In a bar, on a rusty villa in Sicilia, the bar tender glided Valentina Coloncelli's drink all the way towards her seat. She took a grasped of it in an instance and toyed with the icying figures in the glass. The bar tender grabbed a wine bottle and walked towards the lady. He noticed the paucity in her expression and interrogated it.
-"Donatella, why must you look so down in this fine night in Portafino?"-
She did not eyed him, yet answered to the air:
-"It is always the same Portafino bar. The same music, the same roar, the same men. The reflection of Portafino five years ago and Portafino today is uncany."-
-"Donatella, there is always excitement waiting for us just around the cornor."-
-"Then send me a postcard when you find it."-
Valentina turned her back from the bar tender and navigated her eyes through the howls of hungry men with suits and fedora hats; throwing cards and dices, and money, one right after the other.
The back door's bell ranged. Everybody cought a glimpse of the moving feature that emanated from the dark. A young man in a large coat walked towards the center of the dance square. He grabbed his hat and gave a slight bow to everyone in the room. His core was of a deep mysterious nature. This made some men lure out their tommy guns. Usually, Cesare Manzella, the boss, comes through the back door. It was predetermined, yet the young man acted with a barren care in the world. He has entered inside of the wolf's mouth and walked gracefully evading its deadly teeth.
He removed his coat and leaned at the counter. He snapped at the bar tender.
-"Bon señor, give me a knocker drink. It will be a long night."- he grinned and the bar tender obliged.
The young man looked to his right and caught a glimpse of heaven itself. He noticed the young woman in the skin tight, velvet dress that matched her lips, her neck and wrist were decorated with fantastic pearls and her eyes were like two suns, that without a single murmer said more than enough.
"Donatella, if I profane with my unworthiest hand, what is a lovely being such as yourself, doing in this swallowed man cave?"
She pushed his hand away and continued with her pensive moment.
The bar tender gave the young man its knocker. He dranked it in a shot.
"Donatella, what is your name?"
She ignored him for a moment, but then remembered the bar tender's words. Excitement is waiting just around the cornor. She finally eyed him and got lost inside those ebony dark with a sparkle moon in the side. He wore a long rolled up sleeved shirt and holding his perfectly pleated pants were suspenders. She answered automatically.
"Valentina Coloncelli." He grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle kiss.
"Ah, Valentina, a name of strength. You are meant to be loved and cared for, nothing less. It is my honor. I am Alessandro. At your service...always."
Her teeth, as she smiled, put those white pearls to shame. Suddenly, for the first time there came a different melody from the track. She closed her eyes and her well marked body responded to it, as though she was being possesed by the incredulous wave sounds. Alessandro lend her his hand and she took a strong grasped as he led her to the dance square.
Valentina glided smoothly in Alessandro's arms. They conquered the checkered floor with a combination of laggard and swift movements. They responded to the melody of Henry Mancini's Lujon.
The fumes of the ciggarets halted and the lurking shadows of the men's eyes met the moving dueto. Alessandro and Valentina were lost in the sway movements that each created by reaction. It looked as though they had already danced a thousand nights together. Both of their thoughts were in sync, they have urged for a moment of illusion. A moment to get rid of the atrocities that made up their reality.
Though, reality is inescapable. It is nothing but an endless labyrinth with no solution.
The men arised one by one, extending the length of their arms with guns. Alessandro still under the hipnosis of the sound of violins and the corporal lumps of the donatella, did not notice the ambush that was being plotted.
A man with a wide mustache grabbed him from behind and others helped him pinn him to the wall. Valentina was left intact. She smoothly walked towards Alessandro and carassed his face and then slapped it with all her might.
-"Foolish men."- she said with a wide grin. -"Take this spy to the secret room. Blind him!"-
The men responded to her order. Just for that moment the world was spinning in slow motion. She turned around and their vulture glimmering eyes met one more time and then faded away.
