Adele had no idea what Francesco was planning to do next. Adele watched Francesco’s next move closely. Francesco stood up with a passive and cold expression on his face and walked away.

Adele turned to Costanzo worriedly ” What is he going to do?”

Costanzo sighed ” Isn’t it obvious. Since there were no witnesses to your conversation, he is going to go to the girl and ask her himself.”

Adele saw how Francesco’s actions confirmed this. He walked to Lily’s table and whispered something in her ear and turned around and walked back looking pleased.

Adele’s heart broke at the horrified expression on Lily’s face. She was covering her mouth and sobbing hard. The kids at her table rushed to her and embraced her and were whispering words. What had Francesco said to her?

As Francesco sat down Adele spoke ” Tell me. What did you tell her. Why is she crying?”

Francesco spoke ” Of course she is crying. Nobody gets between a Rosario and what he wants and gets away with it.”

Adele gasped ” What are you saying ”

Francesco shrugged ” I told her to watch her back from now on. I told her I am coming for her.”

Adele gasped ” You are unbelievable. Why would you say that? Are you a thug?”

Francesco frowned ” Of course I am not a thug. I am far from it.”

Adele coughed ” You just walked to some random girl and whispered threatening words to her. Of course this makes you a thug.”

Francesco narrowed his eyes ” I am no thug. I am well above that. I am a high class criminal who aspires to be a mob boss one day.”

Adele was shaking her head. The truth behind his words hit her hard. She whispered without thinking what she was saying ” So she was right. You are dangerous. She warned me but I didn’t believe her. She said your family is in a mob.”

Francesco said ” I knew it. So that girl told you we are dangerous mobsters. You just admitted you lied. I look forward to making you pay for lying to me.”

Adele covered her mouth and thought about what she had just said. She had put Lily in danger by admitting to Francesco she had discussed his family. Adele read enough articles in newspapers to know how dangerous anyone working with a mob could be. Lily could die. Adele brought down her hand and then spoke urgently “Look. I don’t care what you do to me but please leave that girl out of this.”

Francesco pretended to think and then spoke “No. I don’t think so. She tried to turn you against me before I even got the chance to get to know you. Why should I spare her?”

Adele’s voice trembled “Are you .... going to .... kill her?”

Francesco laughed “No. Where would be the fun in that. There are more interesting things to do. My uncle owns the Towns hospitals and the police station so I am going to be quite creative here. I will have so much fun with getting revenge on her family.”

Adele gasped “What. Your uncle owns the two hospitals? and .... the Police? How is that possible?”

Francesco sighed ” I guess, there is so much you need to learn here. Your parents technically work for my uncle. The new hospital like the old one is a branch of The Rosario Private Hospitals which is funded and managed by the Rosario Group. My uncle also owns the town’s police station. Recently all the police members of the towns security services were made redundant and replaced by my uncles candidates. Basically, there came a point when he had enough of the hassle of having to clean up any mess when police were involved by some traitor or crazy idiot who reported his activities so he thought he may as well own the police in this place too. Owning the hospital is more handy though.”

Adele spoke “I cant believe this. I cant get my head around this.”

Angelo spoke ” Seriously Adele. Look around you. You need to open your eyes and pay more attention. Everyone knows these two Rosarios are not to be messed with. Everyone else in this town has seemingly gotten their head around all this but you. Do they even dare glance this way? Do they dare speak to Francesco and Costanzo they way you do? How come I am not reacting the way you do to all this information? I have accepted that being ruled by an Italian is a blessing. I am so glad we are in a town governed by a Rosario. I couldn’t be happier. Now you get your act together and show some respect to these two Rosarios.”

Francesco spoke firmly ” Don’t speak to her like that. You are implying as though she doesn’t understand. She can talk to me this way because I allow her to. She can do as she wishes. I though I made it clear to you when I took you outside that she is my girl now.”

Adele choked and then looked at Francesco ” Your what? I don’t date. No way.”

Francesco shrugged ” So you want to be difficult. do you? You don’t have a choice. You are hardly in a position to refuse me anything. Remember how you lied in the game when I asked you a question after I told the truth to your question. Now, I get to punish you how i see fit. Since I fancy you ... like crazy and I could never possibly make you suffer, I will make it easy for you. I know as an Italian girl you resist dating but you have to make an exception for me. Your punishment is for you to have to date me and never complain in public about it.”

