She was the first thing I saw in the morning. There wasn’t a better way imaginable to start the day.
She was happy, too – and not just because of our relationship.
Now that Maurizio was out of the picture, it was like a crushing weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She still mentioned it occasionally weeks later.
“I feel like I can finally breathe again,” she told me, then tearfully added, “Thank you.”
Everything I’d ever done in my entire life was worth it, just for the look on her face.
Work was fantastic, too.
Things were peaceful. Sure, there were some minor run-ins with street hoodlums, but those were nothing compared to what we’d had to deal with back when Fausto was trying to kill us.
We’d tell the drug dealers to get lost. If they didn’t, we’d beat the crap out of them and send them on their way.
Word got around quickly not to mess with the Rosolini family.
Adriano was happy with my work, as were Niccolo and Don Rosolini.
Bianca and Lucia continued their friendship with Emilia.
And every night, I got to be with the most wonderful woman I’d ever met.
All in all, life was amazing –
And then… out of nowhere… disaster struck.
74
It was just after 10 AM on a Tuesday. Bianca’s grand opening was on Saturday, and she and Lucia were prepping all the final touches.
“I’m gonna fall over any second,” Bianca said. She looked tired. “Could you go next door and get some take-out espresso, Giorgio?”
“Take-out? Seriously?”
Italians don’t do take-out coffee. If we’re in a hurry, we slug it back at the café and then go on our way.
“I have too much to do here,” she replied.
“You’re turning American,” I teased her.
She looked annoyed. “Just get me a triple shot of espresso to go.”
“Yeah, same for me,” Lucia said from where she was unloading the last batch of clothes near the register.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” I said. “Adriano would kick my ass if I left you unguarded, even for a few minutes.”
“Ohplease,”Bianca snorted. “Hasanythinggone on in Florence the last few weeks?”
“No, but – ”
“And do youreallythink anything’s going to happen in the five minutes you’re gone?”
“Why can’t we all just walk over?” I asked.
“Because I’mslammed,and I’ve still got hours and hours of work to do, and I don’t have the energy or the time.”
“But – ”
