Mafia Kings: Adriano: Chapter 24

I couldn’t go back to my apartment in Florence. If the assassins had known where the Agrellas lived, there was a good chance they knew about my place, too.

There were a lot of seedy hotels we could have crashed at – but the Agrellas controlled nearly all of them because of their prostitution ring.

Don Agrella and his brothers might have been dead, but a night clerk could still call the wrong people and tip them off we were there.

So I went for the backup plan.

I drove us to a cottage on the outskirts of Florence. Our family kept several of them in the suburbs as last-ditch safe houses; this was one of them. The property listing was under a fake name, and no one had ever seen me there before.

Perfect for some rest before things got really rough.

It was 4AM when we walked in. I let Bianca in through the front door and locked the three deadbolts behind us. The door was solid enough that not even a bruiser like Massimo could kick it in.

Not only that, but all the windows were bulletproof.

If the mystery assassins had tailed us here, I would at least hear them coming.

“There’s canned food in the kitchen and sodas in the fridge,” I told Bianca.

“No thanks, I’m exhausted,” she said, her eyes barely open. “I just want to sleep.”

“Alright. If you want a shower, there’s one in the bedroom. There should be towels under the sink.”

While she stashed her suitcase, I went to the kitchen and got a bottle of bourbon. It had been a hell of a night, and a drink was long overdue.

She appeared at the entry to the kitchen as I was pouring myself a glass.

I’d been surprised when I first saw her back at the warehouse without her wig. She had long, curly brown hair that was absolutely beautiful.

Even with her hair all over the place and her makeup a mess, she looked hot as hell.

But I shook it off and asked, “What’s up?”

“Um… is there only one bedroom?”

“Yeah?” I said, like So?

“…so… there’s only one bed?”

I saw what she was getting at.

Jesus.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa,” I snapped.

“No, no, it’s fine…”

I could tell she was taken aback by my tone, so I reeled it in a bit.

“I can sleep anywhere,” I said. “It’s no big deal.”

“No, no, it’s a big bed… I was just checking,” she said, then looked at my glass of bourbon. “You, uh… got some more of that?”

“Need a drink, huh.”

“It’s been quite a night.”

“That it has.” I handed her my glass and reached for another in the cabinet.

She took a sip and murmured, “Holy shit…”

I grinned as I poured some more for me. “Good stuff, right?”

“What is that?!”

“Twenty-year-old Kentucky bourbon. Pappy Van Winkle.”

“That’s the best I’ve ever tasted… it’s so smooth…”

“You like bourbon?”

“Not usually, but I like this.”

“I have ‘em stock a bottle for me in every property we own. If I gotta stay in a shithole like this, at least I can have a good drink.”

She looked around the house. “I don’t think it’s a shithole. I think it’s nice. Could use a little decorating, though.”

I realized that the place was as big as her parents’ apartment – and probably bigger than wherever she currently lived.

“It’s fine,” I backtracked. “I’m just used to slightly better accommodations, that’s all.”

“You must have a mansion, huh.”

“My family has a mansion. I just grew up there.”

“Is that where they’re taking my mother?”

“Yeah.”

“She’ll think she’s died and gone to heaven.”

“It should be a nice vacation for her.”

Bianca’s face softened. “Thank you. For keeping her safe.”

I shrugged. “Thank me once we’ve got your father.”

She looked worried. “Do you… do you think…”

“He’s fine,” I reassured her. “We’ll find him.”

We both knew the odds of that were pretty slim. At least… the odds of finding him alive.

“All we’ve got right now is hope,” she said softly. “Don’t give that up until there’s no other choice.”

It took me a second before I realized she was quoting something I’d said earlier.

“That’s right,” I agreed. “I said I’d get your mom back safe – and I did, didn’t I?”

She nodded.

“So believe me when I say I’m gonna get your dad back safe and sound, too.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she smiled at me. Then she nodded. Okay.

I gave her a smile back.

She stood there gazing at me…

And I stood there gazing at her…

Until she downed the rest of her bourbon in one gulp.

“Thanks for the drink. I’m gonna go take that shower now.”

I nodded, and she turned and walked away.

God DAMN.

I might’ve been imagining it…

But I could’ve sworn there was a spark between us.

However, now was not the time.

Besides, I was probably misreading it.

She’d been through a lot tonight.

Getting shot at…

Watching people die…

Her father disappearing…

Seeing her mom held at gunpoint…

She’d been through more than most civilians ever go through their entire lives, and all in one night.

She was probably pretty fucked up.

Not a good idea to try anything…

No matter how hot she was.

So I just downed my bourbon and poured myself another.