Costanzo looked at his brother with horror ” Look. Francesco. You are taking this too far. It was only a game. Surely you can’t force this poor girl to be your girl? Come on.”

Francesco rolled his eyes “I won’t ask her for anything she is not comfortable with. I actually like her. The only reason i am forcing her to do it is because i know she wont ever date me and I want her badly.” He then turned to Adele ” It’s true. From the moment I saw you in the town hall unpacking your pies, I fell for you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you after I saw you. I have been looking at you because you are simply stunningly beautiful.”

Adele’s cheeks turned a shade of red and she looked down. She thought for a few seconds and then she looked up ” If I date you, will you promise not to force me to do anything I don’t want to do? Will you be honourable?”

Angelo spoke with fury ” How dare you question Francesco’s intentions? When he took me outside and told me he liked you I didn’t question him at all. His words were so sincere. Beside he is Italian like us. We respect women. If I was in Francesco’s position I would have slapped you hard for questioning his honourable intentions.”

Francesco spoke ” It’s fine Angelo. I don’t take offence.” He stared deeply into Adele’s eyes ” I won’t hurt you. Ever.”

Adele bit her lip ” I would date you on one condition. You must forget about what that girl, Lily did. Please. I would feel guilty if she gets hurt because of me. It would be all my fault.”

Francesco didn’t respond and remained silent and thoughtful looking at Adele. She thought he was going to say no. But she was surprised when he said ” Fine. I forgive her. But there is a catch. You must .... Kiss me right now. In front of everyone so it sends the message out that you are mine. Think of it as a way of helping out others. If they see you with me, then they won’t come near you and I won’t go after them. You don’t want to feel guilty. This is one way of lowering the chances of anyone pulling any stunts like Lily did. I don’t know what she was thinking. Everyone knows we live at the Rosario Ranch. Messing with us is like a death sentence. But it seems that girl had a lucky escape. I may send a message to her later and tell her it’s you who saved her. But before I will do that, you must kiss me. Otherwise the deal is off.”

Adele shook her head ” i cant.....” Then as she saw Francesco’s dangerous glare, she added quickly “I don’t know how. I have never kissed anyone. I have never been kissed.”

This statement seemed to make Francesco very happy ” I guessed that. That’s why I asked you to do it. I want your first kiss to be a memorable one for you and ... me. Go on now. Come over to me. I am waiting. I will help you get it right.”

Adele looked at her brother. Angelo sighed ” What do you expect me to do. He genuinely likes you. He wants to kiss you. You will be just avoiding the inevitable if you hesitate now and of course that dance club president, whatever her name is will pay for your refusal to give Francesco what he wants. You choose sister. I have no problem with this guy. He is Italian. I trust him and so should you.”

Adele thought her brother was out of order for so willingly accept Francesco. She so badly wanted to run away from this marquee. But her brother had a point. It was all inevitable. Francesco looked at her so possessively there was no way he was going to give up that easily. So she sighed and got up from her seat. Francesco did the same. Adele slowly walked around the table and stood in front of Francesco who was towering over her with a satisfied smirk on his lips.

Adele’s heart was beating very fast. She didn’t know what to do. But by the looks of it Francesco did know what do. He held her arms and placed them on his shoulders. He then wrapped his arms around her waist tightly and pulled her closer. She found her lips suddenly caught by Francesco’s. He was surprising her with his gentle kissing. Adele had felt his strength when she has hit his hard chest and he had caught her with his strong arms. She thought, he would treat her so roughly and he would have bruising grip on her but he didn’t. His touch was so gentle.

Then after what seemed liked minutes, Francesco pulled away slowly and reluctantly. Adele looked around her and noticed every one in the marquee was silently looking at the two of them. Her cheeks turned red again and she looked back at Francesco.

He smiled ” You are so innocent.” and leaned over and kissed her lips one last time and as he pulled away he whispered words to Adele that made her tremble in fear. The possessiveness behind each word was terrifying “You are my first love and my last.”