Page 23 of Unworthy Ties

Rocco

E very hour since I left Fabrizio’s office, his words circled like vultures. Not because I believed him—but because the math of it wouldn’t leave me alone. A deal with a snake isn’t loyalty, it’s leverage.

So, I’d find myself a mongoose—nature’s answer to a snake problem.

The docks smelled especially bad today. Someone spilled what I believed to be fish guts, and we were having a heatwave that amplified every foul odor into a suffocating miasma. I wrinkled my nose as I navigated between the crates stacked unevenly like a jigsaw puzzle of despair.

Dino was already waiting at our agreed upon spot, wearing his usual fashionable attire. Even in the grungiest of areas, the man maintained an unsettling elegance.

“You’re late,” he said, his voice smooth yet edged with impatience.

I glanced at my watch. It was exactly six o’clock.

“I’m right on the dot,” I said flatly.

“If you’re not early, you’re late.” His smile felt like a blade drawn from its sheath, glinting ominously in the dim light.

“So, did you ask me here to officially help you with the Salvaggio thing? Because honestly, we could have done that over a phone call. And somewhere less,” He crinkled his nose. “Putrid.”

“Inadvertently, I suppose.”

“Oh?”

The gulls screamed above us, wings slicing through the dusky sky. Dino adjusted the cuffs of his jacket like he had all the time in the world, but I knew better—he never stood still unless he wanted you to notice.

“I’ll cut to it,” I said, my tone clipped. “Fabrizio came to me.”

That got his attention. His eyes sharpened, the smile still lingering but no longer casual. “Did he now? And what’s our mutual friend offering these days?”

“He wants you,” I said flatly. “Whatever you’re up to… he wants you to stop.”

Dino’s smile twitched wider, sharp as broken glass. “And did you take him up on his offer?”

I shook my head, planting my feet like bedrock against the stench of salt and diesel. “I don’t take orders from snakes. I’m not his errand boy.”

Dino leaned back, feigning nonchalance, but his fingers drummed a restless rhythm against the crate beside him.

“He’s afraid of you. That tells me you’re moving the right pieces. I don’t need your whole board, but if I’m going to turn his offer into a leash around his neck, I need to know which moves we want him chasing.”

For a beat, the gulls and the lapping water filled the silence. Dino’s drumming fingers stilled. His eyes slid back to me, sharp enough to cut through the brine-heavy air.

“You always did know how to flatter without groveling,” he said, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. He tugged once at his cuff, the motion precise and deliberate, a ritual of self-assurance. “Tell him I’ve got papers on Councilman Rizzi’s campaign fund. He’ll lose sleep chasing that ghost.”

“Rizzi?” I echoed, eyebrow arching. “You’re aiming high.”

“Always aiming high, mate.” The emphasis on the last word was sweet as poison. “If we’re going to play this game, let’s make it worth the trouble.”

I met Dino’s gaze head-on, the weight of unspoken truths hanging heavy between us. “Consider it done,” I said, the words a vow wrapped in steel.

Dino’s smile was a razor’s edge, with a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Good. And remember, friend, in this game, no one plays clean.”

With a nod that spoke volumes, I turned on my heel and walked away, the sound of Dino’s laughter echoing behind me like a warning. The cool sea breeze whispered secrets in my ear, promising both danger and opportunity on the horizon.

As I disappeared into the shadows, the night embraced me like an old friend, wrapping me in its cloak of mystery and intrigue. The game had only just begun, and the pieces were set in motion for a showdown that would shake the very foundations of the city.

And in that moment, I knew one thing for certain–in a world where power and deception danced hand in hand, there were no allies, only temporary alliances forged in the fires of ambition and survival. And I was ready to play the game, no matter the cost.

I kicked the door closed behind me, the weight of the docks, Dino, and Fabrizio pressing down like a storm cloud. My shoulders ached, my jaw clenched, and even the smell of home couldn’t fully chase the tension from my skin.

Gabriella appeared from the kitchen doorway, a soft frown creasing her brow. “Rocco… tough night?”

