La Rosa Del Sur (The Rose of the south)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5
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The door at the top of the stairs was iron, green from the long years of standing. Luca grabbed the lichen-colored doorknob, twisted it, and, with a slight grunt, pulled it open. He made a sweeping gesture inside.

"After you, signorina," He smirked. I strode past him into a big, dark, empty room.

As my eyes adjusted to the low lighting, I made out a few distinguishing features about the room. There was a big, marble statue in the center of the room of a distinguished-looking older man in a fitting suit. One of the statue's hands held a small gun, pointing down a darkened hallway, while the other hand hung at the man's side. There were two hallways, one on the left, where the statue's gun was pointing, and one on the right, that had an ornate design of vines and leaves around the door frame. Behind the statue was a tall staircase that stopped on a balcony, overlooking the statue and room.

"Ciao!" Luca's voice made me jump as it echoed around the deserted room. "Zio! Your favorite nephew is here to see you." The door slammed shut behind us, cutting off what little moonlight there was. I let out a breath I was holding and waited in the darkness. It was quiet. Too quiet. For too long.

"Mr. Marino?" I asked. I heard a short grunt behind me. "How long are we going to be waiting here?" No answer. "Luca?" I started to panic. I felt for my purse at my side. I reached inside, fumbling for a flashlight, my gun, something to protect myself with. Just as my fingers touched a familiar handle, the lights flashed on.

I blinked several times to adjust to the sudden brightness. As my vision came into focus, I saw a slight man in a dark suit standing on the balcony. His finger was still pressing the light switch.

"Signor Marino," The man spoke with a slight accent. "You're back very late."

"Antonio, you know Vita Santa can't run on its own, and some people like to drink late," Luca spoke from behind me.

The man, Antonio, raised an amused eyebrow. His gaze turned to me. "And who is this Bella signorina you have brought with you?"

"My name is Roseina Santiago, Signor," I answered quickly. "I met Mr. Marino tonight at Vita Santa, and he was kind enough to offer me his services."

Antonio's eyebrow raised even further up his forehead. "And what services would they be, Signorina?"

"To take me to see Signor Lorenzo Marino," I said with finality. Antonio's eyebrow raised, if possible, even further up.

"And what, praytell, is your business with my boss?"

I paused, considering next my words carefully. "Family Matters." I didn't want to tell this man too much, not knowing him and not wanting to discuss my business with him. Then again, I'd only met Luca an hour ago.

Antonio considered me, his head slightly tilted, his eyebrow still impressively raised. He stared at me, an untrusting look quite evident in his gaze.

Before he could speak, another voice boomed to the left. "You said your name was Santiago?" I whipped my head around to locate the speaker.

In the entrance to the hallway in the direction of the statue's gun stood a man. He was slightly shorter than Luca, with a stomach that only stuck out a bit. His hair was slicked back and black, starting to become silver. His eyes were calculating and intelligent, showing years and years of strength and experience.

"Well?" He asked, voice heavy with an accent. "Is that your name?"

"Y-yes," I stuttered. He was like an actor on a stage. His presence made him seem enormous.

He turned his head to address Luca. "Where did you find her?"

Luca fidgeted. "She and her friends were in Vita Santa. She and I struck up a conversation and she mentioned that she was looking for you." It took a second for what Luca said to sink in.