife alongside some other couple, his eyes caught Francesco's who was leaning to the wall having his arm around Adele's waist, looking at the dance floor. His stare was zeroed in one point and then O'Neil noticed Francesco was looking at his mother and father. He sighed. Francesco didn't deserve this pure torture. He truly didn't. He kissed Sancia's forehead and carried on dancing. While he was dancing as it got crowded he kicked Arturo who was busy dancing with Anna almost making him fall. He then held a chuckle as he saw Arturo giving him a murderous look. This was not over and he knew it.

Adele was looking at the dance floor as she whispered " Francesco, do you want to dance now?" It was the second time she was asking. She could see Francesco was getting agitated by the minute as he was looking at his parents dancing together.

Francesco stated simply " Maybe later sweetheart. Maybe later."

Francesco couldn't believe the nerve his father had. He dared act so normal. He dared act like nothing had happened. He was holding his mother so possessively as he was dancing as though his mother was his for years. He was holding a woman who he had exiled for twenty years. He was holding a woman he raised his hands on in his fits of rage and that woman was welcoming him with open arms. At that moment, Francesco felt immense pain and anger in his heart. This was so tormenting to watch that his mother just forgave this man. He wanted to ask her how she thought his father had to pay but it seemed like that was not going to happen. He was so close to losing it and he knew it. He was so close to walking up to his father and attack him but of course the room was full of armed men ready to shoot him if he raised his hand on his father.

Francesco closed his eyes and took a deep breath " Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people mostly family and friends? Have you ever felt that way Adele?"

Adele looked at Francesco " No,... I haven't... Do you feel that way right now?"

Francesco nodded " Yes I do. I really do. Let's go for a short walk sweetheart. Let's come back when the music changes to one that does not have dancing involved. I just can't watch them act so intimately right in front of me when all I want to do is walk upto him and break his arms so he cant hold her like that anymore...."

Adele whispered " I am so sorry..... I don't know what to say."

Francesco smiled weakly " Don't be sorry sweetheart. It is not your fault. It's me who finds it hard to endure watching the man who caused my mother and my brother so much pain all free and protected. It's me who can't accept justice not being served in my family's case. It's me who can't help feeling betrayed and hurt. Let's go ...." He then walked towards the exit as he had his arm around Adele's waist. Adele tried to match his quick heavy steps. He was angry, hurt and he felt betrayed.

As they stepped foot in the gardens of the mansion through the back door, Francesco let go of Adele's waist and held Adele's hand in his. They walked alongside each other in the gardens looking around at the art work and statues around the massive property that belonged to the Don. Adele had no idea how many acres the Don's property was but it was massive.

Adele sighed " I am so happy for Arturo and Anna. They look good together. Anna told me she would be happy living in Milan with Arturo. But still it's such a long way. She said she will miss her parents but that's life."

Francesco looked at Adele and smiled " That is what love does. When you love someone, you give up on everything for them. You give up all joys of life that you used to have and will adapt yourself to make your other half happy. You will like what your other half likes. You will move to live where your other half belongs to. You will endure being away from your loved ones, all for the one you love... Just like how you have done for me sweetheart ... You have given up being with your family...."

Adele spoke " It's not the same. I don't think my parents and I are that close. When I went to college, that was it. I didn't see my parents after that often except if it was Christmas or fourth of July and summer time sometimes. I am used to being away. But Anna said she lived with her parents and they needed to send her belongings over to Italy now. It must be sad for them. Besides I would not be in Europe when we marry. We would still be in America."

Francesco smiled brightly " You said " When" and not " If". I like that. Are you sure you still want to marry me after seeing how my family act?"

Adele laughed " I must say it was shocking how when the don and the men came out announcing Arturo is welcome to this family, I didn't expect the screams and people running to Arturo and Anna at opposite sides of the room embracing them. There was such a contrast there. Men were so formal but women were informal when I first met them. Then suddenly all went out of the window Arturo being one of the Rosarios..... Francesco ... What is in your mind right now? How are you feeling?"

Francesco sighed as he stopped walking and leaned back to a tree and held Adele's hand in his as he looked into her eyes "I am trying to figure out something.... I know that mostly women are the ones who make sacrifices because that's the way it is. Women give up on their joy in favour of their husband's ... Women give up... Women forgive..... Only I wish my mother wasn't so forgiving. I can't understand why she should let my father touch her after all he had done. Yes, he is dying but on top of forgiving him, she has married him again. How is that possible? O'Neil says my family is unusual and I believe that."

Adele spoke " I can't understand it either. By hurting your mother, your father broke his wedding woes. She shouldn't feel obliged to forgive your father but she does and I am sorry Francesco. I just wish I could help take your pain away.

Francesco smiled sadly " Your existence is enough for me. You make me not think about my pain when you look at me like that. It's true.... You are all I have and I would guard and cherish you with my life.... Now tell me sweetheart, would you want a wedding in Sicily? When we go back there we will have to answer to the Don about the wedding date and venue. What is it going to be? You are the decider. I want to know what you will answer so I know to prepare for the consequences."

Adele smiled back " Francesco .... I told you that I don't mind. I will marry you in a heart beat any where... Of they ask me I would say, I will marry where and when my future husband wishes. I don't care any more Francesco. Now when I think of it, I just want you to be ok. That's all that matters. The truth is that ... I want your mother at your wedding. I know she has been away from you for twenty years. The poor woman must have been living in pain being away from you. I can't see myself denying her the right to be at your wedding. But if we invite her then..,,.."

Francesco spoke " My father will be there too. My mother is in this Rosario land forever. We can't take her away. So if you want her at our wedding then this would be a Sicily wedding...."

They stared at each other in silence as they were thinking deeply.

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