"That is why I must go along with the team as well."
Trish's brow twisted at that statement.
"...Giorno I have no doubt that you know what you are doing here, but I have to ask."
"Are you SURE you want to go out into the open on an island surrounded by the grip and turbulence of Sicilian Mafiosi?"
"I have no doubt that Passione are quite capable of handling the situation by themselves, but.." his eyes shifted up from the floor tiles as he now made solid eye contact.
" The people of Sicily have lost faith in their police and justice system. People are getting fined and jailed for possessing substances that they've never even pronounced before, and the law is getting away with it despite being under the influence of Italy."
"I've been meaning to expand our control for a long time now.."
Giorno then moved towards the bloody documents and handed one over to her.
"And it's clearer more than ever to me that the opportunity has arrived."
"Something needs to change, and I will be there to promise them just that."
Trish narrowed her eyes onto the damp page, trying to make out the black scribbles drowned in a sea of maroon.
'-Help us...please just Help us.-'
"How will you do it?" Trish asked.
"He will give it to me."
The nonchalant confidence in Giorno's voice left Trish's mind on a string on questions.
-'Give... it to me?'..
"Alive?"
"Precisely," he answered.
"-God-" Trish huffed with a shrug.
-Just how ready was the current boss of the Sicilian mafia going to be prepared for what is to come for him?
"When are you leaving?"
"That would have to be something I need to discuss with Mista tonight."
...
Among the reception hall were the gathering of Trish, Mista and his team of Passione members and of course Giorno who had already finished his explanation.
"5:00pm is when the waters are the calmest. Might come in handy for a smooth sail."
Mista could speak from his several experiences out at sea.
" It's best to take the travel yacht instead of the bigger one. They wouldn't suspect a thing."
As the boys planned out their roles for this mission, Trish hadn't heard of anyone mention of her participating in the endeavor.
"I could be of use here too, if you think about it. Hear me out for a second."
Mista's ears opened to her interjection.
"People know exactly who you guys are. Unlike my father, Giorno, you've purposefully attached a name and a face to the title of being the boss of the Italian mafia. And Mista, Passione has integrated themselves within local society extensively.
This is a great thing, and I'm glad you did it. But it could be quite intimidating for the already uneasy residents if you wanted to perhaps, survey exactly what is going on in their lives without them trying to impress you or dramatize their actual situation.
"So what your saying is that we need someone to basically act as an undercover honeybee," Mista concluded.
"Right. Going deeply into their regular society observing what's going on and asking questions."
"Are you implying what I think you are implying, Trish?" Mista said teasingly.
"You'd literally be a walking target directly leading to the boss!"
"Besides, I don't mean anything by this but wasn't your last mission around over a month ago?"
"What I'm saying is, are you sure you're up to it?"
Trish took no offence from Mista's remarks, she knew he was just looking for the best interest of his friends.
" There is nothing more that I would rather be doing. Listen, we've worked hard on keeping our 'relationship status' tightly under wraps, so much so that really only the members of Passione have known about Giorno and I all of this time. The Sicilians should have zero knowledge of it."
"The people who knew about my direct lineage to the previous boss are all dead as well."
Trish looked at both Giorno and Mista in the eyes.
"I would be a perfect source of intel for this mission."
Mista turned to Giorno, " It's your call man."
Giorno could feel the passion burn within Trish from where he was standing.
The thing is, he'd already had someone in mind to be an agent under cover, but he wasn't planning on that person being Trish.
He'd wish that she would've wanted to stay behind where it was safe, but how could he say no to her again after neglecting her so many times in these recent days.
"Trish, you've made some great points and have my word but I need Fugo to partner with you on this as well."
Trish gleamed with excitement. The dawn of a new hope was coming to restore the people of Sicily, and she'd be there to see the ordeal unfold and support every step of the way.
"I'll accept that."
"I'll do my best to keep everyone in order around here," Shiela E's voice said through the cell.
"There's no doubt in my mind you will."
Polnareff and Shiela E. were entrusted to run the estate as the gang departed on the sailing yacht.
" Text me if you need anything at all."
" Yes Mom," Shiela E replied sarcastically before hanging up.
"Trish, where's Mista? Kid is puking all over the boat and there's no way I'm dealing with that." Fugo said making a face of disgust.
-Poor guy, he must be talking Alphonse. Mista's new recruit was a sweet boy but he definitely fit the role well of sticking out like a sore thumb. An all too familiar feeling.-
"I'm not sure," she replied laughing.
"Let's go find him."
Trish and Fugo eventually found Mista overlooking the water at the edge of the railing with Giorno.
"Mista! Damn Alphonse is doing his best work all over the deck."
"Gah! Not again! Shit!" The multicolored capo released a long exasperated sigh.
" It's only been 3 minutes! We're gonna have to talk more about it once we land, Boss."
Fugo lead Mista towards the direction of that said chaos.
Trish walked up to the railing beside Giorno, taking in the scent of saltwater belonging to the Mediterranean sea.
"What a great view," he said in adulation of the distant orange colored waves crashing into themselves.
The colors of sunset were engulfing the once blue waters at a rapid pace.
"I can't wait to see the alleviation on their faces once they realize what you have done once everything is finished."
Giorno replied wordlessly with a grin as his eyes were focused on the waves.
"You're nervous..."
"There is no need to doubt yourself and your ability to stick with a plan you make."
"That's not quite what I'm nervous about, Trish."
"..." "What's on your mind?" She asked.
"Tell me."
" You always seem to be adamant on putting yourself in harm's way for me when I need to do something more dangerous than usual," he replied.
He turned towards her, his hair and suit being illuminated by the rich, warm colors of the setting sky. Could she resist the urge to stare for much longer?
"I'm sorry that fulfilling my duties can't allow your mind to be at ease while you're staying safely behind in the premises of the estate when I'm away."
"What did I tell you about apologizing to me?"
Giorno's thought process for a response was canceled on the sensation of Trish's fingers entangling themselves within his own.
"The truth is... Giorno, my mind is only at peace when I'm right here next to you."
"I want to see you succeed in person. Please, don't feel guilty about that."
The feeling of warmth being pressing against his lips and the sweet taste of cherry merlot flavored gloss was enough to stop the conversation right where it was.
If only Giorno could find the words to describe what it felt like to be desired by someone as wholesome the woman who did.
-Oh, how long he's missed the taste of cherry merlot.
It was obvious to her by the way he resisted parting, initiating for a second one.
Trish leaned in placing her head on Giorno's chest, listening for his heartbeat among the calling of seabirds.
As long as she could feel his presence around her, the comfort she needed from whatever her turmoil was sourcing from would follow suit, even if that meant travelling overseas into the boarders of an unknown.