Page 178 of La Dolce Vita

“Hello. Can I speak to Henry?”

A woman went silent on the other end. It was either Henry’s wife or oldest daughter. Either way when Giovanni called they rarely greeted him with friendly banter. He understood. What they knew of him and Henry’s relationship it should give them pause.

“One second,” the woman said. This time Giovanni caught the voice. It was Henry’s wife. Her name was Ally. She was American and at least twenty years younger than his cousin. Henry had been married a few times over the years. Always young, and always redheads from what Giovanni knew.

“Gio!” Henry came on the line.

He smiled. "Wolf! How are you, cousin?"

“What the hell? I got your message! Are you in America?”

“I am. Apple Grove.”

“Where the fuck is that?”

“Virginia,” Giovanni said.

“Oh, okay. Give me the address.”

Giovanni gave him the address. He heard the shower turn on in the bathroom. He had a few minutes before his wife reappeared. He grabbed a pillow and propped it behind his head. “How soon can you come visit?”

“Mmm, maybe a day or so. I can arrange it. Is your wife with you? The kids?”

“Everyone’s here,” Giovanni said.

"Maybe I can bring Ally and my boys. We can do a little family get together."

“She’d like that. But I think this time it should be you and me. I need your help.”

Henry went silent. A long pause had stretched between them before he spoke. "Gio, I told you. I'm out that business. I got the ATF and the Feds crawling all over me now. I'm done."

“I know. I just need to know if you have contacts in this region.”

Henry chuckled. “Apple Grove, Virginia? No. I doubt I have any contacts there.”

“Not here, Norfolk. A man named Cutter. Supposed to be a big business man and owns boxing rings. Can you check him out for me? Make some calls?”

“Why not go through your ties in Philly? I’m sure they could get the answers.”

“Because we’re family. Right cousin?”

“Right,” Henry said. “Maybe next time you’ll come to me, and we can catch up. Be family. You know?”

“I’d like that.”

The door opened, and Mirabella appeared in a towel. She frowned to see him on the phone. "I got to go." He said and then gave him the number to the farmhouse. Henry promised to call back that afternoon before they hung up.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“Henry. You said I should call him. He’d like to meet you and the kids.”

"Oh," she flashed him a pretty smile. "The soap isn't the best, but the shower is nice. Wanna join me?”

“I thought you were sore?” he asked.

"A little cool water on my lady parts did the trick." She tossed the towel onto the bed. His gaze went down her breasts to her pussy. "Come on; I'll wash your back. You wash mine."

Giovanni didn’t’ have to be asked twice. He tossed aside the covers and went after her.

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