Page 64 of Labria

“Yeah, you mentioned them. Do you know if she’s here in town, in Vegas?”

“Yes, she is. I believe she’s going back to New York today.”

“Is she dating Lord?”

“Dating? I don’t know anything about that.”

“Honestly, you didn’t know if he’s been seeing her and talking to her?”

“No, I didn’t. If I did know something, I would tell you. Lordes doesn’t confide in me.”

“I believe she was on a date with Lord today.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“He was at Carlito’s Italian Cuisine on Peach Street on a date with her.”

“I know the restaurant. But was it a date?” He asked, and I knew he was genuinely oblivious to Lord’s paltry affair.

“Yes, he hid it from me and lied about where he was going.”

Zio rubbed his facial hair with his hand. “Do you want a drink?”

“A drink?” My mind was already foggy. Alcohol probably wasn’t the best idea. But I’m sure Lord had a drink with that mystery woman. “Sure, why not.”

“Wine.” He clarified because he could see my head was somewhere else.

“Yes.”

“Is red okay?” He asked as he stood.

“Yes, whatever you have is fine.”

I watched as Maurizio left the room. I could hear him moving around in the kitchen, although I couldn’t see him. I observed the living room. This place was nice for a bachelor. It wasn’t masculine or feminine. It had a very neutral feel about it. The décor was earth tones, with only light splashes of color.

My mind shifted. A strobe light of thoughts flickered in my brain.What would happen if Lord found out I was here? What would he do? Did he even care? Why did I care?

He was still lying to me and it seemed he was lining up an Italian woman to replace me. I’d seen the text messages that had parts of the messages missing. I’d seen the lingerie pictures that mafia whore sent him. He had put her name in his cell phone as L. LaGrassa. Maybe he thought I would think L stood for Lorenzo or something. Maybe he hadn’t thought about me at all when he entered her number in his cell.

I wanted marriage, and I was willing to wait for him. Right now, he could kiss my ass. Now I was done with the bullshit. I didn’t need him. I had a job and I could just get my own place so I could figure out my next move. Lord wasn’t the man I used to know. If I was being completely honest, I was different too. I had taken someone’s life.

Maurizio returned with two full glasses of wine and the open bottle. “I thought I should bring the bottle. You might need more than one drink.”

“Good idea.” I said, as I tried to smile. I took the glass he offered me. As he sat beside me, I took a drink. I needed the entire bottle all to myself.

“I am sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

“You, listening to me, is more than enough.”

“You want to kick his ass?” He looked me dead in my eyes. I could tell he meant it, even though he delivered it with a bit of a grin.

“That’s not necessary.”

“I don’t think he understands what he has.”

“Had.” I chanted.

“Or how lucky he is.”

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