Chapter 5

“I’m sorry, sir, that ring is for a woman,” the store clerk said with his mouth set in a thin line when Gus indicated he wanted to buy the ring for his fiancé.

Gus explained that Luca had long slender fingers and size wouldn’t be an issue, but the clerk kept refusing.

“What’s the problem?” Gus finally asked, tired of the way the clerk treated him.

“That ring is not for people like you,” the clerk hissed between clenched teeth and stared at Gus with a look so disdainful, it sent shivers down Gus’s spine.

“I see.” Gus took a deep breath and counted to ten in his head, determined not to stoop to the clerk’s level and be rude or raise his voice.