A housekeeper in a starched black dress and apron stood nearby. She looked to be in her mid-40s.
“Agnese will take care of you,” Mrs. Lettieri said with a big smile. “If you need anything, just ask her.”
“Thank you,Signora.”
“My pleasure.”
Mrs. Lettieri walked out of the kitchen, and I heard her join her husband, Adriano, and Bianca in the dining room.
“I have to serve them dinner,” Agnese said. “You alright?”
“I’m good, thanks,” I said as I took off my jacket, hung it over the kitchen chair, and sat down.
While Agnese took the first course into the other room, I filled my plate and tucked in. I was starving.
It was all traditional Tuscan dishes:gnocchi asparagi e pancetta(gnocchipasta with asparagus and pork belly); tomato, basil, and cucumber in a vinaigrette dressing; white bean and escarole soup; and Florentine butter chicken.
The food was very good. Not as amazing as Caterina’s, the kitchen girl who had married Valentino – but that wasn’t a fair comparison. I’d never tastedanythingas delicious as Caterina’s cooking.
And the wine wasdamngood. I savored my one glass, sip by sip.
While I ate, I heard laughter and bits of conversation from the other room. A lot of talk about Bianca’s boutique… when it would open… how the Lettieris were settling in… that sort of thing.
As they did every time I saw them, Bianca’s parents expressed their gratitude for the new house. Adriano modestly said he was just glad they liked it. He also told them they were welcome to drop by his family’s mansion anytime they wanted. “Just call me first so I can let them know you’re coming.”
At some point, the conversation became a bit more… ‘delicate,’ I guess you could call it. Mr. and Mrs. Lettieri became very careful about what they said and how they said it.
“Is there any more news about… you know… changing up the family business?” Mr. Lettieri asked.
He meant the Rosolinis going legitimate and getting out of organized crime.
“Our plans changed a little after my brother Roberto went to Hong Kong,” Adriano said. “He had a falling out with our business partners over there.”
‘A falling out’ wasoneway to put it.
The wayIheard it, Roberto had been taken prisoner by a bunch of Hong Kong gangsters. He escaped, then came back and threatened to blow them all up – himself included – if they didn’t give him back his money.
Which they did.
Pretty fuckin’ badass of him.
On the outside, Roberto was a quiet guy –
But it’s the quiet ones you’ve got to worry about.
“Are things still on track, though?” Mr. Lettieri asked.
“Well, we’re not involved with the Hong Kong company anymore, so the timeline’s probably going to change. But it’s stillDario’s number one priority to get us out of the family business and into something new.”
Part of me wondered if that would ever happen – and what would happen tomeif it did.
But there was no use worrying about it. I had no control over the situation. Those kinds of decisions werewayabove my pay grade.
I knew that whatever happened, Adriano would take me with him.
But… to be honest… I didn’t reallywantthem to go straight. I’d never seen a bunch of men so good at what they did.
And while things would be a lot easier on them if they went legitimate…
