Man and Wife: A new Dawn

~ LUCA ~

It's been three weeks since father passed, and in those three weeks, I've seen my life Change—not in a good way.

I now have hundreds of eyes centered on me, all watching me, perhaps it had something to do with the mafia solely placed in my care.

GianCarlo gave no shit about it anyways, been days since I last saw the lad ever since our altercation in Michael's office.

Enzo had booked a flight to Madrid immediately after the funeral, and as much as I heard, he was getting acquainted with the beauty of the fine city.

Ricardo. I haven't seen in months.

Speaking of Ricardo, I was on my way, driving to his penthouse.

It had been a minute since I took my troubles to him.

The issue wasn't him being unavailable, it was in fact I, making myself unavailable.

I was slowly losing all relations, and the fact that it didn't bother me, was what bugged me the most.

I was losing myself.

Coming to meet an empty space upon entry into the penthouse, wasn't what I thought to have walked into.

Fortunately, I found the doors unlocked, allowing me entry with ease, but the figure of Ricardo, I couldn't find anywhere.

"Ricardo!"

I snatched my cell off the pocket of my pants, ringing his line.

There came the blare of a ring not long afterwards, and soon beckoning onto me, I trailed after that sound, following it all the way to the balcony where the figure of Ricardo laid.

I saw his form steer upon my approach, and with gaze now squinting up at me, he finally sat up.

"What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that" I followed at once, gaze laden on his profile. "And why do you look this beat?"

"Phil hit me up" Came his words. "I sought something to get rid of the ache"

"What ache?" I called, "As far as I know, you do nothing, yet you complain an ache?"

"Per favore, Luca! Me taking care of your ass is enough ache already" He uttered, getting to his feet.

"By the way, look who's been sworn as the head of the Bonnucci mafia conglomerates" Those words of his came with a wide grin sat atop his face.

"Perhaps such responsibility will have you busy all through"

"It's time you had something doing...Something which kept your mind at ease, and certainly has you forgetting—

"Come on, Ricardo. Get dressed"

I only cut him off his words, managing your earn his silence as his gaze only Rene watched me walk back into the living area.

"Where are we going?"

