Chapter 6

Gus pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to make sense of her ranting. What was going on? Luca had been wearing something she didn’t approve of, that much he understood.

He fished out his phone from the inside breast pocket, pushed the speed dial button, and waited for Luca to pick up. It rang and rang until it went to voicemail. Gus frowned. Luca’s phone was, more or less, glued to his hand, and not once during their relationship had he neglected to answer when Gus called. He tried again, and this time, he listened to the message and started talking after the beep.

“Luca, your mother is here,” he said in a low voice with his back turned to Giovanna. “Please call me back. I’m worried.” He ended the call and turned to look at Luca’s mother. “What did you say to him?”

“That he looked stupid in that thing. Like a freak,” she answered with a stubborn tilt of her chin.

Freak?