One week later
Romeo Bernardino
- Here it is, Sir, the DNA test!
By Cecilia's demand I decided to do the DNA test, she wanted to be sure of something that I had no doubt about, however I wanted to do her will. I understood that she didn't want to have false hopes, my sister has already suffered too much in this life and it wouldn't cost me anything to fulfill her wish.
- I want you to open the exam, Cecilia. Regardless of the result, you are still dear to me, but I am sure you are my sister!
I had no doubt, her resemblance to my mother was as clear as the color of her eyes and hair as well as her wise and intelligent personality, but she needed this certainty to finally accept that she is my missing sister. Cecilia opened the exam shaking while little Melina stayed in Sergio's lap giving my soldier a hard time, my sister remained silent looking at the exam I noticed that her face was covered with tears, I just didn't understand if they were from happiness or sadness.
- What is it, Cecilia?
She handed me the exam that only served to prove something that my heart already knew, Cecilia is now my sister without any doubts on her part. I held her by the waist and walked with my sister around the room showing all my happiness for knowing that we were finally together but Cecilia kept crying which made me worried.
- Ma?
Melina realizing the way her mother was calling her to stop moving in Sergio's lap, Cecilia took her daughter in her lap kissing her cheek. I know this is all unexpected for her but I hope she recovers from the surprise.
- Sergio, can you leave us alone? I'll call you later when I've finished talking to my sister.
- Of course, sir!
I needed to talk to Cecilia to calm her down, the uncertainty of not knowing if she really was my sister has left her lost for the last week, but now that she knows, I know she is afraid of what will come from now on.
- My sister, I don't want to impose anything on you or force you to do anything you don't want to do but consider the possibility of coming to live with me, I want to be able to give you the comfort and care that you have been deprived of for so many years, it's one new thing after another and I know you are scared but I want you to think about it. Nothing in this life would make me happier than to have you and my niece living here, in our parents' home.
- This is really beautiful of you, but I'm still trying to get used to all this, before I was an orphan who was only treated with decency by Thomas and his family now I'm his missing sister and more than ever I'm part of the Albertini Mafia. After all, being part of one of the most important mafia families outside of Italy is still a lot of information to process.
I understood everything Cecilia felt even though I wasn't in her place. After all, it's not for everyone to find out that they are part of the mafia in such a close way, since with Tomas there was only the marriage, she didn't have any connection with the world I grew up in.
- I understand that it is not easy for you, there are many changes, but I want you to consider this as something good because of me and everything that I want to offer you. And this has nothing to do with money or material goods but with love, affection, affection and care, of course I want you to have everything that money has given me but I also want to give you everything you didn't have before Thomas saved you. Come and live with me, together with Melina, so that you won't have any reason to deny it. Soon I'll be married to Luana too and we can all live together as a family, as it should be.
I knew that the possibility of her saying no to me was very high but I wouldn't stop trying because of that. She looked thoughtful looking at me and the girl in her arms, I approached her holding her face showing how important it is to me to have her and Melina in my life.
- Please don't take more from me than has already been taken, I only have you and Melina as family, I promise to go slowly but I don't want to live another minute without your presence that I missed so much.
- I accept to come and live here! I really want to start over with you by my side, brother.
I hugged my sister and niece knowing that now my family was united again, my only regret is that my parents are not with us.
- I know you are attached to your name and I don't intend to change it, but I would like you to consider the possibility of having the last name Bernardino next to yours and Melina's, it would really be an honor for me!
- I don't see a problem with that, but I want to ask you something very important.
I saw in my sister's eyes something like fear, already imagining what she was going to ask.
- Besides us here, no one else in the Mafia should know about me and my daughter. I won't hide from you the immense fear I have of Dario, for him I'm inside a brothel, he can't know I'm alive or where I am, that man is a monster and I'm sure that when he finds out about me he will spare no effort to harm me.
- I promise you that no one from Italy will know about who Rosalia Bernardino really is, but I can't help it if you assume your position beside me as a Mafia lady. Even though I don't want this, I hope you understand the fact that you are our mother's substitute and have some obligations to fulfill. But I don't want you to worry about Don, the Albertini family has never come to bother us with our business, I don't think they will sniff around our territory, sister, but if you show up here I will protect you, never let Dario know you exist!
I could feel the relief in Cecilia's expression, I know she felt that this was not an empty promise and that I will really protect her.
- Now I want to give you some gifts and I'll tell you in advance that I won't take them back or deny them.
I went to the safe that is behind the bookcase in my office opening it taking out of there the boxes of jewelry from my mother, waited until the day my sister returned home along with the jewelry delivered some additional of my credit cards as well as a current account in her name with a generous amount deposited by me.
- Bernardino, this is too much for me! I have always been a detached person, always preferred books to expensive jewelry or clothes, it's really not necessary.
- Our mother was like that too, she took it from her but as I am very similar to my father who always liked to give good and expensive things to his family I can't let this side of me not prevail! About the books, don't worry, my father made a library for our mother, it's right next to her future bedroom, but I must confess that it's a little abandoned, I'm not a book lover like you, my sister. As I said before I want you to accept the gifts as well as the library, it's yours by right, in the future when you change your surname we will have to exchange your cards but if you need more money than the amount I deposited for you, be sure to ask me.
I noticed that she was a little embarrassed, but I'm not giving up on my sister having all the best, she deserves it after all she's been through.
- Now I'll let her pack her things and Melina's to come here, I have a few things to sort out but for dinner we'll be together!
Cecilia smiled and left with my niece in her arms, I feel that in time she will get used to the new life she will have at my side but I will make sure that Dario Albertini never gets close to my sister and consequently keep that rapist bastard who works on his side away from my future wife.
- Sergio, do you know that representative of ours in Italy?
- Yes, sir, I do. What about the man?
I called my trusted soldier to help in the plan to keep the blue bloods far away from us.
- Contact the man, tell him that from now on everything will be reported to him, I don't want the blue bloods coming here to fill my bag and take away my family's peace. Just keep the Albertini's and their ilk out of here!
- Sir, Saulo Albertini has a great interest in our territory I'm not sure for what reason but he does.
I can't take the risk of having anyone from that family here, because he might see what he shouldn't and tell his damned brother.
- We have to think of a way to keep him away, find out what so much Saul comes sniffing around here, I don't want anyone from that damn family on my territory. Your life mission now is to find this out, now you can go, know that what I am asking you is very important, the lives of the women I love are at stake, Sergio! I depend on you and your effectiveness to find out and keep Saul or any trace of the Albertini's away from here.
Sergio just nodded and at that moment I needed to trust in his good work to protect my family and remove the danger that the Albertini represent in my way.