“What has you so worried?” Lanzo had to raise his voice to be heard against the commotion of the club. Valentin ignored him and peered at the dark liquid in his shot glass. What had he ordered again? Pushing the glass aside he ordered another. He wouldn’t take the risk if he didn’t remember what he ordered.

“You’re paranoid” Lanzo leaned towards the young mafia boss so his voice wouldn’t carry. Val could smell the alcohol on his breath and noticed that his words were starting to slur. The partners had been at the bar for hours waiting for Kat, and in that time, Lanzo had drank to his heart’s content. “She’s smart. If she’s late, then there is a reason” Valentin muttered his thanks to the bartender and downed the alcohol. The burn in his throat was a welcome sensation to the sick feeling that had settled in his gut two weeks ago. What am I doing? Valentin didn’t hear a word Lanzo said as he admonished himself. How could I let a young girl take on such a crucial task? Of course, Val knew that Katarine wasn’t that much younger than him, but he refused to see her as an equal. Someone calling Kat’s name brought Val to the present. He watched as Lanzo smiled stupidly at the young beauty as she sauntered towards them. The bartender raised a whiskey bottle in question and Valentin nodded. Katarine squeezed in between Lanzo and Val and took the shot glass the bartender had refilled. Valentin watched blankly as Katarine placed his glass down and asked for another shot. Lanzo made small talk with Kat and Val listened quietly. He folded his hands, one atop another and rested his chin gently on them, gazing into space.

“Val darling” Kat cooed, lightly touching Valentin’s shoulder, “You’re quiet today, what’s the matter?”

Valentin slowly turned to look at her, the coolness in his eyes forced her to remove her hand from his shoulder. The smile on Kat’s face faltered slightly, and Val knew she was trying her best not to cower under his gaze. “What did you learn?” his voice was as icy as his eyes.

Kat chuckled, she tucked a stray hair back into place. “That your men are sexist” Valentin kept his eyes on her, refusing to let up until she told him what she had observed. Her smile disappeared and she seemed to be mirroring Val’s expression. “I’m serious,” she said. Valentin lifted his eyes to Lanzo’s- as if to prove his point concerning her abilities. Peering at his watch, Valentin stood and addressed Lanzo in German, telling him that they would see each other again soon.

“Valentin” Kat took his arm and scurried to block his path. “It’s only been two weeks, and the boys are being good so far. I need more time” Valentin shrugged off her arm and walked out of the club, not looking back at her once. The crowd of well-dressed men and questionable-looking women parted for him as he walked. Stepping into the cool night air, someone fell into step beside Valentin.

“Was she good?” Valentin asked shoving his hands into his trench coat. Jonah was silent for a moment as he considered how to carefully explain himself. A thought struck Valentin that made him gasp in surprise. Had Kat made claims to get her way with the men? It wasn’t beneath her to do something like that, and Valentin knew it.

“She was fine” Jonah cleared his throat, “We’re treating her with respect sir”

Valentin grunted and stopped walking abruptly. “I don’t want you to treat her with respect” Valentin thrust a finger into Jonah’s chest, “I want you to treat her like one of us” The man seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before giving his boss a firm nod and disappearing into the night. Valentin squeezed his eyes shut to suppress a memory, but it was too late.

Young Valentin Schmidt stood with his hands behind his back and a slight frown on his face. Like a good boy, he wore the pullover sweater his stepmother had purchased him. His blonde hair shone with the gel that slicked it back. Valentin was aware of his parents having a hushed discussion about him in the background.

“It’s not natural for him to act like this at his age, Otto,” she said.

“He’ll warm up to it eventually,” His father replied.

A gentle hand touched Valentin’s shoulder lightly. He didn’t bother to look at his stepmother. “Valentin darling? Why don’t you play with the other kids? After all, the party is for you”

“Ich habe nicht um eine Party gebeten” Valentin’s eight year old voice was clear and strong. His posture was upright as he surveyed the other children frolicking in his backyard. His face was as blank as his father’s when he was dealing with a difficult person.

“I know you didn’t ask for a party darling. But it’s good for you to socialize now and then” She gave him a small push and Valentin walked away from her and found solitude under a tree. He watched as the children played soccer. One of the younger girls kicked the ball, but no one was able to block it and it came rolling toward Val. He ignored the little thump of the ball as it hit his shoe.

“Valentin Darling!” His stepmother called from across the yard, “Kick the ball!” she made a motion to kick the ball and the kids laughed. The girl that had kicked the ball came bouncing toward him, pigtails flying and a checkered pink dress bouncing about her. She beamed at him as she picked up the ball.

“Is your name Valentin Darling?” She asked. Valentin’s facial features remained as stone. He briefly wondered if the world could produce stupider children. He gave the slightest nod when he determined that this girl was the epitome of stupid.

“It is!” she gasped and then laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. She tossed the ball to the others and turned back to Val, “Well come on then Valentin Darling” she smiled, “Do you want to play a game with me?” After a while of her deciding what they should play, Valentin was as shocked as her when he suggested chess. Later that day, Valentin sat alone with his father in the study. Otto Schmidt was giving his daily lesson on how to control a business. In the middle of his lesson, he stopped suddenly and gave his son a curious look.

“I saw you speak to a young girl today”

“Ja” Valentin replied staring at his father with a look of unconditional love and respect.

“Women are dangerous creatures son” Valentin’s father had a dreamy look plastered onto his face as he reminisced of days past. “They have a way of making you feel feelings that you didn’t know you had.” Otto’s voice became an urgent whisper, “In this business, the last thing you want to do is put yourself under the power of a woman. Don’t give them anything. Not your emotions, attention, and least of all, your smile. Trust me, Valentin, they do have power”

A small, cold raindrop stung Valentin’s cheek and he shoved his hat further down on his head. His father had warned him so many years ago and yet he found himself here. A drizzle started and Val hailed a cab. He would not give this woman anything, just as his father had said.