Chapter 24

“Where’s that man of yours?” asked Aunt Fabbi as she arrived unannounced the next day.

“He’s finished the weeding and cutting the lawn, now he’s skimming the pool, it’s what he does when he’s angry.” Natalia’s eyes were red rimmed from crying all the way home and long into the night.

“And why are you angry?”

“A fellow I served with was part of the mob who broke in here, and...” he shook his head in impotent rage. “I realized how much danger we’re in.”

Fabbi looked at the young couple. They were both caught up in anger and rage and they didn’t know how to deal with it, and she couldn’t lose this last remainder of her sister. They reminded her so much of Giuseppe and Maria when they were young and courting. “Look you two, you’ve been together day and night for how many months? Fourteen? Fifteen?”

They nodded and Fabbi continued, “maybe you need to spend some time apart, get out and take a breath. Steve, you can go hang out at the VFW, or hire a boat and go fishing. Beer, cigars, fish, it will be fun. Natalia you can come with me to Manhattan, we’ll do some shopping, catch a show, just a girls week out and then you can decide what you’re going to do with yourselves, sound like a plan?”

Natalia looked over at Steve, and he looked angry. “No?”

“We are going on our honeymoon to Venice.”

“Why Venice?”

“There’s something over there that I really want to see.”

‘What does he know?’ thought Aunt Fabbi. It’s unusual for her to be caught without a vital piece of information. She patted a chair and said, “Steve come here and sit in this chair, and Natalia, you sit in his lap.” They eased together into a familiar posture. It felt so good to be in contact again. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since they touched last. “Now tell me why you can’t take a little time apart.”

Natalia softly whimpered, “I can’t sleep without him, he makes me feel safe, but last night he was up all night out by the pool. I understand how angry he is but sometimes it felt like he was mad at me.”

“I was never mad at you, I was so mad at Terry Hill, but I was also mad at me. I didn’t realize how much danger we were in. All Gronchi has to do is hire some more mercs and we’re gone. It’s all too real. I was afraid I might lash out and you could get hurt,” said Steve.

Gronchi? Mercenaries? Did Steve and Natalia put the last piece of the puzzle together? She tried to look calm, but inside she was spinning. Where did that bastard fit in? She took a deep breath and said, “That’s very noble, now why don’t you want to take a nice honeymoon vacation somewhere?” asked Fabbi. “You could take that camper up to the U.P. and shoot some squirrels and drink beer.” It was hard to tell if she saw herself as an inquisitor or a game show host.

Steve thought for a long time, trying to put some complex feelings into words, and finally said, “Every time I love someone, and I leave, sometimes for just a little while, when I come back they’re ... gone. Maybe we can have kids and live happily ever after, after this is done. Bruce is tracking down Alfeo Gronchi for me. I will end it.”

“Were you serious when you said having babies?” Natalia whimpered, and with a slight smile, Steve nodded.

“When we’re safe from him and his family we can start and have as many babies as you want.”

Natalia squealed and put her arms around Steve’s neck and started kissing. “I have a complete list of the Gronchi family structure...”

The room was silent for a long time as Steve and Natalia clutched each other and made their plans, and their Fabrizia absorbed what they just said. They were going to war against the Gronchi family? She’s got to nip this in the bud immediately. They do not know what a full-blown war will cost. It’s not the money, it’s the relationships and the business connections. Connections that took decades to build.

Soon Aunt Fabbi realized they forgot she was there. “Ok, pizza is on the way, I found a place that makes a proper New York pie, then tomorrow I swing by at noon and we’re going shopping for your master bedroom.” She snapped her purse closed and got up. As she left, she said, “Be sure to tip the delivery man nicely.” And she was gone.

Her son Marco held her car door open for her, and she got in and gave an enormous sigh of relief. She never wanted Steve to marry Maria, when she looked at his background she wanted him to marry Natalia, he’s better suited for that headstrong girl, but he made Maria so happy ... What’s wrong with being happy for the last year of your life? Fabbi sighed and said, “We haven’t been to Cobalt in a long time, let’s dine there tonight Marco.”

“Excellent choice, can I ask Donata to join us?”

“No, this will be business.” She held her phone up to her ear. When a man answered, she said, “Detective McLaren, please join me for dinner tonight. There is something we need to discuss. And bring your partner. I will have a table for us at seven at Cobalt. See you there.”

It truly was a great pizza and with a full belly and the air cleared, Steve and Natalia found their eyes had gotten too heavy and they climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms. But about three AM Steve was awakened by gentle kisses. Natalia was gently kissing his shoulder, then she slowly kissed her way down to his nipple, then she lingered there with kisses and licks that caused thrills that Steve had never felt before. He reached over and turned on a small light, and Natalia smiled at him. “I can’t wait any longer ... I know I’m ready now.”

Ever since seeing Terry Hill in Okeechobee last week, their love life has been down to nothing. Barely a kiss. Steve was so worried about another attack from Black Ridge he couldn’t think of anything else, including work, and he was starting to really enjoy working at the shipping dock. Steve pulled her close and began kissing her as he unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing; it was one of his shirts. Between kisses he said, “You look sad, do I scare you?”