Adele was nervously waiting with Francesco and Costanzo in the dining room for Piero Rosario to enter. It was now midnight and the long overdue dinner was going to be served. The three youngsters were standing behind their chairs waiting for Piero to appear so they could sit.

At last Piero entered with delay. Adele looked down immediately. She couldn't trust herself not to give him her most hateful glare. She had asked Francesco not to make her go to dinner but Francesco didn't have a choice. His uncle had insisted for Adele to be there.

Uncle Piero walked to his seat and sat down that sent the signal it was ok to sit for all of them. he said his meal time prayers as usual and started eating without another word. Minutes passed in silence as Adele was sitting unmoved. She had no appetite. She couldn't get over the shock of the events happening in the mansion that day.

Piero's voice startled her "Remind me of your name girl. I have forgotten."

Francesco sighed and spoke "Her name is Adele uncle."

Piero raised his eyebrows "I believe she has a tongue. I am sure Adele can speak for herself without problem. She is your girl after all. I am certain you haven't picked a weakling for yourself. Lets find out. Are you a weakling Adele?"

Adele looked up at Piero. She was enraged but tried to keep her voice steady "I am not a weakling."

Piero spoke "Very well. That's more like it Adele. Look me in the eye and answer my questions. Firstly tell me why you are not eating? Is there something wrong with the food we have prepared fro dinner?"

Francesco looked at Adele and held her hand in his trying to comfort her, hoping she could give a polite response. Adele looked at Francesco and then to Piero "I am not hungry Mr Rosario. I am sorry. I did tell Francesco that I have lost my appetite and don't wish to join you for dinner but he said that you ..... insisted."

Piero smiled "Of course. Why didn't I guess that not feeling hungry was your reason. We can fix that for you. I will ask for some entertainment to be brought into the room by my guards."

Francesco and Costanzo both said in unison "No". Then Francesco spoke "Uncle. That wont be necessary. Please don't bring any entertainment. Uncle. I think Adele will start eating now. Wont you Adele?" He turned and looked at her with narrowed eyes.

Adele was baffled. What kind of entertainment was their uncle referring to that had made these two brothers panic? It must have been something bad. So Adele spoke quickly "I think the food looks too lovely. I have to try it. Thank you Mr Piero. With your permission I start."

Piero nodded "Good. Eat now. I don't like it when my guests don't respond to my hospitality. It makes me feel as though I haven't provided enough for them to enjoy themselves. Tell me if you need entertainment to gain some appetite.

Francesco asked Adele quietly "What would you like? Do you want to have some lasagne? Its our chef's specialty dish."

Adele spoke in a whisper "Yes Please." As Francesco placed food on her plate, she then started eating slowly and reluctantly. She was hoping for this dining hour to end soon. She hated sitting in such close proximity to a man who had caused her family pain and distress. But then she reminded herself that her family had a lucky escape by being spared for now thanks to Francesco. There were numerous families of doctors who had co-operated with FBI held in the cellar at that moment and they were destined to die. Adele couldn't help but let her tears fall. She took a napkin quickly and wiped her tears but she couldn't stop crying.

Costanzo was looking at Adele worriedly but didn't dare say a word. He knew his uncle didn't want to hear his objective voice very much after their confrontation so he was trying to act as the obedient nephew for now hoping his uncle wont turn on him again.

Francesco whispered "What's the matter Adele? Are you okay?"

Piero sighed "I guess she is depressed. Losing your appetite is a sign of depression. Francesco I think you should take better care of her. Our guest needs some livelihood here. She is depressed since she has become bored sitting in your room the whole day. I suggested already that some entertainment may do her good but you did not appreciate my offer."

Francesco sighed "Uncle. Its a bit late in the day for such activities. Don't you think? I think Adele will be fine."

Costanzo spoke carefully " If you don't allow her to go back to her room, would you at least excuse her to go to the rest room and freshen up with some cold water. She is in tears."

Piero spoke " You know the rules in the dining room in this house. Do I have to repeat it for you? I say who sits at my dinner table and they should be present with no fail. Also no one is allowed to leave the table until their meal is finished. Its disrespectful to abandon a table for any reason. Its an unforgivable crime in my eyes. But what can I say. Young people have no manners these days, they suggest such outrageous actions. No one leaves my dinner table unless ... its over my dead body. But young man, I am surprised that you have some nerve to speak to me at all after your behaviour at lunch time. You were lucky, I let your brother take over from me in teaching you manners after your insults. If you are wise, you would refrain from speaking unless you know what you say wont offend me again. You crossed the line Costanzo today. Don't test me like that again.

Adele gasped and in between sobs she turned to Francesco and spoke "You did that to his face? How could you?"

Francesco spoke "It was for his own good. He deserved it. I would do it again if I have to beat his rude behaviour out of him."

Adele spoke "This is just cruel. How can you do this to your own brother ?"

