A new Operation

After eating, Martina and Roberto sat in the living room, their eyes were glued to the television as the movie that was played caught their attention. It was the story of a mafia boss in love with a school girl. Martina developed so much interest in it right from the very first scene when the poor girl spilled juice on the mafia boss while she was hurrying to school. “Did you tell the television I’d be watching a movie today?” Roberto looked at Martina that sat next to him on the couch, her legs were folded up on the couch as she paid full attention to the movie.

“Why do you say so?” She asked, keeping her eyes glued on the television. “This is a mafia story,” He responded. “And he is in love with a school girl.” She nodded and looked at him. “What do you think?” He asked, and she chuckled as she looked at the television again. “I think if it were to be our story, if I was the one that spilled that juice on you, you’d have my head on a plate the next minute. Can’t you see how gentle he is? He didn’t raise his voice at her at all,” She explained, and Roberto scoffed. “He would suffer at the end. This I am sure of. He is too gentle to be in the mafia. She would hurt him,” He responded, and her eyes widened. “Don’t say that! Not every nice person has to suffer in the end, okay?” She crawled up her lips in a frown.

Roberto laughed softly and folded his arms. “We’ll finish watching it. And then, you’ll see that I am not wrong,” He said boldly. Martina looked at him in anger and threw the throw pillow at him. “You are so full of yourself!” She mumbled, and he chuckled again.

As Vincenzo walked down the hallway, he could hear the chat and laugh in the living room. He got to the living room, and his jack slacked when he saw Roberto watching movie. “Roberto, watching movie? Is this a dream?” He asked himself inwardly.

“Hmm… hmm…” He cleared his throat loudly, and they both turned to look at him. When Martina’s gaze fell on him, the smile on her face faded away slowly, and she gulped. Roberto raised one of his brows, waiting to hear what Vincenzo had to say. “Mr. Roberto, I’m here to tell you something,” He uttered. Roberto nodded, and Martina looked at him. “I’ll be in the room.” She stood up, but he held her hand and made her sit again. “You don’t have to go anywhere,” He said and looked at him. “What is it about?” He asked, and Vincenzo exhaled.

“It is business. I was searching through the untouched files, and I found out that one of those who are owning you would be leaving her residential apartment permanently in two days time,” He explained. “What? What is his name?” Roberto asked. “It’s a woman. Her name is Adelina Marchetti.” Roberto furrowed his brows at his response. “Adelina Marchetti? That name doesn’t ring a bell. Let me see her file.” He stretched his hand out, and Vincenzo passed the file in his hand to him.

Roberto opened the file and scanned through it. “What?! She stole $500M! Who the hell is she?!” He yelled out of nowhere, making them flinch in fear. “Yes, sir. Her current location now is Belgium, and she would be leaving soon. She must have seen the pictures and videos at the party and knows you are close. She is the next on the list, and I think we should do something about it before it’s too late,” Vincenzo said, and Roberto nodded. “We leave for Belgium tomorrow morning. I won’t let her escape.” Martina saw rage on Roberto’s face as he spoke. She feared if she said anything, he could yell at her, or even hurt her.

Vincenzo bounced his head and turned to leave, when he paused again. “One more thing, Mr. Roberto. About the house at Southampton. I think I have a suspect,” He said, and Roberto sighed. “Who the hell did it?” He asked. “I am not sure, but I remember the doctor that came to treat me at home. He must have had a phone or something. He seemed nosy.” Martina raised her brows and turned to look at Vincenzo. “What? You can’t be sure about that. He is a nice person, and he doesn’t know you. He just came to do his job.” She interfered. She feared that Roberto would kill an innocent man based on assumptions.

“Find him and bring him to me,” Roberto ordered, and Martina sprang to her feet. “No! Roberto you don’t know him. He is innocent. He came to help him, why would he report to the police about you? He doesn’t know you.” “You can’t be so sure, Martina. You can’t trust anyone because of how nice they sound or look. Who knows what he must have heard. And why are you defending him anyways? Have you met him before?” Roberto asked, and Martina gulped. She looked at Vincenzo and shook her head. “No, but …” “There are no buts, Martina. No one can be trusted in this business. I’d know whether to spare him or kill him when I set my eyes on him. Find him and bring him to me.” He looked at Vincenzo, and Vincenzo nodded and walked out of the living room.

Roberto looked at Martina and saw sadness on her face. “C’mon. I don’t know if I’ll kill him yet, okay?”

“Promise me you won’t kill him when you see him, Roberto.” She said, making him exhale loudly. “Martina, I can’t…” “Promise me! Promise me you won’t kill him.” She cut him short, and he heaved a sigh. “I would let him go without hurting him if he is innocent. If he isn’t, Martina, I can’t promise you I won’t touch him. But, I could spare his life.” Martina rolled her eyes after he finished talking.

“I’m leaving,” She muttered and turned to leave. He grabbed her hand and pouted his mouth. “The movie is still on.” He caressed her hand with his thumb. “I lost interest already.” She threw her face to the other side, and he giggled. “Fine, I won’t kill him, okay? I promise. But I can’t promise you that I won’t hurt him.” He smiled widely. “Roberto, stop! It’s not funny!” She uttered, and he yanked her to himself, she fell on him and he wrapped her hand around her waist. “Watch the movie till the end with me.” He whispered in her ears and flicked the tip of her ear with his tongue.

“Stop it!” She chuckled, pushing him away with her hand. She looked at the television, and he pulled her closer to himself by her waist. Her mind drifted back to the woman in Belgium and started a conversation. “Roberto.” She called and looked at him. He moved his gaze from the television to her face. “Uhm.” He nodded, telling her to speak. “Tell me something. What are you going to do to that woman? The one you and Vincenzo was talking about.” She asked, and he heaved a sigh as he looked at the television again. “I’ll collect the money she stole,” He responded.

The look on his face told Martina that he didn’t want to talk about his business anymore with her, and so she kept mute. “Okay.” She smiled, rubbing his hands with hers.