Page 34 of Ruins
Santoisintimidating.
In person, he’s magnanimous, besides his size, his presence takes up a lot of space, even in the expansive club I could feel him everywhere. I sensed his eyes on me before I saw him.
I recognized him as soon as our eyes met last night.
For the past week I have stared at his photo more times than I can count.I could pick those eyes out in a lineup.But last night those eyes stared into me as if I were prey and he was hunting my every move. I feel a chill roll up my spine thinking about it.
My husband to be is a force of a man.
If just being in his company in a room full of people stifled me, I can’t fathom being alone with him. I look down at his photo again; Santo Amato is handsome in a way that feels dangerous—like a man who could unravel you with a glance but wouldn’t care enough to piece you back together. There’s nothing in his eyes that gives away who he really is. Though after seeing him I should count myself lucky, I could have been arranged to Jude or worse, someone much older, less fit and hateful. I hope Santo isn’t hateful. I trace my fingertip over his photo and startle at a knock on my door. Mimi pokes her head inside.
“Someone is here to see you,” she says quietly.
“Who?” I ask, my heart stuttering in my chest. I place the photo down hastily and smooth out my skirt.
“I don’t know, some hot guy,” Mimi says her eyes lighting up.
Confused, I follow her to our front door where my mother stands with a man I haven’t seen before. He’s well built, his red shirt stretching over his chest, he’s wearing a harness with his guns strapped securely. His dark hair is gelled keeping his curls neat, his warm brown eyes meet mine, and he gives me a kind smile. “Vasilisa?”
I nod and my mother steps away giving me some space with the stranger in our foyer.
“My name’s Luca Cattaneo, I work for Santo,” he says simply, and I notice a plain brown box in his hands my heart thrums at what it could possibly be.
“Nice to meet you,” I say extending my hand, instead of giving me his hand, he places the box in mine.
“Santo wanted you to have this, I’m supposed to collect your old one while I’m here,” he says plainly his eyes leaving mine and going to Mimi.
“Hi,” she says with a giggle.
“Hey Kid,” he acknowledges with a nod. I open the box and inside is a cellphone. Hesitantly, I remove the phone and hand the box to Luca.
“Why? I have a phone.”
“You need a new one,” Luca explains, “and this one has Santo’s number in it and mine, just in case you can’t reach him.”
I stare at Luca uncertain and he stares right back at me unmoved. “Is that all?”
“If you could just get your old phone I can be out of your hair.”
My eyes widen, but I say nothing, my brain unable to compute what is happening, I glance at my mother who furrows her brow at me and nods vigorously, shooing me to go, I take that note and leave with my new phone in hand.
I head back upstairs to retrieve my old one, my fingers tightening around the new phone. It’s sleek, expensive. Beautiful. But it’s also a leash, isn’t it? A way to control what I see, what I say, who I can talk to. And yet, I go through the motions, handing over my old one without protest. Because that’s what’s expected.
I return shortly to where Mimi is doing cartwheels in front of an unimpressed Luca.
“And that’s how easy it is,” Mimi says breathlessly, “you just have to practice.”
“Mimi, leave him alone,” my mother scolds from the other room and Mimi reluctantly leaves.
I hand Luca my old phone. “Are you going to... is he going to keep my old phone?” I ask uncertain.
Luca shrugs, “I don’t know, I’m just doing my job.”
I nod, “I guess I’ll see you at the wedding then?”
Luca smiles, “Of course, text me if you need me.” Luca leaves and I lock the door behind him.
Still bewildered, I turn to look at Mimi hiding in the hall. She grins from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, he was charming,” she says, stretching out the last word in a whimsical tone. “You think he’ll come back?”
