Arranged

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

C armella

“Mama. Look at the cookies and the cake!” Gabriel’s little face was electrified as he pointed toward the dining room table, the six-tier cake the centerpiece.

Decorated in Amber’s two favorite colors of pink and purple, the artistic creation rivaled every wedding cake I’d ever seen.

There were dozens of other desserts from chocolate lava cake to cocoa pinwheels, wedding cookies, and Amber’s favorite chocolate fudge.

I assumed without looking there were other tables full of yummy creations from beef carvings to shrimp the size of my hand. If I knew my father, he’d hired an ice sculptor, tasking him to create an exquisite dolphin.

I knew that because for my sixteenth birthday he’d hired four caterers, an ice sculptor, and an orchestra alongside two award-winning pastry chefs. Sadly, Amber’s sweet sixteen had been spent in a hospital bed, so this birthday was more lavish than any before.

Guests were already milling about, incredible music coming from hidden speakers. When I’d driven up, I’d noticed the two huge white tents located on the lawn. My guess was the teenagers Amber’s age were partying out there with their own DJ.

Good for her.

I sure didn’t want to be stuck with my father and stepmother’s prissy friends, but I plastered on a smile anyway. A requirement of being a tarnished mafia princess.

“I know, baby. You can have some cake later. After you eat a little dinner. Okay?”

My son scrunched up his face, immediately folding his arms. It was exactly what his father used to do when he was angry with me. Which had become all the time during the last year of hell together.

“O-tay. I don’t like it though, Mommy.”

I had to fight to keep from laughing, even putting my fingers across my mouth. “I know you don’t, honey, but your little tummy would hurt if you ate too many sweets. Then I’d need to take you to a doctor.”

He peered up at me and I knew at that moment the sun rose and set on the little boy. He was my greatest joy and accomplishment. Graduating medical school first in my class and opening up my own practice didn’t mean anything in comparison to creating such a little life force.

“Mommy. You’re a doctor.” When he spoke that way, I could see the little adult in him clawing to escape. And he was only four and a half.

“Is that the most handsome grandson in the world?” My father stormed into the room with his arms outstretched.

Gabriel broke free from me, racing toward his grandfather, who scooped him up and smothered him in kisses. I felt a twinge of guilt for keeping my son from his blood, but it was more about keeping Gabriel from the life.

I wanted him to be a kid, not forced to be surrounded by bodyguards and weapons. I walked closer, noticing my father was studying what I was wearing.

As he always did.

So, I’d selected a pantsuit. I wasn’t a dress kind of girl and my father knew it. He also rubbed it in that while growing up, I’d been mistaken more than once for a boy. That had changed when I’d gotten boobs.

Thankfully, he said nothing, instead moving to the sweets table and selecting a cookie. I didn’t bother trying to stop the man. This was his house and as he’d always told me, his rules.

I noticed Sasha out of the corner of my eye and smiled. She seemed pleased I wasn’t in a bad mood, which I was half the time I arrived at the house. Mostly because my father usually never asked me to come. He summoned me.

“Sasha. You look beautiful,” I told her. And it was the truth. I’d never hated my stepmother, even though my mother hadn’t been dead and buried for longer than fourteen months before they’d gotten married. It had been tough for a ten-year-old girl to handle. A few years later, they’d started a new family and I’d felt completely left out. Thankfully, I was brilliant in school, graduating a year early from high school and entering college.

My father had wanted peace in the house from all the bickering. It was the only reason he’d allowed me to head several states away to attend college then medical school. They’d been the happiest, wildest days of my life. Thankfully, I’d stopped seeing her as the enemy years before.

And I absolutely adored my half-brother and half-sister. They were amazing little people. Well, not so little any longer.

“You really think so? Your father doesn’t like this color on me.”

“Ignore him. He’s colorblind. Sapphire is your color.”

