Chapter 2: Pokerface
1804 Words
Chapter 2
Pokerface
Matteo
Palermo, Sicily – August 28th 2020
“A man was shot and killed at private event in Capo d’Orlando last night.”
It’s the fifth channel in a row that’s reporting on what had happened last night.
“What do you think happened?” Aurora asks no one in particular.
Great, now it’s a topic of discussion. And everyone is pretending like eating breakfast together because mom thought it would be nice is completely normal.
“Probably some random gangs.” Marco pipes in.
I look at my dad to see how he reacts, but his eyes are skimming over the paper like it’s the most interesting this he’s ever laid eyes on.
“Does anyone want more juice?” our mom asks.
We’re sitting at the table in the kitchen on a f*****g Friday morning of all days. I haven’t seen her in over a few weeks, and I’m not sure if she was even in Palermo.
Why does no one think this is weird?
Dad places the paper on the table and reaches for his espresso.
“What are the papers saying?” I ask him.
He hands it over to me without saying anything, and Aurora leans into me as soon as I put my hand on it.
“They’re saying that the police are checking the security cameras.”
My heart starts beating faster but I refrain from looking at my dad again. My brain goes into a spiral, from the thought of someone seeing me on the cameras all the way to being arrested and charged for premeditated murder.
“Didn’t he have a family?” Aurora asks, like it’s nothing.
“They’re going to bury him tomorrow.” Our mom answers.
“What was he even doing in Capo? What did he tell you?”
Dad answers her this time. “That he’s going to be with family.”
“Police are already looking for a suspect, and we expect the security footage by 5pm.”
“Looks like police already forgot about the virus.” Marco laughs.
I pretend to laugh along, but in my mind I’m climbing the walls.
“The government advises people once again to stay inside and leave the house only if completely necessary. We can’t tell if it’s a premeditated attack or a terrorist attack.”
I laugh without really intending to.
Palermo, Sicily – September 25th 2020
“When does your school start?”
We’re sitting in his office with the door locked. It’s not unusual to have meetings in his office anymore, compared to how it was the first time after the incident.
“Next week. But I think it’s going to be online.”
“Can you be in New York for that?”
“Why?”
“I want you to be the supervisor.”
“For what?”
“Everything.”
What the f**k does that even mean? He always talks in code like I’m supposed to understand.
“Luca is also in New York.”
I’ve nearly forgotten about Romeo’s nephew, and how he asked to be transferred after the burial.
“So?”
“One of our associates in New York is hosting a Russian fundraiser for one of his business partners, in one of his hotels. Luca is going to be part of the security, and I want you to go with him.”
“Why are we supposed to supervise these men?”
“They’re connected to the Russians that tried to rob Francesco’s store.”
“So? We killed one of them, not the other way around.”
“It’s not about that man from a few months back. Romeo was working for them. I don’t know how much they know, whether they’re aware of him being a rat or if they think that we intended to kill someone else but missed.”
I want to ask about Valentina, why and how she is connected to these people. The last time he mentioned her, he used the term ‘Russian w***e’ though, so I keep my mouth shut. I know that if her family is in any way involved with that gang from Russia I’ll inevitably find out eventually.
“Either way.” dad continues. “We have to keep an eye on them until we have more information so we can make sure they don’t try to pull anything at this event.”
“What would they even do?”
“Seek revenge.”
“And you think that out of all people who can do this, I should be the one at the event?”
“They do security checks before letting people in. And Luca is going to be there too.”
My mind can’t understand the logic. “You want me and the nephew of the guy I had to kill working together in the same room as the people whose friend just got shot? In what universe is that a smart and safe move?”
“You get to keep an eye on Luca as well. As far as he knows, we don’t know who murdered his uncle and why, but we’re looking into it.”
“What if he checks the cameras at the theatre? Or the roads? Or the-“
“It’s been taken care of a month ago.”
The answer doesn’t surprise me at all, but I am calmer knowing this.
