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.”