La Diavolessa

Part 2 : Chapter 18

We reached Milan and got out of the plane where there were two cars waiting for us. The weather was rather chilly compared to Trevi. I zip up my coat, a gift from Filipa a couple years ago as I look around. I get into the car while my luggage was being loaded into the trunk. Ermes come and sit beside me on the other side. His mood hasn't elevated. I was at a loss of understanding him. The only thing I can do is just ignore him. He's going to drop me to my apartment and that's the last I'm going to see of him.

"Give me the address to the apartment." He said tersely as if I am inconveniencing him.

"I can always take a taxi." I mutter to him. I don't like being a burden to anyone. At least anyone who isn't my mother.

He glares. His face a cold mask noncommittal waiting for the address.

I took out my notebook and told him the address. He repeated the address to the driver. Leonel got in the front passenger seat and gave a speaking glance to Ermes. I wasn't sure what was that about. What was going on? I hope I wasn't going to be dragged in some kind of war.

The car drove out of the airport and not long we were in the city. I looked out the window into the streets. I noticed the people walking on the streets going about their business.

We Italians like to look good, in every season and for every occasion. The people in Milan were even more fashion conscious than any other place in Italy. The men, women and even the children were dressed smartly for the day.

We reached the building and the two cars parked and we got out. The building looked old. The stone façade stained and haven't been cleaned in a long time. I shove my hands in the pockets of my coat wondering what's waiting for me inside the apartment. Leonel went ahead to find the landlord.

A moment later he came out with the landlord trailing his beady eyes snapping nervously. He was a stocky man, with thinning hair cut short to his scalp. He wore grey slacks with a blue floral shirt under a worn out wool coat.

I wasn't expecting him to look like a slob. No wonder the building looked awful from the outside.

"Signora Molini...ah! I didn't expect you to arrive today." He scratched at his chin and eyed Ermes who stood like a silent raging bull at my side, hands in the pockets of his coat.

"I did specify the date of my arrival in my last email." I told him frowning. I didn't like this at all. The man looked like a sleaze bag. I hope he wouldn't give any excuses about the apartment not being ready.

"Yes...of course. Not a problem. This way." He turned back to the building and we followed behind him. Ermes a step behind me, with Leonel at the back. Only Enzo and Raoul stayed out. He took out a set of keys and we climbed up the stairs. He laughed nervously. "The elevator is out of order."

I followed quietly keeping my thoughts to myself. The stairs were dusty and haven't been swept in months. When we reached the fourth floor the hall was narrow and there were some bags of trash near a trash shoot which filled the small space with a sickening scent.

The landlord opened the apartment door, his gaze darted to Ermes who was at my heel and stepped aside. I walked in, my eyes wide. The space was small, smaller than they appeared in the pictures. The kitchen opened into the living room. There was a door to the side which opened to the bedroom. In the middle of the living room there was a shabby sofa which emitted an unpleasant musty odor. Dust motes filled every corner. Ermes went to the kitchen, turned on the sink water which spurted out of the faucet. He closed it and then went to the bedroom and the adjoining bathroom. He came out, his expression unreadable, I didn't miss the tick on the side of his jaw, though.

He looked royally pissed.

I stood to the side raking my mind about what needs to be done. I have to get rid of the sofa and the disgusting looking mattress and bed in the bedroom. I was making notes, thinking hard when I noticed at the corner of my vision Ermes giving Leonel a faint nod.

Everything went horribly wrong so quick. One second, Leonel was standing casual next to the landlord, the next he was pushing him against the wall. I flinched in alarm, my pen fell to the floor, my hand covered my mouth.

The landlord whimpered in alarm, his pasty face going sheet white and sweat beaded on his forehead, both of his hands raised up high in submission. Ermes stepped slowly towards him. I couldn't see his face, but I heard his voice which sent a cold shiver down my spine. He sounded even angrier than when he cornered me on the street at the beginning of summer. Angrier still than the time at his Villa when he had kidnaped every Fabrizio Neri in the country and brought them there.

"I don't appreciate my time being wasted. First of all, we're going to revise the contract of the lease and you're going to give Signora Molini a discount on the rent for this dump. Second, you're going to get rid of this disgusting sofa and the bed and the mattress and clean the apartment. Third, you're going to fix the plumbing and make sure the heating system is in good order as well. Fourth, you're going to fix the elevator and clean the stairs and halls in this building." He said in a slow cold voice which vibrated retribution if his order wasn't carried out. "Do we understand each other?"

Sweat trickled from the landlord's pale face as he nodded his head fast. Leonel shoved him again against the wall.

"Si Signore." He whimpered his fat lips trembling.

"Good. I expect everything will be in order in the next two days." Ermes looked around as if he had no care in the world. Then his cold blue eyes set on me. "You're not staying in this dump. You're coming with me to the hotel until he fixes the place."

I wasn't expecting that. I already made a plan to go buy cleaning products and start cleaning the place. I had few sheets and a pillow in my bag and intended to sleep on the floor until I get everything in order.

"But..." I began to protest.

Ermes, out of patience with me and the whole situation, grabbed my wrist and half yanked me out of the apartment. We went down the stairs fast, I almost stumbled forward and concentrating on my steps left no room for me to argue with him.

I didn't want to go to a hotel. When I rented the apartment I didn't have high expectations for it. It's a place where I'll live and most part of the day I'll be at school.

"Get in the car." Emres said tersely.

I was about to argue, but then I remembered the last time I yelled at him. Pressing my lips tightly and sending him a glare I got into the car and he slammed the door behind me. A minute later Leonel was back with the landlord and the lease contract. He handed it to Ermes who read through it and then tore it to little pieces and threw it in the landlord's face.

"You're going to make a new contract with a fifty percent discount on the rent." He stated in a commanding tone. "Since she already paid you three months in advance you'll not see a Euro from her in the next six months."

"But Signore..." The landlord began to protest.

"I know the real estate and I know the prices of rents in this city." Ermes's voice was a low growl laced with warning. "You're over charging her. I know, it is tempting to swindle a country bumpkin like her. But how far do you think you can go without being noticed by us? Especially she's a Rassi."

My heart thudded in my chest. What was he insinuating? I didn't want to be linked to them. I wanted my stay in this city to be unknown. The landlord's eyes bulged as his face paled with fear when he made the connection.

"So? We understand each other?" His tone laced with warning. 

The landlord nodded quietly, sweat trickling from his temple profusely. I had the feeling if Ermes didn't let him go right now he might suffer a heart attack.

"I'll expect you to email the new contract. I'll go over it before she signs it. If it isn't satisfactory, I'll come back for you." With that Ermes walked away and around the car and got in.

I didn't dare to speak. I didn't dare to look at him, if I did I might start yelling at him. I know he is trying to help out but that isn't the way to do it. You don't go threatening people like they're nothing, even if the landlord deserved it. As the car began to move I just stared ahead my hands fisting on my knees.