by J. L. Drake
He had been pacing back and forth around the backyard. Without realizing it, he had ventured a good distance from the house as Emilia ranted about his shortcomings as a boyfriend. She asked if he was listening and he was about to reply when an explosion came from the direction of the house. He hit the ground. After a moment, when no other explosions hit the air, he peered back toward the house only to find it completely engulfed in flames. It was as if time stood still.
Emilia’s voice broke him from his trance, but there wasn’t time to explain or hear more lectures. He jumped to his feet and ran toward the house, but his body seemed to move in slow motion. The building seemed unreachable. Another explosion shook the ground. He dropped and covered his face with his arms until he felt it was safe to pull them away. Then he shot to his feet and continued running. Finally, he arrived at the house.
Heat from the flames singed the hair on his face while he silently prayed. Someone had to survive. But he knew there was no possible way anyone could’ve. His knees buckled; he collapsed to the ground and loud sobs escaped from his chest. He forced air back into his lungs so he could let out a howling and animalistic, “Noooooo! Why me? Take meeeee!” He punched the ground with his fists and rested his head on the cool hard-packed dirt. Everything he had known and loved was gone in a matter of seconds.
He managed to get himself in check. This was no accident; someone wanted his family dead. The fire department would be arriving shortly, but he had to make sure the people responsible thought he died in the explosion as well. He was sure there would be a body count, and his only saving grace was his brother bringing a friend over. The authorities would think it was him, if only for a short while. He ran to retrieve his cell phone, picked it up, and threw it into the flames. For all intents and purposes, he was now dead. He had to act swiftly and find a way to escape the country before the cartel figured out the truth. He took one last look at his family house collapsing upon itself and ran off into the countryside.
His apartment was a short forty-five-minute bus ride from his parents’ house. By leaving his car behind, he would have some time before anyone would go to the apartment to investigate. He remembered he had a fake ID from when he was a teenager trying to get into the bars. The driver’s license looked very legitimate; even his brother, who became a police officer, had a hard time telling it wasn’t real. He would need to travel under a different name, and the name Tony Lupito seemed to be as good as any. He let himself in, and retrieved the identification and some cash. There was clearly a guardian angel looking over him. Maybe his brothers.
Unsure where to go, he decided to stay on the move. His English was good enough that he could pass as a tourist, so he took the northwest train toward the Swiss border.
All he had to do was cross. He would never have to look back. Tony wanted to more than anything. Instead, guilt took over. He couldn’t just leave and not get justice for his family. This act of terror was intentional. The people responsible wouldn’t stop until he was dead too. Tony would always have to look over his shoulder.
His gut told him crossing the border was the wrong thing to do. He needed to get some money from the factory safe and find out who killed his family. He suspected the cartel, and if indeed it was, he had a fight in front of him.
Tony clenched his fists envisioning his family dying in those flames. Fortunately, it was quick and no one suffered—no one except him.
He had had multiple conversations with his dad. He’d tried to get his dad to turn over the evidence to the authorities. However, his father insisted the information was keeping their family alive as much as it was keeping Guliani Abatangelo out of prison. His dad had a plan; everything would work out how it was supposed to. Now Tony was wishing he had done better convincing his dad to turn over the evidence.
The clanking of a housekeeping cart being pushed down the hall pulled Tony from his thoughts. He picked up his phone and dialed the number he retrieved from the internet. It only rang once before someone on the other end picked it up. “Ciao, Florence Town Tours,” a woman answered in a cheery voice.
“Ciao, I’d like to see if you have any room in your ten o’clock cooking class tomorrow.”
“Let me check, sir. Please hold.”
“Thank you.”
The woman typed feverishly in the background. “Yes, sir. You’re in luck. Someone canceled their reservation this morning. We have one spot open. Would you like to reserve it?”
“Yes. My name is Tony Lupito.”
He finished booking the reservation, gathered his things, and headed downstairs for breakfast. He wanted to be in the dining area before Katherine. Hopefully, it would be less conspicuous that he was following her. There was no need to make her any more nervous about him than she already appeared to be. Who knew how she would react to his showing up in the cooking class. No, he had to play it cool.
She seemed the type of person he would’ve liked to have known and even considered dating in his former life. Unfortunately, all she could be for him now was a means to the end. No one would suspect him traveling with an American. It was the perfect cover.
He hurried down the stairs two at a time. As he rounded the corner to the dining room, he quickly panned the room in search of Katherine. He didn’t realize he’d been holding his breath until the air forced its way from his lungs. Thankfully, she was nowhere to be found.
He found an empty table and placed his backpack on the chair. He walked to the buffet and helped himself to some coffee and a pastry. Once he returned to his seat, one of the hotel employees offered him a newspaper. He accepted it, hoping to catch up on the current events, and to see if there was any more news about the murder of his family.
