Bianca had helped me decorate it, adding a few touches of color here and there: framed art prints on the walls, a light blue comforter on the bed, and some plants that made it feel more homey and inviting.
“So you won’t scare off any women you bring back here,” she’d joked.
Which I’d appreciated immensely.
Once I was undressed and lying in bed, I thought of a certain beautiful blonde…
And decided I would go see her as soon as I could.
And maybe, if I got lucky…
I might bringherback here.
Hopefully sooner rather than later.
9
When I pulled up outside Adriano’s apartment building the next morning, I was surprised to see him already out front with Raffaello.
Raffaello was a gunshot doctor. The Rosolinis paid him to patch up any of their foot soldiers who got tagged. In fact, he’d saved a couple of guys’ lives after the shootout at the hotel, the night Adriano and Bianca had first met.
As he and Adriano got in the back of the car, Raffaelo greeted me with his typical dry humor. “How’s it hangin’, Giorgio?”
“Low and to the left. How’s business?”
“Non-existent, which isgreat.”
“Why’s that great?” I asked as I pulled the car away from the curb.
“Because the fewer people who get shot, the better. Plus, I get paid on retainer, not commission.”
“So he’s making money for doing nothing,” Adriano said sardonically.
“The sweetest kind of money there is,” Raffaelo said, “and I thank you very kindly for it.”
“Maybe we should rethink your pay structure,” Adriano joked.
“Nope. You already signed on the dotted line, my friend. Done deal.”
“Well, as long as you’re always on call, that’s good enough for me.”
“24/7/365. Just try not to get shot on Christmas, that’s all I ask.”
“What brings you out to the compound?” I asked Raffaelo.
He jerked his thumb at Adriano. “This joker said he wanted me to give his brothers a briefing.”
I glanced in the rearview mirror at Adriano. “Is this part of the same thing?”
“Yeah,” he confirmed.
“Is it connected to whatwetalked about yesterday?”
“No.”
“What’s all this mysterious bullshit you guys are slinging?” Raffaelo asked.
“Don’t worry,” Adriano said. “You’re going to hearallabout it at the meeting.”
