The Don opens his palms and shifts uneasily from side to side. “She's a spirited girl. A spirited girl I like to keep an eye on. But I only called you, Roman— ”
“You keep an eye on her with guards at all times?”
The Don's eyes flash toward me. “It's for the best. She needs to be safe. I would've thought that with you, Roman, she would be safest of all.”
“She will be, Don Lauro. I'm not really sure what's going on here yet, but I intend to find out.”
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” Stosh says, holding his hands in the air like he's conducting an orchestra. “There’s no need for things to get this heated. We have a simple solution. Don Lauro, if I may be so bold…”
“You may,” Don Lauro growls.
Stosh shrugs. He looks at me for a moment as though asking for my approval and I nod, though I'm not entirely sure what he plans on doing.
“Roman, I think it's time that this marriage got underway,” Stosh says reasonably. “Marie would be safest under your care, while Don Lauro and I look into this alleged attack.”
“It's not an alleged attack,” I correct him. “Three guys, one SUV. They knew where she was and where she was going. If Don Lauro didn't do it, then who did?”
“How dare you!” Don Lauro roars. He expects me to be frightened, but I'm not. How can I be frightened of someone so bloated, so swollen with his own pride?
“Roman, please…”
“I've already agreed,” I remind him.
Stosh appeals to the Don. “You see? Everything is taken care of. Set the event for this weekend.”
“This weekend?” I repeat incredulously.
But the Don is nodding. He pinches his lips together and stares at the floor. “This weekend, then. Yes, but Roman…”
I cross my arms and face him. Such a strange combination in this man. Part peacock, part worm. Look how he falls apart over his little girl.
“Roman you must swear to me. Swear to keep Marie safe.”
“I already did.”
He shakes his head. “It's not enough. Say the words.”
Stosh glares at me. I open my mouth to say something but then think better of it. “I swear it, Don Lauro. She will be safest with me. She is. Safer than anywhere else.”
And that I leave them both standing there to talk about their business. As I come out of the cigar club, I scan the street for signs of Marie and automatically call Alek.
“What is it,” he says, answering on the first ring.
I swing into the driver’s seat before answering. “I’m not sure yet,” I admit.
Alek laughs. “Oh really? You’re not sure? You’re always sure.”
“Yeah well, something stinks.”
“Agreed.”
I roll the Jeep into traffic and head for our little apartment. Everything about this makes my skin crawl. This dirty city. These dirty people. That girl…
“We shouldn’t have come, Alek.”
I can hear him shrugging over the phone line, I swear.
“Roman, we didn’t have a choice.”
“No choice…” I repeat sourly. “You know who thinks they have a choice? That little girl. What is she… just a toy and yet she’s got twelve grand in her purse and the balls to try to get to Argentina or some shit—”
“ — Ha! Are you kidding me?” Alek interrupts. The smile in his voice is grating my nerves.
“No I’m not kidding. How does this little zadrota have more choice than we do, Alek?”
“Well, I would say she doesn’t, Roman. You just dragged her by the scruff of her neck back to her basket, right?”
I scrub my face with my palm. “Christ, she makes me so—”
“ — horny?”Alek interrupts again.
“Angry! I don’t want to do this… chasing some gash all over this city every time she gets her panties in a twist. I have work to do!”
“I think being a good husband is your most important work—”
“ — All right, fuck you, Alek. If you’re not going to take his seriously…”
“I am! I am!” he barks, but I can hear him grinning from ear to ear. It’s a good thing I can’t see his face right now.
“You’re laughing.”
“Well, I’m happy.”
I slam on the brakes, nearly plowing over some little old lady in an intersection. Alek is jerking my chain, and I have had just about enough of everyone today.
“Well, I am not happy,” I growl, raising an apologetic finger at the old lady as she hobbles to the curb. She turns around and flips me off.
This fucking city, I swear to God.
“Oh yeah you are,” Alek chuckles. “You just don’t know it yet. Look how your blood boils! You’re steaming!”