The plane ride on the Rosario private jet to New York must have been the longest period of silence Adele had ever endured in her life. Most of the guards were not there since they had made the 10 hour trip to New York by car but despite the few guards being present on the plane, the fearful atmosphere was not totally diminished. Francesco’s father’s presence was the scariest. Him sitting only a meter away from Adele and Francesco on the plane had made Adele look out her window the whole time as she was being held tightly by Francesco. Any talk that happened on the plane was very short and by whispering in a very low voice. She didn’t dare even glance at her parents and Angelo who were sitting a few meters behind her. They were tight lipped too. Days of captivity had made them fearful for their lives.

They finally arrived in the airport in New York after enduring hours of uncomfortable silence. After landing, Adele was lead by two guards to one of the black cars with tinted windows with Costanzo and Francesco. She turned to Francesco worriedly “My family. Where are they taking them?”

Francesco spoke “Don’t worry. They are coming to the mansion too. Just in a separate car. They won’t be harmed. They are my uncle’s prisoners and the faith my uncle has decided for them can’t be changed by my father.”

They got in the car and two guards were sitting at the front and Francesco, Costanzo and Adele sat at the back. As the car ride started minutes passed in silence but Adele thought it would stay that way but Francesco whispered “You are going to love it in New York. There is so much to do in this big city unlike that small town. I am so happy to have left. I hated the people there.”

Costanzo spoke “Have you forgotten you met Adele in that small town. So it couldn’t be so bad there if you got a girl for yourself from that place.”

Francesco narrowed his eyes at him “Don’t think you will get away with your wise jokes. Mind your own business.”

Costanzo sighed ” I am only stating the facts. That is all. You know I am right. I thought I was never going to miss our uncle’s ranch but now that we are on our way back to new York and it seems so real that’s its all over, i am feeling blue. I can’t believe its all over.”

Francesco spoke “What are you talking about? Uncle will make it. He won’t die. The doctors think he will wake up from his coma in no time once he gets transferred to a hospital in New York. Father has recruited one of the top five doctors in the field of brain injury in the whole world to take care of our uncle so don’t you dare talk like this as though we won’t see our uncle in that ranch again.”

Costanzo sounded saddened “I wasn’t talking about him dying. I was referring to us getting sent to that boarding school. He may send us sooner since all the ..... other problems he was taking care of are now sorted really. When we get sent to that place, that’s like nine months a year. We would be most likely sent to New York for the summer months and Christmas. It would be upto our father where we spend our holidays so don’t count on that. So, I don’t think we would be seeing our uncle Piero’s ranch again. Think about it. Uncle Piero was always the one visiting us, not the other way round. So ..... try to get father to give you some goodbye time. Lets face it, it may be the last time you will be seeing Adele for a while .”

Francesco was looking at Costanzo with suspicion “Where does this speech come from? Since when do you care about the future? Stop trying to make out things to be worse than they really are.”

Once they arrived at the mansion and they got off the car, Adele gasped “This is so .... enormous. Is this your house? really?”

Francesco smiled “It is. Of course. Lets go. You are staying in my room. The guards will bring our suitcases to our rooms. And before you ask about your family, lets make it clear. The arrangements are the same. You stay with me and your parents and Angelo stay in a cabin in the compound’s grounds. they will be comfortable if that’s what you are worried about. Come on then. Follow me.”

Adele reluctantly followed Francesco as a guard walked a few steps behind with their two suitcases. The mansion was so beautiful. There were chandeliers and crystal decorations every where. Francesco’s room was on the third floor right next to Costanzo’s. Francesco grabbed the suitcases off the guard and dismissed him. He then unlocked the door “After you. This room should be in the state I left it in or the mansion’s house keepers would have hell to pay.”

Adele shook her head and entered “Wow. This room is so big.”

Francesco closed the door behind him and spoke ” Of course its big. I am the older son, I get the biggest room on this floor because I got to choose my room first before Costanzo was allowed to do so. Us, children are on this floor. My father’s room and his business rooms and his offices are on the second floor. On the ground floor, you get the guest rooms, dining room, living room, kitchen and game rooms.”

Adele asked “Why are there two beds.” And she sat at the smaller bed.

Francesco smiled and sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders “I picked this room because it has two beds. So some nights if Costanzo was upset he could come here and sleep on the other bed and we could talk all night.”

Adele bit her lip “You mean around the time .... your parents were getting divorced?”

Francesco spoke “No. Much later than that. This is not the same house that we lived in with our mother. Our father sold that house of course. Why would he keep a place that reminded him of his failed marriage. He hates losing. In his mind, the only time he has ever failed in his whole life is in his doomed marriage and of course he blames my mother every day for it. If he finds out I have brought back pictures of her with me from my uncle’s mansion, he would give me the beating of my life. His hate for my mother has no boundries.” He then got up and walked to the balcony’s glass door and looked outside ” I am just hoping whatever my uncle has planned works and my mother gets freed before its too late. Costanzo is not as optimistic as me. He thinks uncle hadnt done anything before his drinking episode last night. Either way I decided for Costanzo and I to wait one night at least before we do anything. Once we take on our father’s guards and try to get our mother out of the cellar, then there will be no returning back from it.”

