Guns n' Boys Book 1 Part 2 (12 page)

Dom made himself frown, even though his gut
clenched as if it wanted to hide deeper in his body. “You’re
thinking too much.”

The consigliere inhaled more smoke. “As you
said, I’m an old man, I wasn’t born yesterday. Just look at Seth.
Yet he never had a girlfriend. I have eyes, Domenico.”

Domenico snorted, though his mind was going
frantic. “Why do you care? It doesn’t change a thing who I
fuck.”

The consigliere tsked and shook his head. “I
wouldn’t want my nephew, the future Don, to fall into the hands of
a predator. I only want his happiness.”

“He’s enjoying himself, nothing more.”
Domenico cleared his throat. There was no point to lying anymore.
“It’s safer if he gets off with me than if he goes out looking for
it after all that happened.”

“I heard you’re going to New York together
after the wedding. I hope you will enjoy your honeymoon.” Frederico
chuckled.

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s just sex.” Dom
rolled his eyes, though this whole conversation was making him
increasingly uneasy. Every word was like the consigliere’s naked
hands crawling under his shirt to caress his skin.

“Good. Keep it at that then. I was talking
with Dino the other day about a job in Minsk. Would you mind going
there first?”

“We’re leaving in a few days. How could I
possibly go to Minsk for a job?”

“That would be a change of plans, wouldn’t
it?”

Domenico chuckled, even though his legs were
turning to ice. Was this a way of keeping him away from Seth? Would
that be when someone struck and broke Seth’s neck? As much as he
tried to keep calm, sweat was slowly beading on his back. “Who
would be so important that you need me to do the Minsk job? You
don’t plan on assassinating the Belarusian president, do you?”

The consigliere smirked. “Maybe, maybe. Their
border control have been a pain in the ass lately. But nah, just
messing with you, Dom. Go have your honeymoon,” he said, offering
Dom a cigarette.

He declined it with a gesture. “Don’t you
have a fresh-faced boy to fuck?”

“I do. Cute, isn’t he? Useful as well. Not
just for my dick,” he added. The consigliere was usually a player,
hard to read, but Dom could clearly see that he was eager to tell
him about the boy. And about that Dom wanted to listen.

“I’m all ears.”

“He’s good with computers. Not like this ‘old
man’ here.” The consigliere pointed to himself with a laugh. He was
making a joke out of it, but Dom knew it must have gotten to him.
And fuck, was that satisfying. “His family owed us a substantial
amount of money, and when I saw that pretty face, I couldn’t have
him hurting like that.”

“So you took him as your boy and cancelled
their debt?” guessed Domenico. That did sound like Frederico
Villani. Always the romantic.

“Only need a white horse, right?” The smile
he gave Dom was full of teeth that could’ve been a shark’s. And now
Domenico couldn’t stop thinking about those lips on his own, and
that made him want a cigarette so badly he reached into his pocket
to retrieve one.

“I hope he likes it.”

Frederico stood up and patted Dom’s shoulder.
“Enjoy my nephew. He’s a well earned prize. Too bad nothing lasts
forever.”

“Some things should.” Domenico forced a
smile, unsure how to read that. The constant references to Seth
only being a brief presence in Dom’s life were giving him chills.
“Your marriage is as steady as ever.”

“When are
you
getting married?”
The consigliere’s fingers lingered on Dom’s shoulder for too long,
and he had to shake them off.

“When I find the right one, obviously.”

“No rush. Tonight, I’ll be drinking for
Seth’s marriage.” A lie. Frederico never drank. Always wanted to be
aware of what was going on around him.

“Same here,” lied Domenico in return, slowly
getting to his feet. “I’m gonna toast with my mother.”

“Remember I’m on your side, Dom,” the
consigliere added before slowly walking off. The burning end of the
cigarette was visible long after the man himself sank into the
darkness that was just as black as his soul.

