Epilogue One
Dima
“Um, are you sure this is correct?”
Kristie continues to braid her hair, back to me. “Ah yeah. Trust me, that look is exactly what I had in mind.”
I stare down at the striped t-shirt and shorts she’s handed me as my Halloween costume.
“Oh, don’t forget the socks, too!” She turns briefly to toss a pair of long socks at me and goes back to what she’s doing.
I mean, if this is what my woman wants, this is what my woman gets.
It’s only been 24 hours since La Madrina tried to take her soul, and thus far she hasn’t seemed to display any type of feelings one way or another.
Except complain how tired she was after our all nighter to drop fresh meat to Gretchen.
Pulling on my costume I take a quick look in the mirror and cringe. It’s not terrible, but it’s miles away from my usual uniform of black and professional. Lady Gaga blares from the bedside table and I lunge across the bed to answer, sliding the accept button.
“What the hell are we wearing?” Lexi’s lip curls up in disgust and she’s only seen the top half.
“Halloween costume.”
“It’s a woman, isn’t it? That’s the only way you’d ever A) celebrate Halloween, and B) wear something that looks like that.”
“Hey! He looks cute” Kristie shoves her face into mine so she can peer at my phone screen and my niece. “Hi. I’m Kristie.”
“La Strega. Nice to meet you. I’m glad to see my uncle looking less stoic than usual.”
I mock scowl at her but my lips can’t help but tip up when Kristie laughs in my face.
“Anyway, I had information to share. Is it, um, OK to steal my uncle for a little bit?” Lexi’s eyes dart from me to Kristie, so I know she must have the information from the deep dive she did on Kristie.
Turning to my woman, her eyes search my face. Curious. Wary.
“Lexi has a lot of contacts, she finds information. I asked her to look into you to help me find out who might be gunning for you.” I try not to cringe as she stares blankly at me.
She blinks once, then again before turning back to the screen. “OK, hit us with it. Can’t be too bad.”
Lexi beams and I press a kiss to Kristie’s temple.
“It’s not bad. Just…interesting. And probably life changing.”
“Oooookay,”
“You weren’t born Kristiana Ferone. The man you thought of as your father was actually your mother’s bodyguard who acted as capo. Your actual father was Roberto Mancini. Brother to Lorenzo Mancini. Head of the Mancini Mafia.”
“Wait wait wait. You’re telling me that Roberto was my father? Roberto who was a traitor?”
“Yes. The same Roberto that you took out.”
Kristie slumps back against me, deflated.
“If it makes you feel any better he was the one who drove into your mom and her bodyguard that day, killing them.” Lexi offers, her gaze shooting to mine through the screen as I wrap an arm around Kristie.
“It’s weird, but it does actually make me feel a little better. The guy was actually fucking awful.”
“Well, then, good riddance I say!”
Kristie nods, a faraway look on her face.
“Um, would now be a good time to point out that you are next in line to lead the Mancini Mafia if something were to happen to La Madrina?”
Kristie stiffens, before staring at Lexi’s face on the screen. “Come again?”
“If something were to happen to La Madrina, you, as a rightful Mancini, would be next in line to lead the family.”
Kristie slowly turns to look at me, shock clear on her face. We sit there. Staring. Her at me in shock and awe. Me, at her huge hazel eyes lined in black. A twitch of her lips signals that her clever mind has processed the bomb Lexi just dropped on her.
The twitch turns into a smile, then a snort, then Kristie is flat on her back cackling like a lunatic, her socked feet kicking in the air, short skirt flipped up, thick thighs on display and her little red panties calling to me.
“Ah, I’m guessing this is good news?” Lexi’s voice drifts over the line.
Holding the phone to my face, so she can’t see my woman’s privates, I can’t help but grin too. “La Madrina is dead.”
“Oh, well then. Looks like you’re back in the Mafia uncle.”
I let out a groan and hang up on Lexi’s laughing face. Flopping back on the bed I gather Kristie in my arms, holding her close as her giggles start to subside.
“Do you think you’ll be able to handle me being the Godmother to the Italian Mafia?” she cups my cheek, her face serious.
“I would go anywhere, do anything as long as I have you by my side. Even join another Mafia family.”
She smiles softly at me, pressing a barely there kiss to the corner of my mouth. “I won’t make you use your vision.”
“As I recall, you have the vision too.” I nuzzle her cheek.
“Oh yeah. I don’t have the whispers anymore,” she says, peering up at me.
“I know, Ved’ma moya. But I do.”
Her eyes widen and a sad look crosses her face. I’m not sure if it’s because she doesn’t have it anymore since her soul is no longer weighed down by her curse, or if she’s sad that I still do have them.
