“Yesterday’s lesson learnt. Don’t get fucked,” muttered Seth beneath his breath, but it was loud enough for Dom to hear.

  Domenico shook his head but decided to ignore him. There was nothing the little spoiled shit had on him. He honestly doubted anything good would come out of this operation, but he would be held accountable for Seth’s training, so there wasn’t anything he could do about it.

  The warm paper cup radiated heat all over Domenico’s hands. It was high time to buy new gloves, since he hadn’t been able to bring any from back home. With the cigarette smoke warming up his insides as well, he leaned back against the backrest of the bench they were having breakfast on. He liked the relaxed atmosphere of the neighborhood, even now, when so many people were going in and out of the local subway station. The air was fresh and cool, a wake-up more efficient than the strongest espresso, and looking at the façades of the plain buildings around the small square only made his head clearer.

  Seth on the other hand sat next to him wearing sunglasses, his lips in an expression of permanent dissatisfaction. They spent most of the time in silence, Seth munching on meaty pastries as if he hadn’t eaten in a week. Domenico sure hoped he wouldn’t get fat too soon because it would be a shame to lose such a delicious piece of lean bacon. He certainly intended to enjoy it every night while he had a chance.

  Seth knew shit. It was clear he was a born bottom, with the way he pushed against him, pressing that bubble butt flat against Domenico’s hips, driving himself onto his cock and smiling as if he just got into bed with David Gandy, which wasn’t that far from the truth. Domenico knew his own worth.

  For now, he could give the slacker enough time off to go through the morning paper. He put the coffee cup on the bench and picked up Der Tagesspiegel, which Seth had rolled into a tight cylinder. This act of spite wouldn’t be enough to stifle Dom’s good mood. The coffee wasn’t an espresso, and he’d gladly have more food if he weren’t in company, but it was a decent substitute for a proper breakfast.

  What he unrolled on the first page wasn’t what he had expected. No news from the Brussels front. The front was apparently in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Wilmersdorf. There was a huge picture of a bridal shoe in a pool of blood and grime.

  “Tragic,” he muttered, skimming through the text with increasing speed. Each new sentence ticked a small box in his mind, and they all pointed to the same man.

  “What?” Seth asked, looking over Dom’s shoulder. God knew why he had pretended to read the paper before. He could barely say dankeschön.

  Domenico leaned against the backrest and reached for the coffee. “Looks like the Barracuda is in town. A wedding got blown up by a bomb. The world is now a bit better without several Russian mobsters,” he said with a widening smile as he looked at Seth. “Just as pleasant as your Chinese friends.”

  The human chicken went pale and frowned. “Really? You have to bring it up? And how do you know who did it, anyway?”

  Domenico winked at him, amused by his reaction. “He’s an acquaintance of mine. One time he blew up a Russian funeral, so I suppose a wedding is the next logical step. I’m counting on a baptism next time. Dead funny.”

  Seth’s pupils widened. “You are sick.”

  Domenico raised the paper cup in a mock toast. “No, the Barracuda is. I'd never blow up a Christian religious ceremony. It would be disrespectful.”

  He looked at the pout that seemed to be permanently glued to those fine lips and couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction. It was high time someone showed Seth Villani where his place was and taught him some respect. It made Domenico sick to his stomach to see someone so privileged living such an easy life when everyone else had to get their hands dirty for the Family to keep the books open for them.

  Seth cleaned off his face with a napkin and his head turned when a handsome businessman walked past them. Domenico imagined the silence was some kind of protest from Seth because that sort of behavior would fit a big baby like him.

  The businessman turned his head as well, and Seth smiled at him, but Domenico wouldn’t let the flirt go on and called after the guy in German. It didn’t take much for the stranger to turn his head back and run like a pig from marking.

  “Hey, what did you say to him?” Seth frowned, his smile gone.

  “I told him to get lost, or I’ll fuck him up.” Domenico grinned. “Don’t interact, we’re out observing.”

  “There’s nothing to see. It’s boring,” Seth complained as if this was supposed to be entertainment.

  “I don’t care, you’re here to learn.” Domenico poked the back of Seth’s head. “Tell me, was there anything you could know about that guy just from looking at him?”

