The Brambilla's, The Beginning

The evening of their party she was sitting at her make-up table brushing her hair. She was in her new dress when he walked in all dressed up. Going over he placed his chin on her shoulder, looking at her through the mirror.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, I just wish it was our wedding day instead of the engagement party."

"You look pretty good yourself mister," she said as she reached for the diamond stud earrings to put on.

But he stopped her, taking them sat them back down on the table. "No, not these ones. I have something else for you to wear tonight," he said, placing a small square box in front of her. "I think this would look perfect with your dress."

She opened it up and gasped, inside was a diamond necklace and dangling earrings. "Oh, Leone. It's so beautiful but you shouldn't have."

He took the necklace and placed it around her neck. "It gives me great pleasure buying you beautiful things, and it's only the beginning. So get used to it my love because I won't stop. I love you so much."

"I love you too, and thank you for the gift." She put on the earrings and stood up to face him. I can't believe I have found the most wonderful man that loves me the way you do. The day I become Mrs. Brambilla will be the happiest day of my life."

He placed the palms of his hands on her cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss. "You smell so good and all I can think about right now is taking you over to the bed and fucking you for hours until I can no longer go on."

Laughing she pushed him away. "You're so shameless, that's all you ever think about. But you're going to have to wait because everyone is expecting us and we're already late."

Walking in with her on his arm he felt pride, every man in the place stopped to stare at her. This of course made him jealous at the way they were staring at her. He knew they were picturing her naked and wanted to kill each and every one of them. For sure he would have to keep her close to him all night.

As soon as Eddie spotted them he went over. "You guys are late."

"Sorry, it was my fault. It took me longer to get ready than I thought," Eleonora said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

He held her hand and stood back to check her out. "Well, I have to say it was so worth it. You look stunning. Are you sure you don't want to ditch this punk and run away with me?"

Leone gave him the death stare and pulled her away from Eddie. "Man, I wish you would stop with the joking. If I thought for one minute you were serious you'd be six feet under." He smiled and shook Eddie's hand. "But seriously though, you wouldn't stand a chance with her."

"Okay you two, behave and let's enjoy the party."

She was introduced to the other guests, some of whom she already knew since they worked for Leone. Some of the women were complete snobs, others were so friendly and she spent some time with them while Leone and Eddie talked to the men. But she could also sense him keeping an eye on her. She knew he was worried that someone would try and hurt her. In his line of business, she was aware that even though they appeared to be friends you never really knew if they could be trusted or not. He once told her he liked to keep his friends close, but his enemies closer, as the old saying goes.

An hour into the party he walked over to her. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yes, everyone is so nice. A couple of the women don't seem to like me and they keep staring at you. I have to wonder if they were your past lovers."

"No, I have not slept with anyone here. I won't lie to you, I have been with my fair share of women but it was nothing serious. You are the only one who makes me happy, the only one I want to spend my life with, and the only one I want in my bed. Care to dance with me?"

"I thought you would never ask," she said, taking his hand as they walked to the other room where the dancing was taking place.

With his arms tenderly around her, he rested his chin on the top of her head. "Do you have any idea how much I love you? Whatever happens in the future I want you to know that my love for you is so strong and I would die to save your life."

She looked at him and frowned. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Talk like you think that someday you will die." She pushed him away. "I never want to hear you talk that way again." Turning she rushed away, heading out onto the patio.

He followed her outside and taking her arm turned her around to face him. He saw the tears in her eyes and touched the side of her face. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Don't you think I know the danger you face every day? I don't want to hear it because you are never going to die and leave me alone. I can not live without you, if you die, I die. So give me your word right now that you will never leave me."

He pulled her into his arms, his hand at the back of her head and placed it on his shoulder. "Oh baby, I'm so sorry. I did not mean to upset you, so please don't cry."

She moved her head and looked at him. "Give me your word," she said, pleading with her eyes for him to promise her.

He ran his thumb lightly over her cheek. "It looks like you and I are going to grow very old together. I give you my word I will never leave you." He knew it was unrealistic to promise something like that, but he was going to do everything in his power to keep his word.

Taking her face in his hands he kissed her, it was a deep and very intense kiss. He put all of his love and passion for her into it. When he finally broke the kiss he took her hand in his. "Let's go finish our dance."

During the night everybody kept congratulating them. Some of the men were even brave enough to ask if they could have a dance with her. Others were too scared of him to even think about it. Of course Eddie had no problem dancing with her, he knew his friend wouldn't have a problem with it.

He got her on the dance floor and once again had to compliment her on how gorgeous she looked. "Leone is such a lucky man. I just know you two are going to be happy and have a great life together."

"Thank you Eddie. You are such a good friend to him, and to me too. I wonder if you would do me a favor?"

"Anything for you sweetheart, just name it."

"I know that Leone is capable of taking care of himself. But it would really help to ease my mind if I knew that you will always have his back. Maybe watch over him and make sure he doesn't do anything foolish or reckless."

"You're right, he can take care of himself and he doesn't need my help or anyone else's. But for you I will keep an eye on him. I've always had his back and I always will. Even when I'm not around and if he ever needs me for anything all he has to do is call and I'll be here in a flash, and the same goes for you."

