Page 11 of The Man with a Treasure

Mrs. Rossi screamed when she saw her spoon bounce off my shoulder.

Sal took no pity on either of us. He laughed. “Mamma! This is how you treat the hero of your almost deceased son?”

She rushed to me, embraced me—causing me more pain, that I would never dare tell her about because I loved her dearly—and began kissing me all over my face as if I were the Virgin Mary herself. “I am so sorry, my Angel.”

“I am fine. I am fine. It is Sal’s fault.”

She jerked to smack him, but Sal jumped out of her reach, still laughing of course.

That is, until Mrs. Rossi said, “You are doing Angelo’s chores tomorrow.”

“Er?” Sal lifted both brows that were usually dancing. “But—”

“But what?” dared his mother. “You think his actions are not worth a little extra work?”

Loving her point of view, I sat on the couch and propped up my feet. “Yes, Sal, what do you say?”

Not doing chores the next day was actually quite boring. Sal laughed as I followed him around, kicking pebbles under my work boots. “Relax, Angelo. You do not have to carry your weight today since you carried the weight of two yesterday.”

A little perplexed at emotions I couldn’t explain, I exhaled frustration. Now that my father was home more, he had informed me I would soon be living with him. He had a cottage on the opposite side of the property. It wasn’t exactly far from the home I had come to treasure, but sharing a room with Sal was what saved me when I first moved there. Leaving that safety zone felt… wrong.

I think the upcoming new scenario bothered Sal, also. When he saw two Suits, my father and his, walking across the vast backyard toward us, he stopped moving and glared at them both.

My father tilted his head at the silent and very unusual disrespect.

Sal’s father leaned in and spoke to him while they continued walking toward us.

My father nodded, then took off his sunglasses to meet Sal eye to eye. “I am not coming to force my son to live with me, not yet, just came to congratulate him for his bravery.”

With shame, Sal’s eyes fell to the ground. “Yes, sir.”

Facing my father, I lifted my chin. “Hello, sir.” I hoped he could see how much I didn’t approve of his decision.

He ignored my cold shoulder and pulled me to him for an embrace. “Well done, Angelo. Your mother would be proud.”

I took a deep inhale, coveting such a compliment. “Thank you, sir.”

“Mr. Rossi tells me he thinks you would have chosen to fall with Sal rather than release him.”

I dipped my stubborn chin. “If he falls, so do I.”

My father studied my face… then exhaled heavily. “It seems separating the two of you would not be wise. Your bond is great, indeed.”

Due to our slow reaction, Mr. Rossi broke into a smile.

Sal stuttered, “D-Does this mean—”

His father happily nodded.

“You get to stay!” Sal wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted.

I yelped in pain as my ribs screamed mercy.

They all laughed, and he quickly put me back on my feet. “Sorry.”

“And...” my father added, “Mr. Giordano has approved this partnership.”

Clueless to what he meant, I listened as Sal stuttered again, “L-Like how you two were?” He gestured at their suits.