CHAPTER 60: ALONE WITH THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT

Chattering from masculine voices echoed round the halls of Neravalle as the boys returned from training.

The musky smell of sweat and testosterone filled up the air.

Some of the guys behind, flexed their muscles between themselves, as they compared strength by frame.

"I can’t feel my bones anymore," Elio, who was ahead alongside the superiors, stretched his hand over his head, and let out a loud yawn.

"I can’t feel my balls either," Marcello replied.

Salvatore snickered. "Do you even have balls, Piccolo?"

The boys who were closer to them heard the question, and burst into mocking laughter.

Vittorio held back his laughter, but he couldn’t stop a smile when he saw the look on Marcello’s face.

"Don’t listen to him, Marce," he encouraged the boy.

"Yeah because if he does, he might actually grow some balls."

Elio couldn’t help joining in the laughter that followed this time around. But one sharp look from his closest friend, quieted him.

"Not fair," he grumbled under his breath.

"Come again?" Salvatore drew closer to him, and threw a light punch on his arms.

"Ouch!"

"Cagna! Hear him scream like a bitch!"

Everyone laughed again, except Marcello who didn’t find it funny, and Elio who was bound by bonds of friendship.

But after a while, Salvatore drew him closer, and ruffled his hair.

"Stop laughing, you bastards. Name a prettier face than his? I’ll wait."

They all went silent. The collective census was that no one was prettier than Marcello.

"See that piccolo

? At least you have your face going for you," he said, as he turned a corner alongside Vittorio.

"Wait what?!"

Marcello’s reaction, although delayed, came eventually on realising how subtle yet clever the insult had been.

"Let it go, Marce," Elio couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore.

They separated from the rest of the guys, and followed the superiors behind.

"Signor Salva," Marcello muttered under his breath grudgingly, further cracking up Elio.

"Have you seen Luce?" Salvatore whispered to Vittorio as they continued walking.

"Yep. Saw him in the earliest hours of dawn. He has important work to do, hence his absence from the workshop," he replied.

"Oh, because I was surprised he didn’t tu—" he stopped talking the moment his eyes fell on Aurora who had stopped in front of them.

In sync, all four men came to a halt .

"Good morning everyone. I see you are all very energetic this morning," she said sarcastically as her eyes scanned through the group.

Salvatore whistled in his mind. If only she wasn’t Luce’s little sister.

It was the one thought that kept her out of his reach. Only that thought.

"What do you want, Aurora?" Vittorio questioned her.

"To talk to you alone about something important." Her gaze finally came to rest on him.

His face was the same as usual, yet she could have sworn she saw a very brief shift in his eyes.

If she could read his thoughts, she would see she was right.

Vittorio in that moment could only think about the kiss. The abominable kiss.

"I’m just coming from the fields. I don’t think I’m in the kind of state to have a conversation," he replied.

"Look I don’t care how you look, or about your manly stench, okay? There’s something important I need to tell you. It’s about Valentina."

His eyes snapped.

Elio’s breath caught in his throat. "What happened to Valentina?" He questioned her only in his mind.

Marcello noticed Elio stiffen beside him, and sympathy for his friend stirred up inside of him.

But it wasn’t just that. He also wondered how Valentina was coping.

For Salvatore, he was over the drama. It was pretty simple for him. Both sides just needed an honest open conversation, either with their mouths or their guns.

Better than dragging things out, and making everyone else miserable.

"Fine, let’s go," Vittorio said.

"I’ll distract Luce," Salvatore volunteered.

"Graziefratello," Vittorio said to him, before walking ahead with Aurora.

Elio breathed out deeply in their absence. "I don’t like this." He shook his head, as thoughts of the worst possible outcomes claimed his mind.

****

"Is what you want to talk about super private?" Vittorio questioned Aurora in a voice ridden with caution.

The thought of being alone with Aurora in a room, unnerved him a little.

"Yes it is. And we’re going to be doing it in your room," she said as she stopped right in front of his door.

Vittorio exhaled, but his heart remained tense.

He had been expertly maneuvered.

Aurora choosing to block his path the way she did was no coincidence. It was a precise plan because his room was the closest to the route she had found him.

"Why can’t we talk outside?"

"I’m not going to eat you, Vitto. Cristo!" She hissed, as her hands went to his door handle.

One pull, and she pushed the door open. "Coming or not?" She asked behind her shoulders, entering into the room.

Vittorio took a deep breath. "Give me the patience lord," he prayed silently, before walking in behind her.

Aurora’s eyes moved alongside her feet, both wandering around.

His room was perhaps her favourite room in the whole of Neravalle.

It was so simple.

A bed not even large enough to be considered king sized, neatly arranged as if no one had ever been on it before. His small furniture rack containing books he loved to read.

The table that was supposed to be a dressing table but only contained more books. The standalone closet. And finally, the artworks that lined up his walls.

For such a spacious room, the fact there were not a lot of things in it, gave it a fresh scent that had her sniffing into the air.

Vittorio cleared his throat, causing Aurora to swiftly turn to face him.

"Sorry. I just really love your room." She smiled.

"That’s not why we’re here. State your case and let’s get this over with."

Aurora swiped the strands of hair from her face, and tucked it behind her ear.

She read somewhere that it was a classic move to get a man’s attention, but when she looked into Vittorio’s eyes after that move, he only stared blankly at her.

"You’re so boring," she hissed loudly.

"Aurora, did you come here to waste my time?"

"No!" She replied in haste. "I really didn’t. It’s about Valentina like I said."

"What about her?"

"I went to lanotte."

He inhaled. "Of course you did."

"Before you judge me, let me explain first."

"The floor is yours." He gestured with his hands.

"So I thought about what you said yesterday. You know after the kiss–"

"Aurora?"

"Fine!" She rolled her eyes hard. "You were right, and that’s why I went to see her to cut a deal. She agreed to help clear Papa’s name."

"That’s good news right? But why do I feel like you’re not saying something?" His eyes squinted suspiciously.

She clasped her hands, and swung her legs as an attempt to lighten her next revelation.

"Aurora?"

"I promised she’ll be out of lanotte today, okay? So you have to do something to get her out. The faster the better."

When she was done speaking, she peeked to see a scolding look of disappointment in Vittorio’s eyes.

Her chest tightened. She couldn’t help but wonder if he would have been upset if it was Natalia that did what she did.

"You’re insane, Aurora."

Her face fell. "I’m sorry."

"No, you’ve done well. Leave the rest to me."

"Really?" Her head snapped up, and in a heartbeat, she dashed forward.

Before Vittorio could predict her next move, her arms were around his frozen body, hugging him tightly.