“It will be okay, Mama.” I try to console her before she breaks down in tears.
“I know,” she says, but a sob catches in her throat as she tries to be brave for me.
Granted, he was my dad and I certainly miss him, but it’s been a few years, and Dante took over for him, which was to be expected.
“Mama, Mama, come on. It will be fine. Look, I’ll save the first dance for you,” I offer.
“Oh, that would be wonderful.” A doorbell buzzes in the background. It’s one formality that time hasn’t changed in Italy. There are buzzers at every door to get into all condos and apartments. “Hold on, that must be Isabelle.” She covers the mic of her phone, but she’s calling out to her guests just the same.
Her heels move swiftly over the tiled floor as she walks to the door. I’m not surprised that the voice I’ve identified belongs to Isabelle. She comes to help her dress and do her hair.
“I’m fine, Sal. Isabelle is here.” With the lighter tone in her voice, I know she’s fine. I am consoled by the fact that she has someone besides me to talk to.
“Great, Mama, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Ciao.”
I watch football, but when the Brazilian team takes the lead, I lose interest and the next thing I know the TV is showing a different game. I must have fallen asleep but shrug it off. It’s the beginning of the season so there is time for Italy to make up for the loss.
* * *
I shave with care before donning my outfit for tonight. Men like me who go to these formal events all the time don’t rent tuxedos, we own one, sometimes two. From a distance we all look the same, but there are subtle differences. Double breasted or single breasted, cummerbund or vest, bow ties or regular ties.
I don’t complain. In fact, I kinda enjoy dressing up in a tux with the tail and a wing-collared shirt. I change it up just a bit with a blue square of silk in my front pocket to match my cufflinks.
I open the top drawer to my dresser and pull out a box the size of a desk top cigar humidor only it holds my watches and cuff links. I select the cufflinks with a double row of sapphires that wrap around a square group made up of individual diamonds. They look more like rings than cuff links, but I like them. Not too many men still wear them today but I’m a traditionalist and these are sentimental. My grandfather wore them, my father wore them and now I wear them.
Before I leave, I make sure the motion sensor alarm is on inside the house and two guards are on duty. This is a gated estate, but I still retain armed guards. Dante agreed to have Enzo here with another regular as Matteo will be at the event posing as a valuable employee for our construction company.
Now that things have settled down with the Conti family, Dante is more than happy to share our most loyal protectors. The bodyguards blend in with our world without a second thought. They don’t need to advertise what they really do for a living.
I rev the engine and listen to the tires squeal as I round the first bend on my way down the mountain to Florence. I am looking forward to seeing my family and knowing that we are all safely meeting at the prestigious San Ferdinando Hotel near the Uffizi. It will be like old times, only without Dad.
5
Francesca
Ijourney north enjoying the scenery and I regret not traveling more. I’ve taken so much for granted so this might be a new beginning for me if I play my cards right. I continue to travel under with the moonless night that serves as my cloud of obscurity.
I make the drive north to Florence to check out the situation, checking into a hotel that is not worthy of my stature, but it saves me money, and no one will recognize me, not that anyone should. No one is expecting me here as I usually stay at the five-star hotel downtown. I wear a ball cap and tattered jeans even if they cost two hundred euros and a pair of white sneakers as it’s still hot for September.
I lived the princess lifestyle and spent my days ordering the help around, shopping and doing things with my few friends or boyfriends. Boyfriends my daddy had everyone keeping their eyes on for one misstep. They never lasted long before someone ran them off with cold stares that even gave me a chill.
I’m doomed to a life without lovers, except for my trainer/instructor because we could easily hook up at the gym for some hot sweaty sex after an intense workout.
I fight a marriage of convenience to bring in more clans, money, or power. God only knows how old that man might be. I could be one of the marriages that end with the women being sent off to what we call the ‘she left’ divorce.
Granted, the Calabreses are thankful to my father for building the empire they now control. I am usually good at reading people, but I can’t read them.
For all I know my head might be on a chopping block next because I haven’t pledged fealty to the new don. I’m sure that statement won’t be lost on Angelo.
Personally, I don’t care who takes over and since I’m not an acting member of the family I don’t understand why I should have to kiss his ass.
But if I can find Sofia and the girls, I can get back at my brothers, Angelo, and the Micheli’s, effectively knocking off three birds with one stone. I suspect Dante was behind my father’s demise. I’m thinking killing Dante’s brother Sal is easier than hitting Dante and will give him a life filled with regret and remorse.
Besides, killing a don will get me killed faster than if I kill a relative of a don. Killing relatives or bosses can be fixed. It will be safer in the long run and maybe I can get information out of him before he goes.
I’ve mapped out the family and know their faces, schedules and now it’s time for the one-on-one recon.