JOSI

Fights with Idris typically last a couple days and then it's back to normal. This is the typical pattern for the couple. There are times when Josi sorts things out and others when Idris initiates the conversation. But at this very moment, Josi just can't bring herself to care. Her life has been shrouded in threats and danger. So Idris is the least of her problems. Finding a way to stay sane indoors is her main concern.

Josi stalks the halls of the estate, simply wandering. Trying to find peace within these walls is impossible. And even when there's silence, it's never the good kind. It's haunting almost, these halls. Never truly finding herself at home, though it's been over a year.

The person Josi runs into today seems to diffuse that dull atmosphere. He comes to a stop and just stares at her, the same way he'd done at the casino. Josi's brain ticks until his name comes to mind. Ainse Vanetti. The same scar on his face, with the same hands tied behind his back.

The man, Josi has come to find out, is the next underboss of the Verdonni family. He hasn't yet assumed his position, but the day where things will be officially is fast approaching. Josi has little knowledge on the underboss-to-be, which is why she has to get to work. No friend of Idris is to be underestimated.

Before Josi can offer some greetings, Ainse turns to his phone for some message of some kind. And from the curses he spews in Italian, she can tell it probably isn't good news.

"Is everything okay there?"

Ainse stops mid-text. "You understand Italian?"

"Just the profanity. I live with Idris."

Ainse chuckles, and Josi can see the line across his face crinkle. He pockets his phone. "I'm sure you must have questions. I've been in Italy for the past couple years, so I've been quite absent from the family."

"Do the Verdonnis usually ship people off for vacations?" Josi asks.

"I was taking care of business on that end." He tells her. "Actually, he called me home a few months ago. But I couldn't leave just yet. I was in the middle of a contract."

A few months ago. Around the time of Ramsey's capture. Or perhaps the time after he was executed by the Verdonni family.

"But it is tragic. I hear the Toulour family has been getting in the way of our business." Ainse continues.

Josi frowns, although inwardly. "They've been a pain in the ass, alright."

Ainse nods. "Bruno wouldn't have let this happen." For a second only, a split second, Josi sees in his eyes a hint of revolt. Or perhaps scorn. But it soon passes by. He now retains the same smile he had earlier. "Well, I think better days are coming. With me here, that is."

He says this with so much confidence, Josi has to wonder what exactly the man has up his sleeve. The time comes for him to take his leave, and he ties his hands behind once again. "I'll have to excuse myself. I have a meeting with your boyfriend." But before he exits, he adds one last message. "It is a shame what happened to the last underboss."

Josi's face tenses up, but soon relaxes. It is a shame what happened to Ramsey, but you don't cultivate a life in the mafia and hope to live in tranquility. Those in the world of crime all have the same violent fate. Ramsey was no exception. She finds his death a much better outcome than his arrest.

"Pleasure meeting you, Ms. Cade." He heads off down the hall.

Once his presence has vanished, Josi resumes her own walk around the estate. With Ainse's soon to be position as underboss, she finds his fate as grim as the rest of the Verdonni family.

~《¤》~

AINSE

Ainse Vanetti is as much of a part of the family as everyone else. As even Idris himself, though his timeline remains longer. Born to a young maid and an absent guard for a father, Ainse's life began within the Verdonni estate. And through that very opportunity, he worked his way up the ladder.

Now he sits in a conference room with his childhood friend whose own birth he'd been present for. Four years old he was at the time. Thirty-one years old he is now, about to inherit a title among that same friend's circle.

"So August 10th?" Idris asks.

Ainse nods his head, satisfied with the inheritance date. It's been six years since he left, and while he enjoyed every bit of his trip overseas, he still misses his time here. His time home. His time at the estate. And now not only has he returned, but he's returned as the next underboss.

Croff enters with some bottle of liquor which he shows to Idris. He, too, Ainse hasn't seen in years. Idris pops the bottle open and begins filling up a glass, which he offers to Ainse. But he turns down the gesture.

"I don't drink."

Idris stops and eyes him sideways, waiting for him to retract the statement. But Ainse doesn't. "Stop lying." Idris says. "You were the biggest alcoholic up until the day you left."

Even Croff is puzzled. "You stole those bottles of Rum from Bruno's liquor case and blamed it on Idris. Remember?"

"My father almost beat me up for that." Idris adds.

Ainse avoids the accusation. "You two know I'm a lightweight. A couple glasses and I lose my senses."

