CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Enjoying the travels, they decided to extend their stay in Florence for one more night. Enzo rescheduled the visit to the museum, allowing the women to feel good about lengthening their stay.
He made sure to show them Modena, Bologna, Montepiano, and Chianti. When they returned to Rome, they visited Pienza and Ronciglione. It was another day of food, wine, shopping, and the four lost boys following the women like puppies.
When they went their separate ways early that morning, the men were like children heading to the Ferrari Museum and track. It wasn’t just Alec and Tailor that wouldn’t fit in the car. It turned out that only Ivan fit.
“This is maybe not a car for men like you,” said the museum director, laughing.
“No, I don’t think it is,” smirked Gaspar. “It’s alright. My wife wouldn’t like me to have something that moves this fast. Besides, in our line of work, we need something a bit more practical.”
“Ah, I see,” he nodded. “Well, let me show you something we are developing.”
He led the men through the museum and toward the track behind them. When they arrived, they were surprised to see two pickup trucks racing. As they made the last curve, passing in front of the men, they were shocked to see the Ferrari logo on them.
“Those are Ferraris?” Gaspar was completely shocked.
“They are,” smiled the man. “We know that it will not be for everyone, but perhaps some will want speed and function. We will try to make it more beautiful eventually, but for now, it’s faster than any truck in the world.”
“That’s incredible,” said Tailor. “Is the cab big enough for a man like me?”
“Let’s find out,” he smiled. He waved the trucks down, and they stopped, the two drivers getting out of the vehicles. The men oohed and ahhed, looking at the interiors and the engines. Finally, the director opened the door for Tailor.
“Please. Let’s test it out,” he smiled.
“It’s your equipment,” laughed Tailor. He pushed the seat as far back as possible and gently slid his body into the seat. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but he could drive it if necessary.
“That’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be,” said Alec.
“It’s really not. I’d bruise the fuck out of my knees if I slammed on the brakes, but I could drive it,” said Tailor. “Maybe another five or six inches away from the steering column, and it would be perfect.”
“Do you think this type of vehicle would sell in America?” asked the man.
“Well, with a few modifications, we might be interested in purchasing a couple for our business,” said Nine. “It would need to have a bigger cab, as Alec and Tailor said. Maybe more height to it, but the speed really intrigues me. We might want to reinforce the panels as well.”
“Reinforce the panels? Bulletproof?” frowned the man.
“We are a security agency,” said Nine. “Sometimes, bullets come our way.”
“Ah,” nodded the man. “Yes, we have a call for such things here sometimes. We still have organized crime and gangs who wish to have these things on their vehicles. We could do that for you. Come, let me introduce you to our engineering team.”
“This is turning out to be one helluva field trip,” grinned Gaspar. “I hope the girls are enjoying theirs.” Nine nodded, laughing at his friend.
“I’m sure they are.”
“Professor Petronomi? I am Enzo. My Uncle Aldo spoke to you,” smiled the young man. The older man looked at him, then looked up to see the thirty beautiful women behind him.
“He did. He did not mention that you were bringing beauty queens to the museum.” Enzo laughed, nodding at him.
“Yes, they are all beautiful and all married, professor. Uncle mentioned that we could look at the steps.”
“Of course, follow me. This is a very unusual request,” he said as he walked down the long corridors. “The stairs were quite loose when the renovations were happening. The team decided to preserve the rare pink granite. They would move that section and preserve it here. The intention was always to move them back, but someone made the decision to replace them with copies.”
“Wait, copies were put in their place?” asked Adele.
“Yes, bella. Around 1938. It’s said that Mussolini and Hitler met on those steps many times. Both fancied themselves gladiators who won and became emperors. Big-headed fools,” he scoffed.
Opening a massive door to a large warehouse extension, he led the women down rows and rows of artifacts. Adele was so excited she just wanted to reach out and touch. Faith grabbed her wrist as she reached for a shield of armor, allegedly from a gladiator.
“We can’t,” she whispered. “Let’s do this first, and then we’ll ask nicely.”
“Fine,” frowned Adele.
“Here they are,” he said, pointing to the beaten, worn steps. “Most people would see nothing special to them. They are just pink steps. But they are glorious with more than a thousand years of history to them.”
“May I touch them?” asked Faith.
“Of course. You cannot step on them. As I said, they were loose and considered unsafe, which was why they were moved here originally.”
Faith touched the cold stone, running her hand along the steps. Adele stepped up, doing the same, feeling the history seep into her fingertips. As she did, Nico appeared before her, smiling. He got close to the steps and pointed to the third step.
“This one?” she whispered, pointing. He nodded, and she smiled at him. Kneeling down, she touched the top of the step and watched as the stone wobbled back and forth.
“See, that’s what I mean. They are unsafe, but no one has found it worthy to save them,” said the director.
“I think the top of the stone can be lifted off,” said Adele.
“Perhaps,” he shrugged.
“Professor? Professor?” yelled a young woman, running toward him. “We have a very big problem with one of the exhibits.”
“Och,” he growled. “Please, stay and look. I will return shortly. Oh, and you may touch the armor on the way out.” He laughed the entire way as Adele opened and closed her mouth. Faith just chuckled, shaking her head.
“Let’s see if we can lift this. Enzo? Can you help?” With Enzo on one side, Faith and Adele on the other, they slowly rocked the top of the step, then slid it to one side.
“It’s opening!” said Kat. As they opened it, they were shocked to see a small journal inside. They could hear the professor returning and panicked, sliding the journal into Faith’s purse. Enzo pushed the step back where it was, and they all just stood around, attempting to look innocent.
“My apologies. It was a silly mistake by a student. Well, where were we?”
“I think we’ve wasted your time, professor,” said Adele. “The steps are beautiful. I hope we can come back and spend more time when we come back to Italy.”
“Any time,” he smiled. He walked them out of the museum and waved as they boarded their bus. When they were nearly to the villa, Erin turned to the women and frowned.
“Well, ladies, we are now felons in a foreign country, having stolen antiquities.”