The Accardi Twins: A Mafia Romance Duet

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Gia

“ Y ou don’t have to do this,” Mom says, hovering in the doorway of my bedroom, chewing on her lip and practically exuding worries from her pores. “I don’t want you to do this. It’s too dangerous.”

“I’m not sure what to wear.” I ignore her on purpose. We’ve had this same conversation, repeatedly, since yesterday when Dad slammed the phone down on his boss—a disrespect that would be punishable in the past or with any current don who is not Fiero Maltese—and told us I’ve been summoned to Commission HQ to attend a meeting with the board about a high-profile, field-based informant assignment.

I hold up a fitted black dress. “Should I wear a sexy dress?” Snatching the red pants suit from the bed, I ask, “Or a power suit? Or should I go in my combat gear? Or an understated undercover look?” If I knew exactly what the assignment was it might help me to dress appropriately, but it’s all hush-hush for now. I think Dad knows but he’s not permitted to say.

“Don’t go.” Mom rushes across the room, and I drop the clothes on my bed. She grabs my cheeks. “I have a bad feeling about this, and you know I always trust my instincts.”

“Mom, she can’t turn it down,” Antonio says, materializing behind her.

I’m glad my brother is here. He is generally the voice of reason among my siblings even though that probably should be my role as the eldest. But I’ve got too much of Mom in me. Antonio takes after Dad, and he’s hoping to fill his shoes as the official Maltese consigliere when Dad retires. Which won’t be for a while, because papa is only forty-nine, and there are plenty of years left in him yet. It also gives Antonio time to hone his skill and experience, because there is more to being a consigliere than being reasonable and calm. Confidants to the dons, the most powerful men in our world, consiglieri need to advise and strategize, and that only comes with maturity and time. Something my brother doesn’t have in spades yet since he’s only twenty. “This is what she signed up for when she applied to join the first informant’s program.”

Increasingly, the way we do things is evolving. In the past, the mafioso ruled with an iron fist, and violence was the normal way of handling things. The organization has moved with the times, and information is the key currency these days. It’s why the leadership rubs shoulders with and greases the hands of authority figures. Politicians, judges, cops, lawyers, and even the police commissioner now work for us.

Don Greco is keen to make his mark as president, and the informant’s program was his idea. I love it. For years, the FBI has been using informants to rat on their mafia bosses. Now, we’re turning the tables. Developing our own network of spies to protect our interests and serve our aims.

I had just graduated early with my computer science degree from NYU when the program was announced. I applied without telling my parents because I knew they wouldn’t approve. I didn’t even tell my best friend Elisa because she’d try to talk me out of it. The only person I told was Antonio, and he encouraged me to go for it.

There was a huge number of applications, and only fifty were chosen for the initial training. Now, we’re a team of twenty, and I’m the sole female representative. I only returned from Nepal a month ago, and I’ve been on desk duty while waiting to be assigned a mission.

The very last thing I’ll be doing is turning it down.

“Antonio is right, Mom.” I pull her into a hug because she’s genuinely worried. “This is my job now. Sometimes, I’ll be working behind a computer gathering intel, and other times I’ll be out in the field.”

“I want to support you, Gia.” Mom clasps my cheeks. “I’m so proud of you, and I want you to be happy, but this is not the life I would’ve chosen for you.”

“Frankie, it’s done now.” Dad steps into the room, trying to mask the concern from his handsome face. “There’s no point making her nervous before the meeting.”

“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, Rico.” Mom turns and glares at her husband. “You hate this every bit as much as me.”

“Yes, my love.” Dad reels Mom into his arms. “But the difference is I’ve accepted it.” He brushes her long blonde hair back off her face.

“We never should have let her take those Krav Maga lessons as a kid. I bet that’s where it started.”

I roll my eyes as Antonio grins, and Dad hugs Mom to his chest, smiling adoringly at her. “It’s in her blood, darling.”

“If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself,” I tease. “You’re the one who married a mafioso .”

“And I’d do it all over again because your father makes me incredibly happy, and he’s given me the best life.” Mom beams at Dad as he swoops in and kisses her deeply and passionately.

My heart swells behind my chest as I watch my parents. The way they love one another is couple goals for sure. Growing up, we were always surrounded by love. The one they share for each other and us. I want that too. To be the center of someone’s universe and for our family life to be filled with laughter and love and happy times. I had the best childhood, with the best support system, and I know I’m luckier than most.

“Ahem.” Antonio clears his throat. “Your children are in the room, and it’s far too early for all this mushy touchy-feely stuff.”

Our parents break their lip-lock but not their embrace. “Our children are grown-up and doing all the things we do and more.” Mom waggles her brows at Antonio, and I wonder if she’s remembering the time she busted him nailing Sorella Caprese in the ass.

Mom freaked out, not just at the act, because Antonio was only sixteen at the time and Sorella was twenty-one. I went to school with her younger sister, and she’s every bit the bitch her older sister is rumored to be. Both women should have awards for bedding made men. I’m not throwing shade, just stating facts. Apparently, Sorella is limiting her fuck buddies to one these days in the hopes Joshua will propose to her.

