Calloused

36

"Your Italian is very good." My Nonna complemented H as she looked up at him. She was only 5 feet. When she stood next to H, she looked tiny. His tall, lanky frame was at least 6' 2". He made me feel short, and I was only 5' 10". 

"Thank you." H smiled as we sat down in the kitchen.

"So, you're the one my granddaughter has chosen." She looked at him and pursed her lips.

"I hope so." He smiled, his dimples poking out from his cheeks. My nonna laughed hard.

"Funny and handsome. You will have beautiful, kind children." She smiled proudly. I choked on my wine. 

"Yes, yes!" I blurted out, my face heating up immediately after she said the words.

H and I had only jokingly discussed having kids. With everything that had happened with Dominic, who knows if we would have another anytime soon.

"Are you a good shot?" She asked him, more serious.

"I'd like to think so." H nodded.

"Why don't we go out and see." My nonna smiled boldly.

"I'd love to." H smiled back. We finished our wine and left the house.

"Mama, where are you going?" My father asked. It was strange to see him act like a child. He clearly had so much respect for her, and I was beginning to notice that he often searched for her approval.

"To train." She smiled, patting him on his cheek.

"We will be having a meeting tomorrow morning. Make sure you are both there at 6." My father said sternly to H and I.

"Yes, sir." We agreed before we followed nonna outside. She took us down the same path towards the beach. Instead of continuing straight, she made a left. A mixture of giant oak trees, native plants, and palm trees sheltered the path. It was beautiful the way the sun peaked through the leaves.

Nonna talked with H. I could tell she was getting to know him better.

"Where did you grow up?" She asked.

"London. My mum raised me there."

"How did you get mixed into this world?"

"I was 17. My mum was late on rent, and we didn't have anything to eat. So, I had to get creative. I made an arrangement with some men downtown. They showed me the ropes, and eventually, I got really good at playing the game." H shrugged.

"It must have been hard. To see your mother struggle."

"It was unbearable. My father left when I was 6. So, my mum would often go without eating so she could afford to take care of me. She worked 2 jobs at a time." H frowned. I could tell the memories still bothered him.

"You are a good man." Nonna said. She reached up and patted him on his shoulder.

"I don't believe I am. I just do what I have to in order to survive and take care of my loved ones. I've done things I can't take back. Terrible things." He shook his head.

"We all have, and that is why you are a good man. Do not doubt yourself. I know now that you will do what you need to in order to make sure my family is safe." She corrected him.

Watching them interact made my heart swell. It gave me a warm, wholeness in my soul. We arrived at a large field. The grass was a beautiful, lush green color. There was a small shed off to the side. I looked to the right to see a row of bottles, cans, and targets set up. 

"This is where we practice." Nonna smiled. We walked into the wooden shed to find a few guns out on display. They were small, but they would serve us well for shooting.

"Aim! And fire!" She smiled, holding a small 22. She aimed it and shot at one of the small glass bottles that sat on a wooden fence few yards away. She hit it, the glass exploded and fell into the grass. 

"Your turn." Nonna smiled at me and H. 

We smiled back at her after we had exchanged an amused look. 

We moved in sync and turned away from one another. With our backs against each other's, we aimed at the items on the fence. We started shooting, until there was nothing left. I felt a wave of excitement flow through my body. It was something I would never grow tired of. The feeling of firing a gun was euphoric, awakening even.

"You make quite the team." Nonna cheered once we were finished.

"Thank you." I smiled proudly as H leaned over to kiss my cheek. The PDA in front of my nonna made me blush. 

We spent the rest of the evening with my nonna. She continued to ask H all sorts of different questions. 

"How did you come to America?" She interrogated him.

"The same men I had made the deal with got me a passport. They were impressed with my work and wanted to help their friends In America. They said I could make much more money there. But they warned me it would also be more of a risk." H said, looking up at the blue sky.

"How did you learn Italian? Are there other languages you speak?" She wondered. 

"I learned from a few men I worked with. They were lower rank, but they helped me learn. I've worked with many different nationalities. French, Spanish, German, Irish, Russian, and Italian of course. It was easy to learn all of them the more I was around it." H smiled. 

"How did you become a member of ours?" Nonna asked with a look in her eye. It was hard to read what it was exactly.

"I worked with Niall a few years prior. He knew of my talents and what I was capable of. He asked if I wanted to join and sign a contract with Mr. Rivera." 

"Are you still in contact with your mother?"

"I send her money each month... She doesn't know it's from me though." H paused as an array of emotion flashed through his eyes.

"Why not?" Nonna frowned.

"I use a bank account under a different name, to keep her safe." He shrugged. 

"I see... Do you miss her?" 

"Yes. The last time I saw her was nearly a decade ago, before I left for America." H frowned.

"I'm sorry." Nonna apologized, patting him on his shoulder. I placed my hand over H's and gave it a gentle squeeze.