In Belgium

As they drove down to Adelina Marchetti’s house, there was an awkward silence in the car. Roberto was thinking about how to deal with this woman that had stolen so much money from his father, while Martina couldn’t stop thinking about her chat with Vincenzo the previous night. “Boss, we are five minutes away from her house now,” Bruno uttered, looking at the back seat through the interior mirror. Roberto raised his head and looked at him, he gave a nod. “Okay. Tell the other to be on alert. She could be aware we are on our way already. We can’t be stupid,” He responded, and Bruno gave a nod. He proceeded to talk to the others, using the microphone attached to his shirt.

Roberto looked at Martina and noticed she had been staring out of the window speechlessly for so many minutes. She had a sad face and was lost in thoughts. He moved his head to her leg and touched it slightly. She jolted out of her thoughts and turned her head to look at him. He let out a slight smile and said, “What is going on in your head? You have been lost in thoughts for minutes, you don’t look happy either. Talk to me.” Martina heaved a sigh and tried to divulge a fake smile.

“I’m fine, Roberto,” She responded. He shook his head and held her soft hand in his. “No, you are not. The Martina I know would always disturb us anytime we are on a trip like this. But this time, it’s different. Something is bothering you, and I want you to share it with me,” He said, and she gulped. She nodded slowly and looked into his eyes. “Roberto,” She held his hand with her other hand and kept talking, “I don’t want you to kill anyone anymore. Is that possible?” She asked, and Roberto furrowed his brows after hearing her question.

“What? What prompted this all of a sudden?” He responded, and she lowered her head sadly. “I don’t know, Roberto, but I’m scared. I’m scared you would kill the innocent this time. I’m scared you will kill that doctor and this woman you are about to meet. I don’t want any more blood on your hands,” She said, and he smiled. “Listen, Martina. I’m not a crazy man. I just don’t stand in the streets and start shooting at people. I kill those that have hurt me, those that aren’t trustworthy, those that act like they are smarter than they are. I hate those that poke their noses into my goddamn business!” He said firmly.

“Let’s take this as an example. That man that tried to touch you at that party. What would you have let me do to him if you aren’t drunk? Would you have told me to let him go?” He asked, and she remained silent, staring at him. “No, you wouldn’t because he did something very bad and deserved to be punished. All the people I have killed and going to kill have hurt me, my father, and the ones I care about one more or the other. I can’t spare any of them,” He added. Martina sighed sadly and looked out of the window again.

He raised her hand to his mouth and planted a kiss on it. “I’ll make only one promise to you. I’d spare any of them, or all of them if I can’t prove they are guilty to you. If they are innocent, I’d let them go. I have done it before, and I’ll do it again. I don’t kill the innocent, I don’t misunderstand situations. I know who to kill and who not to kill.” Martina stared at him as he spoke. She bounced her head and let out a feeble smile.

“You have always talked about your father, you have never mentioned your mother. Why?” She asked. “Well, that is because you died before I could get to know her. My father told me she died when she gave birth to me. I have no memories of her, so I don’t have anything to say about her,” He responded, and Martina’s face turned sad. “I’m so sorry,” She said, and he chuckled. He shook his head and laid his back on the car’s backrest. “It’s not painful, you don’t have to be sorry. I never knew her.” He smiled at her.

Bruno looked back at them and a faint smile shone on his face. It felt nice to hear Roberto share his story with Martina. ‘She is finally won his heart completely,’ He thought to himself. “Haven’t you ever felt the gap she left behind?” Martina asked, and he shook his head, looking out of the window. “I have never felt it because it wasn’t there initially. I grew up believing my father was the only one I needed. I don’t hate her, I don’t love her, I just know she gave birth to me and left me in this world.”

“Mr. Roberto, we are here,” Bruno said, and they both looked out of the window and stared at the gigantic house that was in front of them. “How. This house is super big,” Martina said, and Roberto scoffed. “I bet she used the money she had stolen from people to build it,” He mumbled. His men from the other cars that followed them climbed out and surrounded the house, raising their guns. They were ready for any attack.

Vincenzo hurried to the car and when he saw Roberto was about to open the door, he opened it and stepped aside for him to come out. “I want to go with you,” Martina said, moving to the door. Roberto heaved a sigh and looked at her. “Martina, we talked about this already. This place is dangerous, I can’t let you go in there. What if something happens to you? I won’t be able to take it. Stay here. I’ll ask Vincenzo and Bruno to watch you, while I get to work inside,” He told her, and she slowly nodded.

He turned to leave, and she quickly grabbed his hand. He turned to look at her with a smile. “Don’t get killed. Come back to me.” Roberto lowered himself into the car and planted a kiss on her lips and forehead. “I’ll come back to you. I promise,” He said. Vincenzo swallowed hard and looked away when Roberto kissed Martina. He hated the way he felt, he hated that he felt jealous. He didn’t want to feel anything for her anymore. “Vincenzo, watch her. Nothing must happen to her, and she must not try to come inside the house. You know how stubborn she can be.” Roberto whispered in his ear, and Vincenzo nodded. “I’ll do just that, boss.”

Roberto took one last look at Martina before proceeding to the gate of the house. Greco approached Vincenzo and collected the files from him. “Keep a close watch on the boss. He can’t get shot again,” Bruno said to Greco, and Greco chuckled. “Trust me.” He winked when he responded and turned to leave. Vincenzo narrowed his gaze at Bruno and watched him check Greco out as he left.

“Hm… what’s going on between you two.” Vincenzo kept his gaze narrowed, and Bruno looked at him with a frown. “What do you mean? Nothing is going on.” Bruno sounded defensive when he spoke, and Vincenzo laughed. “Your eyes and voice says otherwise,” He further teased as he closed the car door. “My eyes and voice?” Bruno mumbled to himself, reminiscing on what Vincenzo had said.

Martina’s eyes locked with that of Vincenzo as he closed the door. He gulped and was about to look away when she called his name. “Vincenzo.” He turned away and rested his back on the car. “I’ll keep an eye on you here, Martina. Please don’t try going into the house,” He said coldly, and Martina sighed. ‘I think I’ve lost him for good.’