5

As the days go by, not only matters related to Giulia Cavalieri need my attention. For reasons we all know, the Russians seem to be seeking revenge for the men lost in Italy and because we collaborated with the Cavalieri, taking from them two drug suppliers in Chicago. We are not only in greater numbers, but better organized, and above all, as long as they do not interfere with business civilians are safe in our neighborhood. We do not give reasons to the police, nor do they make a point of investigating when it is much more favorable to pretend that they do not see one infraction here, another there. Very different from the Russians, whose diplomacy is non-existent.

Our common enemies are backing down, but I am not mistaken, since rumors that they were sending men of international prestige, among them their executor, Nikolai Dotroiov. It was suspected that he was in New York for a few days and that his mission is to recover not only his domains and resources, but take with him Giulia, my future wife, and of course, he will be a dead man if he tries, I don’t care if this is a declaration of war on the entire Russian mafia.

I see Carolyn coming through the door, the light dress under the Chardigan and heels. Even behind the sunglasses I realize that my silence, which lasts for days must have left her mad! I never hid from Carolyn what would be my future in relation to the daughter of Donatella Cavaliere, and even liking her, I knew very well that she would not be considered ideal for a capo’s wife. There were very few excesses, which freed us from a marriage for convenience, for love, as was the case with my sister. But among men, it was inadmissible.

The agreements and alliances culminated in unions, and we know that fidelity was required only on the part of the wife, something with which I never agreed. Loyalty, loyalty, commitment, in my opinion have always walked side by side with family, honor and duty, and if Carolyn had not yet understood, I will have to say it clearly. After all, in a few days I will put a ring on Giulia’s finger, and part of my promise was that I would bring her home, and take care of her.

“Michael Villani!”she said, she was furious “you son of a bitch!”

I just light a cigar quietly, hoping she’ll think through the next few words in the name of everything we had. She knew that day would come, and I hate drama.

“Sit down” point out the comfortable armchair, do not intend to linger, nor give her some kind of explanation. But I do know that it would be a dirty trick on me not to give her compensation for the past few years.

I reach for her a folder, inside, documents in her name, giving her a well-located and comfortable property, she swipes her eyes through the document, and crisps her lips. Carolyn is no longer the helpless girl I defended from a local gang, with the dream of becoming a famous singer in a big city. She started serving drinks at one of my clubs until she convinced me she was ready to perform. She is not a pop diva as she gives the impression when she parades through the dressing room, but in fact she sings very well, and for my part, she can continue singing in our clubs. As long as our relationship becomes just professional.

“s that some kind of joke?” she said after crossing her legs in a seductive way.

“In no way, Care” I speak calmly “we had already talked about how my situation would change when I returned from Italy”.

“ We didn’t talk, you decided that things would change!” Carolyn was angry “do you think this is way of dismissing me?” she held the document firmly.

“Of course not, honey, I asked Chris to make a transfer for you, the money must be in the account” I talk and get a sarcastic laugh back.

“I thought your loyalty would begin after the vows, at the wedding ceremony” Carolyn lit a cigarette “that we would have at least a farewell before this clowning!”

“ Change of plans, dear.”

“She must be amazing...” she says, trying to prolong the conversation to know more about Giulia “ and by your haste to want to set things right, must already be fucking ... What is her name?”

“Care, you always knew.”

“Between knowing and being discharged, there’s a big difference, Michael!”

“Still, you knew” I get up, and go to the door, open it and wait patiently as she puts the deed in her purse and comes towards me. I turn my face discreetly, avoiding Carolyne’s attempted kiss. She puts on her glasses and walks out the hallway, stepping hard, a weeping sigh before turning around as she calls the elevator. I close the door. No regrets.

I go back to my desk, I have a lot to do, but this time it’s Chris who interrupts me. My consiglieri comes in, saying something about last night’s event, where they had some problems with more exalted guests, and definitely my interest in customer behavior at the betting tables is next to none, as long as they pay what they owe us, And yet, I have assigned functions to not deal with it. Casino is not a place of those who have no money.

“Was it Carolyn who I saw passing by like a storm and getting into the elevator?” Chris doesn’t even dispel curiosity.

“It was her” I’m not trying to give any more details, and I know that deep down, he’s pleased with the situation, as there was a time when he hinted that he was wanting to get closer to her.

“Bitch” he said, pouring whiskey on the other side of my office “I think you were too generous with her.”

“I have no intention of dealing with her, Chris, and that’s what she would ask of me when she realized that what she earns doesn’t cover her expenses” I shrugged “I don’t want calls in the middle of the night, desperate scenes when I’m with Giulia by my side, and you know as well as I do that Carolyn would do it.”

He agreed quietly, and then said: “Giulia should not even know about her, by the way, by the way, why do not you take her to dinner at my house?”

“Any special dates?”

“Valerie is spending a few days with me” he refers to his sister “I learned that the poor girl is in captivity…”

“Linda is a big mouth!”

“Seriously, Mike, you have to pay more attention to her, you saw her ten days ago” Chris laughed, and then sat across from my desk “Yesterday I saw you at the Saint’s, leaving at dawn.”

“And I should see her soon, at the huge party that Joe Cavalieri makes a point of organizing for the engagement” I don’t avoid the eye roll, for me it would be just me and Giulia, somewhere quiet, on an occasion that should not take more than an hour or two.

“Are you going to make this up to Val?” he asks in a fun way “come on, cousin, take a night for the family, and for your future wife. It’ll be just us.”

I think for a moment that is exactly what the closest people should be thinking, about the "captivity", and it is no use explaining that I am guarding Giulia to ensure that the agreement happens, and also for her safety. I couldn’t choose the woman I’m going to marry, but that doesn’t mean she won’t always be under my protection. In fact, I haven’t been behaving as if I were interested in approaching her, at least so there’s no embarrassment when we’re under one roof, but I don’t think Giulia and I have a lot in common, she’s just a girl, And she’ll end up like most girls who marry men like me. Solitary.