“What if he thinks the Russians did it and will try to go after them?”
“I told him at the funeral that we’re doing our best to catch the guy. Don’t worry about that, I will make sure you’re safe.”
The news had switched their narrative a two days after Romeo had died, saying that he was involved with dangerous people from Eastern Europe.
I’m 99% sure that my dad had something to do with it.
New York, United States – September 30th, 2020
Isabella sends a link in the group chat as I’m getting ready to start work.
It’s a video from a news channel in Italy.
“A suspect has been apprehended by the police in Sicily for the killing of Romeo DeCosta back in August. His name is Alfonso Lombardi and he was on parole when the shooting happened. His fingerprints were found on the scene, as well as a footprint matching his shoes.”
Matteo: ok
I call my dad through our private line.
“Yes?”
“Who is the guy who got arrested, Alfonso Lombardi?”
“He’s a friend. And we pay him to go to prison. His family is taken care of, my family is taken care of, everybody wins.”
The word ‘family’ means nothing to me when he says it this way.
“Does that mean they closed the case?”
“Not yet. There’s going to be a trial, and then it’s closed after they sentence him.”
“What if the guy tells the truth?”
“It’s not the first time he’s gone to prison, Matteo, and it’s not your job to worry about this. You did what you had to do, now you have to let it go.”
“Okay.”
He tells me to take and I hang up, still doubting the fact that any trace that I was at the theatre has been erased.
I look at myself in the mirror as I adjust the cuffs of the shirt I’m wearing. I look f*****g ridiculous in the dress pants and shirt I was given to wear for today’s event. The way my hair looks gelled back makes me think of my dad, and I hate it.
Isabella asked to see a photo of me after I vented to her about it, so I send her a picture once I put my suit jacket on.
Isabella: omg hahahahhahaha
Isabella: you look like a 1920 mafioso =)))))
Matteo: * middle finger emoji *
The gun that was already in the room when I arrived is in the holster hanging on my side. It feels heavy as it brushes against my suit when I walk towards the elevator. Something tells me I’ll get used to it though.
Luca is waiting for me in the lobby, looking indifferent when I greet him.
“Who do we report to?” I ask him as we watch the mass of people going through the security gates one by one. They’re all talking in Russian amongst themselves, so we can’t understand anything they’re saying.
“I report to you.” He mumbles, obviously not okay with the arrangement. “You’re supposed to say where we go and-“
Before he gets to finish, a tall guy who’s built like a wall approaches us.
“Matteo Giudice and Luca DeCosta?”
We nod and he extends his hand to me first. “I’m Richard Anderson, but you can call me Rick. I’m the hotel manager.”
He’s obviously American, judging by his accent and mannerisms.
“Where do you need us?”
“In the main hall for now. Some guests usually book private rooms after lunch, so I’ll let you know where to go and supervise.”
He hands us both an earpiece attached to a small device through a chord, telling us to attach it to our belts so we can communicate through them hands-free. We watch him walk away as we clip the receivers to our belts as instructed.
***
We take two seats at the end of the bar, looking out into the giant room once we have ordered our drinks. I’m not sure what their policy is on drinking on the job, but I couldn’t care less if I’m honest. I’ve been here for over two hours and I’m already bored. Lucas is on his phone and barely makes any conversation, so there’s nothing for me to do but stare out into the crowd.
Every person my age attending looks to be on the same wavelength as I am; looking like they’d want to be anywhere but here right now.
I see someone who looks familiar with the corner of my eye. It’s Raisa, leaning over to talk to someone who looks like her mother.
My eyes immediately drift from her to who she’s sitting at the table with, and sure enough, I spot Valentina.
Before I have time to react, she looks over at the bar as if she could sense me looking at her.
Her eyes meet mine, and my first reflex is to smile at her.
Finally, something interesting.
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I decided to do Matteo's POV in 1st person this round, I just felt like I needed to write it like this
Let me know what you think :)
See you on Sunday!
xoxo,
Ronnie
- Writer
