Arranged

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

C armella

“Where are we going?” It was the second time I’d asked Alejandro the question.

He peered over at me from the driver’s seat of his Mustang. I was surprised he was driving himself since he’d suddenly become a man of importance. There was an SUV following us, at least two of his men providing protection, but the three of us were squashed together in his muscle car.

Not that Gabriel seemed to mind. He was constantly bouncing on the seat while he chattered away about whatever was going on in his little mind.

A dog had come up more than once.

“If I told you then it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Alejandro grinned before lifting his sunglasses, allowing me to see his piercing eyes. They seemed even more vividly green today, his irises surrounded by rings of gold like iridescent fire.

“I don’t like surprises.” Which was the truth. I’d had too many that had altered my life. I folded my arms, embracing the slight chill as I stared out the windshield. I’d grown up in New York and had an inkling of where he was going, but that was a surprise.

Maybe not such a bad one. As much as I hated to admit it.

Although thoughts of my beloved clinic continued to weigh heavily on my mind. I was still having a tough time wrapping my mind around the fact I’d be forced to leave what I’d struggled so hard to build.

The engine of the sports car vibrated between my legs and for the life of me, I couldn’t seem to stop my pussy from throbbing. It was ridiculous to have such unnatural sensations.

“Mommy! Mommy! An adventure.”

An adventure. That was something else I no longer liked. “Yes, my baby man. A great big adventure.” I sighed under my breath and Alejandro chuckled.

“What’s wrong with adventures?”

“Adventures are when you go hiking and find the perfect picnic spot or a little known lake nestled next to the mountains. It’s finding the best food in the world in a hole in the wall restaurant or locating a rare bottle of wine. Not being in the car with a stranger to an unknown destination.”

“We’re hardly strangers, Carmella.” His voice was huskier than before, the tone dipping low.

“Maybe not in some ways, but in the most important ones we are.” I’d seen him tossing bags into the trunk and had no idea what he had in mind. I thought we were going to look at a few houses to appease me, not taking a trip somewhere.

I noticed a sign and frowned. “Great Neck?”

“A lovely little village.”

“Yeah, one of the most exclusive little villages and also very expensive.”

“That so?”

“Yeah.” He was toying with me and I didn’t like it. Although I also didn’t hate it. I’d caught sight of him with his men and overheard his tone. He was all business with them, very much acting the part of a big, bad powerful mafia Underboss. I liked him this way, more casual in both demeanor and attire.

But I refused to say I liked him. I’d been truthful. I didn’t know the man. Passion was nothing but an explosion of energy and longing. That didn’t mean I had a clue about his favorite foods or his shoe size for that matter.

“Plus, it’s forty-five minutes from the Big Apple. Isn’t that too far?”

“Not from your father’s estate and his corporate headquarters. Only about thirty minutes. Not bad.”

The man had an answer for everything. “What about my house? My clinic?”

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

“Right. No real answer.”

“I haven’t figured it all out, Carmella. Neither have you. That will take time. Why don’t we call a truce for tonight. Can we do that?” he asked, more than a hint of sincerity in his voice.

“Fine. We can. But I didn’t know we were fighting.”

Every time he chuckled, a heat flash rolled through me. I rubbed my neck, constantly looking in the side mirror at the SUV trailing closely behind. “Do you ever get tired of men following you?”

“It’s just a precaution.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

He twisted his hand on the steering wheel. “Sometimes, but you need to remember for the most part, I was doing the following until about six months ago.”

“A good little employee.” I sensed I’d almost hurt his feelings. “I’m sorry, Alejandro. I don’t mean to take any of this out on you. You didn’t ask to be placed in this position any more than I did. I’m just… angry. Very angry.”

“Mommy. Why are you angry?” Gabriel reached for me, doing everything he could to crawl out of his car seat. I’d been shocked seeing a new one in the back of Alejandro’s car, a very good brand that had high marks for keeping children safe. Score one point for him.

“I’m sorry, baby. Mommy is just… I think she’s just tired.”

“I’m hungwy.”

Shit. I didn’t even think about that. I was a grade-A terrible mother. I groaned and Alejandro caught it.

“Don’t worry, Carmella. I put some snacks in a bag on the floor behind my seat.”

I stared at Alejandro this time. It was like he had an innate sense of what children needed.

“There’s some water too and a juice box. I didn’t know which you’d prefer.”

I was certain my mouth had dropped open at some point. “Thank you. I wasn’t thinking.”

“No problem.”

I grabbed the juice box and some crackers. I’d be damned if they weren’t Gabriel’s favorite. I made my little man happy while remaining silent.

When I turned back around, I was still shaking my head.

