Savio drives me to a store and buys Birra Moretti.
“I was thinking more along the lines of scotch, bourbon, hell if I know, but my head is killing me.”
“This should help.” My trusted friend hands me the cold beer and to my surprise, it hydrates me immediately.
“Fuck, I forgot we used to do that in high school.”
“Some habits never die. Which is more than I can say for you, man, you look like shit. What happened yesterday? You gave her the ring?”
“Yeah, thought she’d be happy.”
“How can you fuck that up?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s too good for me. I thought I could buy her the world, like she’s always wanted. She lived in luxury. I have more, I don’t understand.”
We get back in his black Mercedes.
“But what does she want?”
“A job, which I got for her by the way, she should be there now.” I glance at my watch. “I expect she’ll come around once she gets it. She wants freedom, this job will do that for her, and keep her under my roof.”
Savio makes a short slap against my hurting head before we get in the SUV.
“What is she to you?”
“She’s everything, or I wouldn’t be so fucked up right now. What do you think?”
I buckle the seatbelt and lean my head against the door frame.
“Well, I think you should tell her that, do something that conveys that sentiment, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know how.”
“Well if you can run the organization, you can damn well keep a wife.”
He’s got a point.
“Italians, we’re all supposed to be so romantic. Tuscany was great, and the reunion with my family, great.”
“Your grandfather might not see it that way. By the way, your mother checked in with me as you’ve been absent.”
“Thanks, yeah, I need to take Valentina there after we fix things.”
“She has to want something, something you can’t buy her possibly?” Savio is driving and he’s my best friend, for a single guy I think he’s onto something.
“Maybe, but I can’t say it, I’m a hardened criminal, I can’t love. The two don’t go together.”
“Everyone falls in love at some point.”
“She’s already a target. You know how many enemies I’ve made? My family?”
“It’s how it goes. Where are we going?”
“I need to visit some contacts; we’re working on a big deal of drugs and it’s a new seller. I’m leery.”
“Makes sense. Maybe we should stick with who we know until we get this Gabriella you talk of.”
“Oh, that bitch is so dead. Valentina’s father didn’t deserve to be taken out and what a gutless shit, poison.”