He read the newspaper from cover to cover without finding any new information. It was as if they had vanished. In a way, he supposed they had. How could something like this not be newsworthy? How could a prominent Italian family, well-known in the olive oil industry, get blown to pieces without the least bit of information in the papers? There wasn’t even a smidgen on the shortage of oil that would be created when the factory closed. There was only one explanation—the cartel was covering it up.
As he got up to refill his coffee, he watched as Katherine made her way toward the dining room. Showtime, Romeo. Tony smiled and winked at her. Her cheeks flushed slightly. She was a beautiful woman, but she too was guarded. She was running from something.
“Good morning, Katherine. How did you sleep?”
“Well, thank you. I see you’re up bright and early this morning.” She smiled innocently, driving a stake through his heart. Damn! What he could do to her. He managed to contain his composure despite the less than savory thoughts going on in his mind.
“Yes, I have some business to take care of while I’m here in town. How about you? Where are you off to today?”
She hesitated before answering. “I’m going to explore some of the museums. I wanted to go see the David.”
Tony could tell Katherine had reconstructed the wall that he began to break down the night before. She wasn’t nearly as receptive to conversation as she had been after a couple glasses of wine. He just had to get her to relax and trust him. “Good choice. It’s quite an impressive statue. The intricate detail carved into David is amazing, especially when you consider that during that time period, the quality of tools was limited.”
Her face lit up like a kid in a candy shop. “Now you’ve even made me more excited about seeing it!”
Bingo, he had her right where he wanted her. “You should also check out the Uffizi Museum. It has an amazing display of paintings from the Renaissance period. But make sure you give yourself several hours. You can lose all sense of time while in there.”
“Thank you for the advice. I got the Firenze pass and hope to avoid the long lines.”
“I’m impressed, Katherine! It seems as though you have this tourist thing down. Would you care to join me for breakfast before you head out?”
“Sure, that would
be nice. How does this work? Do I help myself or do they come to serve me here?”
“It’s a buffet, so you can help yourself. I recommend some of the pastries. They are delicious.”
“Thank you, I’ll be right back.” She put down her belongings on the chair at their table and then proceeded to peruse the food.
Tony eyed her backpack in search of anything that could help his efforts. Unfortunately, it was sealed tightly. He needed to accompany her to the museums, but didn’t want to push himself on her just yet. There was still time to nurture this friendship. He wasn’t quite sure what the plan was, but Katherine would definitely be a part of it. He wasn’t about to let her escape his sight.
Chapter Five
Katherine’s uneasiness regarding Tony quickly subsided. She’d had a lovely time with him at dinner, and enjoyed the brief conversation at breakfast. Maybe he was just a nice guy. She wasn’t familiar with the Italian culture, so maybe all Italian men were genuinely outgoing and good people.
The incident with Mike made her wonder if she could trust people. She had pushed away all her friends and became reclusive in the past few weeks. She was beginning to think maybe she could trust people and that Mike was just a dirtbag. How had she spent five years with him and never really have known the man? Better late than never, I guess.
Katherine decided to go to the Uffizi Gallery first because it was known for its large crowds and long lines. She was able to get in right when it opened and got to enjoy the museum without too many people. The self-guided tour she listened to while walking through the halls was excellent. It allowed her to move at her own pace, and try to understand the meaning and symbolism behind each painting. The amount of information flooding her mind became overwhelming after awhile. She figured if she were an art history major, she would have died and gone to heaven.
When she finally got her fill of the Uffizi, she decided to stop and get some lunch. Her stomach growled and her head spun from all the newfound knowledge. She exited the museum and marveled at the statues and crowds who gathered in the Piazza. It was almost like being in an amusement park. People were swarming everywhere trying to get in the next line for their favorite museum.
Katherine pushed through the crowds and crossed the square. She stopped at a small sidewalk cafe next to the Duomo. Katherine had read not to eat at the restaurants next to big attractions because they cost more and their food usually wasn’t as good. But that didn’t matter now; she was tired, hungry, and needed to sit.
There was a great view of the Piazza and the Duomo from her table. The Duomo was huge—about the size of a city block. The walls were white and pink, and accented with gold everywhere. The building was certainly an impressive feat of engineering, especially considering when it was built.
She shifted her attention to the tourists. People from around the world with different backgrounds, languages, and upbringings had flocked to the city, to get a glimpse of the rich history. Being here really made the world seem like a small place.
The waiter stepped in front of her with a Diet Coke in hand. She grabbed it eagerly and took a sip, allowing the tiny bubbles to invade her mouth. She was just about to peruse the menu when she did a double-take and saw Tony walking across the piazza past the Duomo. He didn’t look very happy; his head was down, his jaw clenched. She hesitated for a second before calling out to him.
She jumped from her seat, drink in one hand and the other waving in the air. “Tony!” She waved some more. “Tony!”
He turned and looked in her direction. The intensity on his face disappeared and a smile formed as his eyes lit up like the Great Emerald City.
“Katherine, what an unexpected surprise. How are you?”
“I’m a bit tired, but well, thank you.”
