Love Games

Forty-Eight: The Ties That Bind

On the right, next to the richly lined buffet, I notice two people who immediately catch my eye. From the facial features and the way, they are standing, they are clearly related to Jack. We slowly make our way towards them, and I have a premonition that these two men and women are persons of immense importance in his life.

'Jack, darling, you've only just arrived,' says the woman in the elegant red toilette that envelops her body, perfect for this prestigious evening.

Her silhouette is majestic yet delicate, her rich brown hair falls softly over her shoulders in big curls, and her face is adorned with a warm smile that she gives only to him.

Her presence radiates grace, but there is also something protective in her eyes, as if she wants to check who I am and what our arrival means for Jack.

Next to her stands an older man, grey hair, a tall strong figure in a black suit, surrounded by an aura of authority that time has not shaken.

His face is lined with the lines of age, but his eyes are extremely sharp, as if nothing can escape his gaze.

Although he is old, there is not a hint of weakness in his posture; he radiates a calm but relentless strength that unexpectedly takes hold of me.

Jack smiles relaxedly and it is clear in an instant that they are both immensely important to him.

"Alessandro and Aurora Luciano," Jack says, and with a slight nod he introduces the two people standing in front of us. He says their names loudly and proudly, as if they were the hallmarks of the evening and of the family.

My gaze wanders between them, and the feeling that they are watching me closely makes my heart beat faster. My hands are sweating a little, as admiration and fear are intertwined.

I am aware that I am stepping into a world that both attracts and repels me - a world where power and mystery coexist, intertwined with deep bonds and perhaps even danger.

Aurora smiles slightly, her gaze never leaving mine. She seems to be judging me, but there is still a glimmer of kindness in her eyes that reassures me a little. "It's nice to meet you," she says, with a softness in her voice that surprises me, because I was expecting more cold distance.

Alessandro, on the other hand, only greets me with a quiet nod.

His gaze is sharp, but not without interest. "Jack has been talking about you for a long time," he says in a deep voice that carries a hint of authority. "I hope he has explained to you the importance of family in everything we do."

His words sound like a sentence that hides a deeper meaning, something I have yet to understand.

Jack puts his arm lightly around my shoulders, as if sensing my slight nervousness.

"Don't worry," he whispers, as if he knows I need that extra reassurance.

I release the breath I've been unconsciously holding and let this new aura around me suck me in.

"So, where are you from?" asks Aurora, her voice pleasant but also curious.

Faced with this question, I think for a moment how to answer.

I'm not sure how much of my personal story I can share in this moment, with all this intense observation.

"I come from Sicily," I say slowly, trying to convey this simple fact with the sense of pride I feel for my home.

Aurora looks at me in surprise, a smile spreading across her face. "Really? I come from Sicily too!" she says, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Where exactly?"