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It’s not fair. I have never felt so left out. I should be there, and I’m jealous of everyone who is.
“Nothing. They did a good job keeping it private, must have been hard,” Laura says filling our champagne glasses and picking at the snack platter on the small table between the sun loungers. “Vanessa was always a strange one, she isn’t really like us,” Laura says, and I know why she isn’t like us. It wasn’t her fault, it was his.
“She wants different things in life, we can’t judge her for that,” I say. We were friends once. Before Lorenzo came back into the city. “Not everyone had everything they desired given to them. Vanessa had to work. It changes you.”
“Hmm,” Laura thinks on it. “I am just glad no one is making me be lawyer or a doctor.” She’s not going to school and has no plans to be anything besides a wife and a mother. Similar to my plans, except I go to school to pass time and socialize. “We are lucky you know.” We certainly are, looking out at the azure ocean from a hundred-year-old villa on the most expensive island off the coast of Italy, I would say so.
“What are we going to do tonight?” I ask her. The island is still quiet. It is really out the season, so there is not much going on. “Want to go out?”
“Nah, there’s nothing good going on,” she says, turning over so her tan is even, “let’s stay in and order something from the hotel restaurant.”
I actually don’t mind that idea at all.
“Okay,” I agree with her and shift myself so I don’t have funny tan lines. The Mediterranean sun is shining hot, and it’s the perfect summer day.
After the sun has set, we shower and order an expensive dinner to be delivered. Laura puts the enormous TV in the lounge on and we sit on the sofa with the doors to the terrace open. A fresh breeze wafts in off the ocean, and she flicks channels until a news headline catches our eye.
“Go back,” I say and she flicks back to the Italian news channel. Scrolling across the bottom of the screen on a yellow banner it says, two dead at Agliotti wedding. Suspected hit on Pitelli family. There are images flashing on the screen of Vanessa being sprayed with blood as shots were fired at her wedding.
It is wrong, but I am glad something horrible happened. We watch the story as it unfolds, and then they show footage as Felix and Maria Pitelli were shot, and their newborn son tumbled to the ground. I feel sick, my father’s words ring in my ears. ‘There’s an opportunity,’ he had said — this was him sending a thank you for the invitation message loud and clear.
“This is crazy,” Laure says wide eyed, watching the TV. “Who would shoot a young family like that at a wedding? He is not even the boss, his brother is.”
My father, that’s who. The reporter on screen says they believe the hit was meant for brother Salvatore Pitelli who was on the guest list but sent his brother in his place at the last minute. The media are all over this, without a whisper of the wedding or where Vanessa and Lorenzo left to in such a hurry.
“They should have known something would happen. No one supported this marriage. And Lorenzo has pissed off a lot of people recently,” I say. My family were disgraced and that only leads to war.
“You sound like a bitter bitch,” Laura says, and I shut my mouth. I will quietly just enjoy the fact her wedding was ruined. I think about it and wonder what will happen now. If they did kill the wrong brother, there will be hell to pay — for all of us.
“Change the channel, let’s watch a movie or something,” I say, because I have a feeling I may just get blamed for this too. I try to forget about Vanessa, and weddings, and murders, pushing it out of my mind. We came to Capri to get away from all of it, and that’s what I need to do.
My phone vibrates in my lap, and a message comes through from an unknown number.
You better watch your backs— all of you. No island is safe.
It’s a threat. I know it is and I leave the room to call my father. Wondering for the first time in my life if he can keep us safe, or if this is how it all unravels for my family. What do I do if something happens to him and my brothers? Where do I run to? My hands shake when my call goes unanswered, the message tells me they know I am here on the island. Security is better at home. I think it is best we leave, right away.
CHAPTER 2
Salvatore
When dealing with my Russian business partners we never meet on land, only at sea. No one owns the ocean. There are no turf questions if we meet in international waters. I cannot upset anyone. It works and has done so for many years now. There’s a deal I have been brokering for months, and they are ready to shake on it, but it means I have to be in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea at the same time I should be at Lorenzo Agliotti’s wedding.
“Felix, you and Maria will have to represent us at the wedding.” I have no other choice. If no one goes they will be offended. “The Russian is not willing to wait, and I cannot be in two places at once.”
My brother crosses his legs and leans back in the chair.
“Maria will be happy, you will owe me one though,” he says, “but she will love that. Everyone wanted an invitation to that wedding.” It’s true. I know all the women have been buzzing about it.
“You can take mine and I will let them know you two will be there,” I say, closing my laptop, and putting it away. “How is the baby?” I ask. They are new parents, and he has nice black baby-bags under his eyes.
“He’s lucky he is cute, because he never sleeps,” my brother jokes.
“He gets his looks from his uncle.” It’s funny because we’re twins, and I can’t wait until baby is old enough for us to play tricks and see if he knows who daddy is.
“Very funny,” my brother says. “When do you leave?” he asks me, knowing this is important, and our entire cryptocurrency ring depends on this.
“In an hour. I will take the chopper to the boat and leave immediately from there.” I check my watch. I need to hurry up if I am going to be on time. “Why? Do you need something?” I ask because he looks nervous.