  “Yeah, he looked like he was packing.” Seth slid away a few inches.

  “How do you know that?” asked Domenico with a serious expression. He wouldn’t let the little shit make him lose his cool.

  Seth pursed his lips for a moment, as if he had to give it some thought. “I think I saw the outline in his trouser leg.”

  “Don’t bullshit me. Don’t fantasize and focus.” Domenico spat out his cigarette. “What else?”

  “I don’t know. Nice hands.”

  “Okay, what does that tell you?”

  “That they’d be nice to the touch. Not like yours, they’re all weird.”

  “Weird?” Domenico frowned and let his gaze glide down to his hands around the cup. There was nothing fucking wrong with them, well-manicured and slim.

  Seth took off his sunglasses and pointed to Dom’s fingers. “Yeah, your fingertips are weird. Uneven.”

  Domenico snorted and shook his head. He might as well show the little fucker who he was dealing with. “They are, yes. I changed my fingerprints.”

  Seth’s frown was priceless, it warmed Domenico’s chest. “Who does that! That’s freaky.”

  “Shit happens. At seventeen, I blew a job and left my fingerprints all over the place.” He shrugged and slowly turned one of his hands, showing it to Seth. “My mentor told me what to do, but I had to do it myself. Chemicals, razor, and pain for an entire month. It was worth it.”

  Seth reached out like he wanted to trace the palm with his finger but pulled back. “That’s horrible. I won’t have to do this, right?” He wrinkled his nose and shifted in place.

  “Not if you listen to me.” Domenico crooked his head, looking into Seth’s tense face. “Because it hurt so bad I had fucking tears in my eyes.”

  “And that means a lot because you’re made out of rock,” mocked Seth.

  “Exactly. So be good, listen and learn, so that I can keep you from getting killed. Now tell me, what do you think does it mean that he had nice hands?”

  Seth moaned and looked at one of the taller buildings. “That he takes pride in his appearance?”

  “No, think, Seth.” Domenico took a sip from his cup. “If he did physical labor, do you think his hands would be his prime feature?”

  “He was in a suit. Of course he doesn’t do physical labor. Unless he’s an undercover cop, just pretending he’s a businessman. You can’t just assume things.”

  “You need to. Good-looking hands mean a job that doesn’t require ruining them. You noticed the suit, what can you tell me about that?”

  “It was hot on him so… he works somewhere where he can fuck his coworkers?” Seth grinned.

  Domenico frowned. “Listen, you little fucker, you give me shit like that one more time, and I’m informing your father.”

  Seth groaned and adjusted his jacket. “He was rich? High-paying job? Gay, obviously, ‘cause he turned to look at me. Didn’t have a suitcase, so maybe it’s his lunch break?”

  “At nine in the morning?”

  “Early shift?” Seth raised his eyebrows.

  Domenico waved his hand dismissively. “Tell me something about the suit itself. What did you notice?”

  “You’re the suit master. You tell me. Dom, is this going anywhere? What are we doing here?”

  “I’m teaching you to read people. Now tell me, was the suit made to measure?”

  “How am I supposed to know that? Oh my God, this is so tedious! You can never know everything about everything!” Seth got up from the bench, coffee still in hand.

  “Sit down.” Domenico was starting to lose his temper. “Tell me about the fucking suit. What did it look like?”

  Seth sat back down, rocking on the bench and grumbling something beneath his breath. “Good. It fit well.” He put his sunglasses back on, even though the sun was hiding behind the clouds.

  Domenico nodded. “Good, what do you think about the quality of the fabric?”

  “I didn’t see it close enough.”

  “You were close enough, but all your attention was on his dick. I can see you’re hungry for cock after yesterday, but keep that out of our lessons.”

  Seth’s mouth fell open as if he were ready for sucking already. “You know shit.”

  Domenico snorted and went on with the previous topic. “It was good quality fabric, he wore clean leather shoes and gold cuff links. He isn’t just someone working at the till in a bank.”

  “Okay, so he’s some bigwig. Is every day gonna look like this?” Seth wouldn’t even look at him, finishing his coffee.

  “Every day will be as I tell you it will be, now focus. You’re being an ungrateful brat.”

