Page 17 of De Luca: The Saint

“Yes, sir,” he says as he turns to go to the bar.

“That sounds expensive,” Kat sighs.

“You don’t need to worry about the cost of it, but it’s not our most expensive bottle.”

I’m not lying to her, it’s not the highest priced bottle we carry but it’s definitely up there. It’s not a big deal to me, but I know Kat would squawk at us drinking a seven-hundred-dollar bottle of wine. Money is a pain point for her, and I never want her to think I’m rubbing it in her face. Hell, if I thought she’d take it, I’d give her a million dollars right now, no questions asked. Katherina would never allow that though. She’d think I was trying to buy her. I’m not, although I probably would if she were agreeable.

Vincent brings our glasses and bottle of wine. He pours our glasses and silently leaves us alone.

Kat takes a sip of her wine, “This is really good, so flavorful.”

I wink, “You didn’t think I’d give you bad wine, did you?”

Instantly, she blushes while setting her hands on her lap, “No. It’s unexpected, I guess. I’ve never had wine like this.”

Taking a swallow of my drink, I set it back on the table, “My mother’s name was Davina. She and my father were strange in our world. Arranged marriages for financial benefit are common. He was set to marry a young woman that would profit his father greatly. Then he met my mother, and things changed.”

Kat leans back in her chair and stares into my eyes, listening to every word I say like this is important information, and she doesn’t want to miss a single detail. I swallow hard as I realize she makes me feel like I matter. Most of the women I’ve been with appreciate my body, but it’s the money and power they’re after. Many have tried to force me to settle down. They didn’t give a fuck about me, only my wealth and what I could do for them. Katherina is different, she wants to know me even if she doesn’t realize it yet. Katherina is guarded. She wants to walk away from whatever the hell this is between us, but I won’t let that happen.

“He was sent to a rival’s home to take care of a situation. My mother was being held as a prisoner. The way my mother told it, he rescued her, but we all know she rescued him, too. They were so in love. I’ve never seen anything like it since.”

“Were?” she whispers.

I nod, “Yeah, they are both dead now.”

“What happened?” She asks, appearing shocked before she quickly says, “You don’t have to tell me. I’m sorry. It’s not my business.”

I reach across the table and take her hand in mine, rubbing the back of her hand, “A rival family kidnapped my mother and little sister. We ended up getting my sister back, but my mom was dead. My sister, Dalia, watched her die after witnessing her being beaten and raped, repeatedly. Videos were sent to my father of both of them being sexually assaulted.”

Kat covers her mouth with her trembling free hand as tears fall from her stunning eyes, she’s crying, for me, for my family, “I’m sorry, Damian. That’s horrible. I’m just so sorry.”

I squeeze her hand gently, “Thank you, Angel.”

Our food arrives, so I release her hand and take another drink of my wine. I prefer hard liquor, but I got wine for her. If I weren’t drinking it, I’m not sure she would either. She deserves everything good in life. I want to give her the world, if only she’d let me.

As the waiter steps away, she says, “Your dad?”

I look down at my food, remembering the day he died. None of this is shit you ever get over.

“He was so in love with my mom. When he saw the videos of her screaming in pain, something inside him broke. The day we finally found the shit hole they were being kept in, and he found my mother’s body, I knew he’d never recover, and he didn’t. The day of her funeral, he ate his gun. The pain was too great. He took his own life.”

“Damian,” she gasps, “That’s the most tragic love story I’ve ever heard. I’m sorry.”

I nod silently, “Thank you, Kitty Kat. Now eat, and I’ll tell you about McDonald’s.”

She takes a bite of her salmon and I take a bite of mine. After swallowing, I tell my story, which makes me both happy and sad.

“My father worked constantly. My mother raised us for the most part, we had help, but she’d never allow a nanny to raise us. She was everything you imagine a mother to be, loving, patient, and kind, but stern when necessary. Every Saturday, she would take me and my brothers to McDonalds. We’d have lunch and play in the Playland. It’s a very simple thing, but we made so many memories there. One day, you’ll have to ask Domenic how he broke his arm at McDonalds.”

She giggles, “Your poor mother. For some reason, I think the De Luca brothers must have been a handful.”

I feign an expression of shock, “I’m a saint, remember? Practically a choir boy.”

Katherina rolls her eyes, “I’m sure. I think you’re more sinner than saint.”

She smiles, and it reaches her eyes. I've never seen her beautiful blues sparkle this way.

I imagine this must be what the ocean looks like, with the sun glaring down on it. It’s mesmerizing.

---