Section Six

Back in New York City, Giuseppe Morelli was one unhappy man. Sammy and the two hit men hung their heads in shame and fear as the most powerful mob boss in New York, right-hand man to the Godfather himself, sat at the bar silently with an expression of ultimate rage.

            “I give you one simple request and you screw it up. Sammy, you are intelligent. These other two have rocks in their heads. I expect better of you! How difficult is it to dispose of ONE LOUSY FINN?!” Sammy jumped as Morelli exploded at him. Elisa was an important asset to the family. She knew things no one else did, and now she had run off with some Finn. Mauser Matiel, even. Sammy hoped, for his sake and hers, that she didn’t talk.

            Sammy dropped to his knees and kissed each ring on the don’s fingers. “Singore, with all due respect, Mauser is not easy to dispose of. He is cunning as a fox and smart as the devil. Please, I beg your forgiveness. I will find them, this I promise you.”

            Morelli rolled his eyes. “I don’t care. Go now. Do what you must, at any cost. And if you do not find her, and kill him…are you familiar with omertá?” Sammy nodded respectfully and gulped as he rose and beckoned to his henchmen to follow him.

            Elisa and Matiel had cleaned up the cottage quite nicely. It now shone proudly, showing off its appeal as a small country cottage. Matiel had removed his suit jacket, tie, and fedora. His suspenders were hanging around his waist, his PPK was lying on the table, and it was obvious that he had been toiling for the last three hours by the grime on his clothes and face. At the moment, the gangster was relaxing in a loveseat with Elisa reclining next to him, her head resting on his lap. “How could anyone still look so handsome after such a beating,” Elisa asked herself. She studied his dark brown eyes, his handsome features, his dark hair, and sighed to herself. She now knew why all those Finnish women hung around him. In the last day, she had gotten to know him a bit better. Mauser Matiel was not a violent man; in fact he was quite the opposite. He wanted peace between the two gangs, but the Italians would have none of it, which Elisa felt a bit guilty about. Matiel had wanted to be a teacher and had hoped to make a new life for himself in America. He had certainly made a life for himself, just not in the way he had pictured. She sighed, completely happy. She had had it all with her father; money, power, style…but she just wasn’t happy. She never had known what she felt for Matiel, and never been loved back. Truly loved, that is. There was Sammy, true…but he always left something to be desired. Matiel was all she’d ever wanted.

            “Darling?” Matiel looked at her quizzically. “What is going on in that beautiful head of yours??”

            Elisa snapped back to reality. “Nothing…I was just lost in thought.”

            Matiel raised a brow. “Thinking about what? Or should I say whom? That fiancé of yours?”

            “You, of course. I don’t love Sammy like I love you.” Matiel smiled and pulled her closer, so she was snuggled against his muscular chest, and placed his arms around her.

            “I love you, too.” The two engaged in a long kiss, and Elisa rested her head against his chest. Matiel kissed the top of her head and inhaled the sweet scent of her beautiful auburn hair. “You’re beautiful, Elisa Morelli. There’s no one I’d rather be in love with than you.”

            “Matiel, I feel exactly the same way about you.” Elisa closed her eyes to rest for a minute. It had been a long, confusing day.

            Suddenly, she felt someone shaking her. “Elisa, wake up. You’ve got to see this!” She dazedly opened her eyes. Must have fallen asleep, she thought to herself. Matiel helped her to her feet and excitedly pulled her outside. “Look!”

            Elisa looked up. It was the most impressive sunset she’d ever seen. Red, orange, yellow, pink and purple, all vividly painted across the evening sky. “It’s beautiful,” she gasped.

            “Yes, it is. Second most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Matiel murmured in her ear. She turned around and saw he had a bouquet of flowers. He was grinning at her.

            “Where did you find those?” she asked. Matiel chuckled.

            “Look around…they’re all over the place.” He was right; wildflowers dotted the landscape of lush green grass. It was absolutely gorgeous. She took the bouquet from him and smelled their sweet perfume.

            “Grazie, Matiel. You are too kind,” she stated matter-of-factly, as Matiel grinned mischievously. Elisa narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What are you up to now?”

            “Let me tell you something, prinsessa.” He donned his fedora elegantly. “L-is for the way you look at me-” Elisa laughed as he began to sing and dance around. Who knew Mauser Matiel had a beautiful bass voice?” “O-is for the only one, I see—V is very, very, extraordinary,” Matiel sang as he tipped his hat to Elisa, who was sitting in the grass. “E—is even more than anyone that you adore could…Love—is all that I can give to you, love is more than just a game for two--” Matiel tipped his head back and spread his arms majestically. “Two…in love can make it, take my heart and please don’t break it,” he sang as he fell to one knee, “Love—was made for me…and you!!!!!”

            Elisa applauded and laughed merrily as Matiel sat down in the grass next to her. “Like my song?” Elisa hugged him and kissed him, a large smile on her face.

            “You’re wonderful. Sammy never did anything like that. Then again, he’s not so wonderful,” she said as she lay down, her arms folded behind her head. Matiel lay on his side next to her, propped up on one elbow.

            “This is true,” he said, gazing adoringly into her eyes. “Know what other song I like?”

            Elisa looked up at him questioningly. “Which?”

            Matiel smiled devilishly. “Makin’ whoopie,” he said slyly as he bent over her, kissing her long and passionately. She put her arms around him, bringing him closer, savoring the kiss.

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