Page 18 of Stolen Kisses
“Not so much. Last year meant a lot for you too. I never talked about it, because I thought maybe you’d come to me. But I knew what seeing the Antonellas and the Manellos would do to you. They resurfaced and to you they were the only people with some kind of answers.” Gio nodded.
I smirked. It was difficult to hide my feelings when I had a friend like him. “It’s difficult to know what to do Gio. Mostly I just want to kill everyone I feel is responsible. I probably would too if I were a less experienced guy in this game.”
People like them didn’t come at you with bullets and shoot you dead on the spot. They made sure you knew that if you truly pissed them off, your punishment would be watching someone you love die, or it could be them torturing you. Cutting off body parts and feeding it to you. Shit like that. Then they’d make an example of you.
The first thing was weaknesses. They get you there first. For me my main weakness was Ma.
What happened to Claudius told me they didn’t care who you were. They would come for you if they wanted to.
I couldn’t get on my high horse and put Ma in danger like that.
“Don’t do anything stupid Dante. I’m just gonna say it. Probably should have said it last year. Don’t do anything stupid. When we take action, we don’t for no reason at all. If this guy does find something promise me, you’ll talk with me and the guys. Not just take matters into your own hands.”
“Thanks Gio. I’ll remember that.” I would remember that for sure, but I also knew there would come a time when I’d have to stand alone.
Ma wasn’t my only weakness.
She wasn’t the only person who mattered to me. I had my friends, and my gut told me the person I was looking for was the type who’d definitely be above all of us.
I looked at him and smiled, thinking it was time to change up the topic.
“On a lighter note,” I began. “Guess who I saw last night?”
“Was it a woman?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Dante, with the host of women you have each week, how the fuck am I supposed to guess which one you saw?”
“You are just as bad as me.” I pointed out. It was the truth we were as bad as each other. Get paid and get laid.
I wouldn’t even say that I’d changed as the years rolled on by. It was a distraction for me. A guilty pleasure I allowed myself.
“Fucking hell Dante. Just tell me. I don’t want to be here all damn night.” He shook his head at me.
“Maria.” I told him straightening up and smiling.
“Maria, from Sweden? Maria from the other week when you got wasted and tried to take her clothes off in the bar? Maria the tattoo babe, or Maria the new girl at the deli near the office that just loves making you whatever you ask for,for free.”
I frowned. I wasn’t aware that I knew that many Marias. “Maria Ferrara.” I clarified and that was when his eyes widened.
“Luc’s Maria?” he gasped.
Like fuckwas she Luc’s Maria.While I understood why he would refer to her as such, it still pissed me off.
“Luc’s Maria? I don’t think so.” I eyed him dangerously and he laughed.
“Come on man, you know everyone called her that.”
“Well don’t let Amelia here you say that because Maria’s back in town.” Amelia was Luc’s wife and I bet I’d be the only one watching my mouth if it came to it, because I was the only one way back when who wished for the day when Maria would no longer be called Luc’s.
“Obviously. Damn Dante, don’t tell me you still have the hots for her?”
I simply laughed. Laughed at myself since it was stupid, because I did. “I saw her last night, here. She got the shock of her life when I told her I owned the place. She looked like she was in trouble though.”
“And you didn’t ask what the trouble was?”
I shook my head. “That’s not how you deal with women like her. She thinks she’s God’s gift.”
