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“He’s not always the clown you think he is.”
“I saw that this afternoon. That’s what I’m talking about. He was different like he was goading you.”
Gianni squints as if the sun is in his eyes. “You have a brother. Surely, you both wind each other up.” He swivels around and places his hand on my back, steering me up the path to the front door.
“Yes, we did. When we were ten but not now,” I protest. Gianni stops to unlock the door, pulling the key from his pocket. Gianni ushers me in first. He follows, and we both stand in the entrance. I bend to take off my shoes as Gianni shrugs off his coat and puts his briefcase down by the coat stand.
He stands before me, my back to the wall.
“Brothers are different. With men, it is all about power and who has it. Piero and I are no different.”
“Okay, so which one of you has the power?”
It is like I’ve shoved my fist right into his gut. He freezes, his face stills, and his breathing has ceased. I’ve touched a nerve. The answer to my question isn’t what I think. I’ve always thought Gianni is the one in control of things—the shop, the relationship. But this isn’t the case. Gianni is worried, frightened by his answer. An answer I know before he even says the name. But it begs the question of why?
“Piero has the power,” he says before walking away.
Shit. He’s in a bad mood now and will probably be like this for the rest of the evening. But I can’t shake the question. Why? Why does Piero have this effect on him? What happened between them that put Piero in control? What did Gianni do to create this uneven balance between them? My thoughts are spiraling. I can think of nothing that could have happened between them. Gianni isn’t going to enlighten me as to their history. I may have to work this out for myself.
ChapterThirty-Four
It is my third day back at work, and there’s no news of Carl. The police have no new information and are no closer to finding him. Gianni has called Klein for an update almost daily, hoping to be given the news Carl has been apprehended. Until then, Gianni and I remain on high alert, never letting our guard down, open to the possibility he could be around the next corner.
It is draining. Neither of us can relax. This, along with the secrecy surrounding our relationship, is taking its toll. I have to watch myself constantly while we’re in the shop. I can’t look at him too much. I try not to talk to him, and when I do, I must be natural, a little grumpy even. Gianni finds it easier not to talk to me at all. But he makes up for it in the evening. We both seem to feel the release the minute the front door is closed. Last night, we didn’t even make it to a room. Gianni pulled my clothes from me right there in the hall. Our lovemaking was passionate, brutal even, as if our pretense during the day had built up like a pressure cooker.
Neither of us has mentioned Piero. I don’t want to bring the sour mood down around Gianni. But it is frustrating. I’ve opened up to him and told him things I have told no one. But he doesn’t seem able to let me in. Or he doesn’t want to, and it hurts. It must be something that puts him in an unfavorable light. What could he possibly be hiding from? What could he have done that would make me run from him? I build my resolve even more that I must find out. I must question him, regardless of the impending mood change.
I’m cleaning the counter when he arrives in the coffee shop. We’d arrived in the parking lot at the same time, but I came into the shop first, Gianni waiting in his car to space out our arrivals.
He pushes the door open, a flurry of air rushing in behind him. His hair is perfect, his suit is sharp, and his face is so handsome I nearly melt on the spot. He catches my eye. Casey is in the back with a new lady who I’ve not met. There’s just us, and for that split second, he glares at me with a hunger I can taste. I want him. I have him, but it isn’t enough.
My trance is broken by the new lady emerging from the kitchen.
“Ah, Ruby, you made it.” Gianni observes.
“Yes,” Ruby replies. I put her somewhere in her late forties, with a round face and wise eyes. Her hair is dyed a reddish auburn and looks hard to tame. She has managed to style it into a ponytail, but the ends are frizzy. Maybe it’s been subjected to the straightener once too often.
“I’ll go over some things you need to know when I have sorted out this paperwork. I’m sure you have found your way around.”
“One coffee shop is much like another,” Ruby replies. She seems relaxed. Gianni doesn’t frighten her. They obviously know each other well, and I am desperate to ask them about it when Casey walks out of the kitchen, tying her apron around her back.
“This is Ruby,” Gianni introduces us. Ruby nods at Casey and me. Casey barely acknowledges her, but I give her a little smile. “Ruby, this is Chloe and Casey.” Gianni extends his hand in our direction. “Ruby manages the Kilburn branch, but we have asked her to come over and help out while we get ourselves back on track.” This is Gianni’s way of skirting around the fact they need to hire a new general manager.
“You both know the shop better than I do, though. I may need some help.” Ruby smiles.
“Ruby has worked for us for many years,” Gianni points out. “I’m sure there’s nothing you need help with.” He nods at Ruby. There is definitely familiarity between them. This is the most I’ve seen him interacting with staff. Maybe I judged him wrong. The staff here is all new.We’reall new. Maybe Gianni had not warmed to any of us. Maybe he’s different with the older staff who have worked for him longer than we all have. Perhaps she can shed some light on Piero and Gianni.
* * *
Gianni calls me into the office midmorning. His voice is brusque, and for a second, I have to think of what I have done wrong before remembering he’s acting like a bully. Ruby glances up at me, sending me a smile before I head into the office.
“Close the door.” Gianni gestures. He’s standing behind the desk, leafing through a document in his hand. As soon as the door is closed, his shoulders drop.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I answer. “Ruby seems nice,” I add.
“Yes, she’s very good at her job. Reliable as well as trustworthy.” His voice is strained. Something is bothering him. “Something has come up, and I have to leave the shop for a while.”
