I know Prende loves her florist shop so there’s going to be a battle for it. She’s going to be filled with anger and rage at the men who used her. This becomes more complicated because one of them happened to be her father.
I don’t understand daddy issues. But I can tell her body wants mine by the way she melted into my chest and our lips couldn’t get enough of each other. I can’t wait to get her in my arms again, only the next time, it’s going to be more than just kissing.
I’ll have to overcome my prejudice that she’s not the Italian woman I envisioned marrying. Not that I’m thinking about marriage, we’re too young. However, a monogamous relationship might not be so bad because I’m the only man she’ll ever be with, and I reckon turnabout is fair play.
The pool of friends and colleagues I swim in can be very shallow. It might not be all bad to have someone who will have my back, like Dante has Juliet, and Sal has Francesca. I just didn’t think I would meet my match so soon.
As soon as I crawl into bed, my phone plays theLone Rangerringtone –Riccardo.
The report on Argon’s death is officially listed as suspicious—foul play.
It’s in the hands of the investigators, which means it’s in everyone’s best interest that the case be closed as quickly and as quietly as possible.
Sunday, finally. When the church bells echo through the narrow streets, my thoughts turn to Prende, who’s sitting in church. I can only imagine what the inside of that church looks like with the who’s who of the Albanian underworld.
Not that I’d recognize any of them on the street or by name. I’d need head shots or mug shots to follow along. Even then, I’d only be familiar with the names of the top dogs, anyone else is meaningless.
I’m in my condo, enjoying a fresh cup of coffee, and take a minute to step onto the balcony. The cool air hits my face, making me feel alive, and the vision of my little bird, Prende, playfully skipping in the puddles yesterday makes me smile.
She was like a carefree little girl, only she’s a grown woman. She just hasn’t been allowed to live her life the way she wishes. I know this because if she was, she wouldn’t be looking to me for advice or, I grin, anything else.
I place a hand on the railing and close my eyes, imagining the church decorated for Christmas. It’s only three weeks away and should be a joyous occasion as it is every year. It hasn’t turned out like any of us expected, and Prende is no exception. She’s had her share of grief and unexpected turns in life.
I know something about loss, having lost my father, Aldo, a few years ago.
Sal calls.
“Well, little brother, did you say anything to that little minx you’ve been hanging out with? I ask because Francesca and I are being called in for questioning about our dealings with Argon.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. Prende knows nothing, her father’s service is today. Why are the detectives working on a Sunday?”
“I don’t know, but it’s crazy for them to call us in based on innuendo and speculation. Gee, just because your family history is criminal, they are never going to let it go,” he sighs.
He’s been through this before and he won’t even break a sweat. In fact, he can pass a polygraph test with no problem.
It’s so rare for anything in Italy to be done over the weekend. If it was the summer, half the professionals in the country would be away on vacation. Damn the timing of all this.
“Hmm, don’t know. I doubt they have anything. Hell, we don’t have anything.”
“This is bizarre. Someone bigger than us must be pulling some strings with a large bank roll.”
Or just a bank roll larger than ours, perhaps?
I don’t know Bresnik personally but so far everything points to him. He has the most to gain by throwing someone else under the bus. If he offed Argon, he needs to cast the shadow of doubt on someone else.
“I’ll see what I can find out. It will have to be tomorrow,” I inform him because this whole thing with Argon has taken a weird turn. Now there are more suspects, no one saw this happening a week ago.
And why didn’t the coroner fudge the report? Either our system of bribes and intimidation has a hole somewhere, or there’s someone new on staff who didn’t get paid to look the other way.
“Thanks for tracking down the leads. We’re headed downtown with our attorney.”
“Are we meeting later for family dinner?”
“Night off brother, enjoy it.” The phone clicks.
“Great.” And I’m talking to myself.
I can’t drop by Prende’s with all those people there, so I make my usual rounds to check on our investments. I stop by the warehouse to see what Tommaso is up to and how the shipments are going.