Act like my wife

Separation

"Mia Vera, I have made arrangements for you and Bella to leave tomorrow morning."

"What?" She gaped at me in disbelief. I touched her face but she slapped my hand away. "I knew this was too good to be true." She got down from the bed and picked up her clothes.

I got up and put on my trousers. "Vera, listen to me first, darling-"

She held her hand up. "Don't bother! I'll leave tonight for you and your mom!" She wore her clothes hastily and marched to the closet.

I followed her. "Listen to me, Vera. Per favore-"

She stopped abruptly and turned to me, her eyes were red with suppressed tears. "Patrizio, I know I'm a lot of things, but I am not a hypocrite like you. You shouldn't have led me on if you knew it would end up like this!"  The tears she was struggling to choke back— started flooding down her cheeks.

I cupped her face in my palms and wiped those stubborn droplets with my thumbs. "Please, listen to me, Amore." I gently pulled her close to me and bundled her in my arms. With one finger under her chin, I brushed my lips against hers. The salty taste of her tears attacked me for making her sad.

She stayed silent after we ended the kiss. Her eyes glimmered with hope, hope that I have no intention of taking away.

I pushed back a few tears of my own and continued. "Mia Vera, please don't get me wrong. I don't want you out of my life, I just need you to be safe. I know I should have told you, I am sorry but it was last minute. I've made plans for you and Bella to be flown out of Spain, to the United States."

"America? But why?"

"To protect you both." I led her to the mattress and we sat down. "There are things I need to settle, with my parents, with my past, with my enemies... and I will never forgive myself if you get caught in the eye of the storm."

She laid her head on my chest. "Let me stay with you, Patrizio. I'll be fine, nothing will happen."

As much as I was tempted to accept her wish, I had to be logical. My heart aches with the thought of being away from her, but my brain knows it is the right thing to do. I stroked her silky hair. "Mia cara, please trust me on this. Bella needs to be away from danger, don't you agree?"

She sighed. "Yes. What about Gio?"

"I will keep Gio safe, I promise."

She lifted her head off my chest and looked up at me. "Promise you will come back for us."

"I promise with all my heart." I never wish to separate from her, but I know my mother and what she is capable of. Veronica is too innocent to be stuck in this mess! A mess I and my parents created.

***

At the crack of dawn, Veronica prepared Bella for the long journey ahead. When they were ready and had packed up, Leo carried their bags and we drove to the airport. They boarded the private plane that I rented for just the two of them.

I hugged Bella and bid her farewell. She cried, begging me to come with them. Veronica tried her best to console her little princess until she fell asleep.

"Twenty minutes to take off, Sir" Announced the flight attendant.

That was when it dawned on me that we had very little time. I engulfed Veronica in my embrace and took a long whiff of her scent until it drove me crazy. We locked lips for the hundredth time that morning, but this time, I couldn't control myself. I kissed her hungrily, knowing that the next time we might have this chance—is uncertain. I needed to make the best of the time we had.

"Ten minutes to take off, Sir".  The kind voice of the flight attendant brought us back to planet Earth.

We reluctantly broke the kiss. I memorized her features... so similar to Mira's, yet so different. I noticed that they weren't as identical as I first thought, in more ways than one. But that wasn't the time to distinguish features, since the clock is ticking.  "Mia Vera, mia angela, mia amore, il mia tutta".  Her lips curled into a smile...a contagious smile.   "After all this is over, I will find you both and we will be together. Prometto."

"I believe you, baby".  She grinned.

"I'm afraid, it's time Sir."  The flight attendant announced with a guilty look on her face.

"Okay, Thank You". I greeted her and returned my attention to Veronica. "Goodbye, my love."  I turned away and headed for the exit. Maybe I shouldn't have done this. What if I made a mistake by giving into fear? I hope I see her again, buon Dio!

I stepped down the stairs of the plane and left the runway.

I watched as the door closed and the engines came to life... the tires ran along the runway until the plane elevated into the air. Soon, it disappeared behind the clouds.

Leo drove us back home. He tried his possible best to cheer me up, but I was a lost cause.

As we approached the house, I noticed little Gio outside on the porch. Leo stopped the car and I stepped out. Gio ran up to me and I carried him in my arms.

He had been crying. "Where are Mommy and Bella?" He asked whilst wiping off his tears with the back of his hand.

"Daddy sent them on a vacation. Don't you want them to go on vacation, Gio?"  I carried him inside the house and headed for the stairs.

"But why didn't they ask me to go with them?" He whined.

I chuckled. "Because this vacation is for the ladies only. Don't you want to stay with Papa?"

"I do". He nodded and sniffled.

"Good boy." I handed him over to Maria who took him for a bath.

I returned to my room. The smell of Veronica's perfume lingered in the air, taunting me. The music player still had the song from last night...

Suddenly, the door was flung open and mia Madre barged in. She looked around the room.

"She isn't here, Madre."

Her eyes lit up. "Finally, you get rid of that horrible woman!"  I ignored her remark and walked to my closet. "Figlio, come with your papa and me to Italy"

I replied without facing her. "I am not interested."

"Come with your papa and me to Italy, or I will have Veronica killed right there in the U.S.!"