"Buona notte, tesoro." My mother kissed my cheek, and I managed to smile, my brows flickering.
"Goodnight, Mom," I replied, and she watched me walk into my room.
I locked the door behind me when I heard her footsteps which seemed to be leading down the hallway I took a short walk to my closet, unbuttoned my shirt, and threw it onto the bed, I took a black sweatshirt which I wore with a coat before walking to the bookshelf where I pushed the secret button which caused the bookshelf to open revealing the stairs that led down the underground bedroom where I get my pleasure.
The bookshelf closed by itself after I walked through it, climbing down the stairs, and I walked away from the bedroom to the upper stairs.
Sooner, I ended up coming out of the underground door, which was fixed on the floor.
I walked through the back gate and to the car, which must have been waiting for me.
"How's it going?" I asked my right-hand man as soon as I climbed into the Rolls-Royce.
"It's goin' well, sir," Black replied, turning on the engine of the car and speeding to the road.
"Any replies from Mr. Romano?" I asked, looking out the car window.
"He is starting to forget who is in charge," Black replied. "He hasn't gotten in touch for two weeks now."
I smirked in disgust, taking a pack of cigarettes from the map pocket.
I opened it, took a stick, lit it with the lighter I found earlier, and threw it back into the map pocket.
"Turn around," I commanded, and Black gave me a questioning look from the rearview mirror. "Don't take me to the safe house yet." I puffed out a smoke with my mouth.
"To Mr. Romano's house?" Black asked, making a U-turn.
.
Stepping out of the car, I reached for my hat and placed it carefully on my head. It shadowed my face, covering half of my features and keeping me in relative anonymity.
"Seems like a party is going on," I say as Black walks over to me, giving me a pistol.
"It's his 25-year-old daughter's engagement party," Black told me, and I cock the gun, tucking it at the back of my trousers.
"I see there's no need for bloodshed then." I sneered, covering the gun with the coat I was wearing, which stopped at my ankle.
Black led me to the garden, and as we entered it, the sounds of the party grew louder. I could see clusters of people chatting and laughing, their glasses clinking together in a lively toast. Brightly colored lanterns swayed in the breeze, casting the garden in a soft light. A live band was busy playing Italian music on a raised stage while I tried to keep my face away from anyone who must be staring at me because I knew that my outfit was strange.
"Get that reckless politician to me. We'll meet in a secluded place." I commanded myself to walk away from the rather crowded party to a tranquil spot where the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind.
I looked up at the sky while waiting for Black to bring the man who was trying to outsmart me, when he knew that I was the one who made him the successful politician that he is today.
I was still standing and looking at the sky with my hat still covering my head when the ringing of my phone broke the stillness of the night. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the phone, the light from the screen blinding me for a moment. I answered the call, my voice low and guarded. "Hello?"
"Am I speaking to Don Sullivan, capo dei capi?" The familiar voice called.
"Yes, doctor Fiore," I answered, tucking my left hand inside my pocket.
"Your parents already agreed on hiring a lady, and they will go with my choice." The doctor said from the phone, and I sighed. A sigh of relief.
"Good job. I will have the lady escorted to you tomorrow. You should bring her to my parents' house thereafter." I raised my head as Black walked toward me with the Baldhead man.
"Yes, sir." Doctor Fiore answered from the phone, and I hung up immediately, putting on my hat.
"Capo dei capi," Mr. Romano said, his voice trembling with fear. He looked at me with surprise.
"You rotten piece of trash," I spat, walking closer to him. He tried to back away, but Black blocked his path. I lashed out, punching him in the face. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his nose. "You've made a grave mistake by thinking you can get free from me. Seems like you've forgotten I can take all that you have within fuckin minutes." I said, my voice cold and menacing.
"Please forgive me. I didn't mean to offend you. Giuro su Dio!" Mr. Romano pleaded.
"I don't need your fuckin to swear to Christ," I said with distaste, squatting to him. He was still on the ground with Black behind him.
I placed my thumb on his jaw and made him face me; his mouth was shaking, and he had begun to bleed from his nose.
"You know I don't like it when someone tries to betray me," I say, running my thumb on his jaw... "Let's meet tomorrow," I commanded, standing up. "Get yourself cleaned up before someone mistakes you for a common thug. A little less blood on your face might make you look less like a horror movie extra." I said, unsympathetically, wearing my hat.
I walked away with Black following me behind.
We got to the car, and he helped me open the door. "How's the job coming along?" I asked Black, not sparing him a look.
"Successful. Although her father is quite greedy. He had to call some people to bid for her price, and I ended up winning after I proposed a high price." Black replied, standing at my back.
I scoffed. "Really?"
"Yes. He held a private bidding for her hand. She will be in Sicily tomorrow at noon." Black informed me.
"When she arrives, make her know she already belongs to us and see to making sure she will not utter any word about the auctioning to my parents. You know what to do with Doctor Fiore afterward." I said, entering the car, and Black nodded, shutting the car door behind.