“Just the usual chaos,” I replied, forcing a smile that felt as fragile as spun glass. The warmth of her presence washed over me, despite the weight still clinging to my thoughts.

Gabriella stepped closer, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my heart quicken. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

If only it were that simple. I couldn’t just tell my innocent wife about mafia business dealings. About the secrets I keep, the bones I break, the blood I spill.

I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. “You don’t want to hear it,” I muttered, voice low, edged with exhaustion. “It’s… messy. Complicated.”

Gabriella didn’t flinch. She stepped closer, letting her fingers brush against mine. “Try me,” she whispered. “Even if it’s messy, I’m here.”

I let out a bitter laugh, the sound rough in the quiet apartment. “Messy doesn’t even begin to cover it. You’d worry, you’d…” My words faltered, the thought of her fear tightening my chest. “...you’d hate me for what I have to do to keep us safe.”

Her gaze softened, and the warmth in her touch sent an electric jolt through me, grounding me momentarily amidst the chaos swirling in my mind. “I could never hate you, Rocco. she said, voice steady and full of quiet strength.

I swallowed hard, the walls I’d built around my thoughts threatening to crumble. “I… I don’t want to drag you into this,” I admitted, my voice rougher than I intended. “It’s dangerous. And I can’t protect you from all of it.”

“You’re not dragging me anywhere,” she said gently, pressing a hand to my chest. “I’m already here. I’m already part of this… part of you.”

The honesty in her eyes, the unshakable trust she offered, did what nothing else could. I let out a long breath, finally conceding.

“I’ve had to make some deals recently. Ideally, they will help me find the people who broke into our house and tried to hurt you.”

I would give her the watered-down version. There was no way I could afford to lay bare the details of my dealings, the murky waters I waded through, but the simple truth was that she deserved a chance at peace, at safety.

“Hurt us, ” she corrected.

“Us,” I echoed, eyes narrowing. “And anyone who comes after us… I’ll make sure they don’t get a second chance.”

I stepped closer, letting the heat of my body press just enough to remind her she wasn’t alone, that I would be her shield.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” I murmured, voice low around the edges. “Not while I’m here.”

Her fingers found mine, gripping almost desperately, and I felt her pulse quicken under my touch. The storm outside could rage, the shadows could creep closer—but in this moment, between us, she was untouchable. And if anyone dared cross that line… they’d regret it.

As the weight of my words settled between us, Gabriella’s eyes held mine, a silent understanding passing between us. She knew the dangers that lurked in the shadows, the risks I faced each day to protect our fragile peace.

“I trust you, Rocco,” she said, her voice unwavering. “I trust you will do what needs to be done to keep us safe, no matter the cost.”

Her words were like a lifeline, steadying me in the tumult of my conflicting emotions. With a nod, I let out a slow breath, a sense of resolve strengthening within me.

Together, we stood in the quiet of our shared sanctuary, the unspoken promise of unity and unwavering support bridging the gap between us. In that moment, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them as one.

A faint smile touched Gabriella’s lips, with a glimmer of hope shining in her gaze. “We’ll face this together, Rocco. Side by side, no matter what comes our way.”

I wrapped her in a tight embrace, her presence grounding me in a reality where connection and loyalty outshone the darkness that threatened to consume us. In her arms, I found solace, strength, and a renewed determination to protect what was most precious to me.

As the storm outside continued to rage, its echoes muffled by the walls of our shared refuge, I whispered words of reassurance against her hair, a vow etched in my heart.

“We’ll weather this storm, Gabriella. Together, we’ll navigate the chaos and emerge stronger on the other side. I won’t let anything harm you, not as long as I’m alive and breathing.”

And in that intimate moment of connection, amidst the tangled web of secrets and shadows that surrounded us, I found a beacon of light in Gabriella’s unwavering trust.

Together, we would face the challenges that lay ahead, our bond unbreakable, our resolve unshakable. And as the night stretched on, cloaking us in its protective embrace, we stood united against the forces that sought to tear us apart, our hearts beating as one in the face of adversity.