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“Ah, Enzo, you’re late, son.”
I shook hands with everybody and when I got to Popov, I had a very strong instinct to rip his arm right out of the socket.
“What’s going on?”
“Son,” Dad called me to the side so we could talk in private, “We have to go upstate for a meeting. It has to be done tonight. I’m going to ask you to sit this one out.”
He was pushing me out of the business. Nice way to make me seem weak, Pops. I would have been more annoyed if this didn’t mean that I finally could find some time with Ludmila.
“When are you coming back?”
“Before morning. Go inside, keep an eye on the family, ok?”
“Sure.”
“Tomorrow, I’m going to need you to come by the house. I need to instruct you about some things.” This was my Don talking.
“Sure thing, boss.”
They all got into the back of a limo, and I walked inside. There was a live band tonight, singing smooth jazz up on the stage. The first familiar face I saw was Cristiano who came to me with a glass of whiskey and a Cuban cigar in his hand.
“My man! Finally, you’re here. I was starting to think tonight will be a drag.”
“Am I so late?”
“Nah, but I have barely seen you lately, brother. It’s like you have gone under.” Maybe because I was too busy chasing another man’s woman.
“Yeah, Dad needs me for this deal with the Russians. It kept me busy.”
“Sure.” He emptied his glass in one gulp. “Why wouldn’t he? You’re a fucking brigadier. Meanwhile, I’m the soldier stuck watching the triplets and moving bags of cash around. It’s bullshit, man.”
“Come on, bro, stop sulking. You’re my father’s nephew, it’s not like you don’t already have a place at the top.”
“I know, but I don’t know why they won’t let me just do my job.”
“It’s the Nucci way, Cristiano. You have to work your way up. They can give you money, but they can’t give you a sharp mind, brother. You need to train that on your own.”
“Whatever. You already talk like a boring old Don.”
“That’s why I’m a brigadier and you’re a soldier.” I laughed in his face and he punched me in the arm, but with a smile on his face.
I walked with him into the crowd, taking a tour of the room to say hello to my uncles and cousins. Cristiano’s younger brother, Tony, was back from Napoli, after a few months, and it was good seeing him. The kid got shredded in the past year. He talked my ear off about how he could take me at Skanderbeg now that he got some muscles. After I stayed around the men a reasonable amount of time, I sat up and started looking for my prey. Was she here? Was she home alone? Either way I would see Ludmila tonight.
I took me less than a minute to find her in the crowd – maybe because I was naturally drawn to her, or maybe because she was the most beautiful woman in the room. She was at the large table, with my mother, Catherinelle, the triplets, and Romina, but she shined through, like gold under the sun. Her hair was down on her shoulders, and she was wearing a black dress, tight around her body, with no sleeves, and some kind of turtleneck. Once again there was a certain coolness about Ludmila, like she was forged in ice, but I knew damn well how she transformed when she was melting. When I got close, I saw she was smiling, and seeing that happiness on her face made me want to pull her into a kiss.
“Good evening, ladies.”
Catherinelle came to hug me.
“There’s my favorite nephew. Enzo, are you gonna miss me when I leave tomorrow?”
“You’re leaving for a week.” She was taking a trip with the girls to some resort in Brazil.
“Yeah, but are you going to miss me?”
“Of course, you’re my favorite aunt.”
“Good boy.” She sat back down. “This is Ludmila Popova, she’s a guest.”
