SONG ABOVE: Always Remember Us This Way

ELENORA

I finish transferring some photographs to a flash drive from one of my recent jobs, when Rico walks through the elevator. I smile when he looks up from his phone, but then I notice his ashen complexion and his bloodshot eyes.

He and Ciccio greet each other.

"Hey, handsome." I walk into his arms, hugging him, but scrunch my nose when I'm overwhelmed with the strong odor of cigarette smoke, I lean back to look at him.

But he pulls me close again, burying his face into my neck. "I know I look like shit and I feel like it, too."

"You've been smoking."

He pulls away as his eyes flicker between mine and finally nods. "Ciccio, give us a minute." Ciccio heads to the terrace without looking back.

Rico sets his jacket down and unbuttons the top of his dress shirt before he sits on the couch, with a heavy sigh.

"You've been doing so good with not smoking." I sit down next to him and rub his back but takes me by surprise when he turns, laying his head on my chest.

Neither of us speak while we sit there, holding each other. "I love listening to your heart; it helps calm me down and I love falling asleep to the sound of it, Elenora." His arms tighten around me. "It sounds like home to me."

A soft smile pulls at my lips as I run my fingers through his hair. "Being in your arms feels like home to me, Federico. Even though you smell like a casino, right now." I chuckle.

He inhales deeply before pulling away, and I notice his bloodshot eyes are now watery. His voice shakes as he begins to talk. "Something happened last night and I don't know what to do." Anxiousness and disquietude replace his usual cold, severe demeanor and even his voice has an uncertain tone to it.

He's softened toward me over the last month since we became more, and I can't help the worry that comes over me, watching him.

"What happened?"

His gaze moves to our intertwined hands, and his eyebrows furrow. "Domani and I, we...we think we were drugged."

I stare at him for a moment before I blink.

"Yeah right, who would be insane enough to do that to you?" He has to be joking. "If this is your way to soften the blow that you woke up next to a stripper, it's not going to work, Federico." I cross my arms. "If I remember correctly, you mocked me for getting roofied on my birthday, saying I should be grateful I didn't wake up violated or dead in a ditch. Although, now that I think about it, that never made sense. I wouldn't wake up if I was dead—"

"Elenora!" He snaps. "I'm serious. Domani and I don't remember a fucking thing after we got to the club last night. Eddie and Nico were killed sometime after they drove us there. They were found down in the garage this morning. Domani woke up in a fucking stairwell, and I—" He stops before getting down on his knees in front of me. "I was in a hotel room at Luca's hotel, but I don't remember how I got there and I..."

His phone rings, but he keeps staring at me as it continues to ring, while I'm still trying to absorb everything he just told me. My eyes move down to his phone.

"Domani's calling, maybe he has some information, Rico." I hold his face, wondering if he's experiencing latent shock. "Rico? Did you hear me? Domani is calling."

He opens his mouth to say something but nothing comes out. I reach down to answer his phone. "Domani, it's Nora. Something's wrong with Rico, he started telling me about how you guys think you were drugged but then he just stopped. I think he's in shock or something."

"We did get drugged, Nora. Put the phone next to his ear, please." I do as he says.

Rico blinks a few times and then clears his throat, taking the phone from my hands to hold it himself but his other hand holds mine. "No, I'll come there, give me an hour. I need to change."

He ends the call and pulls me up with him, leading me to our room. "Rico, what's going on?"

"Mickey thinks he found something in the surveillance footage on who got Nico and Eddie. But he's having issues with the surveillance from the other hotel and we can't find Luca." He starts undressing and walks into the bathroom turning on the shower.

"You can't find him? Do you think it was the Gallo's?"

"I don't know. There's also Gabriel and Renzo; they were there last night. And then there's Diego and his group, too." He pulls his wallet out of his pants and sets it on the counter of the sink.

"Do you really think Gabriel and Renzo would do something? They're your family," I state, wondering if they'd be capable of something like this.

"I wouldn't put it past them. Come, take a shower with me," He pulls me forward and I chuckle.

"I already showered...should we call the police about Luca?"

"No." He shakes his head. "Come. I need you close to me, Elenora." He dips his head to give me a soft kiss. His hands slip under the band of my leggings and pull them down. I use my feet to push them down the rest of the way.

He breaks the kiss to lift the sweater I'm wearing over my head and then brings his mouth crashing down on mine. The kiss is rough compared to how he usually kisses me but I like it and wrap my arms around his strong shoulders pulling him close to me. His hands work on unclasping my bra while I remove my panties and his boxers. He lifts me in his arms, and walks us into the shower stall.

His movements are slower now, more sensual and I moan into his mouth as he tongue strokes and caresses mine. He sets me down but lifts one of my legs as he guides himself into me. He groans as he thrusts into me again and again; the burning need for him builds within me.

I moan his name reaching the blissful peak succumbing to the orgasm he gives me. Rico turns me around and my back arches when he plunges into me from behind.

He pulls me up, reaching around to cup my breasts with one hand while the other teases and rubs my sensitive bud of nerves. I'm a gasping, moaning mess in his hands and then he clutches onto my throat, turning me to kiss him and presses me up against the shower wall. He thrusts into me grunting as his harsh whisper comes next to my ear, when he releases into me. His words confuse me, "Non voglio perderti." (I don't want to lose you)

He withdraws before he turns me. "I love you." He whispers and presses his lips on mine. "I love you." He kisses me again. "I love you." He repeats for a third time and his lips linger on mine. "You have my heart, forever, Elenora." His arms enfold me under the warm water cascading over us. I close my eyes wanting to always stay like this with him.