“What?” Alejandro asked.

“You’ll have crumbs embedded in your fine Corinthian leather seats in less than five minutes.”

He laughed. “I’ll deal with it.”

“You’re not quite who I thought you were.”

“Who did you think I was, some asshole guy who beats his wife?” He kept his voice low and with the music on, I doubted Gabriel could hear our conversation. Besides, the happy boy had returned to jabbering to himself.

“That’s just it. I had and still have no idea. But if you lay a finger on him, I’ll cut it off to start with and go from there.”

He removed his sunglasses altogether, tossing them onto the dash. “I might be nothing like the man you want, but I am and will never be that man. Period.” He turned slightly away from me, concentrating on driving.

I’d been rightfully put in my place. Accusing him of something when I had no clue about him was terrible. However, there was something about him that was as if he was too good to be true.

In my experience, that usually meant trouble.

He entered Great Neck only a few moments later, slowing down and obeying the speed limit. The city was beautiful, a mixture of expensive homes from all periods of time. Some would call the area quaint. The mixture of shops and culture was entirely different than in New York City and since it had been a long time since I’d been here, I’d forgotten how charming it could be.

As he drove through the heart of the small downtown, I was stuck by how relaxed everyone seemed to be. That was a departure from the hustling and bustling I’d grown to hate. A slower pace was one reason I’d moved to White Plains, but this was even more… relaxed.

I took a deep breath and suddenly felt Alejandro’s heated gaze as I had before.

“I found a house I think you’ll like. Now, I admit that I put a down payment down so I’ll be out of a tidy sum of money if you don’t like it, but it was worth the chance.”

Oh, I wanted to be angry with him. Another choice taken. Another man acting as if he knew better about me and for me. But I held my tongue. “Okay.”

“I mean it. If you don’t like it, money doesn’t mean anything to me. Not with regard to what might make you happy. You’re right. I don’t know you. I do know the house is well worth the price. And the view. Wait until you see the view.”

He was more excited than I imagined he would be. “Then I’m eager to see it.”

“Good because we’re only a few blocks away.”

I don’t know what I was expecting when he pulled down a beautiful winding cobblestone driveway, but the mid-century modern design floored me. With the incredible windows and the modern architecture, it was exactly like something I would have chosen for myself.

Leaning forward, I thought my fingernails had created indents in the dashboard.

I noticed the SUV rolled in behind us, but at least gave us some space.

“What do you think? It’s on the water.” He pulled the car right in front, sliding the gear into place, but waiting until I gave the okay.

“I admit it. I am floored. I’m never floored any longer. This is beautiful. How did you find it?”

“I have my sources. A gentleman never discloses them.”

It felt good to laugh. “Then I guess I’ll need to take your word for it. Gabe. Are your ready for that adventure?”

“Yes, Mommy!” He clapped his little hands as I unfastened my seatbelt. There were plants everywhere, a fountain in the front, but as soon as I stepped onto the stone pavement, I knew the water was right behind the house. I could feel it.

Alejandro climbed out, immediately scanning the area. He nodded to the other vehicle before closing his door. “I’ll unlock the door. Then I’ll need to say something to Gio. Go in and start looking around.”

“Is everything okay?”

He passed by me before I flipped the seat so I could unfasten Gabriel. When he squeezed my arm, tingles shifted down my spine. “Everything is fine. Just establishing parameters. Nothing more.”

“Okay. If you say so.” I watched as he headed to the beautiful wooden front door before working to get Gabriel out before he did so himself. “Okay, little man. Now, remember this is someone else’s house so don’t put sticky fingers on anything. Okay?”

“Yes, Mommy. Geez. I’m a big boy.”

He was certainly starting to act that way. I closed the door, finding it impossible to keep from smiling. I missed my quaint Cape Cod, but this was insanely gorgeous.

Alejandro opened the door, winking at me as he handed me the keys. “I’ll be right there.”

“You better be.” I was a little shocked at what I’d just said. This felt almost normal, as if a couple was eager to close on their first home. Gabriel had already disappeared inside, but I couldn’t help watching Alejandro heading toward the SUV.

A strange feeling swept through me. I could almost like the guy.

Laughing to myself, I stepped inside, closing the door after me.

And my mouth dropped open again. The stunning architecture mixed a bit of the nineteen-seventies with modern, but done so in a creative way that made you feel comfortable.

The home was decorated with the most beautiful furniture yet without all the stuffy, very uncomfortable appearances that were often associated with houses of this design.

Everything was sleek and artsy. I heard Gabriel’s little feet racing from room to room and groaned. The kid was going to be the death of me.

