Maria nodded “Of course. As my husband said, we are flattered. But we have to say no.”

Piero spoke “Of course. I understand. How about ..... I insist. I don’t take no for an answer. Nobody has ever refused a direct invitation from me. If you don’t attend lunch at my home, I would feel insulted.”

As Piero said that Ricardo’s eyes widened “In that case, I would like to apologise. We said no since we don’t wish to be a bother to you and your family. We would like to gladly accept your invitation.”

Piero nodded “Very good. Now why don’t you get in one of my secure cars. I would welcome you at the mansion.”

Angelo and Adele took sighs of relief. They could feel the tension in the air disappearing. Before they knew it they arrived at the Rosario mansion and were lead to a huge dining room. Piero, Francesco and Costanzo sat at one side of the table and Adele, Angelo and their parents sat at the other side. After Piero said his prayers, they started eating.

The silence in the room while everyone were having their meal was unsettling Adele. Something was not right. But she couldn’t put her finger on it. But one thing was for sure Nothing had changed about Francesco. His gaze wasn’t leaving her. He was lovingly and obsessively watching her at the table and as she was glancing up from time to time, she spotted his look that really unnerved her.

When Adele was almost finished, she noticed Piero clearing his throat which meant he was about to say something and all eyes were now on him.

Piero spoke while staring intensely at Ricardo ” I have heard about you alot Ricardo. I know you are the perfect employee at my hospital. Too perfect. Before we begin, would you like to tell me anything?”

As he said this, Maria held her husbands hand and looked at him worriedly. Ricardo spoke ” I don’t know What are you referring to. What exactly do you think I should be telling you? What is this about?”

Piero nodded ” You know what I am referring to.”

Francesco’s voice interrupted “Uncle Piero. I don’t think Adele needs to be present when you do this.”

Adele and Angelo looked at each other horrified. Adele covered her mouth. Angelo stuttered ” When ..... doing ....... what?”

Piero turned to Adele and Angelo ” Questioning your mother and father of course. They failed to mention on their application form that they were working for the FBI.”

Ricardo sounded shocked ” That is outrageous. That is a lie. I am a doctor and so is my wife. We don’t work for FBI. We were contacted by an FBI agent and they asked us to co-operate and spy on you. They took me to a meeting with some other doctors applying to work for your hospital. They asked me if my wife and I would help. That’s as far as I went. I refused to help. We are doctors. Not spies. This is the whole truth. Now if you excuse me, my family and I would like to leave your presence. Thanks for the meal.”

As Ricardo got up, Piero took out a gun and pointed it at Maria. As the scene unfolded in front of them, Angelo, Adele were frozen in spot. They couldn’t move from shock.

Maria turned to her children ” Don’t move. Don’t do anything.”

Piero spoke “If you take one more step, Ricardo, I will shoot your wife.”

Francesco spoke ” Uncle Piero, you can’t do this in front of Adele. Let me take her outside. She doesn’t have to witness what you are about to do to her family.”

Adele sounded petrified ” No. What is going to happen to them. No please don’t hurt my family. Please.”

Maria turned to Adele ” Be quiet child. Don’t interfere.”

Ricardo spoke ” I told you all I knew. You must let me and my family go. I told you we don’t work for FBI.”

Piero smiled ” You really don’t think I would let you walk outside. Do you? I want names of doctors you recognised in that meeting. I need to bring them to my mansion and interrogate them like .... how I am planning to interrogate you. You see, so far you are the only name I have. I got your name from the FBI agent who was caught in the act searching my ranch looking for any evidence to build a case against me. When I questioned him, he revealed there are under cover doctors in my hospital who would report how I send dead bodies there for fake natural death certificates to be issued for them. It turned out he wasn’t so tolerant with pain. He broke easily. He managed to recall your name as the only one who refused to co-operate and walked out of the meeting. I questioned you on working for FBI just to see how you react.”

Ricardo swallowed hard ” So, why didn’t you ask him to reveal the other names.”

Piero shrugged ” My interrogator went a bit too far with his methods and accidentally killed him before he revealed any more. Now you are the only lead I have. I want names of those doctors.”

Ricardo sighed ” Why don’t you just sack all the doctors in the hospital? You can easily get new trustworthy staff.”