“Yeah, right,” muttered Domenico once the
consigliere was out of hearing range. He reached into his pocket
and looked at his phone. Sad and empty. There was no point in
waiting so he started walking toward the parking lot.

When he looked at Seth’s window on his way
there, the light was out.

Domenico got off his motorbike as soon as he
passed the ancient skyway in the town center. He pushed it through
the empty street, beneath the flags of washed linen. The air was
fresh and rich in earthy smells as he led his motorbike over the
cobblestones up the narrow street where no car could ever get. He
gazed toward the familiar window of the cream-colored building
ahead. Framed by ivy, it was completely dark, but he was not
surprised, considering it was two o’ clock. He stopped by the green
wooden gate and opened it, pushing his bike into the small
courtyard. There were small trees, flowers and vegetables planted
in the garden on the other side of the house, but he’d had enough
of cool air for the time being. He left his bike by the wall and
slowly entered the house.

The corridor was quiet, but it wasn’t the
dead silence of leaving an apartment after a job, it was homely. It
smelled of fresh herbs and tomatoes. Even though his mother was
still quite young, the decor was the reminiscence of her parents,
with antique furniture and family photos on the walls.

His shoulders relaxed, and he was happy to
take off his shoes and enter the kitchen, going straight for the
fridge, already anxious to eat something his mother made.

The landscape inside was glorious. Mother
knew he was in town, and the shelves were stacked with terracotta
containers sealed with foil. Each one held a surprise, and there
was homemade bread in a basket on the table. He groaned.

“Thank you, Mother.” With that, he switched
on the kettle and started rummaging through the tea cabinet. But
when the kettle started whistling, there were steps echoing down
the stairs.

“Domenico? Is that you?”
Domenico heard his mother’s voice, and his heart leaped. The
pathetic conversation with the
consigliere
was but a
memory.

“Yes, did I wake you up?” he asked, going out
of the kitchen

“It is you! I lost hope for today. With the
wedding coming, I imagined you were busy and went to sleep in the
end.”

He saw her running down her stairs, and
before Dom could see her face, her slim arms wrapped around his
neck, filling his nostrils with the flowery scent of her hair. She
hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.

Domenico chuckled, all traces of the
unpleasant encounter from half an hour ago forgotten as he spun her
slim body in his arms. “I’m sorry I couldn’t see you earlier. I was
kept on a short leash since arrival.”

“Don’t worry, sweetie.” She smiled at him
when he finally put her down on the floor. Her long curly hair was
out of order, and she wore a nightgown. “What can I make for you?
You must be hungry, coming back so late at night.” She stroked his
arm with such love that Dom felt a stinging in his eyes that he
quickly dismissed.

“Something nice. Surprise me,” he said,
entwining their fingers. Her bones were so delicate, so thin he was
sometimes afraid what would happen if she fell.

“Sweet or savory?” she asked and gave the top
of his hand a kiss before swirling into the kitchen with the energy
of a kitten.

Domenico found himself smiling as he followed
her, getting rid of his suit jacket. “Both? Savory first.”

“How was your day then? You look tired.”
Mother pulled out one of the bowls from the fridge and switched on
the oven. She pulled back her pitch-black hair into a careless bun
at her nape and in the silk gown, she was such a beautiful sight.
She should be doing all this in the grand villa up the hill.

Domenico swallowed, loosening his tie as he
leaned back in the solitary chair by the small table. The kitchen
was rustic and pretty. He renovated some of it himself last summer,
and since she refused to move to a bigger house, she had all the
equipment cramped in this small space. What mattered was that she
was happy.

“I... there is lots going on at the Villani
house.”

“Oh, I can imagine! Such a big wedding.” She
sighed and looked at Dom as she put the food in the oven. “Are you
excited? You sure you don’t want me to arrange a date for you? I
know this one girl who would die to meet you.”