"To Joe's"

~~~

It was scantily packed out on this fine evening over at Joe's.

Few figures strutting in and out of the restaurant, the day whiled away with engagements of people whose day were wrapped, coming to end it out here Joe's Diner.

Ricardo and I were sat at a table not too far from the doorway, having served our usual order, it was no secret that the staff were quite familiar with us at this point — Coming to Joe's on the weekends, exhausting our time watching people who portrayed the perfect lives, and realizing our lives was a huge contrast to theirs.

Ricardo relaxed back in his seat, uncapping the bottle of bourbon, going on about something which came distant in my ears, cause my sole focus was now centered on the doorway.

There, a figure just strutted in.

It was a dame.

One who managed to earn the gazes of people sat at Joe's, all who were either wowed by the beauty of this figure, or were disgusted at the grace with which she waddled in.

Either way, she had done enough in turning heads for just a minute, including mine.

Now my attention, wasn't of the fact that the dress which clung to her body, revealed much skin even the eyes shied away from beholding.

Nah. It was of the fact that I recognized that face.

And only when her gaze had snapped up to meet mine, did it dawn on me.

I watched a smile cross that face of hers, hands now pulled up waving at me.

Yet, only paused in my position I remained watching as the lady making her way over.

The sound of her heels incoming, became even prominent to the ears, and in a moment, I found her stood just before my table, gaze laden in mine.

"Luca" The voice of Giorgia came cheery, her fingers coming those blonde tresses.

"A small world it is after all" She chuckled.

And in that moment, Ricardo had spared a moment to gaze at this sudden intruder at our table, and for a second there, I caught his gaze rushed shock, perhaps upon recognition of her, yet, he uttered not a word.

"Do you come here often?" Questioned Giorgia, eyes skimming me.

"Depends on what the occasion is"

And those words of mine managed to earn a chucked from the lady just before the silence which came prevailing as the gaze of Giorgia skimmed to the form of Ricardo.

"Is this seat taken?" I heard those soft words, followed with a smile bestowed upon the dame, which left me staring, and with a nod of my head, she had joined in, keeping company at our table.

For a fleet second, the hit of quietude englobed us, but in a second, at the break of Giorgia's words, the air returned.

"And who is this that has made your company?" She began, eyes affixed on the form of Ricardo, who only remained watching the lady, with those eyes of his packed in confusion like he had just been told the most absurd news.

"Oh, do forgive me" I poured, sitting up in my seat. "This is a friend of mine, Ricardo"

"I believe you both have met sometime back"

I watched the face of Giorgia scrunch, eyes examining all that came with Ricardo.

"Well, I don't think I'd forget a face like his"

That chuckle which followed from her after her utterance, was laced with an awkward air, but she had in a moment dismissed it.

"What would you like to have?"

I earned the gaze of Giorgia, with those green eyes affixed in mine.

"Oh, come on" She drawled. "You really don't have to do that"

"Nonsense" I emitted. "Getting you a drink is only of courtesy, Giorgia"

I watched her fall silent, eyes dancing in mine, and slowly giving a nod to it, I sent for the waiter, taking her order.

"So..." Giorgia had her seat now fully turned to mine, elbow sat atop the armrest, hands acting as some form of rest for her chin while those eyes of hers never took a pause in accessing me.

From the corners of my eyes, I saw that questioning look on the face of Ricardo, but I made no word of it.

"What keeps you busy, Luca" Giorgia took a sip out of her drink, which the waiter arrived with, returning her focus on me.

"Nothing much" I uttered. "Business, most of the time"

I watched levity cross her gaze, lips pulling into a grin.

"You know, I heard you got married" And at those words my eyes had turned blank in the ones belonging to the dame.  

"You know, I'd love to meet her sometime..." Followed Giorgia. "It would be an honor getting acquainted with the lassie who managed to have captured you at long last"

I fell silent, not uttering a word, and in low breaths, my voice followed.

"There was an incident..." I began, my gaze now averted from the lady's to the shot glass before me. 

"My wife was taken from me" 

"What?" I couldn't tell if such fright lodged in her gaze was so real, or Giorgia in fact did a good job in acting as such.

I mean, the news was all around the country.

Isabella's kidnap made the papers even in neighboring nations.

The air which now surrounded us was one of discomfort, as Giorgia had now turned her stare down to her feet, hands picking at each other's.

And thanks to Ricardo whose voice was keen on evading such prickling air.

"Er, shouldn't you be leaving now Luca?" He coughed, having a glance at his watch, and upon that we had both taken to our feet, the gaze of Giorgia following our figures.

"Luca"

The call of my name had me paused on my feet, slowly turning to her.

She made her way over, hands coming to settled across my shoulders.

"I'm sorry for your loss" Her words came muffled in my chest, and the instant she pulled back, get eyes had gone vigorous.

"I wish I could render every care to you.."

"Oh, it's fine" I cleared my throat. "I'm fine" I affirmed, but the lady looked like she didn't believe a word I said.

She only remained watching me with that stare of hers.

"Luca..." She began. "I'd advise you spare a chance for my therapy sessions"

I only emitted a low chuckle, gaze watching hers.

"Not to toot my own horn, but I've had over a hundred patients, all who recovered successfully from their traumas"

"It's not a trauma" I corrected.

"Well, it seems to have you broken upon mention of it" She let out.

"The death of your wife..."

"I never said anything about my wife being dead"

Giorgia only paused, eyes accessing me.

"Luca, she's been kidnapped. With no news of her whereabouts, what do you think has happened?" 

Her hands had now shot up, coming to caress my face, and with her figure drawing closer to mine, her words poured.

"It would only be my own gesture, Luca" She emitted in a low voice.

"I plead you attend just one....just one of the sessions, and if you don't like it, I would pester you no more"

There was something about the stare of Giorgia, something which had me paused on my feet.

I only poured a breath, slowly taking her hands off my face.

"I'll give it a thought" Followed my words, and with that, I turned around, taking my exit with Ricardo.