The fact she was beaming from something I’d said to her brought a knot into my stomach. I’d been so damn rough on her through the years. “You are such a beautiful soul. I’m so glad you could make it. Amber has been asking about you.”

“Where is she?”

Sasha rolled her eyes. “In the tent. That girl is going to be the death of me. Do you know she wants to be an actress now? God help me.”

We both laughed. “Next week that will change.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. Get a drink. Maybe you can coax her to the main house.”

“I’ll do my best. Do me a favor in the meantime. Don’t let Pops feed my son every single cookie. I do not need a cranky baby boy on the trip home.”

She winked. “Leave it to me. I’ll make him a plate of his favorite foods.”

I squeezed her arm and moved to the massive living room that could double as a ballroom for any hotel. I hadn’t grown up here, the house a purchase for Sasha as a wedding gift. It had always seemed foreign to me, but it was beautiful. I grabbed a glass of champagne from one of several waiters walking through, waving to a couple of people I knew.

Kind of knew.

I’d distanced myself from my father’s world so long ago that even the old family friends didn’t seem familiar any longer. It was odd to be a member of the family and feel like you were looking from the outside in.

I headed to one of four sets of French doors. The moment I cracked one open, the blasting music assaulted my senses. The kids had returned to enjoying metal music along with their hip-hop and rap. Not that I was an expert in music. I rarely had time to listen to anything but a little bit of news in the morning.

Or one of Gabriel’s three dozen Disney movies. Over and over again.

And again.

I laughed softly to myself as I headed down the stone pathway. The house was situated beautifully on several acres of land, dense forest surrounding it on both sides. In the back was a beautiful view of a body of water. There was something very serene about the entire area of Bay Shore.

It was close enough to New York to keep an eye on business, but not too snotty as my father called the Hamptons while still a lovely place to raise two kids. My ten-year-old self had considered herself an adult.

I’d been such a little prima donna.

At least I didn’t see that in Amber. With the present I’d purchased months before in my hand, I headed down the path to the tents. The first was set up with food and beverages, not all of them nonalcoholic either. I didn’t see a chaperone. Lordy. I’d need to look the other way by the end of the night.

The second was where all the action was, as many as one hundred kids already dancing and squealing.

But the highest pitched squeal came when Amber saw me. She went tearing through the crowd, throwing her arms around me. “You came!”

“Of course I came,” I yelled, given how loud the music was. “Can we go outside?”

“Sure.” She pulled away and clapped her hands. She looked like a fairytale come true, her chiffon dress perfection.

I’d been a tomboy. She was the epitome of an Italian princess. So beautiful. So sophisticated.

I was proud of her as if she was my own. We headed out of the tent and she immediately eyed the present.

“Is that for me?” she asked, even batting her eyelashes, a signature move.

“That depends on if you’re the birthday girl.”

“You know I am.” She didn’t wait for me to hand her the small box, snatching it from my hand. When she ripped off the gold foil, her smile was huge. It was as if she didn’t have several tables full of presents waiting for her to open.

The moment she opened the box, she gasped and looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “It’s beautiful! I love it.” She fingered the sterling silver dolphin, which happened to be her favorite creature on earth.

“His eye is a sapphire, diamonds on his fin.”

“Love. Love. Love!”

She threw her arms around me a second time and some bubbly slipped over the edges of my flute. “You are welcome. I thought you might like it. I saw it in a little jewelry store in White Plains and snatched it up months ago.”

“You’re my favorite sister.”

“I’m your only sister, girlie. Don’t forget that. If you’ll hold my champagne, I’ll put it on for you.”

“Yes, please!” Amber was in her element and I was happy for her. She’d been protected and fawned over, especially since her life had nearly been cut short by a horrific illness.

She managed to lift her hair as I walked around her and as I was locking the clasp, I noticed our father and three other men were heading in our direction.

I immediately stiffened.

