Page 13 of Valentino

“I’m busy, alright, stop busting my fucking balls.”

“I’ve got to go, Mom is losing her shit, she’s just messaged and says that she needs to speak to me urgently,” Giuliano tells me.

“About what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Any money Enrico Ferrara is at his house.” Alex smirks. “It was nice knowing you.”

My eyes widen. “Are you serious?” Giuliano got caught in the library with Francesca by her older brother last week. “This can’t be good.” I open the car door and throw the football in. “Come on then.”

“What are you doing?” Giuliano asks.

“You don’t think I’m going to let you get your ass kicked alone, do you?” I reply.

“And what are you two going to do?” Giuliano fires back.

“Kick some ass, or maybe just die alongside you, I guess.” I smirk.

“You don’t have to come,” Giuliano says as he gets behind the wheel of his car.

“Yes we do, if he touches you . . .” I punch my fist, “I’m smashing his face in.”

“I’d like to see that,” Alex smirks from the back seat.

“Well, if you’re going down we’re coming down with you.” I reach over and slap him on the back. “Don’t worry, bud, we’ve got you.”

We pull into the driveway of Giuliano’s house to see a cavalcade of black cars parked outside. There are a group of men in black suits standing around on the porch, I’ve seen them before. They’re Enrico Ferrara’s guards, the ones that I have seen at the library guarding Francesca.

“Fucking hell,” I whisper. “They all know about you and Francesca.”

“It was nice knowing you.”

“What am I going to say?” Giuliano whispers.

“Make it quick and painless.” Alex smirks.

I chuckle. “Right.” I slap Giuliano on the shoulder. “I hope she was worth it.”

“Totally she was.”

We get out of the car and slowly walk inside and up to the front door, the men in black suits all dip their heads in a greeting.

What the fuck is this about?

The boys and I exchange looks as we go into the house.

“Giuliano,” his mom whispers as she pulls him into a hug, she’s been crying. “Thank God you’re home.”

We turn to see Lorenzo standing in the hall. His face is solemn, we’ve met him many times before. He was friends with Giuliano’s late father and now his mother.

Lorenzo steps forward toward Giuliano. “I need to speak with you, my son.”

Alex and I exchange looks

“What is this about?” Giuliano asks as he looks around. “Where’s Enrico?”

Giuliano’s mother’s eyes fill with tears, and she gives a sad shake of the head.