Page 77 of Merciless Monster

“So this is more a you problem than a me problem.”

“Come on, man. Give a dog a bone!”

“Yeah, okay. It has to be better than moping around here, I suppose. Plus, the lake is good for fishing this time of year.”

“There you go. Another silver lining.We’ll catch our dinner. Bruno can run the operations while we’re away.”

“Thank you, Elio. You’re a good brother.”

Being out on horseback in the mountains can only cheer me up. There’s nothing like it. That’s the kind of tiredness that knocks you out at night. That and the good grappa made locally. That shit knocks you out cold. I feel a strong case of self medicating coming on.

The lake near the ranch is stunning. We slept there often as kids. Pappa would show us how to set up camp and then we’d build a fire and roast whatever we caught over an open flame. Such wonderful childhood memories they are.

Yeah, what the hell. Let’s go have some clean fun. Or dirty, depending on the amount of mud Elio’s horse kicks up as he sprints off ahead of me.

* * *

Elio and I are sitting outside on the porch of the ranch house, watching the sunset. It’s old Italian architecture with raw stone and wood.

“I think we need to invest some money into bringing this place into the Twenty-First Century, brother,” Elio says, sipping on grappa.

“Hell, no. This is history. It’s just like I remember it. The modern world has no business intruding here. I can almost picture Pappa sitting there on the wall, swinging his legs back and forth, smoking his cigarette.”

“Isn’t it strange that neither one of us ever got into smoking?”

“I tried in high school. Vile stuff. Makes your skin all wrinkly and yellow too. A real babe repellent.”

Elio laughs.

“Oh, please. With your looks, you could dress like a hobo and smoke a carton of fags a day and still bone the cutest girl in the room.”

Elio is the opposite of me. Looks wise that is. I’m olive skinned with black hair and very dark brown eyes. My brother is sandy blonde with green eyes. He’s a good looking guy, so I’m not sure what he’s on about.

“So, you think I;m pretty, do you,” I tease. “Wanna little kiss, blondie?”

“Fuck off,” he laughs. “I’m just saying that it was tough growing up in the shadow of the unattainable older De Luca brother; the Don with the shlong.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. That’s enough out of you, you dumbass. You have no reason to doubt yourself, Elio. You’re equally as bright and competent as I am. If you were the firstborn, you’d be Don. That’s all there is to it. In fact, sometimes I envy you.”

“What? Why?”

“You have no idea how much pressure is on me to carry all the responsibility of leadership of this family on my shoulders. Wherever I go, someone has a hand out, wanting a favor, expecting me to solve everyone’s problems. It may appear that I’m the king of my castle and loving all the attention, but trust me, it gets old.”

“You’ve never complained.”

“How could I? I want Mamma to be proud of me and I know my family needs me. I became the man of the house after Pappa died. That’s no small thing.”

“Dante, you put too much on yourself. I never expected you to be like Pappa, and I know neither does Mamma. I’ve always thought that you were the right man for the job. That’s why I’ve never asked.”

“I have nothing to complain about, brother. I’m a billionaire with the best of everything money can buy.”

“Including this dilapidated, broke-ass ranch house,” Elio grins.

“Exactly. So, why should I complain?”

“How very Zen of you. It’s okay, Dante. You’re allowed to throw out your toys occasionally. You can tell me whatever is on your mind. I’m here for you.”

“Look at us. Bonding in the mountains with good grappa and the imminent threat of saddle sores.”

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