Aces & Spades

Fly

Isabella:

I zip up my black suitcase, having to sit on it just for the lid to close fully. Getting up, I heave the suitcase up with me, dragging it out the bedroom door.

"Isabella." Luca says as he runs up the stairs. "Are you ready to go?"

"Where's Massimo?"

"He said that he will meet us there. He had to take care of something first." He replies reassuringly. He grabs ahold of the suitcase handle, lifting it around a centimeter above the ground before dropping it with a thud.

"Jesus did you pack rocks in here?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not sure how long we're there for so I want to be prepared." I reply as I grab the handle myself and start to drag it down the stairs. Luca follows behind me until we reach the front door.

Maria was waiting, her arms open as she pulls me into a hug. "Stay safe okay?" She whispers.

"You too."

She breaks the hug, moving around me towards Luca. She grasps onto his face, giving him a passionate kiss. I look down to the ground, fiddling with my fingers awkwardly till they break apart.

"I'll miss you." I hear them coo to one another.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. I knew that Massimo loved me, but he doesn't show it enough for me to believe it. Maybe I'm being paranoid?

I open the front door, hearing Luca scurry behind me to collect his duffel bag. We say our final goodbyes to Maria before we head out. He leads me towards a black Audi, placing our bags into the trunk of the car before getting in and starting the engine.

I buckle myself in as we pull out of the gates.

"Why are you going to Spain?" I ask him.

He twiddles his thumbs on the steering wheel. "We have some missions that need to be carried out in the Spanish warehouses we own." He fumbles out.

I nod my head, trying to act as if I understand any of the mafia bullshit.

"How are things between you and Maria." The light subject seemed to take the spotlight off him as he visibly relaxes.

"It's great. I mean she's so smart and beautiful and kind and perfect... The list is endless." I couldn't help but smile. "But I still haven't told her yet." He whispers.

"Still haven't told her what?" I ask.

"That I love her." He replies.

I turn my body in his direction, watching him start to get nervous yet again. "You haven't told the woman that you love that you love her?" I question and he nods his head.

"How would you go abouts doing it?" He asks.

I think back to the moment where Massimo told me he loved me. I savor the memory as if it's the last one I have of us.

"For starters, it should be in a good setting. Maybe the place you had your first date." I watch as he mentally notes my ideas with each nod. "You shouldn't jump right into the words. Start off by telling her how much she means to you and then, release your feelings."

He gives me a small smile, thanking me as he pulls into an airport runway. The tarmac causes the car to shake as we ride down the winding runway until we reach a sleek, cream colored, super midsize jet.

There were men in Hi Vis vests running all over the place, grabbing luggage and stowing it away, speaking into their walkie talkies as we park next to the jet.