I’d been removed from my father’s world mostly for years, but that didn’t mean I’d stuck my head in the sand. My father was a powerful, ruthless man who’d used violence and even murder throughout his life. That had placed him on the throne of the crime syndicate when he was only twenty-four years old. He’d lived up to his father’s reputation for brutality.

But not with his family. I would give him that.

He’d become less violent over the last few years partially based on success as well as the use of technology. That didn’t mean he was without enemies, including one of the men approaching.

Don Luis Santorelli was another mafia Don, almost if not equally as merciless as my father. He ruled his territories the same why my father had, stuck in the old ways while attempting to embrace the newer ones. Flanking his side were two of his made men, two positioned in the upper echelon of a very controlled society.

One soldier I recognized and had once had a crush on years before. The other I’d seen in passing, never formally meeting him. Not that I’d wanted to. As soon as the politics of crime were brought to any discussion, I turned to having a sailor mouth, often embarrassing my father.

He’d been appalled that someone so well educated could use such filthy language. That’s how angry he and his world often made me. However, tonight I was determined to keep a smile on my face. Amber didn’t deserve to have anything ruin her special night.

“Amber. Carmella. I was hoping to find my two daughters together. Do you remember Luis Santorelli?” He directed his question to my sister, but his eyes were locked on mine.

I was immediately uncomfortable. For him to be using the Don’s first name didn’t bode well with me and I wasn’t certain why.

“Don Santorelli,” Amber said, even curtseying in front of him. She’d been trained well in methods of protocol.

“Such a beautiful girl. You’ve grown into a fine-looking young woman. Your father is obviously very proud.”

Dion Marcini was staring at me as he had every time we’d seen each other. He’d let me down easily as a teenager, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t resented him for years. While handsome, his face held the scars of his profession like a badge of honor. I thought them reprehensible.

The other man, Alejandro something, was unmarked as of yet, his olive skin and dark hair a striking background to his eyes. While there were outside lights everywhere, I wasn’t entirely certain if they were blue or green. Either way, they were mesmerizing. I felt a rush of heat that was entirely unexpected.

There was also something about the man that seemed cold, distant, but forever watchful.

“Thank you, Luis. Both her mother and I are very proud of her,” our father beamed. “Seventeen.”

There was something odd about reciting Amber’s age, as if he was telling the world she’d soon be an adult. I instantly bristled and realized I’d even fisted one hand.

“Stop it, Daddy. You’re embarrassing me,” Amber groaned.

“Carmella,” Dion said under his breath. “It’s good to see you.”

“You as well.”

The moment was awkward. Ordinarily an Underboss would never talk to the daughter of a Don without an introduction. The circumstances were friendly. Too polite. That made me nervous.

“I have something for you, Amber. I hope you find this to your liking.” Don Santorelli handed her a silver bag with a big red bow.

I grabbed the flute from her hand, encouraging her with my eyes to open it. As she did, I couldn’t help but grab another look at Alejandro. He was expressionless, merely watching the interaction then scanning the party. Did he really think there’d be an assassination attempt tonight?

Another reason to be appalled.

When Amber opened the gift, there was no squealing as she’d done with mine. Unless my slight gasp was any consolation. The diamond necklace was an incredible piece of art. It was also extremely expensive. To the tune of maybe one hundred thousand dollars.

My God.

For a gesture to be made was one thing. But the necklace was insanely over the top. I glanced at my father, who was beaming from the presentation.

My stomach was ready to revolt.

It was all I could do to keep from grabbing Amber’s hand and taking her home with me. To my younger sister’s credit, she maintained more diplomacy than I’d had at her age.

“Thank you so much, Don Santorelli. It’s exquisite. I hope you won’t take offense, but my sister just gave me this incredible dolphin necklace and I’d prefer to keep it on for now. Is that alright with you?”

She had a way about her that had already made her a heart-throb.

The Don laughed and was also beaming. “Of course it is. I’m glad you like your present. I didn’t mean to intrude on family time, but I wanted to pay my respects to such a joyful event.”

