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All the memories of Rina had come to the surface and made it difficult for me to breathe. The thought that Amedea had been kidnapped from my safe house and would shortly be found dead somewhere had almost caused me to lose my mind.
Fate was cruel enough to make me endure such an ordeal a second time. Rina and Amedea were not comparable, but even if Amedea did not play such an essential role in my life, I still had a responsibility toward her. And I had missed it at that moment because I had not known where she was.
The idea of the news of her death… I would never have forgiven myself.
"You're just very stuck. And rusty."
"Thank you. Just what you want to hear."
"Fine, I accept your apology. But only because you showed me the view up here."
"Just because of that? How cheeky. Maybe I should consider accepting yours. You've already been very cheeky."
"Naughty? You need someone to give you a piece of their mind when you go all sinister Vincenzo again." She gave me a light jab between the ribs with her elbow.
"Is that so?" I replied, amused.
"At least that's what they say."
"Good, then I accept your apology as well. Next time we'll both know better." I turned away for a brief moment to attend to the wine.
Two minutes later, I poured the wine I had opened earlier into the glasses and handed her one of them.
"I usually prefer Starbucks," she said before taking a sip.
"You can't compare coffee to wine."
"Yes, I can."
"I'm curious."
"Coffee tastes better than wine." Nevertheless, she did not seem dissatisfied with the dark red beverage, and I, too, once again recognized the advantages of a winepress, and winery.
"This could also come from someone buying overpriced drinks at a big chain."
She gave me an amused look but left it at that. I knew that she had cultivated a unique relationship with my brother and that he had spoiled her just as he did with Carlotta.
He could hardly be blamed for either, for our sister and Amedea deserved to be treated this way.
Privileges were earned, and Amedea had more than earned them with her service to the family. Carlotta had made sacrifices and put herself in situations that could have cost her life more than once. The secrecy of her existence brought advantages and a whole range of disadvantages.
Despite these points of view, it was comparatively tricky for me, especially with Amedea, to show her this appreciation. Otherwise, I had no problem showing respect to someone if they deserved it.
To silence my brain, I took a big gulp from the glass and hoped the effects of the alcohol would soon set in.
* * *
Giggling, Amedea bent in my direction to steal the last cracker from the plastic wrapper I had found in the kitchen. Her cheeks were red – from the alcohol – and in the meantime, more strands had come loose from her ponytail.
Somehow we had thought it was a good idea to prefer the floor instead of the table and were now sitting on the bare wood, engrossed in conversation, only to fall silent.
The wine had definitely loosened her tongue – while I was fighting to keep the last bit of restraint.
But the sun was already sinking on the horizon, and the last rays bathed the world around us in glistening orange light that faded into soft pink at the edges and, together with the blue and the rising haze, made for a portrait-worthy image. This place was nothing unusual, yet it was beautiful to behold every time.
"I've been to many countries, but nowhere are sunsets as beautiful as in this area," I murmured.
So the alcohol did have some effect on me. I usually didn't talk about the beauty of sunsets.
