A Mafia’s Obsession

CRYSTAL

Basking in the warmth of the sun, I and Leonardo walked down the cobble streets of Rome. Everything felt so surreal for me. After a sumptuous breakfast, Leonardo didn’t waste no time in taking me out on our tour in rome.

He had wanted to take one of his cars but I insisted we walked. That way we would enjoy the tour more and get that Italian experience.

The garrulous voices of people; both men, women and young people filled the air. Laughing and chatter soared, young children playing around and teenagers engaging in their têtê-à-têtê.

The street we were in was filled with old Italian apartments that had rugged draping down from the windows.

I had a beam on my face as I watched everything but then I realised I had no camera to actually capture the moment.

“What’s wrong Crystal?”Leonardo asked as if noticing my disappointed inner state.

“Nothing”I replied putting up a smile.

He shook his head at me. “I can read you like a book. Spill”he ordered.

Even when he was nice, he was still very much dominating.

I sighed apologetically. “I just realised we had no cameras to capture the moment”

“Is that all?”he asked.

I nodded.

At once he held on to my hand catching me off by surprise.

“Where are we going?”I asked in a fright.

“To fullfill your wish”

I was shocked. Would he really get me a camera.

Leonardo led me down the street, making turns that I had become so lost. He probably really knows his way around Italy.

His strides were practically too fast for me to keep up with even though he held me by hand. We walked into a dainty little shop.

It was filled with wristwatches of different styles, design, types and cameras. He finally let go of my arm making me rub the spot he held on to.

My eyes trailed around the shop as Leonardo conversed in Italian to the shopkeeper. Minutes later he approached me. In his hands were two disposable cameras.

“Here bella.”he handed my stunned self one of the cameras.

I had my mouth parted. He fucking bought a camera for me.

My eyes explored the camera, before snapping to meet with Leonardo’s.

“For me?” I asked in sheer surprise.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He nodded. “Ofcourse. You wanted it didn’t you? It has space for about seventy photos. We will take alot of pictures”he winked.

I grinned at him. We both stepped out of the store, our cameras hanging by our necks.

“Let us go to my favourite cafe shall we?” Leonardo charmingly asked.

I nodded. I began taking random pictures of people and the environment as we walked. A wide smile was on my lips.

Leonardo took me by hand once again. I noticed a cafe in sight.

Panella.

What a beautiful name to be honest.

It had a window display of intricate dough sculptures shaped like the Colosseum and other Rome icons.

The outside sitting area had patio chairs and tables.

It was draped in colourful shade of flowers giving off a beautiful setting to take coffee.

I sat down on one of the chairs, Leonardo standing.

“What shall I get you?”He asked politely.

Wow…. this sudden change in him was not only beautiful but suspicious.

“I don’t know though surprise me”I replied.

“I will trust me”he replied mischievously with a wink before heading inside the cafe.

Although I wasn’t hungry but I don’t mind tasting another dish.

I was basking in the warmth of the sun while taking in the architectural beauty of Rome. Everything was amazing.

I spotted Leonardo through the windows coming out with a spherical tray.

He placed it in front of me, the aroma was enticing.

It contained two oval shaped coffee glasses and a chicken nugget like dish.

“This..”Leonardo introduced pointing at the coffee, “is called caffè freddo. It is a cold, sweet coffee”

I stared longing at him, my mouth watering at the dish placed before me.

“What are those?”I asked pointing at what seemed like chicken nuggets.

“They are called crocchette di polle e ricotta. They are Italian croquettes filled with chicken and ricotta”he explained to me.

He sat down and took one in his hand, offering me to eat it.

I attempted to collect it from his hand but he gave me a look as if telling me I’ll have to eat it from his hand.

I gulped down my nervousness and I took a bite. My eyes widened in amazement. It tasted so good.

I immedately took it out of Leonardo’s hands and ate it.

At that instant Leonardo took a picture of me with his disposable camera.

“Leonardo”I scolded almost choking on my food.

He passed me one of the coffee glass and I sculled it down.

“Why did you take that!? I must look horrible” I chided, wiping my mouth with the back of my palm.

“You look mesmerising Crystal. You can never look horrible to me”he smirked, leaning forward.

I huffed at him, trying to suppress my blush.

We spent our time in the cafe by talking about random things, hobbies and the likes.

I was really getting to know so much about Leonardo. He probably is not as horrible as I expected.

Either that or he is just putting up a farcade show of care.

“How does it taste? Sweet yes?”Leonardo asked.

I nodded in affirmative.

“It is to be honest. I love it”

“Sweet just like you”I heard him mutter lowly with a smug smile.

