The Garden of Eden

The Last Breath

Carmine Giordano

     I've seen Eden in my home. She's been leaned against the kitchen counters, sat at my dining table and even laid on a lounge chair out back but she'd never ventured beyond the gatherings. We passed her apartment but before Enzo could slow enough I told him to keep going. I will be as good as God to Eden but God let's war and blood shed plague the world, I can take advantage of her drunken state. By advantage I mean bring her to my home and watch her sleep in my bed. I want to hear Eden beg for me to touch her, cry because she cannot be without me, then I will grant myself the pleasure of touching her. She must want me just has much as I want her.

     "I hope you will still love me when you wake Eden." I let my fingers dance over her bare leg. Pure torture but I have always known a little pain makes the end of things more pleasurable. When she called I wasn't necessarily doing anything work related but I should be returning to the mess Vincenzo, Gino and I were making. Enzo was waiting downstairs for me, his feet kicked up on the table and one of my cigarettes in his mouth. The cigarettes, and the very ornate and eccentric gold box they were in, was a gift from Eden when she went away on business in China.

     "Don't smoke those." He went to put it out. "Well don't waste it, those are a specialty item." Enzo immediately shoved the smoke back between his lips.

"Where to?"
     "You stay here. When Eden wakes up call me and don't let her leave, also smoke in the cigar room at least. These are my nice couches." Now that Enzo is occupied I have to drive myself. Something low key would probably be best but I couldn't resist the opportunity to have the classic two seater jaguar out in the driveway. If it was there when I was ready to take Eden back home then she would surely be obligated to take a drive with me. Classic cars never come out of the garage unless it's for a little tour, what I'm taking it for now doesn't count.

     I made it back to Buscemi's and Vincenzo was waiting around outside.

     "Took you long enough."
     "Duty calls."
     "Quit bullshitting, I heard her hollering through the phone. That's your little Oxford graduate?"
     "Of course, who else would it be."
     "I ain't ever seen you chase tail like this. You better lock her up soon Carmine or I'll have to send Andreas to poke around."
     "Keep your whorish son away from her." Vincenzo clapped a hand on my back, throwing the filter of his cigarette on the ground.

     "Gino's keeping him occupied." Vincenzo locked the door behind us and Binidittu excused himself while we moved to the basement.

     Rarely do things go wrong for me. I don't do anything crazy in my daily life and when it comes to work there is not a possibility unexplored before I do anything. The odd times I do something crazy, like beat up some no good crack dealer that's trying to work into my territory with cheap and bullshit product, I can rely on my long time friends to make sure nothing goes wrong just as they can rely on me to make sure nothing goes wrong for them. Gino Malgeri cannot rely on me anymore.

     Vincenzo and Gino came in a few seconds behind me, much more relaxed and comfortable than myself. Enzo walked out of the kitchen probably confused as to why I am back since he didn't call.

     "Eden hasn't come down yet."
     "Gino better pray she doesn't come down for the next 5 fucking days." I stormed past Enzo and threw my sunglasses onto the island. "Go find a mirror and see if I have anything in the bathroom to cover this." Enzo went to leave but I'll be damned if I have the only person I like right now doing my bidding. "Not you. Both of you fucking idiots can go look."