Fixing Cracks
Icaro watched his bride’s features as she took in every bit of the scenery on the way to the hotel. It wasn’t he didn’t appreciate the sights, but he’d grown up running in the streets of Rome. His family always split their time between Sicily and Italy and Rome was a family favorite for business. All of this was familiar and common to him.
However, watching as Zorah took in the views, he was being given an opportunity to look at the city anew, through the eyes of someone who’d never seen it before, and he could appreciate the wonder in her expression.
“There are so many fun little places I can’t wait to take you,” he leaned over her shoulder to watch out the window with her.
“Really?”
“Yes. I want to share everything with you. I can’t wait to show you my favorite places.”
He meant it. The more he thought of it, the more he realized how badly he’d screwed everything up. Her pain from his lack of discretion and multitude of lovers was justified. He’d started their relationship on a foundation built on uneven ground, shaky even. If he wanted a relationship which withstood the test of time, he would need to take the time necessary to repair all the cracks he’d caused with his careless and selfish behavior. It started with spending quality time with his wife and not sexually.
“What kind of places?”
“We will do all the touristy things of course but then there is a shop my mother always brought me to for gelato as a boy. It is still open. I want to bring you there. There is a park where my grandparents would bring me every summer and we would have picnics. There are of course theatres and museums which will blow your mind.” He grinned suddenly, “I should bring you to the first place Vodingo and I ever did a shakedown.”
“I don’t think I want to go there.”
“We thought we were tough little animals. Barely twelve, we thought we could rough this fella up because he was late on a payment to Dad. We heard Dad telling my uncle how this man was late, and we got it into our heads we were going to get Dad’s money for him and how proud he was going to be of us for taking the initiative. The man beat the shit out of us in under five minutes. Then when he was done, Dad showed up and gave us another smackdown. He’d already worked out an arrangement with the man and was furious. He said if we learned nothing more, it better be to communicate with the family before doing something stupid otherwise we’d get killed.”
“Oh gosh.”
“It was a meat shop. Dad made us work there the entire summer. All our friends were out running the streets and kissing girls and going to the pools to cool off and we were slicing deli meats and carrying slabs of pigs on our skinny little shoulders.” He laughed with the memory, “it’s still my favorite deli in all of Rome and the old man is in his eighties now I think and he’s a dear friend. I learned then not all people who are late on payments are trying to scam my father. Some are genuinely having a tough time. My father is a fair man but he’s not a fool. He can suss out the liars rather quickly.”
“You still visit the shop?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t dare go to another deli in the city. Now, there is a meat shop back home which I prefer above any and all others, in Sicily that is. The prosciutto melts in your mouth and the beef is sublime.” He pretended to wipe drool off his lips, “I am now suddenly craving a grilled steak.”
She giggled and it was music to his ears.
“The hotel is coming up here on the right. When we get there, stick close. My father and mother are likely already in their suite which means our arrival in the city has been announced. Enemies are everywhere and so I want you to stay close to me. The men will be around us the entire time. Oftentimes there is paparazzi trying to get photos or statements and you’ll hear them calling all kinds of questions. Do not look up. Do not respond. Do not engage. Can you understand?”
“Yes. How bad will it be?”
“It might be nothing. It might be remarkably busy. Just hold onto my hand and stay close.”
“Okay.”
“Zorah,” he sat with his arm over her shoulder for a moment. “I know I messed up. I know how bad I’ve screwed up our start, our foundation. I will do everything in my power to fix the mess I created and I’m going to give you the life you truly deserve with a man you deserve. I won’t be perfect. I won’t even come close but every single day from now until the day I take my last breath, I will do my absolute best to be a man who deserves your love.”
She nodded and he watched as the tear formed in the corner of her eye. “What if you don’t?”
“Not an option, sweetheart.” He leaned down to kiss her nose. “I realized how much I’ve hurt you. It doesn’t matter you didn’t know I existed. I knew you did which makes what I did this much worse. I will make up for it. I cannot exist in a world without you. So please, when we’re out here, listen to me and you listen to the security team who will keep you safe.”
“I will.”
“Once we get to our room, we can relax and have a quiet evening. In the morning you and Sidonia will meet your new security team who will be with you whenever Vodingo and I cannot be, for example shopping tomorrow.”
“Sidonia said Uranio was watching me back home along with two other men. I never noticed them. Well, I noticed Uranio, but I thought he was simply someone who lived in the neighbourhood.”
“The other two have been reassigned to work far less enjoyable than what my cousin will be doing when his ship lands. They missed a lot of details in covering you, from bruises to dates to kissing men in cars. You were supposed to have twenty-four-hour surveillance, and they did not do their jobs. The men with us now, they will do their jobs.”
He was still furious with the notion she’d been left unattended and was harmed as a result. His father had offered to throw the apologetic pair off the plane mid-flight. He’d almost agreed but then knew his wife would be upset. No more killing on his honeymoon.
“And I’m going to be watched constantly?”
“You will be protected constantly,” he corrected. “Now, we’ve arrived. Let’s try our best to have a better night tonight than last night, no?”
He prayed no more surprises awaited them. He was already fighting an uphill battle. Smooth sailing now would be greatly appreciated.
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