“Leonardo”I gasped, my blush visibly evident at his sultry utterance.

He laughed at my embarrssed state.

God. This man was so insanely confident.

We continued talking for a while before I felt I had gotten enough.

“I don’t know about you but I am deeply filled up and can’t wait to begin our tour”I told Leonardo.

He gave me a thumbs up as he took one last scull of his coffee. He then stood up with me and grabbed his camera.

Let the tour begin.

* * * * * * * *

Today had been eventful, amazing and beautiful to say the least.

Leonardo had planned it all out. He got tickets to the Roman Colosseum which was surprising not far from the Panella cafe.

Leonardo was my tour guide. He told me that the Roman Colosseum was a large amphitheatre that housed up to 65, 000 spectators in the Roman days. This was where the famous Roman gladiatoral combats were held followed by the bloody, gory and murderous death.

We also headed to the Trevi fountain of Rome also known as Fountain Di Trevi. Leonardo told me it was built in the eighteenth century. I was marvelled at his knowledge of Roman history.

Who would ever think Leonardo knew all these? I thought the only thing he knew how to do was to kill.

There was an ostentatious display of the god of the sea, Neptune in his chariot on the fountain.

At the end of it all, I tossed a coin into the fountain. It was said that tossing a coin meant that the person will one day return to Italy.

I hope I will.

Leonardo took me to the Palatine hill and the Forum Romanum. He told me it was the centre of ancient Roman empire. We explored it and I got to see that it contained Roman excavations and an archaeological park filled with old temples, market structures and other important building.

The Palatine hill had excavations of imperial Roman residences.

In betwen our tour, I got to taste various mouth watering dishes and engaged in multiple taxi rides. Leonardo made sure of that.

Now it was evening. I and Leonardo were walking down a street, the beaming lights from the street lamp illuminating our path.

I gazed up, taking in the Italian night sky. The moon stayed filtered through the foggy clouds.

“Where are we heading to now Leonardo?”I asked with the same excitement I had earlier in the morning.

“Would you like a water taxi ride?”He asked, looking down at my face.

I nodded.

I had never been in one before. Our hands brushed as we walked together causing my skin to tingle at the slight touch.

Leonardo interlocked his hand with mine and led me to an already waiting water taxi.

“Shall we?”He asked which seemed more like a command as we both had already entered the taxi.

I poked my head outside the window, my eyes narrowing at the water underneath us. No doubt it must be freezing cold.

I could spot the starry stars in the reflection of the water. The wind slapped across my cheeks, brushing my hair across my face which made me retreat my head out of the window and into the taxi.

Leonardo shifted in his seat, his body touching mine which sent shivers down my body.

The taxi rode in silence, a quiet, peaceful and tranquil one.

“Crystal”Leonardo asked.

I stared at him.

“Are you still scared of me?”He asked softly.

“Um.. well…”i was suddenly finding it difficult to process the words from my mouth.

If it were to be earlier, I would have admitted yes in a heartbeat but now… It just seem weird to say that.

“Talk to me ok”He persisted cooly.

“I was before but now you… um.. well it has reduced. I still don’t buy your kindness towards me”I replied.

“I don’t expect you to”he admitted.

“Why?”

He exhaled sharply. “I have been mean to you. Treated you unfairly. I want to make up for it”

Was this Leonardo speaking to me?

I found it hard to believe at this point. What the hell was going on?

He was literally messing with my head.

Weeks ago he was a rude, arrogant dick and now he is just being the opposite.

What was his true aim?

“I feel like that beast from that Disney fairy tale. Probably I am. I have done things in this life that I never felt remorse for. Way terrible things but seeing you hurt because of me is like a stab in my chest”

“It is fine leonardo” I reassured him with a soothing smile. That’s the only thing I can say at this point.

I feel so speechless.

“No it’s not Bella”

“It is for real. It’s in the past now. You are trying to make up for it and you are doing a very good job”I said teasingly.

He gave me a faint smile. Right there in his blue, icy eyes swarm emotions I couldn’t make the meaning out of.

I tore my eyes from his gaze immedately, feeling shy.

“This feels too good to be true”I said underneath my breath.

“Really?”he asked, cocking a brow.

“Hmm” I replied with a hum.

“It almost feels enchanting”

“You know what is enchanting Crystal?”He curiously questioned me.

“What?”

“When I see it next time I’ll make sure to tell you”

I gave him a nod. He encircled his arm around my shoulder. I felt a butterfly havoc in my stomach with our bodies slightly pressed against each other.

I slowly rested my head on his chest, closing my eyes as the taxi sailed on the waters.

Everything felt perfect.

The question was how long would it last?