Man and Wife

~ LUCA ~

The recurring sound of my boots tapping onto the oaken wooden floor, did enough in earning those gazes belonging to the people stood before me. All who were just as battered as I was, and sought nothing more than to return to the comfort of their homes.

Well, I for one, had an appointment with Suzy which was to begin in *having a quick glance at my watch, I emitted a sigh in exasperation* five.

My meet with Suzy was to begin in five minutes.

Yet, here I sat, having to accommodate the squeak of aunt Lola's voice, the sound of Enzo blaring at Michael, and the silence of Giancarlo while he took in every activity in the room.

It was merely an hour ago, when we had all been called into 'Michael Barnes' Soliciting services, and now being in the top most room of the building, we each were deciphering the words of the man stood before us, while he repeated those words stated in the paper.

I barely spared a listen to it all.

As far as I was concerned, returning home was what I most sought. But for my own sanity, for my betterment, I dare not take leave off this room.

"Bloody hell!" I heard the bellow from Enzo, figure pacing around the room while he drove daggers with that stare of his at the form of Michael Barnes propped on the other side of the room.

The fellow barely could see reason in Enzo's outpour.

For all the lad knew, he had been called to do his job, paid so too, and that he must go through, regardless of the situation amiss, and how the words scribbled onto the piece of paper in his hands, left the ears of some people piqued in disgust.

The man reached for the glass of water sat atop his desk, and having an entire gulp of it, he returned to the content of the papers.

"...To GianCarlo, I leave all of Bonnucci holdings in Sicily in his name. The winery in Venice, and the factory in Berkeley.

To Luca, my second son. As earlier placed in control of the clan, remains in control of the clan..."

The man paused for a moment, gaze shifting up.

"What's a clan?" Followed his enquiries, but all he got as a response, was the silence which prevailed in the area.

"...And to Enzo my youngest son, My gallery in London, be left in his care"

And there came the bellow from Enzo, figure advancing the form of Michael in threatened moves, but paused midway by the glare from Aunt Lola.

I hear the slam follow as Micheal shut the book with a thud, eyes shifting through each one of us.

He lingered in the silence which had now befallen the room, and in a long breath, his words were sure to follow.

"I believe I've done my part" He let out. "Now all I require of you is your signature" He went on to say, but not long after his words, followed the ones of Enzo laced with such contempt.

"Rubbish!" Spat the fellow. "Bloody hell!" He bellowed in dismay.

"The Gallery?!" He spat. "Now, of what use is a gallery to me?"

"Instead on going of on your ass, why don't you see the light, in how you were bestowed with your father's greatest own treasure?" Cut in the voice of Aunt Lola.

The lips of Enzo opened to make a response, but shut back in place by the voice of GianCarlo which for the first time since we made our way in here, was being emitted.

"The Mafia" Those two words came in a mellow tone, yet, I could feel the strength that came with it.

And in a second, he had averted his gaze onto my waiting form.

I watched him make his way over, steps assertive, eyes affixed in mine.

"When father placed all dealings surrounding the mafia in your hands, he claimed it was only to prep you for taking responsibilities, said it was only for a brief moment, yet, goes onto pen your name into ink, as inheriting the mafia"

"What happened to the usual rites followed?" I heard GianCarlo.

"GianCarlo" The voice of Aunt Lola had earned his gaze momentarily.

"You stay out of this" He growled, raising a finger at her.

"I get called irrational, yet here I am watching that which is rightfully mine, dangling in the fingers of my incompetent little brother"

"You should know GianCarlo that I hate this as much as you do" Followed my words in a scoff.

"My problem isn't you heading the mafia, it's you being unfit to head it!" He called abruptly.

"And you're the better match?" I chortled.

"I don't think I'm better..." He began. "But I know, I can handle it, because I'm not trying to get over the death of my wife which happens to leave me in shambles!"

"Buon Dio! Carlo!" Snapped Aunt Lola. Perhaps realizing the sting of his words, as an odd air of countenance came at me.

"No, let's save the bullshit" Cut in GianCarlo. "It's time someone spat some sense into his head"

"You think he's in the right frame of mind to head a gang of dozen men who seek a leader, not a wreck, someone who isn't afraid to act when it's time to, and certainly a man who isn't recuperating off the sting of his partner's absence, which as much as I know, you despised her from the start, so tell me why you're having your life wither all because of a girl whose name you barely knew years back"

And at that I had gotten to my feet, squaring that gaze of his.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Enzo steer on his feet, a shadow crossing his face, as he beheld the figures of GianCarlo and I opposing each other's.

But I knew better than to cause a ruction In Michael's office.

I sought air, I sought peace. I needed to get out of here.

I dropped a soft pat onto the Shoulder of GianCarlo, a weak scoff escaping my lips, and with one last glance at the ruction held in his gaze, I turned around, walking out of the discomfort to have taken claim of Michael's office.

~~~

I got home to find Suzy sat in my living room.

The lady looking as elegant as that night I found her at the Cabaret.

Hair pulled into an updo, lips smoldered red, with tanned skin glowing under the lights of my chandelier, she was such vision I wished to grasp in my arms, and perhaps kill the sting which I had returned home with.

At my entry, the lassie steered in her seat, gaze finding my way to mine.

"Luca..." The sound of her voice fell soft in my ears. "It's been over an hour" She poured.

"I thought we agreed to being strict on time-keeping"

But I tell you, all of the lady's words fell distant in my ears, as I hurried over to that couch, smashing my lips onto hers.

My sudden disruption seemed to be received well by the lady as she only moaned in response of my kisses, hands wrapping around my neck, while I scooped her into my arms.

I conveyed her figure up the stairs, onto the comfort of my room, and the instant we were in there, I was quick on laying her to the coziness of my bed.

Those eyes of hers danced in sheer elation, laced with a little bit of confusion, but the lady only lingered in utter silence, watching me strip off my clothing.

I watched that gaze of hers gain every delight, as I bore myself in all of my glory, making way over to her.

This one was timid.

I remember the day I found her sat on that couch, looking alone while her counterparts went in services of men. I knew I wanted her the next day in my bed.

Particularly, because those eyes of hers bore a haze of memories which were just as distressed as mine.

And now being here, she shied away from me.

"...Luca" Her voice fell in a whisper, eyes finding mine.

"Do you want us to go on, or not?" I called at once with my arms now secured around her form. And when she managed a nod, my fingers spared no minute in unfastening the lace of her dress.

My body craved for one thing.

It sought to kill the ache in my heart.

I propped her form so it would settle onto the bed, lips roaming every bit of her body.

Her moans were light in my ears, her 'lady' now welcoming an inch of my Johnny. She juddered in motion, arms tightening around my neck.

And while I pushed into her, her cries of passion broke into the room.

Yet all the while the lassie remained in my arms, only one image came into my head.

The vision of Isabella.