“Talk to me. Is it about the supply?”
“Yes, it's about the supply. Tyrese rang us yesterday and informed me about the shipment. The Italian mafia increased the price of the cocaine.”
“Then we'll look for another supplier then. I have ties with my father's oldest friends.in Brazil. They have the best products you'll ever see.”
“That's the thing. Our call with Tyrese didn't end well. I think the Italians want war.”
“With who? Me, Tyrese, or the entire Bratva clan?”
“I think they have a personal beef with you, boss. I also think they've killed Tyrese. We weren't able to reach him when we dialed the number. I tried to call more of our men who are posted at the Italian coast. They were silent. What do you think we should do?”
“I think the sooner we visit Italy, the better. I'll handle the Italians myself. But for now, my major priority is Emilia. Her protection means the world to me, and I'll go to any length to ensure her safety, even though I know she's now more than just my collateral.”
Dmitri stretched out his right hand, and I did the same. We shook, and I smiled. “I promise to keep you both safe, Boss.”
“I know you will,” I replied before we turned back to take our seats.
At that moment, I caught sight of someone walking towards me from the right. It was Ariella Gonzalez, the daughterof Mr. Gonzales, one of my fellow associates. My goodness, she looked as hot as always. The top of her breasts shot up her gown, while she walked towards me. Her dress caught her hip, and beyond the indistinct chatter of the union, I saw her. Her eyes glaring and wanting, almost as though I was in trouble for something I didn't understand.“Look at you being all handsome, Viktor.”
“And look at you looking the same as always. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Nothing in particular. I heard you were married to the lady in pink, and I wanted to tell you my well-wishes personally.”
“It's fine, Ariella. You don't have to.” I said, and she tried to wrap her hand around my waist. I slapped it away. I didn't want anyone in the council to have the wrong impression, or else they'd take Emilia for granted.
She stood straight, arched her hips, and raised her chest forward, right before she sighed. “I was a bit offended that I didn't receive an invite before and during the wedding. The news caught me off guard, Viktor.”
“I know, and you should also know that's the main reason why I didn't invite you.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want to take the chances of someone ruining my wedding.”
“I thought I used to be your girl,” she countered in a quick retort.
“Used to, that's past tense, Ariella. Past tense.”
She looked down, and I knew she couldn't spot her shoes because of how large her gown spread across her feet.
I didn't expect her to understand. Dimitri once thought she'd be my bride. Of course, we fucked around since I was eighteen. I thought back to when my father first asked me about her.
“Where's your girlfriend?”
“Who?”
“The lady with the dark hair. You know, I see what you guys do in the maze.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I see everything from the balcony, son. What do you think of her? Do you like her?”
I gave it some thought before I nodded. “I think I do, Papa. Yes.”
“What do you like about her?” He asked, and I looked at him. I wanted to say something like I felt the same way he felt about Mama. I liked that she's courteous and disciplined, attentive, well-cultured, and knows her ethics. Ariella was never the type to make a mess of anything. She remembered even the least detail, and it amazed me.
Once, she surprised me on a Saturday night. Papa had just shot someone along the lakeside side and I watched him do it. Every time my papa killed one of his men, I didn't like it. It felt as though he was murdering amidst the family members, and it felt odd. I was exactly 18 when this occurred. The sun had already set, and we were all expecting the twilight. The moon was crescent, and the stars twinkled. I knew this because after he had done it, I ran to the roof and lay my back on the new shingles.
No one knew I was here, except for Ariella, and when I asked her how she found me, she said, “You're so predictable sometimes. Also, I feel we have the same personality. You love nature as well as I do, but most of all, Viktor, you're a sky gazer.”
