Page 3 of The Man with a Treasure

“The team? What team?”

“Giordano’s team. The one we will be trained for.”

“Doing what?”

“Ummm, I do not really know.” He shrugged. “I am not yet part of the team.”

Even at twelve, I could recognize the idiocy of that logic. “Sal, do you not think you should ask?”

Over his shoulder, he grimaced. “What for? Mamma has already said it will be so.”

Again, the logic was baffling. Refocusing, I asked, “Why can’t my father be here?”

“He has vowed to find Mr. Giordano’s daughter.”

“Find?”

Sal suddenly stopped and made the sign of the cross after closing his eyes, then revealed, “Yes, the Devil stole her.”

It would be some years before I understood the true meaning of that statement.

Sal walked us into a bedroom and practically cheered, “Isn’t it great?”

My suitcase was already laying on a twin bed on the right side of the little room, a little nightstand separating the two beds. A window was above the nightstand. In the remaining space, next to where I was standing, there was one dresser.

Sal laid a hand on it. “We will share the drawers,” he pointed, “and our closet.”

As thankful as I was for his kindness, I still fought tears, just wanting to go home. I didn’t want to belong to a star. I didn’t want to belong to a team. And I didn’t want to live with strangers. I just wanted my mom.

A large hand landed on my shoulder, startling me because I hadn’t realized my thoughts had been so distracting.

The man standing behind me in the doorway apologized, swiftly removing his hand. “I am sorry to have spooked you. I just wished to welcome you to our home.”

Understanding it was the man of the house who was speaking to me, I quickly faced him and lifted my chin. “Thank you for opening your home to me.”

The dark-suited man was the size his son would someday reach—tall, with broad shoulders. He smiled. “I see your beautiful mother raised you well.”

So shocked someone dared to speak of her, but grateful, my eyes bulged. “You knew her?”

Now, it was him being distracted by thoughts. “Oh yes, very well. She will be greatly missed.”

My shoulders sagged. Someone had an inkling of what I was missing terribly. Again, I fought tears I didn’t want to shed in front of two males, so I quickly looked to the old wooden floor.

A strong finger tapped the bottom of my chin. “I understand your grief, and I understand it will last beyond the mourning period.” His voice carried such honesty. I instantly believed him.

A faint whisper was all I could manage without breaking down. “Thank you.”

After a long moment of silence, Sal happily told his father, “I was going to surprise Angelo with the river!”

Mr. Rossi suddenly smiled and leaned back, raising his arms wide. “That magical river water has cleansed many souls of sadness,” he told me with a wink. “Your father and I used to visit there regularly when we were young.”

Sal, watching and waiting for an answer from me, wiggled his eyebrows again, as if trying to tempt me. He looked ridiculous, causing me to smile.

Pleased, Sal leaned back, arms wide like his father. “Perfecto!”

Running through the woods, trying to keep up with Sal, I wondered what the hurry was until he hid behind a tree. Telling me to keep quiet as he peeked around the trunk, I caught up and hid behind him. Out of breath, I tried to sneakily see what he was spying on.

Young teenage girls were in the river, laughing and splashing each other. As beautiful as that was, it was the fact that they were naked that had my jaw falling, landing on Sal’s shoulder.