What a dumb bitch.

No made man worth his salt hitches himself to a woman who has fucked her way through mafioso circles. Especially not a don. And especially not this don. Joshua is as anti-love and anti-marriage as Caleb is now. That bitch Bettina really did a number on him.

I was fourteen when it all went down, and I remember how broken Joshua was. Until he reinvented himself as a cold, emotionless bastard whose only commitment to women is fucking them like they’re a dying breed.

I can’t say I really blame him, but it’s sad. It’s no way to live your life.

I know Joshua mostly because our moms are best friends, but he works closely with Fiero now, so we sometimes see him at Maltese events. But I can’t say I know him or his twin well. We have only ever spoken in passing. In the past, it was because of the age gap, but in recent years, I’m not sure why. He probably still thinks of me as a kid the same way Caleb thinks of Elisa.

“Let’s not go there, Mom. I’m pretty sure Dad would make me wear a chastity belt if he knew the stuff I got up to at college.” And in Nepal, but I’m not mentioning what went down while I was training with a bunch of stupidly hot yet irritating made men.

What happened in Nepal stays in Nepal is my mantra these days.

“Gia Maria Estella Bianchi! That had better be a joke!” There is no trace of humor on Dad’s face, and I probably shouldn’t add to his stress when he’s already worried about my assignment.

“Relax, Papa. I was exaggerating. You make it too easy to wind you up.”

“You will give me gray hairs, tesoro .”

“Hate to break it to you, old man, but you’ve already got some.” Dad and Antonio share the same dark-brown locks but not the gray strands that have recently appeared in Dad’s hair.

Mom glides her hand up Dad’s chest. “I like the silver streaks. You look like a distinguished gentleman.”

“You’ve still got it, Dad,” I joke, waggling my brows before I spot the time on my cell and screech. “Everyone out. I need to get ready!” I start running around the room in a fluster as the others leave.

“Wear the pants suit,” Antonio says, poking his head through the door. “Casual or combat isn’t appropriate, and the dress will only draw attention to your tits. You want them to see you as a professional, so dress the part.”

Nerves fire at me from all angles as I sit outside the conference room at Commission Central, waiting to be called. Discreetly, I wipe my clammy palms down the front of my red pants, hoping it doesn’t leave a mark. I managed to pull myself together in record time, and I made it here with seconds to spare. My red pants suit conveys business in a sexily understated way. My makeup is on point. Enough to make the best of my features but not so much I look caked in the stuff.

My cell vibrates in my purse, and I take it out, blowing air out of my mouth when I see it’s my bestie. She is probably calling to wish me luck. While Elisa didn’t want me to sign up for the program, as soon as I committed to it, she was fully supportive. She might worry, but she wants me to be happy. And like me, she enjoys the fact I’m one of the women steering a new path within our world and opening previously closed doors.

“Hey,” I say quietly when I answer her call. “I’m waiting to be called in so I may have to hang up.”

“That’s okay. I just wanted to wish you good luck. I’m dying to know what it’s about.”

“Me too. It’s exciting, but I’m nervous also.”

“That’s only natural, but you wouldn’t be there if they didn’t think you could do it.”

“Thanks. I needed to hear that. Mom has me on edge because she’s so freaking worried.”

“She’s your mom. It’s her job to worry.”

“I know, but she needs to find a way to deal with it because this is the career I have chosen, and there will always be dangerous assignments. Like, would she worry this much if it was Antonio?”

“I think she would but not to the same extent.”

“And there you have it. Things will never be truly equal unless we can shift those traditional mindsets.”

“I agree, but if anyone can change minds, it’s my best friend.”

“Love you. We should hang out this weekend. We still have tons of catching up to do.”

“I have an assignment for art history class due Monday, but I’ll try to finish it Friday night so we can go out on Saturday night.”

“Yes, definitely. Hopefully, we’ll have something to celebrate!”

“Sneak me a photo of Caleb,” she asks, and I bite back my retort.

“I’m not sure it’ll be possible in the middle of a meeting of the most powerful dons in the US.”

“At least commit what he looks like to memory so you can tell me every minute detail.”

“Jesus, you’ve got it bad.” This isn’t even the hundredth time I’ve said this. If I counted it up over the years, it would probably run into the thousands because she’s just that obsessed.

She can do better. So much better. But try telling her that. Elisa is one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. She is also one of the kindest and sweetest, which is why Caleb Accardi will never be good enough for her.

The door starts opening, and butterflies swoop into my chest. “I’ve got to go,” I whisper as a man steps out of the room.

“You’ve got this, babe. Go show them how it’s done.”

Powering off my cell, I slip it into my purse and stand, straightening my spine and lifting my head. A smile plays across my lips as the familiar dark-haired green-eyed hottie approaches.

“Hello, Gia.” Cristian extends his hand. “Long time no see.”

“It’s been a while.” I place my hand against his warm, callused palm.

“We’re ready for you,” he adds, letting me go after our handshake.

“Okay.” I smile as adrenaline courses through my veins. “Let’s do this.”