Page 284 of Valentino

“I didn’t get the promotion at work.”

“Oh dear.” Mom puts her hand over mine on the table. “That’s okay, don’t let it worry you.”

“I’m not.” Oh hell, why did I tell them anything back then. “The thing is…. I’ve decided that I’m moving back to Milan to live.”

“You are?” they both squeak.

“Uh-huh.”

“You’re here looking for apartments. Don’t even worry, move back in with us.”

Fuck.

“Well…I.” I hold my knife and fork midair as I search for the right words. “I’ve been speaking to an old friend, for a few months now actually, and we developed feelings for each other.”

They frown as they listen.

“One thing led to another and eventually he asked me to be his girlfriend and so….” I shrug. “Here I am.”

“Who is this friend?” my mother replies, her voice is cool as if she already knows.

“Valentino Leone.”

Clang.

My father’s knife hits the plate.

“Who?” he snaps.

“You heard me, Dad.”

“Valentino Leone?” he huffs. “The same Valentino Leone that shot up someone in your apartment and then broke your heart on the same night? The very same man who didn’t give a damn about you?”

“It was complicated back then.”

“No,” he snaps, he picks up his knife and fork. “No, it wasn’t complicated, it was crystal clear.”

“This is not happening, Anna,” my mother says as she bites food off her fork. “This man is not good for you.”

“You’re wrong, he’s a good man.”

“For a drug dealer,” my father fires back. “Did you know that they call him the King of Cocaine?”

“Dad, honestly,” I scoff. “As if he sells cocaine. People are just jealous and making up stories because he’s got a great job.”

“No, Anna.” Dad keeps eating. “He doesn’t deserve you.”

“What do you mean no?” I fire back. “I’m thirty years old, you can’t tell me what to do.”

“I can when it comes to him. There is no way in hell you are dating this man.”

“I’m more than dating him, Dad. I love him.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Dad, be reasonable,” I whisper. “We get along so great and….”

“No. You be reasonable, Anna.” He throws his napkin onto the table. “I’m not having you dragged down. I went deep on this man when he broke your heart and I’m telling you now, he’s nothing but bad news. Did you know his ex-girlfriend was murdered?”