Adeline and Sarah spent the next couple of moments talking and getting a couple of her items into the big bag. Soon, they were done and Adeline was supposed to get going.
But somehow, her emotions slouched. She looked at Sarah and sat down. For a moment, her thoughts went haywire. She wondered what she was really getting herself into. Her single life had taken an abrupt end in the most dramatic manner.
"What is it,Ade?" Sarah asked her in a concerned tone.
Adeline wiped tears off her cheek. "Sarah, I'm suddenly not sure I know what I'm doing. I-... I'm now…"
"Shhh," Sarah muttered and moved closer. Then, she pressed Adeline's head on her chest and said, "Ade, if there's anyone I know will always pull shit off, it has to be you, my girl." She sighed and let go.
Adeline looked at her. She continued.
"Look, Ade. I know I've been all over the place about this guy. But I'm equally concerned. I have no idea what you are walking into. But I believe that dude is ready to keep you safe at all times. And you got me too."
Adeline looked at her and for a moment, they both laughed.
"I will miss you, Sarah."
"I will miss you more, Ade. I can visit you, right?"
Adeline nodded. "Of course, you can."
Sarah helped her get a few more items and she was set to be on the move.
However, their little emotional goodbye was cut short when her phone began to ring. When she checked who the caller was, her countenance fell immediately.
"What's going on? " Sarah asked her. "Why's your mood suddenly sour? Who is that on the line? "
Adeline said nothing immediately. She simply turned her phone's screen for Sarah to see.
"What? Julian? What the heck is that fool calling your line for? This better be a mistake."
Adeline declined the call. He called again and got no response. Adeline went on to block that number. She was not in the mood for any sort of games.
But Julian was not going to just let her go. It didn't take two minutes before her phone beeped. He had texted her with a different number. She checked it out.
The text read, "Do you think you have escaped me? You think life's better now, right? You have no idea what you have gotten yourself by marrying that devil."
Adeline was done reading and chuckled.
"Why the heck is he sending a text like this to you?" Sarah asked angrily. "What's this? Is he trying to play some kind of hero here like Viktor did before?"
Adeline sighed. She sent the perfect response to him.
"... If I'm caught up between the devil and a demon, who do you think I would marry? The devil, of course!"
She fired the text and blocked that number too. Then, she took a moment to gather her thoughts together.
"You may have to let Viktor know about this," Sarah suggested.
"I will see about that. Right now, I should get going."
Soon, they were downstairs. The men with her loaded her things into the vehicles and got ready to leave.
Just one last time, she turned to Sarah and received the long and tight embrace from her.
"Thank you for everything, my dear friend," Adeline said.
"We will be in touch."
She pulled away and settled into the car. It was only a matter of seconds before they started driving out of the area. She was en route to really take her place as the wife of Viktor Constantino.
★★★★★
Viktor was seated on the couch while drinking wine from a glass cup. Adeline was taking too long to get to the house. The last time he reached out to one of his men that was with her, he was told she was packing up her things.
Funny.
He had told her not to bother herself about any of those things. He had the money and he was willing to spend every penny on her.
His phone began to ring on the stool by the side. His eyes scanned the caller. An unsettling feeling suddenly swept across his entire body.
Why would his brother be calling him? They obviously didn't have that kind of relationship to be checking on each other.
He was hesitant for a moment. Then, he took the call.
"Hello," he said as he took the call. His voice was completely not welcoming, but still as calm as possible.
The voice that replied was purely Italian.
"Fratello," his brother said. "Brother." Then, he chuckled in an eerie tone. "Fratello Maggiore."...."Big brother."
Viktor was already in a sour mood. He had no idea what was up. But he could tell it was certainly not cool.
Lorenzo, his younger brother, was not good news in any way. And he disliked the fact that this call was coming at a point in his life when he was feeling that the pieces were finally coming together.
"Cos'è, Renzo?" Viktor queried him….. "What is it, Renzo?"
There was this annoying laugh from the other end that pissed Viktor off. He got up on his feet and began to walk calmly.
"You have exactly five seconds to say why you have called. If you don't, I'll hang up now. Speak."
"What happened to my cool brother? You should be happy to hear from me."
Viktor was not ready for any of this. Dealing with a crazy younger brother was something he was not cut out for.
"Goodbye," he said.
He was going to end the call.
"Aspettare", Renzo said… "Wait."
Viktor was just listening. There was a two second pause before his brother spoke again.
"We are coming."
The statement was not expected. It threw Viktor off.
"Wait. What? What do you mean? We? What are you talking about?"
Renzo laughed hysterically. "We are coming to America."
Viktor already knew who he was refering to when he said " we." But he still had to ask, anyway.
"Who…are you coming with?" He asked.
Deep down, Viktor was praying against the response he already knew would come.
"Me. Dad. Get ready, Viktor."
Before he hung up, Renzo said, "Felice vita matrimoniale." ….. "Happy Married Life."
The call ended. Viktor just knew it. They were coming to try and wreck him.