Salvatore Dalla

I wake Amapola earlier today, wanting to take her for a walk around the property. After we fell asleep on the terrace, I woke up in the middle of the night feeling her body trembling on mine—she was cold. I held her in my arms to carry her inside; she was freezing and needed to warm up, but Amapola woke up, and I warmed her in the best way possible, covering her body with mine.
"Where are we going today?" she asks with a smile on her lips after coming out of the bathroom, looking like a vision. Amapola was wearing a loose, floral yellow dress, short like the skirt from yesterday, and a pair of ankle boots.
"We're going for a walk around the property. I want to show you some places," I say, and she nods while having her breakfast.
I dismiss Amadeu and Matteu since we weren’t going anywhere, and I left them on standby for the evening. I wanted to spend the day with Amapola without anyone’s interference or presence.
I start by taking her to see the gardens. We had only gone to the one on the side of the mansion, but in the back, we had an even more beautiful one, with trees trimmed into a perfect maze. In my childhood, my brothers, Amadeu, and I used to love running and playing hide-and-seek here.
Amapola is enchanted by the horses, the flowers, and everything I show her. When I decided to bring her with me, I knew she would like the place, but I didn’t expect it to be as much as it seemed.
I take one of the golf carts we have here and load up the picnic basket I asked to be prepared. I’m taking her to one of my favorite spots here, but it’s a bit far from the mansion.
"Where are we going?" she asks after sitting beside me. I was already waiting behind the wheel while she said goodbye to all the horses.
"You ask too many questions, ragazza," I respond as I put on my aviator-style sunglasses. "Surprise," I add as I start the cart.
"You don’t seem like the kind of man who likes surprises, Salvatore."
"And I’m not, mia bella, but surprisingly, I’ve enjoyed surprising you," I say, admitting an absolute truth, both to her and to myself.
"That’s good because I love being surprised," she says with a huge smile. During the fifteen-minute ride from where we were to the surprise spot, Amapola points out everything her eyes can take in, making me slow down the trip just to enjoy seeing her amazed by every new sight.
"I can’t believe it," she gasps, covering her mouth in awe before even stepping out of the cart. I rush to help her down. "The sea!" she exclaims.
"Yes, mia bella, I couldn’t bring you to Palermo without letting you see the sea."
I had asked them to set up a tent facing the sea, but I didn’t expect to find what I saw at that moment. The space was decorated with white fabrics tied to the wooden stakes forming its structure, with colorful flowers adorning the area, matching her perfectly, with all her delicacy.
"Thank you, Salvatore, I didn’t expect this," she says, stepping out of the cart and taking the hand I offered for support.
As soon as we step onto the sand, Amapola crouches down to take off her boots.
"Give me the basket," she asks, indicating the object I was carrying in my hands. "Take off your shoes."
"Better not, and the basket is heavy," I say, continuing to walk toward the tent.
"Take off your shoes, Salvatore," she says, catching up to me and grabbing my hand. "Feel the ground beneath your feet, enjoy the moment," she pleads, her eyes locking onto mine.
"Fine," I agree, and as soon as I take off my shoes, she bends down and grabs them along with her boots.
For the first time in many years, I feel the sand beneath my feet again. Ever since I started assuming my role and duties in the mafia, I haven’t been here. Only Amapola made me want to enjoy everything this place has to offer.
We talk for a while and eat some delicious treats that were prepared for us.
"Can I ask you something?" she says, and I smile.
"Another question, Amapola? That’s all you do, ragazza." I pop a grape into her mouth, and she nods, agreeing with me, then plants a kiss on my lips. "Ask away."
"What will happen when we go back?"
"What do you mean, Amapola? Be more specific," I ask, not understanding where she’s going with this.
"Will I still be your prisoner?" she asks, staring at her hands clasped on her lap.
"No, Amapola, you won’t be my prisoner, but you’ll be my companion, so you’ll stay with me," I confirm.
"So I won’t be able to leave?"
"Where do you want to go, Amapola?" I ask, irritated. "I’ve already let you see your father. What more do you want, ragazza? Don’t start exaggerating."
"Calm down, Salvatore, I didn’t mean to upset you," she says, "but I might want to go to the market, do some shopping, walk around, see the streets, people—I don’t know exactly. But since I won’t be your prisoner anymore, I want to know if I can go out, that’s all."
"No, Amapola, you can’t," I say, already irritated. "Anything you want or need, just ask, and I’ll provide it, va bene?"
I end the conversation, but I can tell she’s not satisfied with how things went. I wonder what’s going on in this girl’s head. I’ve given her much more than I’ve ever given anyone, so why isn’t she content?
Amapola turns her back to me, hugging her knees while she watches the sea in front of her.

"Sir, can I go for a swim?" she asks after a while in silence, and I know calling me *sir* was just to irritate me and distance herself.
"Are you wearing a swimsuit?" I raise an eyebrow as I ask.
"I'm not, you're right. Sorry," she says, turning her gaze back to the sea in front of her.
"Go ahead, *piccola*," I say after a moment.
"Fully dressed?"
"Yes, *bella*, however you like. No one will come near us," I say, still lying down with one arm behind my head.
"Grazie." She glances back, and suddenly a small smile appears on her lips as she undresses right in front of my eyes. I lift my torso, propping myself up on my elbow, admiring the sight of her undressing.
Amapola runs toward the calm sea in front of us, screaming when the cold water touches her legs. But she doesn't give up, and little by little, I see her body being covered by the water. I imagine she doesn't know how to swim, as she stays in a spot where the water only reaches her waist. Her chest is exposed above the water, giving me quite a view as she spins under the sun with her arms wide open.
Like a bee drawn to flowers, I’m drawn to her, unable to look away.
"Come, Salvatore," she calls with a smile on her lips when she notices me watching, and I go. I realize now that all she has to do is call me, and I'll follow her anywhere she leads. I remove my clothes, following her gesture, and join her.
I take her a bit deeper into the sea, where her feet no longer touch the ground. The water is now up to my neck, and since she’s much smaller than me, she relies on me to stay afloat. I like this feeling, having people’s lives in my hands. It's a power I can’t even begin to describe, the intensity of the pleasure it brings me. But with Amapola, it’s different. I have her life in my hands, but I want her to trust that I’ll protect her and never do anything that would put her at risk.

After a while in the water, I moved back to the shallow part. I wanted stability to make her mine; not wearing a condom wasn't a problem. Before we left the city, I’d make sure to give her a morning-after pill.
I just couldn't let the opportunity slip away while we were in the water, and I wasn’t about to swim back to my shorts for a condom. So, without thinking, I penetrated her again, and like the birds singing around us, Amapola was vocalizing her orgasm in my ear, taking me along with her.
After our moment in the water, we spent some time in the tent, drying off with the towels left there, and lying under the sun to let it finish warming our bodies.
Around four in the afternoon, we headed back; we needed to pack our things to leave. Amadeu had provided the pill I requested, and taking advantage of the fact that we had already had unprotected sex on the beach, I took it again in the bathtub, skin against skin, in an absolute fusion and a connection I had never established with anyone else.
"I wish I could stay longer," Amapola said sadly when we arrived at the hangar.
"I wish that too, *piccola*, but I promise I'll bring you back," I said, trying to convince both her and myself, because I also wanted to lock us away in a bubble where no one could reach us and nothing could touch us.
But unfortunately, that wasn't the reality of the mafia, and the obligations of the Dalla Costa wouldn't wait for me to live everything I wanted with Amapola. I was the Dom, the Boss, and I had to remember that above any personal desires.