Page 16 of Gianni DeLuca

Later that night, whiletangled in my blue satin sheets, Diamond traced the scars on my chest. I earned scars from knives, one bullet, and a broken bat. I played in her thick, silken hair. We’d been together all afternoon and night after she’d called off from work, citing a family emergency. I’d missed a meeting with Roberto and Mamma. Both of us were already neglecting our duties to be together.

She propped herself on her elbow, tracing my lips with the tip of her index finger. “You have a lot of money now. Why continue to live this life? You can be a legit businessman.”

“The same reasons you do it.”

“I want out.”

“Then leave. Not that you need me to take care of you, but you can come and be with me. Let whoever is under you handle the Desire.”

Diamond sighed, “Too many people dependent on me.”

“And you don’t think I have the same issue? Trust me, I’ve thought about it. I’ve done too much wrong to think I can disappear into the sunset. One day I will pay for my sins,” I said, staring at the ceiling. “In the Catholic faith, you can repent and expect to be forgiven. I believe God forgives, but I don’t know if he can let go of all I’ve done.”

“Have you ever killed or had someone killed not in the game? My father did his best to keep violence away from civilians, and the Desire still upholds that.”

“No, any blood on my hands was in the game. Still, we’re all God’s children. Even those who disobey.”

“Sounds like you still go to church.”

I nodded. “My mother and I attend a private service most Sundays.”

“The city loves you, especially the women. I’m surprised you’ve never been married or had children.”

“My mother feels the same way,” I responded wryly. “She’s been on me since I was in my twenties...asking for grandbabies. I never wanted to bring a woman or have a child into this world. What about you?”

“I’ve had men, but they all have been soldiers and rarely faithful. Man’s ego can’t handle my position in the Desire.”

“I can.”

She kissed my chest. “Your mother won’t allow me and you to be together.”

“If she understands how much you mean to me, she’ll come around.”

“She knows who I am, doesn’t she?”

“Well, she knows you’re Wisdom and Diamond Domonique but not Paris Rochon, Lafayette’s sister.”

“I always wanted to meet her. Used to be so jealous that Laffy spent so much time at your house, but I was never invited.”

I picked up her hand. “I wanted to invite you, but Laffy made it clear our friendship would be over if I dated his sister. If I had a sister, I wouldn’t want my friends to date her either.”

Diamond toyed with my nipple as she spoke, “He used to always do that to me. Anytime one of his friends remotely looked at me, he would get all protective and act like the big brother when we were exactly the same age. Why are men so archaic in thinking? What’s wrong with a friend dating your sister?”

“We talk about the girls we fuck or want to fuck, and no sane man wants to know that his friend is thinking that or done that with his sister.”

“That’s stupid because every woman you’re dealing with is somebody’s sister, mother, aunt, godmother...she’s somebody to some man.” She tapped my nose. “Is that the only reason you are willing to date me now because Laffy is not here?”

“Now, I would risk his friendship to be with you. Nothing or no one can stop me again, including my mother.” I looked up at her. “Maybe I sound crazy, but honestly, I never married because the only person I’d ever envisioned as my wife was you.”

She gazed down into my face, her gaze soft and dreamy. “I never married for the same reason.”

“Maybe it’s time for us.”

Diamond sighed loudly, “Gianni, what are we doing? We can’t keep ignoring the elephant in the room.”

I brushed back her hair. “For right now, the elephant doesn’t exist. I want a little more time before the business takes precedent.”

She nodded and placed her head on my chest. And soon, her even breathing matched mine, and I drifted off to sleep.

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