Read the book: «Vendetta»

© Gleb Karpinsky, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0068-0201-8

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Vendetta

1

Her loose white dress swayed above her knees. Her young breasts, wet from bathing, bounced through the thin fabric. She hurried home, where she had been expected for a long time. My parents didn’t like it when their only daughter, Vendetta, was late for dinner, but today the sea was so warm, so gentle… Click-click. Click-click. Her heels clicked loudly on the cobblestones, drawing the attention of men she passed. These unshaven loafers and beer drinkers were all overjoyed, and some of them were full of compliments, and the girl gave them her radiant smile in return. She couldn’t have been more than eighteen, very pretty, with a nice, refined figure. Passing the embankment, she ran out into the square and bought a bunch of limp rosemary from a bored green vendor. I had to do something to appease my mother. Then she exchanged a few words with the brisk newspaperman. It was a cousin in love with her, and the whole conversation was reduced to this dialogue.

 
«Hey, prettygirl. You look great.
«Hey, Giovanni, cut some corners.
«I’m going to marry you after all!»
«Never!
 

Then, at the fountain, she slowed down, licking her lips, very thirsty. But there were a bunch of boys there. They were making noise and laughing as they held the water jet in their hands and pushed it at each other. They could have been chased away, but the town hall clock struck noon.

Oh, Santa Maria! She didn’t have much time left, so she ran, her hips swaying more vigorously, which made Giovanni even more flustered, and he put two fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly after her. A flock of pigeons fluttered over the square, promising a good rain of droppings, but fortunately, Vendetta had already turned into her own street.

Someone was following her. For some reason, the girl was too shy to look back, maybe she didn’t want to scare off the obsession, sweet languor overcame her young and hot body on the run. She knew for a fact that he was a man, and not a bratlike Giovanni. Had the stranger followed her all the way to the beach? He was much older than she was, a little heavy, and she could feel that heavy, searching gaze, that aggressive stride of his. At one point, he was very close, practically breathing down the girl’s back. АжGoosebumps all over the place. She wasn’t afraid of rapists. Here in their tiny backwater, everything is in plain sight, and she always had a sharpened knife in her purse. But why is my heart pounding so hard? Nervously, she reached for the door handle and finally ducked into the entryway. It seems to be all that a decent girl needs to do. The damp stone walls were pleasantly cool. Vendetta listened. My heart was still beating fast. It seemed to her that her pursuer would come in after her, put his hand over her mouth, and start groping under her dress. The absolute darkness around her stopped her, and she hesitated, waiting for something. Nothing will happen, nothing. She could hear her father grumbling for ketchup somewhere upstairs, and her mother fiddling with the pots. All she had to do was climb a few stairs and she was home. Her plate of cold spaghetti is probably on the table. Suddenly, something squeaked under my feet.

«Oh, Santa Maria…»

The girl screamed and instinctively recoiled, finding herself back on the street, right in the arms of a stranger. Their lips were criminally close, and she was immediately embarrassed, trying to pull away. Her girlish heart seemed to leap out of her chest. No way! It was her breasts that accidentally came out of her cleavage. What would the neighbors say if they suddenly saw such a cute scene?

«I’m sorry,» she whispered, unable to think of anything else to say. – I was afraid of a rat.»

«It’s nothing,» the heavily accented man said, clearly flattered by the unexpected encounter.

«Nothing? She was embarrassed by his gaze. «I live here…» she added for some reason, pulling away and putting herself in order.

The stranger looked around the house with a kind of regret, at the unsightly tiled roof, the small, cramped windows, and the broken masonry on the walls. Vendetta felt a little ashamed that she was living in this shithole. She wanted to make excuses, but she didn’t know what to say. Like hypnosis and obsession… Maybe it just got too hot in the sun. For some reason, she didn’t want to leave, and when they took her hand in silence and led her away, away from her parents ' nest, Vendetta didn’t resist.

Canvas trousers, flip-flops on bare feet, a sweat-soaked shirt of pure linen. You still need to look for one in the area. She liked the man wildly. He had a clean-shaven, regular face, not like that of the local drunks, distorted by alcohol, and what deep-set eyes he had, gray with a haze. Such a look is impossible to withstand. And what an exquisite perfume mixed with the smell of musk… The girl’s nose tickled pleasantly.

