CHAPTER 62: AGAINST AUTHORITY

Vittorio’s hands reached out for Aurora’s shoulders and when he found it, he gently pushed her away.

"Stop it Aurora. You’ve crossed enough boundaries," he warned in a stern voice.

Her chin lifted haughtily, as her eyes sharpened. "You would prefer Natalia hugging you, wouldn’t you?" She questioned in a bratty voice.

His face contorted. "Where are you getting this nonsense from?"

"Don’t even think about lying to me. I have seen the way you look at her. Make no mistakes Vitto. Just because I’m willing to give Valentina a chance, doesn’t mean my grace extends to her friend. If she stands in the way of what I want, I’ll tear her head off."

Vittorio did a double take, but before his reaction could complete itself, Aurora had stormed out of the room already.

He ran a hand through his hair, as he exhaled in frustration.

But there wasn’t any slowing down. He needed to act fast.

His feet were moving to the door when he caught a whiff of his sweat stained shirt.

"Okay no," he muttered, turning right around and heading to his bathroom instead.

When Vittorio stepped out of his room, he was a man on a mission.

"Vitto?"

He looked up, pulling himself out of his thoughts briefly.

"Salva?" His eyes squinted. "Salva!" His eyes widened.

Before Salvatore could come to a halt in front of him, he grabbed his shoulders and pulled him along with him into the room adjacent to them.

It turned out to be the lounge.

"What is it Vitto?" Salvatore eyed him quizzically, as he let go of his shoulder.

"Salva," Vittorio began to pace. "I’m about to make a terrible decision."

Salvatore observed the gentleman through a lens of disbelief.

Never had he seen Vittorio act this–ungentlemanly before.

Or rather, savage, because that was the exact kind of word Vittorio would use.

He usually would take a seat. Preferably one with a back rest surface, so he could easily recline and cross his legs.

But instead, Vittorio Moretti was actually pacing.

"It can’t be that horrendous? You’re not known to make terrible decisions," Salvatore said, still scrutinizing his movements in his mind.

"This decision is terrible because it goes against Luciano."

Salvatore drummed a finger on his chin as his nose wiggled from side to side, and his forehead creased thoughtfully.

"You’re quiet. The one time I actually need you to talk, you’re quiet." Vittorio shook his head.

"Because I’m trying to think."

"Think less. More opinions," he said in a snappy voice.

"How can I give you my opinions without thinking? How can I even think of anything when you’re being vague?"

"It goes against Luciano, isn’t Intel enough?"

"I’m afraid no."

"Alright," he paused, and bobbed his head twice. "I want to release Valentina from lanotte."

Salvatore chuckled, but when Vittorio’s face remained straight, he grew serious. "You’re not joking?"

"So I dragged you in here for jokes?"

"Hmmm— You’re being–" he stroked his chin. "You’re being sassy. Very unlike you, so you’re definitely serious," he paused, and then it clicked in his head. "You are being serious!" His voice rose.

"Great, now you see the urgency of the situation. Oh and by the way, I’m being damn serious," he said and resumed pacing.

"Luciano would have your heart, and my soul. Don’t you dare, Vitto."

"Okay hear me out."

"Hell no!"

"Just once for the love of cristo!" Vittorio demanded.

"Fine! But only out of respect for your rank. I’m treating this as an order."

"Whatever," he waved a dismissive finger. "But as I was trying to explain. According to Aurora, Valentina is ready to work with us. She’s going to be more cooperative out of lanotte than in it, don’t you think?"

"I still don’t see the part where it has anything to do with you. Carpo gave a decree. You have crossed him one too many times. Friendship can only cover so much," he advised and warned at the same time.

Vittorio stopped pacing again, and breathed out. "You think I don’t know that? You think I’m not aware of how I have been moving? But it is out of necessity and not malicious. You know that Salva."

"I do, but in the state of mind Luce is, does he know? All he sees is you going against him. He might be playing it cool, but for how long? If you do this, he will get justified in whatever action he chooses to make. And trust me Vittorio, he will take action."

"You don’t know that. I mean you were of the opinion he likes the girl. Maybe there’s a part of him that’ll see rea—"

"He told Sonia that the girl could starve to death for all he cares when she came into his office to complain about her refusing to eat."

Vittorio’s eyes widened. "Wait, Sonia brought news about the girl to him? How brave."

"I said the same thing. Couldn’t believe my ears. She was—" his face squeezed. "Hold up a minute. We’re not about to change the topic. The bottom line is that his response was brutal."

"You’re really sure that was Luciano’s response? He said the girl could die?"

"Without missing a beat either."

"That’s strange." Vittorio’s forehead creased broodingly.

"No, that is the extent of how angry he is. He looked like his normal self when we were discussing alone. The second Sonia came in with news about Valentina, he quickly switched up. This isn’t going to fly with him."

Vittorio didn’t respond immediately. He took a couple more seconds to gather his thoughts, before he lifted his gaze to Salvatore.

"He doesn’t have to know. She’ll get out and be kept somewhere until I’m able to tell him about it."

Salvatore sighed, half pitifully, and half in defeat.

There obviously was no talking Vittorio out of this crazy idea, and he was done being the voice of reason.

"How do you plan on getting her out of lanotte when carpo gave strict orders?"

A funny yet very unusual expression that instantly formed on Vittorio’s face, gave Salvatore the answer he was searching for.

"You’re going to lie with his name, like you did at the workshop?"

"Well technically—"

"Don’t give me that bullshit white lie nonsense. You’re going to lie, point blank!"

"Fine, I am, okay? Can we move past that now and talk about where we will keep the girl?"

"We?" Salvatore chortled dryly. "Last I checked, we’re Italians, not French."

"Yes, we. You are a part of this now, whether you like it or not. Stop being difficult, and help me come up with a plan."

Salvatore shook his head. None of this was going to end well.

However, Vittorio was his brother and his friend. He couldn’t leave him alone in this necessary evil.

"Luce has an important meeting with an ambassador from France. He shouldn’t be back until nighttime."

"Excellent!" Vitturo clapped. "That gives us enough time to take her out, and find the perfect place to keep her. We can’t reunite her with Natalia though."

"Of course not. Maybe we could keep her in Lastanzadeisussurri? No one ever goes there anyway."

Vittorio’s eyes lit up, as he walked over to Salvatore.

His hands grappled his shoulders in a tight grip. "I owe you one, Salva."

"Oh definitely, you do. And trust me to collect." His eyes twinkled with mischief.