  “What is this, some master-slave shit?” Seth groaned. “You get off on that?”

  Domenico chuckled and shook his head. “This is unbelievable. Listen to yourself.”

  “‘Cause you won’t even tell me why we’re here, why we had to get up at an ungodly hour, when I still haven’t slept well since some cunt cut off my fucking finger. Yes, I am cranky.” Seth huffed and crossed his arms on his chest.

  Domenico shook his head, bitter jealousy eating up his gut. “Did no one ever teach you any discipline? How can your father think you might ever be good enough for the job?”

  “I’ll probably get shot soon anyway, so don’t bother,” Seth lowered his voice, his eyes hidden behind the sunglasses.

  “Exactly, so get real, because I am here to do my job.” Domenico knocked his fist into the center of Seth’s chest. It was sad to see someone giving up. If Seth was so certain he couldn’t handle it, he should man up and confront his father. “This is both your and my life, so start listening.”

  “Sorry you have to do this then. Whatever.”

  Domenico growled and pulled the sunglasses off Seth’s nose. “Look at me. Do you want to die?”

  Seth flinched, his eyes dark and glossed over. Dom had his work cut out if he was to change this pile of goo into a man. “No,” Seth whispered.

  Domenico sighed, leaning closer. If he was to serve his purpose for the Don, he had to somehow get through to that spoiled idiot. “Nobody wants you as the new Don, they will try to kill you, do you understand that?”

  There seemed to be a glimmer of thought in Seth’s eyes, and he nodded. “I’ll try to get better.”

  Domenico snapped his fingers in front of his face, urging him to focus. “Villani, I can promise you I will take a bullet for you, but only if you focus and do as I tell you. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.” Seth reached for his sunglasses, but Dom placed them on top of his own head.

  “What we’re doing now is teaching you to recognize clues in people’s behavior and how they look. Use your imagination, every detail can have a meaning, and if something doesn’t fit the general image, it might mean you’re fucked.”

  “Like this hot guy with freaky fingers,” Seth said and it was obviously a dig at Dom, but at least he seemed to listen.

  “Exactly, it’s a good thing you noticed.” Domenico pulled away to have some space between them. “Now forget everything you know about me and just look. What can you tell from the way I look now and why?”

  Seth took a deep breath and took a moment. “Well dressed, but on a budget. Likes some bling.” Seth wiggled his fingers, indicating Dom’s signets and crooked his head. “Too casually dressed for a high position office job. Day off maybe. Pampered but rough around the edges. I wouldn’t assume gay though.”

  Domenico’s lips crooked into a smile despite his best will. “Good, what about my skin tone, or hair?”

  “Are you fishing for compliments?” Seth raised his eyebrows, the glossiness of his eyes gone. “Southerner, but not as dark as some, so maybe has mixed heritage. The hair… actually...” Seth bit his lip. “A bit of eccentricity to the conservative look? Definitely peacocking.”

  Domenico chuckled, rewarding himself with a big gulp of coffee. It was so sweet it stifled any hunger he felt. “That’s about right. Anything else?”

  Seth eyed him for a long moment and squinted. “Mama’s boy.”

  Domenico blinked, but otherwise didn’t let Seth know there was some truth in his words. “Why?”

  “You’re not married, but you have a signet on your ring finger. I bet you got it from your mom.” Seth smirked.

  Domenico leaned back, frowning at him. “Good.” Slowly, he clapped his hands. “And that’s what I want from you.”

  “A slo-moclap? Really? That’s all I get?” Seth moaned.

  “What do you want? A blow job?”

  Seth’s pupils widened, and it probably took a lot of effort for him to say no. Domenico was tempted to laugh in his face and call him out on the lack of balls, but if he was going to be a successful teacher, sincerity had to wait.

  They spent an hour watching pedestrians, and Seth had some valid observations once he put his mind to it. He didn’t try to flirt with strangers either, more focused on the task at hand.

  Domenico’s body stiffened when he saw a familiar face heading for the subway station. Pretty, but in a common way, Vera Salieri walked past them in a colorful dress with geometrical patterns and a pair of Louboutins, holding onto a folder with the Humboldt University’s logo. Her hair was long with blonde highlights, and as soon as she was out in the sun, she pulled a pair of shades over her eyes.

