Page 168 of Vita Mia

“Call them off!” he demanded.

She opened her eyes and saw several of her women had come running in. All of them wore hijabs and held assault rifles on him. And all of them looked serious enough to use them even if it meant killing their boss. She told them to leave in Swahili. They were slow to obey but they did. Carlo released her after the door was closed. Abedi laughed hysterically. She laughed and turned over laughing to her side. Carlo shook his head at her madness and glanced to the Opium. That poison had rotted half her brain. She was insane. How in the hell did he ever find whores like her sexy? She only made him miss his life and his wife even more.

“You have two days or I take the deal to someone else. Do you understand?”

She sat up smiling. “Leave your door open for me tonight. And we will seal the deal,” she said.

Carlo picked up his bag. “We’re done Abedi. Don’t come to me.”

“We’re not done butcher! You’re mine! Do you hear me! Mine!”

She shouted other curses at him in her native tongue that he chose to ignore. He walked out of the back office with her shouting threats to his back. He approached the women with the guns. “Where the fuck is my room?”

One of them understood him. She nodded and started up the stairs. He was given a room next to several where the whores and clients met. He tossed the bag down and dropped on the mattress. He had no doubt Abedi would climb into bed with him at some point in the night. He didn’t want that fight.

Carlo reached into his pocket and removed his cellphone. He held it up and prayed for a signal. He could see he was roaming for the connection. Before he left Shae had them add International calling. It would be expensive but he’d pay the price.

He dialed her number and let the ringing of the connection soothe his temper.

“Hello?” Jilly answered.

“Ciao bella,” he said.

“Dad! Daddy is that you!” Jilly yelled. “It’s him. Go get mama! Tell her he’s on the phone.”

“I told you to call me Papa, not Daddy,” he chuckled.

Jilly didn’t take to the humor. She immediately began to cry. “You said you would call. It’s been two days. We were so worried.”

“I’m sorrycara,don’t cry,’ Carlo said.

“Where are you?” she demanded.

“Africa,” he said.

“Really? Africa?” she sniffed.

“Yes.”

“I thought... I didn’t know what to think.”

“I’m fine. How are Jewel and Carmine?”

“They are both crying for you. Rolando and I are trying to help out. Mama needs you. She’s crying too. Yesterday when you didn’t call I heard her in the bathroom crying.”

“That’s enough Jilly!” Shae said.

He heard the phone tug between the two of them and Jilly say something defiant before she ran out. Carlo sighed. There wasn’t fighting in the house when he was home. In two days, his family was feeling the strain. And he would be gone for months.

“Hello?” Shae said.

“I miss you,” Carlo said.

“We’re fine Carlo. Jilly is just, she struggles with change. But she’ll be alright.”

“And you? Will you be alright?” he asked.

“As long as you call. As much as you can. I’ll be alright,” she said.

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