Page 55 of His Vicious Vow
I’m reminded of Bella’s hesitation and her description of Sandro. Then there’s how stiff he’s gone since my stupid words in Italy, how different he was in Chicago. How he teased me and chuckled. “How long have you known Sandro?”
She considers the question. “Forever but not really. I was friends with Luca in high school. Sandro went to a different school than us. Once I graduated I went to Los Angeles to attend USC. I got my bachelors and started a job and three weeks later my mom got sick so I came back to take care of her. I said fuck it and applied for a position here. Luca snapped me up as his personal assistant because it’s so hard to trust outsiders. I came into contact with Sandro but he’s a cold one and I wouldn’t say friendly. Gradually though I grew on him. It’s only been in the last two or three years where I would call him a friend even if I also knew without a doubt I could always depend on him if I needed him.”
I flash to him telling me to call him and he’ll come. He made the promise to me but it was also who he was. For his sister, for Natasha, if someone needed him he would be there for him. Mind twisting over everything I get up from the chair beside her to sit across from her. The moment my butt touches the chair she slides over two of the magazines already open. There are tabs on both magazines.
“Okay, we’ll chat later for sure. But for now we need to get your invitations picked out so they can go out in the next day or so. Thank god Sandro is rich and doesn’t give a fuck about spending it. We’re also saved by the restaurant being able to cater and make the cake.”
The invitations are pretty but none jump out of me. I tell her as much.
“Okay, sorry. Let’s back track a little what is your vision for the wedding? It will help us pick out everything.” I blush at the question. “Oh sweetie please. Whatever you think is embarrassing is not. And most women have thought about their wedding day since they were kids. Whatever you want is what you’re going to get. That’s the decree Sandro set. So you need to tell me so I can make it happen.” It’s an order and I glimpse the hardness that enabled her to be at Luca’s side for so long.
Her order, an order given by Sandro brings it all home. I don’t know when or how it happened but I’m in love with him. And I want to have the wedding of my dreams. Not because I want to fulfil a fantasy. It’s because I will never marry again so I want this to be everything I always wanted the same way Sandro might not be what I always wanted but he’s everything I need.
A tone sounds somewhere.
Natasha looks up from her phone. “Food is here. Cool, I didn’t eat breakfast this morning.”
* * *
Sandro
“You look like shit.” I tell Gaetano.
“You too. Problem with the missus?”
I shake my head. “Don’t. You’re watching my back. Go home and get some sleep.”
He shakes his head right back. “I can’t sleep and I can’t stand another night staring at the ceiling.”
Gaetano has the nickname of the pharmacist. His father, Sonny, is a capo and dumb ass who thought he was going to make money cooking meth. He bought everything, thinking he would make it first and show the finished product to Luca. Gaetano was fascinated by it and the one who figured out how to cook it. When Sonny presented it to Luca, Luca told him cut that shit out—we don’t touch anything harder than coke.
Luca was impressed by Gaetano learning how to cook though and listened when Gaetano suggested instead of cutting our coke with aspirin we should try caffeine pills instead. We tried it in small batches for some of our clients who were willing to accept a different product. Our clients loved it. It was a little more expensive but the difference was negligible when compared to how much we sold and how much more our clients liked it. After that Gaetano became our go to when it came to what we bought and sold.
Oddly he didn’t touch anything harder than weed and alcohol. He didn’t even touch Xanax, after he became addicted to and crashing hard when he came off it.
“What the hell? Smoke a bowl and get some sleep.” I order him.
His sigh is loud. “Fuck. Fine.” He grumbles as he slams out of my office.
I look to Bobby. “What’s going on with him?”
Bobby shrugs. “No idea, Boss. The way he’s acting I’d normally say girl troubles but it’s Gaetano so…”
Gaetano and girl trouble? That sounds like a fucking hornets nest for the girl. I wonder if I should find her and warn her she’s in for a whole hell of a lot of trouble.
“The missus is pretty. And not weird the way everyone said. I like her. I think she’s good for you.”
“Really? You got all that out of talking to her for two minutes?” I don’t hide my skepticism.
“Well yeah, because it’s obvious she loves you. When she loves you, she’ll save you from screwing up. And you love her so you’ll be good.” He grins at me.
Fuck. “Don’t fucking tell anyone.” I mutter. The last damn thing I need is anyone aware of me loving my wife. There are too many ways it could be used against me and I could appear weak.
Bobby shrugs again. “Boss, I don’t talk to anyone about you. I’m happier with my tongue. And don’t worry it’s not like it’s obvious. I only know on account I’ve known you almost fifteen years.”
“Good, now tell Paul I’m ready to go over everything.” Paul is the VP of operations for the property. He’s a civilian aware the Outfit is behind the property but doesn’t ask questions and doesn’t want to know.
I’m looking forward to focusing on work, anything to take my mind off my wife.