Domenico bit his lip, unwillingly
remembering the moment he’d seen Seth in the arms of another man.
What a sickening sight. “I do need a date for the wedding, but I
don’t want one that would mistake it for something more.”

His mother squealed like a little girl and
clasped her hands. She had such lively, shining eyes. Dom knew he
had his mother’s features, and he despised their softness as a
child. But when puberty hit, it proved to be a blessing.

“I know exactly who to call. She’ll be so
excited she won’t mind the short notice. Her name is Violetta, and
she’s a lovely girl. Why wouldn’t you give her a chance?”

Domenico cleared his throat, unsure what to
tell her. Then again, who else could he tell of this side of his
life about? “I met someone.”

That instantly got all of Mother’s attention.
“Oh. Do tell. When did that happen? Why didn’t you invite her?
Finally! This is so exciting.” The smell of herbs and tomatoes
already started filling the kitchen.

Domenico shrugged and started swirling his
finger over the waxed wooden counter. “It’s complicated. I’m not
sure where I stand with her anymore.”

“But she
is
Italian?” Mother
wrinkled her nose, which only made her look prettier.

“She is.” Domenico leaned back with a sigh.
“Beautiful, with a good heart...”

“Why is it complicated then?” She got some
matches and lit up a few candles on the table before going back to
the oven.

Domenico pulled his hair loose. “I saw her
with another man.”

“Oh, honey! That’s horrible!” A fork fell to
the floor, and she quickly picked it up. “If she can’t be faithful,
you shouldn’t waste your time on her. You deserve better.”

Domenico scratched his head, torn. “It’s not
like that. She says she thought I was just playing her.” He kicked
the table.

“She shouldn’t be thinking about another man
if she had you.” Mother frowned, putting the steaming lasagna on a
plate. “You need a good girl, Dom, not some loose floosie.”

“She
is
a good girl. I’m so angry at her,
but I still wish she was here with me.” Domenico slouched, unhappy
with both himself and the world.

“Well, she shouldn’t run around with other
men.” Mother waved her fork at him before putting a whole bowl of
food in front of Dom.

“But what if she really thought we weren’t
together? I assumed she knows, but how do I know what’s in her
head? She’s a woman.” He shrugged at the fact that it didn’t really
apply to Seth.

Mother sat down opposite him at the table and
poured herself a glass of wine. “So you have told her now, right?
That you want to be with her? Tell me more about her. She’s not too
familiar with the boys, I hope?”

Domenico couldn’t stop the way his mouth
curved up like a lucky horseshoe. “She is now.”

“Dom! Naughty!” Mother swatted his arm and
giggled. “That’ll do. A girl always remembers her first.”

He nodded with a smile and curled his arms
over the beautiful lasagna. “She’s a great cook too.”

Mother narrowed her eyes. “When will I meet
her? I’m sure you can work out the little details.”

Domenico shrugged. “You know, she’s in New
York, so I hope we can work out our differences while I’m there.
We’ll see.”

“Oh, in New York…” Mother slouched, the
corners of her mouth weighing down. “So far away. Tell me more
about her then. What’s so special about this girl? What’s her
name?”

Domenico grabbed a fork and dug into the
lasagna, already melting at the aroma it released. “Sofia. She’s in
nursing school, loves children... though she’s a bit disorganized,”
he smiled, adding this little bit of truth about Seth.

“What are you waiting for then? You have to
make sure she knows you’re serious. Dom, I was starting to think
I’ll never see the day you have a proper girlfriend. I was actually
worried that it’s because you turned out so handsome. That no one
will be enough for you.”

Domenico chuckled, filling his mouth with the
fragrant pasta. It was just too good, and he let out a groan of
approval. “It is a challenge to find someone worthy of me.”

“How did you two meet? How did she charm you
then?” Mother sipped her wine with a smile. The candlelight made
the meal almost seem like a date. Domenico poured himself some wine
and ate more of the lasagna. He loved how it warmed him up from the
inside. The question was a tough one.