Pay his respects. I shuddered from the thought. I remembered seeing him at my mother’s funeral all those years ago. There’d been other mafia Dons as well, men who couldn’t care less about our loss, but seemed required to attend.

I’d resented my father even more.

“Why don’t you go enjoy your party with your friends?” I asked her to give her an excuse to escape.

“Yes, I should see to my guests. Thank you again.” I took the package from her hands, trying to offer an admiring glance.

“If it would be alright, Matheas, I’d like to take just five minutes of your time. No more.” I had a feeling the meeting had been arranged ahead of time.

I nodded to Amber and she moved off after giving me a look. She was a smart girl. She knew when not to ask questions. Ordinarily, I would grill my father, but I gritted my teeth instead, throwing back most of the champagne.

Time for more.

I turned away, ignoring whatever they were saying. As I headed for the food and beverage tent, I had the distinct impression I was being followed. I didn’t bother looking, waiting until a glass was in my hand before shaking my head.

“Do you always creep around, Dion?”

He laughed and flanked my side. “I wasn’t creeping. I was waiting politely until you obtained your drink.”

“You can go now.”

I moved away from him and I’ll be damned if he didn’t step in front of me. “We can still be friends.”

“That ship sailed a long time ago. You have a life. I have an entirely different kind of life and one I enjoy tremendously.”

“So much your father’s daughter. Bold. Daring. You don’t take any shit from anyone.”

“I’d keep that in mind if I were you.”

He was grinning like we were actively flirting. I didn’t hate the man. I just hated all he stood for. “How about going out for coffee sometime. I’ll come to you, even to your clinic in White Plains.”

Hiding where I lived from these kinds of people was not possible. That didn’t mean I wasn’t irritated as hell. I bit back another nasty retort and smiled once again. “You’ll spill it on yourself and I certainly wouldn’t want that to happen.”

“You’re a doctor. You can fix me right up.”

“Not my specialty.” I managed to sidestep him with a wider arc, avoiding him altogether. I was far too frustrated, heading out of the tent as fast as I could. I knew Dion would follow me.

The moment I tipped my head over my shoulder to see if that was happening, I ran into a hard body. “Oh, shit.”

A hand grabbed my elbow to keep me from falling. When I lifted my head, I was staring into the eyes of Alejandro, only this time I could tell they were the most hypnotic shade of green I’d ever seen. He remained expressionless although he allowed his gaze to wander down my neck to my chest.

A shot of electricity tore through me. How strange considering he wasn’t uttering a word.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going,” I finally said to try to break the spell.

He nodded. “Are you okay?”

“Never better. Thank you.” I pulled away and was determined to make it back to the house where it was safer. I had the feeling both men were continuing to stare at me. How odd.

They were both handsome, but my mind continually drifted to Alejandro. As soon as I walked inside and passed by my father’s office, I noticed he was saying goodbye to Don Santorelli, shaking his hand and it seemed formal yet pleasant.

The Don walked from the room and before I could sneak by, my father caught me.

“Carmella, come in for just a minute.”

I groaned inwardly and headed into this office. “What was that about?”

“Business. But it’s done for the night. I noticed you and Dion getting along.”

“Like oil and water, you mean.”

He laughed as if I was making a joke. “He would be good for you and I know he adores Gabriel.”

The mention of my son’s name and my claws were brought out. “He has a father. An asshole of one, but it’s still my son’s flesh and blood. I’m not trying to get a husband or replace the man in Gabriel’s eyes. We’re doing just fine on our own.” I started to leave and my father’s voice changed.

“There are times that the entire family must be considered in decisions, Carmella. You are well aware of that. There may be a time I need you.”

Need.

For political gain.

I was disgusted and he knew it. Yes, I was my father’s daughter. A fighter. No one was going to force me into doing anything I didn’t want to do.

Period.