Page 162 of Marcello

“No!”

I stood there, stunned. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”

“I can’t just leave whenever you want and – ”

“Run away with me,” I interrupted.

Another long silence.

“…what?!”

“You said that was the only way we could make it work, because otherwise your father would track you down,” I said, referencing our fight in the hotel room. “I’m finally ready to do it. Run away with me. Get over here quick, though, because we have to leave town as soon as possible.”

“Why?!”

I hesitated. What was I supposed to say?

Hey babe, you know that hotel job I lied about?

I’m actually a high-ranking criminal in the Camorra.

We’re about to get into a gang war with the Cosa Nostra, and I’d rather just leave town with YOU instead.

By the way, I’m going to have to stop off in Florence to rescue my family from ANOTHER mobster.

Which could potentially get us both killed.

Hope you don’t mind.

It was the most ridiculous story imaginable –

Even though it happened to be true.

If I told her all that, she’d hang up on me and I’d never hear from her again.

“Shit went sideways,” I finally said, “and something really bad is going to happen if I don’t leave Naples immediately.”

“What happened?”

I winced. I knew what was going to happen when I refused to tell her – but I also knew how much worse it would be if I told her the truth.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“I wish I were, but I’m not.”

“Well, if you can’t tell me, then I can’t leave town with you!”

I began to panic. “You have to.”

“I HAVE to?!” she said angrily. “I don’t have to do ANYTHING!”

Now I was getting angry. “Will you just fucking trust me?”

“WHY? You won’t even tell me why you’re leaving!”

I clawed at my hair in exasperation.