Still didn't stop him from being the biggest drunk. Alcohol, Ainse knows, only satisfies the psyche momentarily. With set priorities, he'd given up the distraction once he landed overseas. But now that he's back, maybe a glass or two won't be so bad. He settles on a bottle that holds little alcohol.

Idris notices this. "Italy changed you, I see."

"What about you? I leave for a couple years and you get yourself a girlfriend. I'd say that's the most shocking change." Ainse drinks from his glass. "Speaking of which, I ran into her earlier. She's a charmer. Bellissima."

At the mention of this, Croff shifts in his seat, then settles down. Meanwhile, Idris selects a brand new bottle of liquor for Ainse. "Why don't you try a different drink?"

Ainse is baffled. "That's Vodka. I'll be wiped out in seconds."

Idris smiles. "I know."

~《¤》~

JOSI

Josi confines herself to the bedroom, engrossed in some book which she has little interest in. But she reads it anyway. There's not much to do in a prison cell. It isn't until minutes later does Idris join her in the room. His meeting with Ainse must have just ended. Seconds go by of them just looking the other in the eye, neither moving an inch. Until Josi breaks away. She goes back to reading.

Idris releases a sigh, and Josi can clearly tell the exhaustion. Like herself, he's probably wondered when next an argument will break out. She thinks his patience must be wearing thin, but she also knows it will never run out. That same patience has been with Idris since the start of their relationship. Because he has feelings for Josi. And it's for those same feelings that he'll always exercise patience.

Now it seems he's putting his patience to good use. He offers her a hand. "Come with me."

Josi eyes his hand, looks at him, and finally accepts his offer. This must be his attempt at fixing things. He leads her out the bedroom for their destination. The indoor shooting range. There's no one there currently, granting it free for use. But only Idris seems enthusiastic at this opportunity, because Josi is beyond baffled.

"What exactly are we doing here?"

Idris takes his place in front of a target and pulls out his pistol for some ammunition inspection. Then finally, he turns to her. "Come."

Josi looks him over, as well as the weapon in his hand. What could he possibly want with her at this range? She contemplates asking for a run down of their purpose there, but decides against it. She wants to see where this goes. She heads for him.

Idris hands Josi the gun and brings her in front of the booth, his body behind hers as a guide. He pulls her closer by the waist, then has her point the gun at the target. "Imagine a person."

Josi has to do a double take. "What are you-"

"Ssh." Idris interrupts. He directs her aim towards the target's head. "Concentrate. Imagine the target is alive."

Josi looks at him a couple seconds longer, trying to make some sense out of his request. She follows instructions, however, and closes her eyes for the visual effect. By the time her eyes open, she's already locked down on the image.

"Did you imagine it?"

Josi swallows hard. What's most surprising is the fact that she'd sculpted the image so easily. The person she's created has become synonymous with the shooting target. They lay still as they wait for the only fate that's coming for them. Josi exhales and nods her head yes.

"They can't move, can they?"

Josi nods.

"All you have to do is pull the safety back," Idris places a hand on her back. "And shoot."

The words play over until they slowly fade to the back of Josi's mind. She has to fire the gun. She has to bury the bullet straight into the victim. That's all she has to do. Shoot. So she pulls the safety back, and without a second thought, fires at the person in front of her.

Idris watches the bullet connect with the target's head. Then he smiles, as though he were proud. "See? It wasn't hard."

Josi turns to him and finds a smile full of satisfaction. She can't figure out if the smile is a good or bad thing. But enough about that, because there's something else that needs her attention.

It had been so easy for her to picture a human in the stead of the target. All she had to do was paint the image, and it'd come to life. This opens up more room for pondering. If the target had, in fact, been a real person, would she have pulled the trigger still?

Idris cradles Josi's face in his hands, locks eyes with her, then says, "It's okay to feel nothing, Josita. It's normal. For us."

Josi goes mute. There are people who kill simply for sport and others who do it to rid the world of another wicked being. Accidents can also occur, and even self defense. But all in all, there's not a second that goes by without the death of another individual.

This is what Josi begins thinking. She thinks she's not the first person to have pulled the trigger on another. She thinks her case is different because the people she's killed thus far have all been part of the mafia. It doesn't count if they're people who have dabbled in the world of violence. And it's not Josi's fault she's been drawn into that very vicious world. This is just another part of her life. A life where murder is an everyday occurrence . . . So perhaps it is normal.

"It's really okay?"

Idris nods and gives her another smile. "Are you okay now?"

Josi nods.

Idris's smile widens. "Good." Then he stoops down and kisses her.

Josi returns the kiss, because now her mind is clear. Clearer than it's been lately.

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