Francesco spoke "Be quiet Adele. Eat now."

Piero spoke in threatening voice that brought chills down Adele's spine "You need to learn manners Adele. Its one thing to refuse to eat but its another thing to question my nephew in my home and at my dinner table. Offending a Rosario is seen as a sign of disrespect in my eyes. You are not allowed to interfere with any matters that are no concern to you. In case you haven't noticed the role of a woman in a Rosario household is to keep their men happy and satisfied. You are no exception to the rules. I am sure Francesco won't let your rant go unpunished. But I would like to hear you giving Francesco an apology right now. Go on."

Adele was mortified at the tone Piero had used. She thought she got off likely with an apology. She looked at a furious looking Francesco. He was reprimanding her with his eyes. He had made her promise him to not do anything to aggravate his uncle and she had just done that. Her apology came out quite sincere. She was apologising for letting Francesco down more than anything "I am so sorry Francesco. I didn't mean what I said to cause offence to anyone. Forgive me."

Francesco whispered "Apology accepted."

Piero spoke "This behaviour cant continue Adele. I have rules in this house. You will be here for a while before your family is set free. Also you will be visiting this mansion frequently from now on since you belong to my nephew." he then turned his gaze to Francesco " Its her first day and I am going easy on her by letting her off with one apology. But Francesco, you know what to do when you take her back to your room. Francesco if you want her to never suffer at my hands when she is in my mansion, you teach her to be respectful or I will. She is your responsibility. But Francesco. From what I can see she is not suitable for our way of life. She is more American than Italian. Get rid of her."

Francesco looked up and spoke "She is the only one for me uncle. Any other girl is out of question for me. She is not used to our way of life. That is all. She will learn to be like us. soon." Francesco then turned to Adele "Now get on with eating or you wont like the consequences Adele."

Adele got on with eating slowly and her sobbing stopped after Francesco nudging her a few times and giving her threatening looks. She just felt numb and shocked.

After Piero finished his dinner he poured himself some wine and spoke " Francesco, have you told Adele about the price of her family's freedom?"

Francesco nodded "Yes uncle. I told her that Angelo would have to join your men when the time comes."

Piero spoke "I am glad you stopped me from killing that family. Recruiting one loyal Italian is worth the risk of letting that family live."

Adele tried not to say anything but she couldn't hold it in. She spoke "Mr Rosario. I don't understand why letting my family live was a ever a risk. My family wouldn't have been a threat to you. I am sure you are aware that my father is not even a spy. FBI took him to a meeting but he refused to assist them since his commitment is to curing the sick, not the police."

Piero laughed and turned to Francesco "You are right. Maybe this girl is not a weakling. She is defending her family. But I hope she doesn't continue to defend her family after she becomes a Rosario in a few years time. She reminds me of my ex-wife."

Francesco choked as he was drinking from a glass of water. When he recovered he spoke "Uncle.... you used to be married?"

Piero nodded "Yes. I was married for a year almost right after your father got married. She was the daughter of an American businessman in Chicago who was my business associate for a while. But our marriage didn't last long. It turned out she was .... in love with another man and her marriage to me was because her father had insisted. She ran away from me after a year of living with me."

Francesco spoke "I don't believe this uncle. How did you let her slip away? How did you lose her?"

Piero nodded "I didn't say anything about letting her slip away. Neither did I say I lost her. I said she ran away. That is all the information you will be getting about your traitorous aunt for tonight. Now my mood has turned sour because of thinking about my ex-wife. I need entertainment." he then pulled out his gun and shot a bull's eye target on the wall and guards poured into the room."

Piero stated "I need two of the condemned ones."

As the guards left, Francesco spoke "Uncle can I take Adele upstairs. Dinner has finished so your laws wont be broken if I take her now."

Piero sighed "I think she should stay so she gets entertained."

Costanzo whispered "Uncle. Adele is here for nights to come. She can be introduced to your entertainment another day."

Piero frowned "Very well. Take Adele upstairs and come back down immediately Francesco."

Francesco quickly grabbed Adele's hand and lead her outside the room where Adele saw two men with rags on their faces and their hands handcuffed in front of them were being lead towards the dining room from down the corridor.

Francesco spoke "Why have you stopped. Lets go upstairs."

Adele spoke "Who are those two people in handcuffes. What is going to happen to them."

Francesco spoke "I have to take you upstairs now and then come back down. I don't have time to explain." he then tugged on Adele's hand and gave out a frustrated sigh as she didn't budge. He then warned "I count to 3. If you don't follow me after that, I will tell the guards to bring your father up here too for my uncles entertainment."

Adele's eyes widened "You wouldn't."

Francesco spoke "If you want to try me, be my guest. 1,2,3." He then pulled Adele behind him and she complied and followed him upstairs while glancing behind her.