  “What about her?” asked Domenico, finishing his coffee.

  Seth took a while, which was good. Meant he didn’t just throw stuff at the wall to see what stuck. “Student. Elegant for her age. Doesn’t look local with the darker skin tone, but then again there’s lots of immigrants here. Unmarried.”

  “How do you know that?” asked Dom, slowly getting up from the bench and gesturing for Seth to follow.

  “No ring, obviously.” Seth quickly caught up with him. “Maybe she… nah, just fantasizing. I can’t really see much more.”

  “She’s not just a student,” said Domenico, frowning at the too-short skirt. If he didn’t know any better, he’d assume she’d come from some pit of Jezebels.

  “Undercover cop?” Seth inched closer, instantly more interested.

  “No, she’s working for the Chinese,” said Domenico, following her into the subway station, past a bakery where they’d gotten their breakfast earlier.

  Seth went silent, even though he didn’t stop walking. Dom could smell the fear prickling on his skin.

  “Don’t you worry, act normal. She doesn’t know what we look like. And you’re right, she’s an unmarried student, from a family without great means.” He lowered his voice, waiting for Seth to recognize the meaning of this as they followed her into the station with wall tiles forming big geometrical figures.

  “Yet she’s wearing expensive shoes.” Good, Seth wasn’t as stupid as Dom had begun to think. He’d stepped closer to Dom as soon as the Chinese had been mentioned.

  “Don’t.” Domenico stopped him with a gentle pat on the arm. “There will be time for confrontation, but not today. Today, we watch,” he said, walking toward where Salieri stopped. She opened the folder and was leafing through what looked like handouts. His face soured when he spotted the lace of her stocking, and her neckline wasn’t modest either. What a tramp. No way was she still a virgin.

  “What do you know about her?” Seth watched her as well, attentive and straight as a streetlight.

  “Loosen up,” Domenico told him, proceeding only after his student changed the unnatural pose. “We don’t know who gave her information about you, but we do know for a fact it was her who answered your Craigslist ad.”

  “Bitch,” Seth spat, his nose flaring, his hands already squeezed into fists, but he stood in place as told. Good.

  “Revenge is a dish best served cold, Villani. Cool down, forget who she is and what she did. She is a person we’re watching, nothing more.” Just as Domenico finished, the train pulled into the station with a loud clatter. “We’re getting into the same car, but use a different door, clear?”

  Seth nodded, and it was becoming disconcerting just how quiet he went, all the stupid comments gone. He was eyeing the girl with caution and when she chose a car, they followed. Domenico hardly stopped himself from scowling when he brushed against a man in a dress, who exited through the same door. Christ almighty, what was the world coming to?

  He didn’t comment on it though and took a seat next to Seth, taking his cell phone out just in case he needed to pretend to be busy, or snap a picture. Salieri parked her far-too-exposed ass in a plastic seat and crossed her legs, focused on the handouts. Her lips were moving as she repeated whatever information she was revising.

  He had a hard time believing she thought such an outfit was proper for class. His mother, always the epitome of elegance, would never allow herself to be seen outside in anything that uncovered almost all of her thighs. This wasn’t a beach.

  Despite his best intentions, he’d recently started to pay more attention to women, as his mother mentioned his single status every time they spoke. According to her criteria, a good girl should be well-behaved and unspoiled, preferably Sicilian. He knew Mother wanted him to enjoy his future wife’s looks as well, but that was a secondary factor, at least as long as asking a girl for a fertility test was still considered rude. Domenico tended to take his mother’s words to heart, but this really was a tough one. The closest to a virginal Sicilian bride he could offer her was Seth Villani, whose sweet, tight bottom was riper than a freshly picked peach. He could hardly believe how a guy that handsome had stayed a virgin for so long in the first place. Seth was gorgeous even by Italian standards, and Dom believed his nation to have the most attractive men. Italians were always his first choice. Maybe guys were too intimidated by Seth’s looks to hit on him? Whatever the reason, Seth was Dom’s first virgin, and one that didn’t put out lightly at that. It was endearing. Made him feel like a conqueror.

 

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