Adonis and Cara both whipped their heads towards Dimitri in shock!
“What?”
Dimitri smiled.
“Oh. I didn’t know you guys would be so happy about it. Should I see if I can extend it to a week?”
“No!” They echoed together.
“Why?” He looked between them both, and Cara signalled Adonis to speak up. She didn’t think she was ready to spend three whole days in an unknown place with him.
At this point, she wanted no distractions, and I’ve been doing fine for the past week. Being cooped up in a room with him was a temptation she wasn’t sure she could overcome.
His eyes darted to Adonis’s, then pointed to his grandfather. Adonis stared back with a bored look before giving in.
“The coronation is next week.” He plainly stated, and Dimitri waved him off.
“Of course. We have a lot of time before then.”
“I have things to do. Preparations to make.”
“Preparations that can wait, Figlio (son). Take your wife for a vacation. She’s been through a lot these past few days and deserves it.”
Cara brooded on his words. If only Dimitri knew how accurate and wrong he was. She had indeed been through a lot, but a break with Adonis would only add to her stress. She took a step forward, feigning the smile of an understanding wife.
“I believe what Adonis is trying to say is that we can always go on vacation another time. For now, the coronation should be our main focus.”
Dimitri pouted, rubbing his chin in deep thought.
“Well, in that case. I agree. Three days it is then.”
“We’re not going at all.” Adonis protested.
“You are. I’ve already prepared everything, and your jet will be ready for takeoff in about an hour. Why do you think I came to find you both?”
Adonis groaned in reply.
“Jet? Don’t tell me it’s an abroad trip.”
“It is.”
“Nonno… (grandfather)”
“Si Adonis, c’e qualcosa di cui non mi stai parlando? (Yes Adonis, there is something you are not telling me about?)” Dimitri asked with a disapproving expression on his face.
“No, but-”
“Good. Now chop chop. Go make me some great grandbabies.”
Cara looked between them, then leaned towards Adonis.
“What did he say?”
Adonis sighed heavily.
“We have no choice.” Then addressed his grandfather again. “Possiamo almeno sapere dove stiamo andando? (Can we at least know where we’re going?)”
Dimitri smiled brightly.
“Home.”
The next minute was a blur, as Cara and Adonis said their goodbyes and were ushered into a car and on their way to the airport with friends and family waving and sending them wishes.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Bernardis aeroplane runway. Cara peeked out from the window and was reminded of the Bernardis’ wealth again. A big jet stood proudly, with the word Bernardi written on it.
If only she had met Adonis under normal circumstances… if only the situation around him wasn’t as dangerous and he lived a normal life…
“Mr. and Mrs. Bernardi, we’ve arrived.” The driver announced, but Cara was too stunned to speak.
“Cara, we’ve arrived.”
Adonis repeated, and she looked his way.
“You have a private jet?”
“My family does. Not me. Now, get down or we’ll be late.” Adonis muttered as he stepped out, going over to help her out.
Cara eyed him with distrust.
“Why are you being nice?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’re getting the door for me.”
“We’re on our honeymoon. We might as well act like it. Come on.”
He pulled her along and made sure they were both settled beside each other. The pilot made known some announcements, and within a short while, they took off.
Cara peeped as he got comfortable in his seat and closed his eyes. He had been silent since they got into the jet, but she could tell he wasn’t asleep from the small frown between his eyebrows.
“When your grandfather said home, did he mean Italy?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I’ve never been there before.” She mumbled.
Adonis hummed and voiced out his thoughts. His head has been a mess since they left the mansion.
Something was strange…
“Now isn’t the best time to visit either.”
“What do you mean?”
“The month leading up to the coronation is one of the most delicate times. There’ll be a lot of threats and surprises from people who are against it. People who do not want the new Capo.”
Cara nodded in understanding.
“They don’t want you as their mafia king.”
“Not really. It’s more like they just voice their opinions in cowardly ways. I have received more death threats in this past month than I have received in my life.” He told her.
Adonis did not understand why his grandfather picked Italy of all places. Dimitri might be a lot less violent than Adonis and more level-headed, but he never did anything for the fun of it. He was a thorough analyst. There was always a reason behind every one of his actions. So the fact that he sent him and Cara home meant that there was an impending threat.
He took Cara’s hand in his.
“Listen carefully, Bel. We’re going to my home. The place where I grew up, and if all goes well, we would spend time together as newlyweds and should be back in three days. I don’t think any issue would arise, but if I’m to keep you safe, you need to trust me and take into account everything I tell you to do.”
Cara’s first instinct was to argue, but from the serious look in Adonis’s eyes, her mind advised against it.
She bobbed her head in reply.
This was not the time to act rebellious and stress him out. She can do that when they’re back home, and she is safe in known territory.
Her mind flickered back to the note she got from Antonio the day she sent the blueprint. The moment she got into the bridal shop, she had left to check the final alterations to her dress, but by the time she was back, it was gone, and a small note was placed beneath her phone again.
Prepare.
That was all it said.
She was beginning to get tired of all his unclear messages and wanted a real conversation with him. What was the main plan? When did he plan to execute it?
She rushed out in search of Cecelia, hoping to confirm once and for all if she was the one placing those notes in the room, but by the time she asked around, Cecelia hadn’t left her changing room yet.
Cara was sure she had seen a glimpse of pink highlights that day, and Cecelia was the only one with them. If it turns out that she was working for Antonio, then it could only mean either of two things:
1.) She had been betraying the Bernardis and Luca.
2.) It was all a set-up and trap.
Since then, Cara had been suspicious but still hadn’t gotten the proof she needed to be sure. She really hoped it wasn’t the second because her plans would have to be put on hold without even a single achievement.
She had come too far to back down now.
Stages one and two were over. Stage three was next. Get both sides to trust her completely. She didn’t know how she was going to go about it, but one thing was certain.
Adonis was attracted to her. So she was going to start from there, and if all went well, she should be out of the mansion in six months.
In six months; they should be dead.
Both Adonis and Antonio.