Waffles

Martina’s stomach grumbled occasionally as they drove down to Enzo’s mansion. She folded her belly with her hand and closed her eyes.

“How do you all go on missions without eating? What if you collapse due to hunger?”

Roberto scoffed and kept on scrolling through his phone. He was reading through some documents that had to do with Enzo’s dubious act when his father died.

Enzo was to sell two tons of crack cocaine for $30million, and he was supposed to send 65% of this money, which was $19.5million, to Roberto’s father. Unfortunately for Enzo, he sent only 15%, which was $4.5million, after complaining that the buyers were playing him.

Roberto found out the truth from one of Enzo’s men he captured after two years of his father’s death.

He was told that Enzo was fully paid but, he decided to betray Roberto’s father.

Roberto had the complete signed documents with him in both hard and soft copies. Giovanni, his father, had always known he could die anytime, and he made sure all contract was in Roberto’s name and reach.

He was going to collect every dim he owed, and if he was in a good mood, let him live.

Martina was looking outside when she saw the Sprinkles Gelato Above Bar. Her eyes widened, and she hit the driver’s seat in haste.

“Slow down! I want to get some waffles!”

Bruno looked at Roberto. He waited for Roberto’s order. Roberto looked at her as wound down the glass and pushed half of her body out of the window.

“Hey!! I need waffles!!!” She yelled after seeing a man wearing a uniform in front of the bar. She guessed he was a worker in the bar.

“Can you stop yelling for F**k sake!”

“No Roberto! I would rather let you gun me to death than let you starve me!” She yelled with her body still out of the window.

The people that walked down the street stared at her as she yelled.

“Martina, sit!” Roberto barked.

“I want to eat! Everyone, this man here is going to starve me to death!!”

“Bruno, stop the car!”

Bruno immediately clutched the breaks and looked at Roberto.

“Get her what she wants. We can't let her pull too much attention.”

“Yes, sir.” Bruno switched off the engine and hurried out of the car.

“Sit down!”

Martina revealed an evil grin and moved her body into the car again.

She looked at him and saw a stern look on his face. She rolled her eyes and folded her arms. “You should have listened to me earlier.” She mumbled.

“Martina!”

They heard Vincenzo call as he ran to the car. He peeped into the car, and they both looked at him.

“I’m sorry for her behavior, Mr. Roberto. She can go in another car if you want.”

“I can handle her, Vincenzo. Go back to the car,” Roberto uttered with his face glued to his phone.

Martina looked at Vincenzo blankly, and he heaved a sigh. He walked back to the car and sat in it.

“I pray she doesn’t get herself killed.” He thought aloud.

“I don’t think she can get herself killed, Vincenzo. If at all the boss wanted to kill her, he would have a long time ago. He isn’t going to kill her.” Greco interfered, and Vincenzo looked at him.

“I never asked for your opinion.”

“I’m sorry, but you don’t have to worry about her. Roberto isn’t going to kill her. I think he likes her more than any other slave he has ever had.”

“Greco, one more word from that mouth of yours, and I am going to hit your head with my hand.”

Greco clasped his lips and laughed. He ran his two fingers over his lips like he wanted to zip a bag.

Bruno came back with the waffles and gave them to Martina. She happily collected them from him and began to eat. The medication she was on made her madly hungry. So, she ate in a rush. Bruno furrowed his brows at the way she devoured it like an angry lion.

He hopped into the car again and ignited the engine.

Roberto stole glances at Martina as she ate. Her rough hair fell freely, and it kept getting in the way of the waffles she ate.

She tucked her hair behind her ear as she ate. She didn’t realize Roberto was looking at her because she was too busy satisfying her cravings.

The Nutella on the waffles stained Martina’s mouth, but she wasn’t aware.

Roberto scoffed and looked away. He refused to tell her about the stain.

The cars began to move again, and Martina didn’t disturb anymore.

***

They parked the two of Roberto’s cars two miles away from Enzo’s house, and the remaining three drove into the compound. They parked the car and alighted.

Roberto stood in front of his car door and stared at the mansion. Vincenzo stood next to him with five other fully armed men.

The huge door of the mansion flung open, and more than ten men rushed out of the mansion with large guns in their hands.

Roberto’s men also raised their guns and pointed them at them.

They all lined up in front of the house, and Enzo walked out in his favorite white khaki shorts. He had tobacco in his mouth and sunglasses on.

“Roberto Galante! Welcome to my territory.” He said in a monotonous voice.

“Arrgh... why does he look so arrogant.” Martina thought to herself as she watched from inside the car.

She was about to alight when she saw them pull out guns. She quickly shut the door and watched through the window.

“I am here to talk Mr. Enzo Carrao. Pointing guns at each other isn’t so mature, don’t you think?” Roberto uttered in an orotund voice. His hands were buried in his pockets, and he looked very bold.

“How is he so confident? Enzo’s men are more than his.” Martina whispered.

“Of course, Galante, I have some exotic wines at home.”

Enzo walked into the house, and his men slowly lowered their guns. Roberto’s men also lowered their guns, but they were on alert.

Roberto walked to the house, and Vincenzo walked beside him with a file in his hand.

His men walked into the house with him.

“Are you all ready?” Bruno said into his microphone, and Martina furrowed her brows.

“Ready? What are you all planning?”

“It is none of your business. Stay put.” He responded hardly and got out of the car.

She rolled her eyes and looked at the men that surrounded the front of the house. They were so many.

As she stared, an idea popped up in her head.

“This is the perfect time to get a cellphone and call Caterina… But where do I get a phone?”

She searched the car thoroughly but she couldn’t find one.