The Meeting
1357 Words
The Aurelius Club sat behind an unmarked bronze door on a quiet street, quite easy to miss unless you knew exactly what to look for.
Inside, the air changed immediately: warm, perfumed with oakwood, aged whiskey, and subtle cologne. Soft golden lighting glowed from sconces shaped like laurel wreaths, casting long, rich shadows over deep burgundy walls.
Several men lounged in velvet armchairs arranged around low marble tables, their conversations quiet and confident, as if every word carried weight. I smirked, Rinaldi still carried his goons wherever he went.
They all took turns in glaring at me as I walked by, not that it bothered me though.
A pianist played something smooth and old- never loud enough to dominate, but impossible not to notice.
The staff moved with the kind of polished precision that made the entire place feel choreographed. A nod, a glance, and someone was already setting down your preferred drink without being asked. No menus. No posted rules. Everything operated on tradition, memory, and the unspoken.
At the back, a staircase spiraled up to private rooms, places meant for deals, secrets, and quiet power. Only a select few held keys. And I was one of them.
And above all, an atmosphere lingered: you weren't simply allowed in- you were admitted, and reminded of it in every detail.
Two large men stood guard in front of Rinaldi's room, eyeing me cautiously as I got closer.
"Yes?" One of them raised a hand to stop me from getting any closer.
"Is this fool not aware of my meeting with your boss?" I faced the other one, irritated at their incompetence. Or maybe it was Rinaldi's nonchalance.
"Are you Dante?"
I swung my fist, catching him right in the nose and I heard the one snap under the weight of my punch. "Dante? I have no idea how you do things here, but you will not utter my name with that mouth if yours. Do I make myself clear?"
Clutching on to his broken nose, the bodyguard nodded frantically.
"I offer my sincere apologies. They didn't know who you are, sir." I heard someone say from behind me. "Allow me to guide you inside." he handed me a white handkerchief with Colline Nere's logo stitched on to it. "Here, wipe your hand, sir."
I hesitated, my hand stopping just inches away from the handkerchief. "He didn't even bother to change my father's logo." I muttered under my breath, trying to control my rising anger.
"Sir?"
I snatched it out if his hands and he bowed slightly before moving towards the door. He knocked once, then opened it, holding it until I was inside the room.
There he was.
Vittorio Rinaldi.
He wore a purple fur robe with a pair of black shorts, two slender ladies in bikinis sat on either side of him, feeding him grape and wine.
"Do you even train your boys properly?" I said, moving to stand in front of him.
"I apologize for that." He was smiling from ear to ear, like it was a friendly reunion. "Sit, it has been quite a while. It's always impossible to talk to you at the meeting and then you left the country without a word. I was starting to think I'd never get the chance to see you, but then you come right to my territory."
I looked at the seat he offered but remained standing. "Well, I'm here now."
"Yes, yes you are. What would you like to drink?" He turned to the security that stood rigidly close to the door. "This kid right here is like a son to me. I practically raised him." he let out a disgruntled laugh, pulling the girls closer to him.
I clenched my fists but didn't say anything.
"Won't you drink anything? I was really hoping we could chat. You used to have so many questions for me back then." He picked at his teeth with his finger nail and wiped it on his robe.
My jaw was clenched so hard it started to ache, but I remained quiet.
"Nothing eh? Well if you won't chat, then I might as well ask. Why are you here?" His expression tuned serious and he leaned forward in his seat. "Of course you're welcome here, but I hope you won't try to cause me any problems."
He paused, as if to let it sink in before he added. "You're my son, but my punishment is always worse when my children are involved."
"You seem to be forgetting something, my father is dead." I said calmly and turned to leave.
I opened the door to leave but stopped, "Oh and Rinaldi, give up on trying to threaten people. You suck at it."
I didn't bother to look at the expression on his face, it was clear that he was enraged.
I had forgotten about the worries that left with me on my way out, but as the car pulled up in front of the Moretti mansion, they all came pouring down.
The second I got out if the car, I knew something was off. The light in the living was on, even though it has been off when I left, and he front door was left slightly ajar.
I hadn't taken two steps when I noticed a figure crouched in the front yard garden. He bowed his head low, covering his ears with both hands.
"Hey buddy-" I didn't have the time to ask to ask anything before he threw himself at me. His tiny hands were wrapped tightly around my neck and he buried his face in my chest.
He wasn't crying, but he didn't say anything either. He just shut his eyes, like he was trying to forget something painful.
I didn't have time to feel uncomfortable from the contact as I was consumed by another emotion all together.
He was unwilling to let go so I picked him up and walked inside, my steps faster than necessary.
I pushed the door open unceremoniously, my eyes immediately scanning the room until I found who I was looking for.
I froze at the entrance, my blood boiling at the sight in front of me. Soohia was kneeling on the ground, her gaze fixed somewhere between me and the door.
She made a couple of attempts to smile but could never quite pull if the gesture.
Caleb slowly raised his head and when he spotyed his mother, he climbed down and went over to her. "Mommy, did you lose your earrings again?" He said, kneeling in front of her as he felt around with his hands. "You should look for it in the morning."
Sophia's eyes were filled with tears but she finally managed to smile, though it was heartbreaking to watch.
"Mommy's very careless, she keeps losing things." She held Caleb's hands to stop him from moving. "We'll look for it in the morning. Hmm?"
"Okay." He glanced at me, as if he was trying to see if I bought his act, then added. "Mommy I'm tired, could you take me to bed?"
"Og course honey."
She allowed herself to finally look at me, but I must have had hard expression on because she winced and quickly looked away. "We'll be going upstairs now. It's late, you should get some rest too."
I opened my mouth to reply but I couldn't find any words. I watched her walk lightly up the stairs, my insides twisting into something ugly.
I took out my phone and called Hugo.
"Yes, Don?"
"When you search for information on Leo's family..."
I paused, my fingers brushing against my chest pocket where my old ring rested. A habit I had when my thoughts grew dangerous.
"...start with Sophia first."
Another pause from Hugo, sharper this time. "Understood."
I ended the call, my eyes glued to the stairwell.
On the way to my bedroom, I passed by Caleb's and curiosity won me over. I tuned the knob, opening the door gently. Not surprisingly, I found Sophia curled up next to Caleb.
'This isn't my business.' my head said, but my heart was starting to say something else.
- Writer
