Simone Valentino

~~~15~~~

"I smell Valentino blood on my turf." A heavily accented voice yells from an alley not so far away, making me freeze from the abrupt change in everyone's attitude.

"No actually, that's just my cologne." Simone called back. He looked at me and I knew something was off. I heard him crack his neck and I watched as he reached for what I assume was his gun. I swallowed and I glanced at him and shook my head. A small bald man walks out, guns in hand.

"You know. I've always hated Valentinos. Maybe it's about time I cut the bloodline off at the knees."

"Now why would you do that?" I say.

Miraculously my voice doesn't shake and I stand a little taller.

Valentino leans next to my ear and whispers, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"This doesn't need to be bloodshed."

He rolls his eyes and I look back at the small bald man.

"Because these bastards have had it coming for 27 years. Now princess we don't want you getting hurt so I'd say run along." He says, sneering at me. My jaw tenses and I start to speak when Simone walks forward yelling, "What did you just call her? Damn Glorentino, thought you'd have even a little class."

"I have a name" I say and glare at who I assume is Glorentino.

"So does my dog. You're easier on the eyes than she is though. Can't deny that."

"Thats enough." Simone says and pulls out his gun, pointing it at Glorentino. I freeze as Glorentino does the same. Then Glorentino looks at me and his mouth pulls into a wicked smile.

"You seem to like her. It would be a shame if I ruined her pretty dress, but what has to be done, has to be done."

Before I realized what was about to happen Simone jumped in front of me. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his waist and I felt something cold being pressed in my hand. I looked and saw a pearl-handled revolver, with what looked like names carved into it. I then held it up over Simone's shoulder. Glorentino signs and rolls his eyes. I hear the loud bang before I realize that Simone shot his hand. Glorentino lets out a cry of pain and his gun falls to the ground as he does. I gasp and take a step back from Simone. He runs at Glorentino and grabs his gun. He tucks it into his belt. I can't see his face but I know he's talking. Glorentino spits at him and I want to run over and help him but I know that Glorentinos hand hurts too much for him to do anything.

Simone stands over the small round man. Glorentino is sitting on the ground, his face twisted in pain. Simone took 10 steps back and then looked at me. He didn't turn even a little but I could tell he could see me. My free hand reached out to him without my permission and I felt his fingers lace threw mine.

He walked backwards, pulling me along with him. I didn't turn my back on the man, crumpled over his hand. Eventually, he was pretty far away and we were out in the open so we turned and ran down the street, then turned down a less residential road. We slowed to a walk and I dropped his hand. My hand felt cold, empty now. I paused for a second and took off my shoes.

Deep laughter rang out from the silhouette next to me. The soft sound made my fingers tingle. My bare feet froze on the stones beneath me. If I could hear it forever, I would. My red curls fell into my eyes, the neglect towards them beginning to show. "What's so funny?" I asked, monotone as I could manage, attempting to bury the butterflies that fluttered in my stomach.

"You just tried to talk our way out of a run-in with the Glorentinos. You didn't even bribe them. I warned you, y'know." His laughter gave his voice a light, airy quality that made me feel like smiling

"If you say I told you so, I will shoot you right here."

"Nora, you can't go making empty threats."

"You can't assume I'm making empty threats, Simone."

"Well, I told you so." He whispered and winked at me.

I let out a dry laugh and tried to elbow him, he gracefully moved out of the way. A smile played on his lips. He turned to look at me, something I'd never seen before twinkling in his grey eyes. His gloved finger touched my chin. Tilting my face up to look at him. If he leaned in just a few more inches we'd kiss. Was that what he was doing? Would I stop him? He leaned in slightly then froze, looking as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't. He turned and began walking again. I hurried to keep up.

"I'm going home. I think you should too." This was the first time I heard his voice falter.

I nodded, confused.

The dark alleyways seemed welcoming now. I knew Simone had people making sure I was okay. "Making sure you don't slip up," he told me. I called a cab to get me home and replayed the last few hours. I had been shot at, laughed at and thought about kissing one of the most powerful men in the city. I felt the exhaustion in my bones and the grime on my skin. I needed to shower and sleep for a year. I tipped the cab driver and stumbled into my house. I pulled my hair out of its bun and peeled off my clothes. I stood in the shower and wondered how this would end. I'd given up happiness at this point. Thrown away my chance and normalcy simply for curiosity. The mean streets of New York were unforgiving. I didn't understand what I got myself into. And now I didn't understand then, and I don't know now.