Piero laughed ” Why would I let people who have dared think of crossing me walk away alive? They must be caught and killed at my hands so it sends out the message for no one to try the same stunt. Now give me the list of names.”

Ricardo closed his eyes and looked thoughtful. He then opened his eyes and looked at Piero ” Please .... Let my family leave. You can ask me anything. But you must set them free. My wife wasn’t even in the FBI meeting that day. She was at my children’s school watching a play. Let them go. I beg you.”

Piero spoke ” No. Ricardo. Answer the question. You involved your family in all this when you attended the FBI meeting. You involved your family when you failed to come to me for the past month and confess to me that there are spies in my hospital that you know of. You must take responsibility. Depending on your co-operation, I will decide how many of your family members I would keep alive.”

Maria turned to Ricardo ” Just give him the names so we can be set free.”

Piero laughed and spoke with menacing voice “Not so fast Maria. None of your family members will leave this mansion until I get all the names from your husband, then after I bring those spies to my cellar and interrogate them, I may consider setting anyone in your family free. It would depend on the answers i get. If the names and information those spy doctors give me were identical to your husband’s account, then I might be kind to your family. But one thing is for sure, you are at this mansion for a while. You will be locked up in the cellar to be exact.”

Piero then turned to Angelo and Adele ” Don’t worry. I will get my guards to inform your school, that your family has taken you on a vacation so your school wont initiate any search parties for you.”

Francesco asked his uncle again ” Let me take Adele out. She doesn’t need to watch as you interrogate her family.”

Piero sighed and turned to Francesco ” I heard you the first time you asked me. I would have said yes if I thought you were right. But my dear nephew this is not how I do things when I question spies. This whole family must suffer. I start with Maria then I move to the children. I will see if hurting Ricardos loved ones would make him add more names to his list.” He then shot a bullet skilfully at a bulls eye on the wall in the room. Immediately, about a dozen guards poured into the room. Piero spoke ” Take these four to the cellar and tie them up. I think the doctor would give us the names faster if he is under more pressure.”

Guards walked to the doomed family and pulled them out of their seats. They firstly covered their mouths with masking tapes and put blindfolds on them. They then used metal handcuffs and tied their hands in front of them. Of course none of them could touch Adele since Francesco was the one to pull her out of her seat and was now standing behind her and embracing her waist tightly and giving guards deadly looks. Adele was sobbing hard and was trying to run to her family but of course Francesco had grabbed her so tightly not letting her move an inch.

Piero spoke to the guards ” Take those three away. I would deal with the last one.”

After guards left Piero turned to Francesco and spoke ” Explain yourself.”

Francesco was looking enraged “Nobody touches Adele. Uncle if you try to harm her. I would kill you myself.”

Costanzo gasped ” Francesco. You can’t ...”

Piero spoke ” What does she mean to you. There are plenty of girls out there. Why are you going against my rules and defying me just for one girl?”

Francesco roared ” She is not just any girl. She is mine. I love her. She is my future wife.”

Piero was looking at Francesco with surprise ” Since when are you capable of love? You are more brutal and eager to draw blood than anyone I have met. But even though I find your excuse absurd, I grant your wish since you sound sincere and you have done so much service for my organisation already. You caught that FBI agent for me afterall. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have uncovered the FBI plot for the Rosario family. Consider this your reward. She is immune from the punishments I am going to issue to her family.”

Adele looked horrified ” What punishments. Please. No.”

Piero turned to Francesco ” Take her to a guest room upstairs and lock her there. Then you will return here so we can finish our lunch. I wish for that family to suffer by anticipating their inevitable painful fate at our hands. Now, I suggest you get her out of my sight before I change my mind. And don’t ever threaten me Francesco. I don’t take kindly to threats.”

Francesco nodded ” Yes uncle. Forgive me.” He then forcefully dragged Adele out of the room while she kept fighting hard and kept screaming ” Let me go to them. Take me to the cellar to my family. Please.”

Francesco sighed ” Stop banging your fists at me. I give you a choice. You either silently follow me upstairs or I will drag you up there and you might get hurt badly that way. The stairs have sharp edges. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Adele cried ” I thought you said you loved me. How can you let your uncle hurt my family.” Adele felt betrayed. She hated her life. But more than anything she hated looking into the cold eyes of Francesco staring at her. There was no sign of remorse or compassion. It was just possessiveness in that cold stare.