Chapter 4 Salvatore

"Yes sir. I am sorry about bumping into you. I hope your boss is not mad at me. I was just hired." She was shaking and talking fast. "I was just taking inventory and moving the equipment to where I needed everything. I am so sorry. I keep messing things up." Her lip quivered.

I watch her lips. I just wanted to kiss them. I know nothing about this girl and somehow did not want to leave her. "Here. Let's do this. I will give you a ride to wherever you need to go. My car is behind the pub. I promise nothing will happen to you."

"I...I don't know. I was supposed to bring my things and stay in the loft above the pub, but I do not have time to come back today. I will just go home for the item I left behind and come back tomorrow."

"Well miss? ...My name is Salvatore Barone. Your name is?"

"Valeria." She whispered. "Valeria Rossi"

"I am sorry, what was your name?" I held my hand to my ear and leaned over.

"Valeria." She whispered again.

"Little lamb did you say?" I whispered back with a smile on my face.

She smiled, never making eye contact.

I talked her into letting me help her with her clipboard and bag. I opened the passenger door for her. She hesitantly got in the car. I smiled and got in the driver's side. "I am your driver ma'am. Destination?"

I leaned over and whispered. She giggled. My god! That giggle. It made my day. Valeria smiled looking down at her fidgeting hands.

"Relax, Cara Mia. I will not hurt you."

She nodded and her body seemed to relax a little bit and she smiled, looking out of the window as we drove to her studio. I suddenly remembered the food that my father and I had a few months ago. It was fresh and delicious.

I could not believe that Valeria was Vito's niece. He may have let her stay in the studio above the warehouse, but the warehouse is in the warehouse district. No protection. Anything could have happened to her. I am just glad my father did what my mother had asked.

She is now under our protection. She is under my protection. My heart was fluttering as I took in her scent. She reminded me of fresh garden after it rained. I had a pain in my chest thinking that someone had hurt this young woman.

The way she was trembling and never making eye contact. I must find out who did this. Calming myself down, I stop my car just outside of Vito's warehouse. Valeria jumps out of the car before I can open her door. She runs to the door and unlocks it and runs inside.

I am hot on her trailer as she is already running up the back stairs. I get to her studio door and the room is very small. I see Valeria grab a photo off the dresser and walks back toward the door. She looks up at me and immediately looks back down.

She has a photo of an elderly woman in front of a wine vineyard. Nothing else. I smile, "anything else?"

"No, just needed my nonna with me. She is my guiding light? Jimmy and Mikey helped me with my bag earlier, I just forgot my nonna." Valeria said quietly as she locked to studio door. She kept looking around like she was making sure that she was not seen.

Was she hiding from someone? Did her uncle hurt her? She seemed jumpy.

I inhaled slowly. Take your time Salvatore. She is afraid of something or someone. You must take your time. Have great care with her. She is precious. Very precious.

"How long have you been a chef?" I asked quietly.

"A couple of years now, sir. I also have a business degree but have not really gone out to look for something in that area of work. I have always loved cooking." Valeria said in a whispered voice, still not making eye contact.

"Salvatore." I spoke.

"I am sorry sir. What was that?"

"My name is Salvatore, not sir. You, my sweet girl, do not call anyone sir. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir. I mean yes. I am sorry."

"Why do you keep apologizing? You have done nothing wrong. And please, look at me. Please, look at me."

"I am s... I mean okay...S-Salvatore." She hesitantly looked up slowly. Her eyes kept bouncing back down at her hands. I slowly took her hands into mine.

"Valeria" I slowly brought my hand up to cup her cheek. She almost pulled back. "Who hurt you?" I asked in low voice. I did not want her to panic.

She shook her head and looked back down again. Her lips were quivering. Her body started to tremble.

"No...no one, sir. I mean S-Salvatore. No...no one."

"Sweet girl, you are now under the Barone family protection. YOU are under my protection. No one will hurt you. I will find out who hurt you. They will never do it again. Do you hear me?"

I was still cupping her cheek in my palm. I leaned over and kissed the top of her head. Her body stopped trembling and she inhaled. I tilted her face up and me, "Do you understand, my little lamb?"

She smiled and nodded. I helped her back into my car. We drove back to the pub and parked. I helped her with her belongings up to the loft above the pub. I gave her a key to the back door after we dropped her things off in the loft.

I walked her through everything. I also pointed out the emergency button under the prep table. It buzzes all our security people in the pub.

I told her of the delivery dates for food items. The beverage deliveries come in through the kitchen as well. But we always have one of our security people there to receive those in since it is our beer and hard liquor shipments.

"Cara Mia, have you eaten?"

"No. I will grab a candy bar or something."

"No, you will not. Would you please join me?"

"Where?"

"I will make you something. Chef? I want to make you something to eat. Besides, I am hungry myself."

Valeria smiled and nodded. I guided her to the kitchen and sat her down at the little table next to the office. I turned on the oven and the room warmed up quickly. I went to the refrigerator and took out vegetables, broth, chicken and go to working on a soup. I quickly made some bread and popped it into the oven.

"I'll be right back, okay. Wait here, Cara Mia" I quickly made my way to the wine cellar and grabbed a bottle of wine. I made my way back to the kitchen and Valeria was still sitting where I left her. I smiled and showed her the bottle. She smiled and nodded. Her beautiful, chocolate eyes were glistening.

"Are you okay, Cara Mia?"

"Yes. I ...I have never had anyone make me anything before. I just do not know what to think or do."

"You will relax and let me feed you. In time you will trust me and tell me everything. But right now, you are hungry. I hear your tummy growling."

She giggled and nodded. I made a quick Italian ground turkey soup. I served her portion and brought out the bread. I served her wine. She waited until I was sitting across from her. She picked up her spoon.

"Uhm, Salvatore?"

"Yes, my little lamb?"

"Thank...thank you."

I smiled and nodded. We ate making light conversation. It was already a little past midnight, I walked with Valeria back to the loft. I gave her my number and told her to call me if she needed anything. She closed to the door and locked it.

I will make sure I have someone else watching over her. Whoever hurt her will pay.