Francesco unlocked the door to his room and gestured for Adele to go in "Go inside. Stay in there. Don't try to escape. Try to sleep. I would be back soon.... And by the way I am sleeping on that big couch over there. You can have my bed."

Adele was about to speak but Francesco closed the door and locked it and left Adele by herself. She was scared and confused. But she was also curious. She wanted to know what Piero Rosario called entertainment. But of course that sick man of course couldn't be entertained by normal means. Adele started shaking as he imagined what could be happening to those two prisoners in handcuffs lead to the very dining hall that she had eaten lunch and dinner at its table that day. She wanted to go downstairs and stop whatever that was happening but of course the door was locked so she went into bed and closed her eyes hoping to sleep but she couldn't get any.

After what it seemed like eternity, the door unlocked and Francesco entered. Adele turned around while lying on the bed and spoke "What happened down there Francesco."

Francesco rolled his eyes "I thought you were asleep. I was shocked to see the light was still on in this room. Haven't you had a long day already."

Adele spoke "I asked you a question."

Francesco walked to Adele's lying form and sat on the bed and held her hand "Entertainment finished. That's what happened. That's why I was dismissed to come back to bed.

Adele spoke "I need to know what happened to those men. Tell me."

Francesco smiled "You don't know that they were men. Maybe one was a woman. Their faces were covered when you saw them so you cant speak with such certainty."

Adele was shaking her head "How can you act so cold. How can you be so indifferent to what goes on around you?"

Francesco laughed bitterly "I may be cold. But I am not indifferent. I saved your family. Didn't I? I also saved you from witnessing some traumatising stuff that my uncle did to his enemies on your first day. Of course. You don't care."

Adele spoke "You must go to the police. Your uncle must go to jail for all this."

Francesco spoke "Careful Adele. Don't say such things especially when you are in my uncles mansion. Don't you think people have already tried and failed? Who do you think those two were? Any one who tries to cross my uncle, gets a painful ending. The police in this town are owned by my uncle. Even if the FBI agents from the outside had managed to build a case against my uncle using their spies, my uncle wouldn't have gone down. He may have been taken to a trial but ..... there are judges that can be bought. Also My uncle has the best lawyers in the entire country at his disposal. He is truely untouchable. So don't let me ever catch you saying stuff like that. Which reminds me what on earth were you thinking defying my uncle like that at dinner time?"

Adele remained silent and stared at Francesco with narrowed eyes. She didn't want to say any more.

Francesco spoke "Its ironic how your current behaviour is better than what I saw downstairs. Keep passive and silent. That's perfect in my uncles presence. He is not a man to be messed with. Don't talk to him unless you have to. I would try to speak for you when I can. You must be careful around him. You heard him. He was displeased with you. He asked me to teach you to behave or he will."

Adele's body shook for some reason at that statement. "Are you going to hurt me since your uncle has asked you to teach me to behave?"

Francesco shook his head " You are my beautiful angel. I would never cause you pain and would kill anyone who dares to try. Unless you do something really really bad, you wont get hurt by me."

Adele swallowed "What is something really bad?"

Francesco stated simply "Betraying me."

Adele spoke "I wont go to the police. I was just asking. I know your uncle could kill me and my family easily if I ever got the police involved."

Francesco sounded serious "I wasn't referring to that. Going to the police can be fixed somehow. Others would die if they commit such traitorous act but not you. I would get furious with you if you did that but I wont hurt you."

Adele spoke "You make no sense."

Francesco spoke "Don't I? Of course you are innocent. The thought of the type of betrayal I was talking about wouldn't even cross your mind. I meant betraying me by loving another man. But I am sure you would never do that. Would you Adele?"

Adele was feeling nervous under Francesco's gaze. She looked away which was a mistake. Francesco grabbed her chin and turned her face towards him. He then leaned over close where his lips were inches apart from Adele's and spoke in a threatening tone "I said, you would never betray me Adele. Would you?"

Adele spoke "I don't know why you are even asking me this. You are scaring me Francesco. Stop."

Francesco made his grip on Adele's chin tighter that made Adele flinch in pain. Francesco spoke in hard tone "Say it. I want to hear you say it. Speak Adele. Now. Tell me you wont ever betray me. Swear to me that you would never fall in love with another man."

Adele spoke quickly "I swear. i wont fall in love with another man." She was saying one thing but believed another. She knew falling in love was not something anyone could control. It was out of her hands if she fell in love. But she said the words to make Francesco to let go.

Francesco let go of her chin and smiled "That's all I wanted to hear." He then kissed Adele's forehead. "Its getting late. You must sleep."

Adele whispered "Are you at least going to tell me what was happening to those two prisoners in the dining hall."

Francesco turned off the light and walked to the couch that was visible under the window. He laid down on the couch and stated flatly with no emotion "They were killed. I don't think you want to know how though. Just forget it."