"I'm yours forever, Rico."

After our shower, Rico dressed quickly and left to meet with Domani. I used the time he's been gone to plan a surprise for him and I'm pretty proud of what I've spent the day doing, if I do say so myself.

"You sure you don't want to wait inside, Nora? It's so cold my nipples can cut glass!" Ciccio grumbles next to me.

I laugh, bouncing around trying to keep warm on the sidewalk outside of the hotel. "Nah, it's part of the experience, Ciccio! You told him to drive up the valet right, and not to go to the garage?"

"Yeah, yeah, I made sure."

Bright headlights shining along the large curve of the valet capture my attention and my face splits into a wide grin. I crouch down and dig out what I need. "Here, take it home and enjoy." I kiss Ciccio's cheek, smiling when I notice his blush.

"Thank you Nora. Very nice of you but you didn't have to." Ciccio's eyes look anxious as he fixes his gaze over my head at Rico, I'm sure.

"I made extra for a reason. And don't worry about ol' polpetta. He's in my hands now." I wink at him. He chuckles and thanks me again, nodding his chin to Rico and Mostro who step out of the SUV. Mostro is temporarily using a cane to get around and Domani climbs out from the back passenger side.

"Buonasera, gentlemen." I smile. "Mostro, I'm so happy to see you back at work and looking healthy." (Good evening)

He winks. "Happy to be back at work."

I focus on Rico and Domani next. "I hope you were able to get some answers about what happened yesterday?"

"What's all this?" Rico gestures to the horse drawn carriage, ignoring my question.

I take a deep breath and remind myself not to jump to conclusions as I bend down and grab two more thermos, wrapped sandwiches, and finally two glass bottles of Coke and hand them over to Domani and Mostro.

I kiss Rico and he wraps his arms around me. "You and I are going on a much needed date night, amore mio." I peck his lips again. "I've got food for us and I figured you'd have some men with you so I made extra, is anyone else in the car?" (my love)

A slow smile spreads on his handsome face. "Smiley, but he eats for three people."

I chuckle, nuzzling my face in his chest, his scent engulfs me and I'm happy there's no trace of cigarette smoke on him. "That's okay I made plenty. Let me go and I'll give him his food, too."

"I'm not letting you go, mia patatina, ever." He shifts his hold and I laugh as he lifts my legs carrying me bridal style to the carriage. "Mostro, grab some food for Smiley then bring me the bag." (my little potato)

"Stay close." He instructs Domani.

He climbs in after me and I spread the heated blanket over him after he sits down. Mostro walks back to us and hands the large bag to Rico.

"You were busy today." Rico sets the bag down by our feet as I instruct the driver to go ahead and then turn on some soft music I downloaded on my phone.

"There's no way I can drown out the awesome New York noise, but it's the thought that counts, right?" I pop the caps off the Coke bottles and hand one to him. "Here's to dating you forever."

He chuckles and clinks his bottle with mine before we sip the bottles. "We're getting married, Elenora, not dating."

I set my drink down and snuggle against him. "You're wrong, mia vita," I kiss him. "I read that some relationships struggle after marriage because couples stop dating each other once they're married." I kiss him again, only slower this time. "But I promise to always date you, Federico." (my life)

He deepens the kiss and I'm left breathless as he rests his forehead on mine. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, Elenora. You're the one thing in my life I didn't know I needed or wanted but now that I have you, I don't ever want to be without you."

"You keep saying all of these sweet things...you're going to be left with nothing to say for our wedding vows, Rico." I tease.

"I will never stop telling you how much you mean to me, or how much I love you." He caresses my face as his dark eyes look into mine.

I smile before I rest my head on his chest. A mixture of the New York nightlife and the soft music coming from my phone, surrounds us.

"Are you hungry?"

"I'm starving actually."

"Good, I am too." I smile, hearing his laugh. "Okay, we've got some minestrone in the thermos. You told me once it was your favorite so I made some. Hopefully you like it and then we also have some sub sandwiches, and for dessert, cheesecake."

"It all sounds amazing." He opens the thermos and I hand him a spoon, but he shakes his head and tips the thermos back to drink it. "Mmm. It's delicious."

I grin before spooning some. "You know you don't have to feed the men, amore." He tells me as he unwraps the sandwich. "I pay them well enough to be able to feed themselves."

I chuckle. "I would hope so. But that's not why I do it. I don't have a way of thanking them for keeping me safe the way you do." I shrug. "So, what better way than to feed them? Sharing is caring."

Rico chuckles as he finishes off his sandwich and then takes a long drink of Coke. He then moves on to eating the soup, well drinking it.

"Thank you for doing this, Elenora. It was a nice surprise." Rico brings his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close to him. "I can honestly say I've never done anything like this or even thought to do it."

"I wanted to do something nice for you. Earlier today, you looked so...lost." He runs his hand through my hair. "And...before we got in the carriage, you didn't answer me if you found anything about what happened..."

"We found Luca, but he was in bad shape like Domani and me."

"So they got all three of you?"

"It seems like it."

"But why? Were they trying to get information from you guys? But that doesn't make sense to incapacitate you like that. There's no way it was a distraction to get to me because you sent a whole damn militia with me." I keep pondering what is behind all of this. "Black mail? But then they'd have to get something on you to do that, I guess."

Rico shifts under me. "I don't want to talk about it, amore," His hand rubs my back. "Let's just enjoy the amazing night that you planned out."

We spend the rest of the carriage ride like lovestruck teenagers, feeding each other cheesecake, laughing and kissing under the warmth of the blanket and it continues well into the night after we get back home, ending with Rico falling asleep over me with his head on my chest.