“Good morning, Signor Adriano… I’m sorry, I always forget your surname. I’m not good with my Italian… Surnames from there are fairly uncommon up here too,” the man behind the counter of the small store said to one of his most frequent customers for the last few years, who happened to just walk in like he did every morning. “You’re right on time as well, we just got the delivery that is always of interest to you.”
Even if he saw him every single morning, the man from the store, who everybody called and knew by ‘Tinio’ who he remembered perfectly even the first time that he saw the gentleman who was standing in front of him, he could never remember many details from him…
“It’s okay, Signor Tinio. I have not spoken a word of Italian for the longest time. I actually appreciate that you try to use it with me,” he said, taking his groceries out of his basket and over the counter, including a medium-sized cake that looked incredibly appetizing. This admission made the older Tinio lightly chuckle.
“You know, Signor, you’re the only one who buys that Earl Grey cake. You usually buy it right after it’s delivered by Diwana, so nobody else even sees it before you.”
“Oh, it’s my favorite cake! I would definitely fight whoever tries to take it before me… I didn’t know she was the one who made it. She cooks with the hands of an angel,” the slightly younger gentleman let the little lie out.
After all, he couldn’t say that he knew all those details, including when the lady in question delivered every few days some of her luscious cakes and tarts to the local store.
‘Adriano,’ as he introduced himself when he arrived at the village, couldn’t tell Tinio that he had been observing her lately. Admittedly, more because of a new tenant of hers that was of some interest to him. It just so happens that it was a very happy coincidence that his favorite dessert was made by the formerly mentioned lady.
“But I believe I’ve never had to compete for it because it’s my destiny to have all of them, Tinio,” Adriano added with a toothy grin, as he waited to pay for all his purchased food.
“Well, it constantly seems that way. Since she started selling her food and I began ordering it, you’ve had pretty much every single one of them. If that is not destiny, I would call it sorcery,” the elderly, white-haired and lean store owner responded and then both men laughed.
“Say, Signor, what part of Italy are you from?”
“I wasn’t born there, but both my parents are from Florence. We lived there for a while, but most of my life we lived in other places,” he smiled widely at the man behind the counter, letting him know that that was all he was willing to say about himself for the day.
The younger male looked at the amount he owed, paid and took the bags with his purchases. He then carefully took in his hands the cardboard box that contained his desired guilty pleasure, peeking once more from one of the windows on the box. The Signor could see the deliciously creamy and tasty buttercream that covered and decorated the cake. This not-too-sweet icing softly enhances the flavors of the tea in it, and lightly moistens its surface, making it perfect.
Not too moist, not too sugary, not too heavy, not too buttery…
It was perfectly balanced, one of the best he had ever tried. And Adriano could tell since he was quite a good baker himself. Nevertheless, this one was so good that he will gladly pay for it despite its slightly steep price.
Besides, his almost loyal addiction to that particular cake ended up helping this exceptional lady whom the village leader also had to keep an eye on now.
Tinio smiled at the happy face of his client and made some notes on the notepad near the register. This small paper pad is what ‘Tata Tinio’, as he is fondly called by all his regular customers, uses for remembering what he needs to re-supply or whatever has run out of at his store.
“It’s really satisfying to see a pleased customer like you, Signor,” Tinio mentioned almost distractedly. “Have a good day, Elder Adriano.”
“Thank you, Senyor. I will see you tomorrow,” he answered as he walked out, grin drawn and fixed on his face. “Oh, by the way. My surname is Marinetti,” Signor Adriano looked over his shoulder and casually mentioned. “But it’s okay if you don’t remember, as long as you have my cake.”
He usually followed a very strict daily routine, and for a very good reason, since being methodical had kept him alive and hidden for years already. Even if he was in such a faraway place, where he thought his past would never reach him, his life was peaceful and full.
Yet, a few days before he was pleased to see that he can be mistaken…
He arrived at his home, a comfortable one-floor house that was surrounded by a carefully well-maintained and not-too-large garden. Definitely a house like many others in the village. Modest in a sense, kept like that with the main purpose of not calling the attention of any unwanted people.