Adele swallowed hard and stood up walking slowly to Francesco “What are you saying. If your uncle doesnt save your mother tonight... then it means you are going to rescue your mother alone with Costanzo. But what if ...... you get caught? What would happen? Would your father.... kill you?”

Francesco sighed while looking out the window “No. He won’t. Costanzo and I are his heirs. He would want his own blood to lead his empire after him. He won’t kill us if he catches us for attempting to rescue our mother. He would be really furious and would punish us in another way for sure but won’t kill us.”

Adele spoke “How can you be so sure that he won’t kill you? What if he does?”

Francesco spoke “I speak from experience. I have pulled stunts like this before. I know how my father works. In his view if he wants something done, he would get it done one way or another. If my mother escapes its not such a big deal to make him kill his own sons for it. He would send his whole force after her and would get every cop that works for him to trace her. That is all. But having said that it doesnt mean Costanzo and I won’t suffer for it if he finds out we had anything to do with it but i would welcome the pain he would condemn us to as long as our mother escapes but if ..... she doesnt make it out then ..... .” He then swallowed hard and sighed “I don’t even want to think about it. The consequences would be too horrific to try and imagine. I just know my father is not in a rational state right now. He is just blinded by hate and the thought of revenge against my mother has possessed him so badly that he is beyond reason. Otherwise if he had some sense he would have tried to make amends with her and maybe even ..... could you know get together with her so we could be a family again. But of course he is only a thrill seeker after making those he despises suffer and ....”

Suddenly Costanzo stormed in and closed the door behind him breathing heavily “Guess who has arrived? Look out the window. See for yourself. He just arrived. Its uncle Piero’s lawyer. Not the lawyer who lives in Texas and does his dealings on his behalf. I don’t mean him. Its his Brazilian lawyer who represents uncle in all his dealings when it comes to all the shared assets with father. He normally doesnt ever drop by in father’s mansion. they meet in father’s warehouse or in his business headquarters in Wall Street. There is only one reason he is here. Don’t you think? he is here to save our mother. I am sure of it.” Costanzo had spoken so quickly he hardly could breathe now.”

Francesco glanced out of the window “It is him indeed. Lets not waste a moment then. We need to find out if he is going to do anything for our mother.” He then walked to the door and Costanzo followed him enthusiastically. Francesco turned to Adele ” Come on. You are coming too sweetheart.”

Adele spoke “Where are you going?”

Costanzo turned “To eavesdrop of course. My room has a wardrobe that has an emergency stair case attached to it to the room next to my father’s meeting room. My father would never check that room since its always empty unless he hangs out with our uncle Piero there. It has a massive library, a chess table and ..... a collection of guns. My dad is an enthusiastic collector of weapons.”

Adele spoke “What if you get caught while eavesdropping?”

Francesco smiled ” We won’t get caught. Don’t worry. My father would never suspect anyone would be crazy enough to spy on him besides there is plenty of room to hide down there. It’s perfectly safe. Lets say I would feel safer taking you there with me than leaving you in this room alone. Some of my father’s guards don’t know who you are and may hurt you if they enter this room for any reason. Sadly they have keys. My father trusts them. So come with us Adele.”

Adele worriedly followed Francesco and Costanzo out of the room into the next room that was Costanzo’s. Then they opened a wardrobe that indeed had a stairs case attached to it. The walked down the stairs and reached a door. Costanzo picked up a key from under a book on the floor and opened the door. As they entered Adele could clearly hear voices at close proximity. They were now in the room that was right next to Paulo Rosario’s meeting room.

Francesco and Costanzo took their positions next to a door in the far corner and Adele instinctively took a position next to Francesco. Voices were heard really clearly now.

Paulo spoke ” Come on Alessandro. You must wish for a drink before we proceed with this meeting. I have the best wines.”

Alessandro cleared his throat ” I am sorry. I have to refuse. I don’t wish to drink. I just wish to urgently discuss the contents of my communication with your brother in the past twenty four hours.”

Paulo growled ” You will drink because I insist.”

Alessandro sounded defeated “As you demand.” There was a sound of glass and a liquid being poured.

Paulo said “Drink up now and then talk.”

There was some silence and then Alessandro spoke “Thank you. This wine tasted heavenly. Now lets get to the point straight away.” Then there was a sound of shuffling.

Paulo joked “I hope you don’t have a bomb in that bag.”

Alessandro spoke “No. of course not. My bag was searched thoroughly at the gate. They are even keeping my cigarettes and my lighter there so I should remember to collect them. Right. Here it is the file I told you about on the phone.”

Paulo spoke “Of course. the file you told me, my brother requested from one of the police departments in Kansas. You said it contains some important information. Lets hear it.”

Alessandro spoke “Please see for yourself. Here is the file. Look at the picture first.”