“I’m sorry you are stuck with my curse. Gift. Whatever.”
I cradle her face in my hands, making sure she’s looking at me when I say these words. “It is my honor to carry your gift. To help you lead and to use both our gifts to help those who need us. I am your servant, La Strega.”
“No,” she says, cradling my face back, teeth clenched. “You are my right hand, Dima. The only one I want to stand beside me. There is still evil out there. Still men we need to take care of. We’ll clean up the filth from our position in the underworld. Together.”
“Together.” I smile, pressing my lips to hers in a soft kiss.
Her tongue licks along my bottom lip, caressing, tasting. Opening my mouth my tongue surges forward, tangling with hers in a dance where only we know the moves. I urge her onto her back, hard length pressed against her wet heat as she cradles me between her thighs.
I grind my hips into hers, stopping abruptly when the doorbell breaks through my sex hazed mind.
“No!!!!” Kristie wails. “Why does he have the shittiest clam jamming timing ever!!!”
She rolls me off her, scrambling to straighten her clothing.
“I’ll get it,” I say, rolling up, and adjusting myself so no one can see my hard cock in these ridiculous shorts Kristie has me wearing.
I stomp through my home, reaching the front door in enough time to fling it open before Gabe can press the doorbell again.
“Oh no, what did she do to you?” He whispers in horror, finger still hovering near the door bell.
“What are you?” I ask, eyeing the long black shapeless coat he’s wearing. Trying my hardest not to look at the bald cap and eyeliner.
“I’m Uncle Fester.”
“Who?”
“From the Addams family? You know? You’re Pugsley, and lemme guess, Kristie is Wednesday?”
I stare at him, trying to decipher the gibberish coming from his mouth.
“Let me in and I’ll show you.”
I step out of the doorway as Gabe pulls out his phone, tapping at his screen. “See?”
He turns his phone around and there is a whole family of odd goth people. Me, Kristie and Gabe make up three of them, but by the looks of it there are still two others. A mom and a dad maybe.
I let out a groan as Gabe laughs and slaps me on the shoulder, before he flops down on the couch. “How is she doing?”
“She seems lighter. Happier maybe?”
Gabe nods. “I don’t like the thought of souls splitting. Ever. It causes me physical pain, as you well know. But that side of Kristie? She begged to be freed. It wasn’t me who decided, I was just the one to help the gift, curse, whatever you want to call it, move on.”
I eye him. He looks healthy, well. “And you’re alright?”
He huffs, tilting his chin up, “Yeah. That’s how I knew it was the right thing to do. It felt right.”
I nod, gripping his shoulder. I open my mouth but I’m interrupted by the doorbell ringing again.
“Can you get the door, babe? I’ll be out in a second!” Kristie’s muffled voice calls from down the hall.
“She’s got your number, brother,” Gabe chuckles.
Moving to the door I swing it open to two people I hold dear in this world and yet I still blink in shock.
“Are you going to let us in, brat?” Sasha’s voice says, smoothly drifting out of his made up face, his long black wig gently flowing around him and his skin-tight long black dress.
I stand stock still, staring at him until Roman clears his throat and I jump back in fright.
“Oh come on! I don’t look that bad.” He rolls his eyes, his jet black hair is slicked back.
My eyes narrow at his top lip, “Did you grow a moustache for this?”
He breezes past me into my home, ignoring my question as he moves toward my woman, arms open wide.
“Ah, La Strega. I have heard many good things about you. I hear our families are looking to become close allies.”
“Argh, I’m so glad you could make it! Was he shocked?
I bet he was shocked, there was no WAY I was going to tell him that I had called you to join us for Halloween.
” Kristie’s giggles fill the room as she and Roman bond like they’re old buddies rather than just meeting now.
And what the fuck was the allies line he used?
“Brat,” Sasha’s voice gently calls as he moves into my home, closing the door behind him. “You look good, little brother. Happy.”
I search his face, much like mine. Well, usually. “I am happy, Sasha. I have found the other part of my soul.”
“Feels good, huh?”
“Feels amazing.”
He searches my face, liking what he sees as he pulls me into his arms. “You did good little brother.”
“Dima!” Kristie calls out to me, waving her hand frantically, calling me closer. “Family photo time!”
Gabe sets his phone on a bookshelf and we all huddle in front of it.
He sets the timer then rushes back to join us.
My woman pulls me into her body, making sure everyone is gathered around.
Roman and Sasha in the middle, Gabe on one side of them, Kristie and I on the other.
We may be dressed like the Addams Family tonight, but the people here today?
They’re my family forever. In this life and the next.
“No. Fucking. Way! I just realized I licked my cousin’s pussy!”