It was one of the houses that had been built on the outskirts of the village, almost in the forest.
As soon as he arrived, he walked towards a small, empty plate on the floor of his kitchen. The village head poured a good amount of food, not without noisily shaking the package right before, summoning the still-young wildcat that shared the house with him. The injured pet walked slowly towards him with a bandaged paw.
“It’s ok, Spades… You’ll see, you’ll get well in no time.”
The fCecilia meowed at him as if thanking him for the attention. Especially since ‘Spades’ had gotten into his house with the sole purpose of taking some food from his trash. Unfortunately, in the middle of his thieving, the poor fCecilia accidentally hurt himself.
Adriano, whose real name was not exactly that, crouched by his newest friend and petted the pointy-eared, long-tailed, amber-eyed, fully black, short-furred ex-thief.
“Hope you still like that food. You’re not that old after all, and you were eating garbage…” the elderly gentleman pointed out while smiling and standing straight after a not-so-long moment. “Maybe you can even take this as some sort of progress, my friend,”
The wildcat meowed once more, looking up at him and then started eating beside the man’s leg.
“I’ve been alone for a while too. I guess you lost your family because your mom wouldn’t let you wander like that… right?”
Senyor Adriano would then remove his latest purchases from the large brown paper bag and arrange them in their assigned drawers, cabinets and even in his compact personal ice box.
“Ok, now I need some Hazelnut Coffee and my life will be perfect,” he murmured, washing his hands and proceeding with the preparation.
It was a well-deserved snack, after all.
Even if it was still early in the morning for a regular person, he had been up already for a few hours. Meditation, exercise and some good time sparring were the start of this mysterious man’s morning ritual, so by the time the coffee was ready, he had enough time off for his comfort food and some relaxed reading.
But soon enough, he found himself remembering a scene that, even if he did recall the events well enough, was not usually one that he would allow his mind to wander off to.
+++
“I really appreciate your visit, gentlemen. It was truly a pleasure that my last few moments were spent with people that I care for. I kind of kept to myself for many years so I would be sure that my poor choices wouldn’t take the life of innocents… I have no regrets and no pendings. So, whenever Aaron here chooses to end it all, it will be okay for me.”
Hiromoto looked at his mentor once more, knowing that it would be the last time.
Even if he knew it had to be done, and if he didn’t do it himself. Any other person in their organization would do so easily. But for him, it was still really hard to see this through…
“Senyor Antonio, I’m being shamefully selfish right now. I know I shouldn’t have second thoughts and that you yourself taught me better the ways of this world we live in, but still…”
“Life is full of death, my son. You should know that better than anyone. This will take us at one time or the other, never one minute ahead of when it has to happen, and I’ve been ready for it from the moment I chose this path. Don’t regret what you have to do. Not now, not later. Now, let Aaron do what he came here to do. Please go ahead, son…” The oldest man in the room acknowledged the young and newly hired assassin with a short nod.
“Yes, sir. Hero, do you want to be present?” Aaron asked returning a similar version of his own nodding gesture.
“No. To be very honest, I… I don’t.” was the Ogre’s hesitant and grief-filled response.
“Then, Senyor Antonio, would you mind if we do this in your room?”
“Not at all, young man. Follow me,” Antonio agrees while getting up from his chair and starting to walk towards the aforementioned sleeping quarters. “I promise to see you on the other side, son. Hopefully later than sooner,” The older mob leader said, placing his big heavy hand on Hero’s shoulder and then smiling contentedly. He then continued walking, closely followed by Aaron.
“I’ll be back soon, H…” the then Right Hand almost whispered in an unreadable, flat tone. Hiromoto stood frozen in suspense and dejection in that room for a few more seconds.
Then, he got up and turned to slowly walk to his childhood friend.
“Take your time. I’ll just… step out of here now,” Hero added, his face expressionless but determined. Though still looking pale and ashen, he immediately walked towards the door and left the apartment while the Senyor and The Charmer assassin continued to stroll to the other room.