"Thank you Eddie, I do so love you."

"I love you too, as in friends of course. I know that if we had gotten together first it wouldn't have worked out between us. Leone has always been destined to be in your life. Now you promised me something."

"Now what would that be?"

"Promise me that I will be the godfather to all of your children."

She tilted her head back and let out a soft laugh. "Leone and I have already discussed it, and we both agreed that we want you as their godfather."

The evening went well, there was plenty of champagne and food to go around. There was even a live band playing music.

At one point she came out of the ladies room and Leone was there waiting for her.

"Now you aren't following me are you?"

He placed his hands on her shoulders and put her up against the wall, then his hands went on the wall on either side of her head. "I've been dying to do something all night."

"Now exactly what would that be?"

"This," he said, placing his mouth over hers. He could hear women giggling as they walked pass them into the ladies room. But he didn't care, he had been dying to kiss her all night.

"Okay tiger, take it easy now. You keep this up and you will cause quite a scandal."

His eyes roamed over her face, from her eyes to her lips. "We're getting married so where is the scandal. You know me by now, you know I don't care what anybody says or thinks. I do what I want, when I want. What I want right now is you, so let's say goodbye and go home. I want to peel this dress off of you."

"But this party is for us and it would be rude just to leave so early." She ran the tip of her fingers over his bottom lip. "I'm sure you can wait a couple more hours."

He grabbed her hand and placed it over his crotch. "Does this feel like I can wait?"

Her face turned a light shade of red and she quickly removed her hand just as a woman walked by. "Have you no shame?"

"No, but that's what you love about me."

"Let's go back to the party." Taking his hand walked with him back into the room.

It was just a little while later that when she was standing alone a waiter came over with a tray, there was one glass of champagne on it. "Would you care for a glass of champagne Miss?"

She hadn't had a drink in a while and Leone was busy talking to someone. "Thank you," she said and took the glass from the tray, she then took a sip.

Eddie wandered over to her. "Now what is a beautiful woman like you doing all by yourself?"

"Waiting for that man of mine, he's saying goodbye to somebody before we leave." She took another long sip of her drink. "I know I'm not much of a champagne drinker but this one taste a little funny."

"Like what do you mean?"

She placed the half glass of champagne on the table. Then suddenly everything went dark and she felt a pair of arms catching her before she fell to the floor.

Hearing the commotion coming from the other end of the room Leone saw Eleonora in Eddie's arms and rushed over.

"What the hell happened?"

"I don't know, she just passed out. I think she might have been poisoned so we better get her to the hospital."

"Poisoned, how?" he asked as he took her from Eddie's arms.

Following Leone he stopped and picked up the glass of champagne that she was drinking from. He told William to drive them to the hospital. With the glass in his hand he sat in the front seat while the other two were in the back.

"Come on baby open your eyes. I'm here honey, stay with me." Not getting a response he lifted his head towards Eddie. "What makes you think she was poisoned?"

"Just before she passed out she said her champagne tasted funny. I brought it with me so it can be tested."

Once they were at the hospital she was taken in right away, and of course he insisted on going in with them. They knew who he was and were not going to argue with him. The nurse removed her dress and put a gown on her, then the doctor examined her, by this time her eyes were open. They ran a couple of tests and had the glass with the champagne in it tested.

He sat beside the bed holding her hand, Eddie stood on the other side.

Her throat felt dry and she felt sick to her stomach. "What happened?"

"You passed out baby, the doctor will be back in a few minutes to let us know what happened. They are testing that glass of champagne you had. Can you tell me anything about what happened before you passed out?"

"I was feeling fine, that was until the waiter came by and offered me some champagne. I thought it tasted kind of funny, like off somehow. Oh my God, do you think someone poisoned me?"

"We won't know until the results come back from the glass. Oh good, here comes the doctor now."

"How are you feeling Miss. Bianco?"

"Like crap."

"Okay, we did some tests and the blood test. It appears you ingested some form of poisoning. Until we examine it more we won't know exactly what it was. But luckily you did not drink all of the champagne, so you are going to be okay. We will release you and I do suggest that you have a couple of days bed rest."

When the doctor was gone Leone looked over at Eddie. "When we get her home I want you to go back to the hotel, take some men with you and find that waiter who gave her that glass of champagne."

"I'll take care of it and we'll talk to everybody and find out who the waiter was. I just called the hotel a few minutes ago and no one else has become ill."

She looked from Eddie to Leone. "We were at that party for a few hours and I hadn't seen that waiter until he brought me the glass. It was the only one on the tray. Who would want to poison me and why?"

"I don't know baby but I'm sure as hell going to find out. Now let me help you get dressed and I'll take you home and get you into bed."

Even though she was tired and weak she still managed to laugh. "Well you have been trying to get me into bed the last couple of hours, now you're going to get your wish."

Once they were home and Eddie was gone he helped her get undressed. "We should have left the party when I wanted to. Tonight all you are going to do is get some rest and go to sleep." He kissed her on the forehead and then gave her a big hug. When he finds out who was responsible for poisoning her his life would end in a slow and painful death.