“How were you able to spot me out of this crowd of people?”
“I guess my sense of awareness is heightened today after studying all those paintings.” She motioned across the Piazza. “I was doing a little people-watching when I came across a familiar face. Would you like to join me for lunch?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t right now. I have some business. How about we meet for dinner?” Tony asked as he rested his hand on her shoulder.
When Tony said no to lunch, it felt like the wind got knocked out of her. Of course it was absurd; she hardly knew this man. The fact a complete stranger was being so nice should have been enough. But it wasn’t. She liked his company and was starved for someone to share her experiences with.
“Katherine? What do you think? Would you like to have dinner?”
She looked up from the Coke in her hand. “Ah, sure. What time were you thinking?”
“How about seven?”
She studied her watch and saw it was only two o’clock. She had plenty of time to visit another museum and freshen up before dinner.
“I presume, since you’re here, you’ll be visiting one of these sites?”
“Actually, I just finished the Uffizi. You were right, it’s lovely.”
Tony looked back toward the grand building. “It’s a remarkable museum. There’s so much history, and amazing works of art.”
“Yes, it was a bit overwhelming, but I agree with you, there’s nothing quite like it.”
Tony turned his attention back to Katherine. “So, where are you going next?”
“I’m off to the Academia.” She was getting antsy just thinking about it.
“Ahh, that’s right. You wanted to see the David.”
“Yes, I can’t wait. I’m not sure if I am more excited about visiting Florence for the food or the visit to the Academia.”
“It certainly is a toss-up. They are both fabulous. What do you think of the Duomo?” Tony motioned to the elaborate building behind him.
“Oh my gosh. It’s amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it. The building is so big and beautiful. I can only imagine what it looks like inside.”
“I’m sure you have buildings in New York that are equally as impressive. What about the Empire State Building?”
“The Empire State Building is certainly great, but it’s nothing like the Duomo. The Duomo is so ornate, and has so much detail to the walls. How they were able to build something that magnificent in the thirteenth century is beyond me.”
“Just wait until you get inside. It is even more impressive with the green marble and paintings throughout. The inside of the dome is also spectacular. It has a beautiful fresco of the Last Judgment. It is quite impressive that anyone could have their head back and arm up to paint for so many hours.”
“I will definitely have to check it out tomorrow.” She smiled as she stared at the amazing feat of engineering standing before her.
“So, dinner…I know a great little restaurant not too far from the Academia. Would you care to join me there or would you rather meet at the hotel?”
The emerald green of Tony’s eyes caught the light and began to sparkle. “Hmmm. I don’t know. Maybe I should take a rain check.” She couldn’t look at Tony as she second-guessed her decision. Clearly she’d got caught up in the romance of the city. What was she thinking? She’d only left Mike a short while ago. Now was not the time to make friends with any of the male species.
“Katherine, you’re having second thoughts, aren’t you?” Tony placed a hand on her shoulder.
She stood motionless.
“I won’t hurt you. I just thought it would be fun to talk about your travels and perhaps give suggestions on what to see next. If you’re not interested, I completely understand.”
Was she overreacting? What could the harm be? Tony was a nice guy. Perhaps he was lonely too. “No. You’re right. It’s fine. How about we meet at the hotel? It would give me a chance to freshen up.” She forced a smile across her face but uneasiness still overwhelmed her.
“Good, then we can walk to the restaurant together. How about we meet in the lobby?” Tony tilted his head to meet her eyes.
“Okay.” The waiter circled back eager to take Kather
ine’s order.
He passed by, capturing Tony’s attention. “Have you ordered your lunch yet?”
“No, I was just about to look at the menu when I saw you.”
“I would stick to something simple. Try a slice of pizza or a sandwich. The food at these types of places isn’t great.”
“Thank you. I’ll heed your advice.”
“Enjoy your lunch. I have a few things to get done before we head out to dinner.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you this evening.” She smiled and waved.
Tony left the restaurant and headed up Via Cavour, one of the main streets running through the town. As he walked, the tension returned to his shoulders and his stride became longer and purposeful. It seemed strange; just another thing to harbor her uneasiness. She shifted her thoughts to the dinner plans. Her stomach was doing flip-flops and the appetite she had only moments before was suddenly gone. Oh…what have I done? Maybe I made a mistake. I don’t even know this man. What am I thinking? Calm down. It’s not a date. It’s just two people, who are alone, sharing a dinner. It’s okay. I can do this. It’s time to be social again. I can’t let what happened with Mike ruin me forever.
She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves and chose a salad from the menu. Then she took out her confirmations and plotted out how she was going to fit in a visit to the Duomo. The cooking class was tomorrow from ten to three. It was just a few blocks from the Duomo, and the guidebook stated the lines were usually shorter as the evening approached. Perfect. I can stop by and tour it after the cooking school.
When the waiter placed the salad in front her, she stared at it with a lack of interest. She finished the Diet Coke and paid the bill before resuming her tour through one of the most romantic cities in the world.