"The boys across borders sent us an email. There’s a slight delay in the results. They’re rescheduling to this evening," Vittorio said as he poured both himself and Luciano a glass of whiskey.
They were back in Luciano’s balcony, where he stood shirtless as his gaze swept through the fountains.
"Thanks," he said, accepting the glass from Vittorio.
"You’re brooding," Vittorio observed aloud.
"Nope. I’m just thinking about the club tonight. The systems we’ve put in place for those who visit the club–are we sure they’re working?"
"All tested to perfection. There won’t be any case of her another soul coming in because we opened its gates to clubbers. I’m assuring you right now."
Luciano nodded, and sipped from his whiskey..
It was the strongest one he had yet, which was exactly what he needed.
He welcod the burn down his chest, loving every second of torture it gave him.
"So the girl is confident she’s telling the truth?"
His thoughts drifted to Valentina. The torture continuing in a different way.
"Except she’s an excellent liar, or just a psychotic person who truly believes everything they say, then yep, she’s pretty confident she’s going to be free because she’s telling the truth."
"And how do you feel about that?"
Luciano’s shoulders tensed. "What kind of question is that?"
Vittorio weighed the risks of his next words.
Any other man would remain silent, and wait for the conversation to steer into safer grounds.
But not him.
The reason why he was able to be best friends with Luciano and vice versa, for so long, was simply because they kept it real with each other.
"She’s a pretty girl, Amico."
"We’ve seen lots of pretty girls before. Heck, we’re surrounded by pretty won," he argued defensively.
"Still, none are quite as charming as she is. It’s not just the face, or her body. Everything about the way she’s composed, spells out a woman who casts spells on n. One who creates unhealthy obsessions in the heart of even the greatest of n. That’s the kind of beauty she possesses."
Luciano chuckled. "Sure you’ve not been enchanted by her already?"
"Nah," he sipped out of his drink. "You know . Beauty is more than surface level for . She has too much fire for a woman. A woman like her will burn you faster than fire will."
"That makes her even more exciting, no?"
"Amico!" Vittorio shook his head.
"I don’t know why you’re so worried. If she’s telling the truth, she’s leaving. If she’s wrong, we have to bring Giovanni in and then find out her real motives for being in his ho. There’s nowhere in between these two points that should cause you to worry."
"Oh there is. And for what it’s worth, I hope she leaves. If she stays, I foresee too many problems. For one, your relationship with Daniela."
Luciano’s face hardened. "What does Valentina have to do with my upcoming marriage to Daniela?"
"Co on, bro. Let’s face it. You’re only marrying her out of duty. To continue the long efficient relationship you’ve had with Giovanni. That is what makes you so noble. You’re willing to embrace anything if it’s for the greater good."
"You’ve still not explained what Valentina has to do with any of this." His voice ca out brusque and monotonous.
"Well like I’ve said before, she’s an attractive woman. If your eyes start to wander to her, you might not be too enthusiastic in marrying Daniela. That becos a problem for every last one of us. You know how important Giovanni is in finding the one thing you’ve always truly wanted to find. What do you think happens when you no longer show interest in marrying his daughter?"
Luciano exhaled.
There was a point in there sowhere. But this was his one gripe with Vittorio.
"Fratello–"
"No, it’s your turn to listen now, Vito. I chose to marry Daniela. It wasn’t forced on by Giovanni or anyone else. Sure, it should strengthen the bond I already have with Giovanni, but that wasn’t the main reason I decided to go through with this marriage. Tell , what is the one rule I live by?"
"When one door closes, you break another one open," he answered in a heartbeat.
"Excellent! So if it so happens that I refuse to continue with the marriage for any reason at all, and Giovanni decides to ice out because of it, will that hinder my goals?"
"No, but–"
"No buts. I don’t believe any one person holds the key to my success. Not even God, and he’s the absolute, no? Only we can carve out our future, with the works of our hand, and the imaginations here." He brought the glass to the side of his head.
Vittorio exhaled. "And I believe all of that. But alliances are still needed, fratello. I know you prefer to do things by your own rules, and terms, but we need alliances too. That’s the only thigh I’ve ever wanted you to see. Alliances are needed."
He nodded. "When that bridge cos, I’ll cross it. For now, there’s no need to panic. The marriage with Daniela continues."
Emptying the last of the whiskey in his glass, he stretched the empty glass to Vittorio.
"I’m going to go take a shower, and start preparing for the club. The boys are returning tonight, I hear?"
"Yep," he collected the glass. "Salvatore sends a ssage ahead. He wants an undisturbed night tonight to celebrate a job well-done."
Luciano chuckled, as he slid through the parted glass door into his bedroom.
"One lucky woman is about to have the night of her life."
"He better use protection because all that pent up energy is bound to result in sothing."
Luciano shrugged. "The more the rrier."
His zipper ripped open, and he lowered his pants to the ground.
He picked them up, and folded them gently, before placing them into the section for dirty clothes.
Stark naked, he walked into the bathroom through the door that glided easily for him.
As he walked to the shower, he caught his reflection on the glass panels and paused.
She creates unhealthy obsessions in n.
His mind circled back to the mont he almost kissed Valentina.
The last ti they kissed didn’t count as far as he was concerned.
Not only had he been taken by surprise, she backtracked by claiming she mistook him for soone else.
"Crazy girl." He shook his head.
Vittorio’s warnings returned to his head in loud volus.
"Maybe she does spark obsessions," he whispered to his reflection.
And that was why she needed to leave.
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