Page 7 of He is Poison

After yet anotherU-turn, the driver passed the mainpiazza, where local farmers were currentlybusy packing their produce into trucks after a day at the market. Domenicosighed, letting his gaze wander to a narrow street on the other side, which ledstraight to his own home, but just a moment later, it disappeared from hissight as the car started the descent toward the peninsula where the Villaniresidence was located.

Not without caution, heglanced to the side, at Seth Villani’s hunched form. The guy looked like awreck, with thick dark stubble barely hiding the bruises on his cheek and lefteye. Their trip together had been long yet almost completely silent. SometimesSeth mumbled something to himself, and talked in his sleep, but that was it.He’d spent a whole night staring at his own hands and massaging the injuredone. Seth was as harmless as the goats that made them stop in the street so theherd could pass safely. He looked like an injured bull though: big, tall, andmeaty, with broad shoulders and thighs that invited for a bite. Seth’s juicybody never stopped distracting Domenico, even now that they were nearing theirdestination. The constant pout of dissatisfaction on that handsome face waslike a challenge Dom would be willing to take. Seth had eyebrows just as blackas his hair, which was now slightly overgrown, and the way he kept frowningmade his eyes seem darker, almost black. He wasn’t happy to be here, and itcouldn’t have been more obvious. Seth was as easy to read as an elementarybook.

Dom had to force hisface to stay motionless when he saw Seth loosen and then take off his tie.

“So fucking hot,” Sethgrumbled and undid the first three buttons of his black shirt. He exhaleddeeply through his wide nose, as if he really were a bull, and took thecigarettes lying between them like they were his.

“You’re welcome,” saidDomenico, watching the fat, bull-like brow line thicken even more. Such anundeservedly prime example of the male sex.

“Lighter.” Seth took acigarette, stuck it in his mouth, and put his hand palm up.

The flame in Domenico’sgut exploded, but he didn’t let it show and instead reached to the man’s face.With a quick flick of fingers, he broke the cigarette in half, leaving Sethwith a filter dangling from his mouth.

“The fuck’s wrong withyou?” Seth spread his arms to the sides, a flicker of anger setting his darkeyes aflame.

“I’ll give you one ifyou ask me nicely,” said Domenico, taking the whole pack and putting it backinto his suit jacket. “I see the New World taught you some bad manners.”

“Whatever. I’m notaddicted.” Seth rolled his eyes and threw the filter at Dom before looking outthe window.

His dusky nape was toomuch of a temptation to resist, and Domenico put his hand over the hot, sweatyflesh, squeezing it gently. “I would quickly re-learn what respect means if Iwere you.”

Seth snapped and slappedDomenico’s hand off. “I have respect for my father. You work forme.”

Domenico’s lipsstretched into a smile, and he couldn’t stop a chuckle. “Oh, do I?”

He reveled in the lookof insecurity in Seth’s eyes after he said that. He’dpayto see itagain.

“Well… don’t you?”

Domenico slowly movedhis head to the sides.

Seth pouted, inchingcloser to the car door. “But you’re my escort…”

“Your escort, not yourerrand boy or shoe polisher.”

“My cigarette man?” Sethraised his eyebrows, and Dom wasn’t sure if that was Seth’s attempt at a joke,but it still softened him a bit.

He snorted and shook hishead. “I might consider it if you ask me nicely for one.”

Seth waved his handdismissively and turned to the window again. “Nah, too much effort.”

“Suit yourself,Villani.” Domenico leaned back in his seat and lit a cigarette just to fuckwith him.

Seth grumbled somethingunderneath his breath and rolled up his sleeves so abruptly, Domenico heard arip of thread and cringed. He hated a man who couldn’t take care of hisclothes.

The car aligned with atall limestone wall and sped down the asphalt road, straight for the elegant,roofed gate ahead. Domenico raised his hand to greet one of the soldiers,conspicuously sitting on a bench by the wall, and the man mirrored the gesturewith a slight smile.

As they approached, twomen sitting in the shadow of the wall hurried to open the gate for them, andthe car entered the Villani residence without slowing down. The settingSeptember sun teased the palm trees and flowers in the garden along the whitedriveway to the main villa. A young gardener got up as they passed, beforereturning to his knees as soon as he was done with the greeting, thoughDomenico would have liked to watch his bare torso for a bit longer.

The villa’scream-colored walls reflected the warm light, and even the wooden shutters wereopen to let in the last of the sun that day. The grand rectangular front wasimmaculate, as was suitable to greet a long-missed relative, and already therewere people waiting by the door at the top of the front stairs.

Dino Villani steppeddown, leaving his older son Vincente where he was. He wore a black suit, buthis smile couldn’t have been brighter. The man had celebrated his fiftiethbirthday just two months ago, and his hair had a tint of gray, yet he seemed tohave more energy than Seth, who got out of the car with the agility of awounded animal. Dom wanted to roll his eyes. The weakling only lost one littlefinger and was making a fuss about it as if the Chinese had chopped off hiscock and made him eat it.

Yet all attention was onSeth as the Don hugged his younger son in an iron grip. “Seth, finally!”

Vincente came down aswell and patted Seth’s back with a grin as crooked as his recently broken nose.Neither he nor Dom could compete with Seth in the size department, even thoughout of all of them, Dom imagined Seth to be the biggest slob.

Staying back by the car,he watched the family reunion. Only tears of joy were lacking.