Page 49 of Marcello

I fucked it up…

I’ll fix it.

On my own.

17

The next day, I performed flawlessly during my five-minute solo sections.

Two days later, Pasquale had me do the entire tour by myself while he supervised.

I nailed it.

Before long, I was doing multiple tours a day completely on my own. Other tour guides shadowed me just in case I screwed up again, but I never did.

I was focused and determined –

About the job, and about the Camorra.

Every evening after work, I’d stand in the doorway of the business. Not just for 30 minutes, but two long hours.

Watching.

Waiting.

The Camorra drug dealer didn’t show up.

But when he did…

I would be ready.

“Why the fuck are you so late every night?” Fede demanded.

“I go out for drinks afterwards with the guys,” I lied.

She looked angry. “Are you cheating on me, Marcello?”

I was genuinely surprised. “What?! No!”

I sweet-talked her and reassured her I didn’t want anyone else. I held her and kissed her, even though she was angry at me for a while.

We wound up having sex for the first time in weeks.

She smoked out before we did it, but I didn’t say anything.

After it was over, I snuggled with her in bed until she fell asleep.

As she lay there in my arms, all I could think about was what I was going to do when I saw the Camorra drug dealer again.

Tick-tock, Marcello.

Tick-tock.

It happened three days later.

After my shift ended, I was hanging out in the shadows of the entrance to Sotto Napoli, waiting –

When the thug showed up. This time, he was wearing a navy blue track suit.