«Where are we going?» – What is it? «she finally ventured, glancing sideways at her companion.

Sparse straw-colored hair, already has a bald spot on his head, not covered by a hat. And it’s a mysterious smile, like he knows everything about her. No, she couldn’t argue with him now. Who is he? Why does he have such power over her? Judging by his fair skin, he was a newcomer, probably German. Maybe some kind of engineer. It is not far from here that foreigners have invested in the port and specialists are needed. Maybe he’s just exploring the area in his spare time. But it didn’t matter when his palm was so soft and warm. The man smiled enigmatically again, misrepresenting the «Nonsense». Doesn’t he speak Italian at all?

«Not to see Papa Luciano, surely?» – What is it? «she asked, smiling back.

Well, of course. He mistook her for a prostitute. All the prostitutes are dragged to this boring den to buy Martinis. Theyриту don’t even play Rio Rita there. We need to explain ourselves somehow, clear up the misunderstanding.

«Shut up, silly. Just be quiet, «her traveling companion said with difficulty. «You’re good, and I’m good. Then a big present.

He took a gold chain out of his pants pocket. It glinted enticingly in the sun. Vendetta laughed. Of course, such a trinket isn’t worth her virginity. But it’s better than соплиGiovanni’s snot.

«What’s your name, amiko?»

«It doesn’t matter. The Andrians. Carlos. Fidel. I’ll call it what you want, silly.

I think they were going back to the embankment. Here’s the fountain. She glanced at the town hall clock. The arrows indicated that she was late for lunch. Oddly, she didn’t care what her mother said right now. The vendetta was like a dream, sweet, pleasant, criminally pleasant. In her mind’s eye, she imagined why and where this Carlos was taking her. Let’s call him that. Her first lover must have a name. He was still holding her hand gently, smiling enigmatically, as if he knew what she was thinking, as if he knew exactly what she wanted. For such an occasion, you can annoy a meticulous cousin.

«Well, kid, how do the newspapers sell?» – What is it? «she sneeredas she passed a startled Giovanni. He even defended the newspapers.

Then she licked her lips, and Carlos led her to the fountain. The small group of men who had gathered there parted. Vendetta bent down and gently let the water gush out of the ground into her parted lips.

«Ah, what is she doing… a trembling whisper went up.

«The sorceress…»

«Save us some water, too, my beauty.

No, she wasn’t drinking, she wasn’t just quenching her thirst, she was enjoying herself. Let Carlos know how passionate she is, how much everyone adores her here… Carlos… What a beautiful name… When she wasdone, she took a few drops of water in her hand and washed her face, neck, and cleavage. Dazed from the heat, people watched her toilet as if spellbound. Her companion was also watching her. He also got a few splashes, and he smiled contentedly, saying» Nothing.» Someone in front of him respectfully took off his hat, and he nodded back at him. Behind his broad shoulders, you could see the azure sea, and somewhere a seagull screamed, looking for fish in the incoming wave…

«We must go, silly. Time is money, «he finally took Vendetta by the elbow, and they continued on like good old acquaintances enjoying the view of the sea.

The whole square was buzzing like a disturbed beehive, everyone was trying to find out who this important suitor was. But when an elderly lady with a fan suggested that someone run for twirl’s mother to give her a good drink, everyone dispersed. The sticky infernal heat did not encourage unnecessary movement. Except that the dog yawned lazily, and even then it was kicked sohard that it whined and went under the bench.

«Still… where are we going?» Vendetta cheered, leaving the dusty square behind.

They had just stepped off the embankment. Her heels began to sink into the sand, and she took off her shoes and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

«So where to, my liege?»

Carlos motioned for her to climb a small embankment near an abandoned fishing lodge. There was at least some shade from the old nets hanging everywhere. Vendetta shrugged. It’s quite a private place, I can’t say for sure, but I could offer you something better.

When they sat down on the sand, the girl took a mirror out of her purse. There was at least some breeze, and she thought the curls on her head were a little disheveled. She ran a hand through her hair, adjusted her cleavage, and suddenly burst out laughing again. She was amused and amused to have a grown, unknown man standing next to her, who was about to start harassing her. The joke dragged on, I had to explain his mistake to him.