“Gabe, honey. Where are you?” I found myself weaving my way through one striking setting after another, uncertain of where I was going or when the large house would end. Every room had expansive windows, those in the back allowing me to catch a glimpse of the water. And the stunning grounds. With a pool! I had no idea what to think. My father’s estate was lavish, but stuffy as all get out.

This house had family written all over it. Okay, with a few exceptions. I ended up in the master bedroom suite, stopping short as I stared at the huge king-sized bed. It had to be larger than the norm, the six fluffy pillows creating a dream state. The little girl inside of me wanted to race toward it, flying high in the air and coming down on the dream cloud.

There was a bathroom in the suite and the moment I walked in, I pressed my hand to my mouth. It was the space fantasies were made of. I could see candles surrounding the tub and the tile work was to die for. There were beautiful colors yet not too garish. The linen closet was perfectly lined with fresh towels, all stacked exactly so. There was even a collection of bath salts and bubble baths, shower gels and bombs. I’d dreamt of redoing my bathroom at my home so I could relax with a glass of wine and a book.

“Gabe, don’t touch anything.”

“Mommy. Come look!”

“I will in a second, baby.” I felt guilty for taking a few more minutes to myself, but I just couldn’t help it.

When I went to the closet, at first I was shocked at how large it was. It was bigger than my son’s bedroom in White Plains. But what struck me was that there wasn’t a single piece of clothing. My nosiness continued and I checked the drawers in the matching closet dressers. Not a wayward sock or scarf to be found.

Weird, but there was an obvious explanation. The house had obviously been staged for a sale, but why leave beautiful artwork and towels?

After closing the doors, I shook my head.

I could still hear my little boy’s jabbering and so far, nothing had been shattered so I allowed myself to turn in a full circle, finally ending up at the set of sliding doors leading to a private deck. I meandered toward the doors, finding them easy to unlock. As soon as I walked outside, the warm breeze filtered the scent of flowers and dense foliage into my nose.

Everything was lush and green, the area surrounding the pool and pool house tropical in appearance. I stood quietly, marveling at the view of the water. What would it be like to live here? Was this something we could afford? Money had never meant anything to me, but this… Well, this house was a reminder that money could buy you anything.

Except happiness.

And love.

“What do you think?” Hearing Alejandro’s voice behind me brought a strange sense of sadness into my system. The entirety of the last two weeks was finally settling in.

I was a married woman, anchored to a criminal regime.

“It’s beautiful, but way too expensive.”

He made a sound as he moved beside me, close but not so much I felt suffocated. At least he was cognizant that I wasn’t comfortable with any of this.

“Not as expensive as you might think. The sellers had a timeline, the husband offered a job in Germany. It was now or never and they decided to move. The house comes completely furnished. That doesn’t mean we can’t toss everything inside if you don’t like the pieces. Whatever you want.”

“Hold on. Where are the owners? Are they already gone?”

“They are.” He turned slightly toward me, searching my eyes with his.

“You’re not telling me the full truth. They were forced to leave. Weren’t they?”

He lifted his eyebrows. “Maybe in a manner of speaking.”

“Is there some mob real estate site I’m not aware of? You know, if it gets too hot and a family flees for their lives, the price drops?”

His laughter tickled my skin. “There isn’t, but that sounds like a good idea.”

“Uh-huh. You didn’t just drop a down payment. Did you? You already purchased the house.”

He acted more than a bit sheepish, slowly grinning a few seconds later. “I had to make an offer quickly, so I did. Being all cash, I just have some paperwork to sign, but the house is effectively ours. If you want it.”

“And if I don’t, we just sell the place and hope the loss isn’t too significant?” I turned toward him, trying to figure out why I wasn’t angry with him. If any other man had done something like this, first I would have punched him in the face. I didn’t want to think about part two.

“Something like that.”

“Where did you get the money? No offense, but up until recently you were a Capo. Now, I’m aware that my father pays his men well, but not this well. How did you do it?”

He shrugged and glanced toward the pool. “I had money saved up from before. I’m a saver, not a spender. At least for the majority of my life. I also invest wisely and have since I was a teenager. That’s something my father taught me.”

“Huh. I’d love to meet your father. Any family member.”

The man was obviously a control freak including with his emotions, at least around his men, but he appeared uncomfortable. Maybe his family was considered off limits. “I don’t have any family. Maybe some distant cousins, but I’m certainly not close to them.”

“That’s why you care about Don Santorelli so much.”

“It sounds odd to some people, but he made me feel like family. Maybe not at first, but after I proved my worth.”

I placed my hand on his arm and the jolt of current was immediate. He sucked in his breath.

“I’m sorry, Alejandro. Family is important. They can ground you. Or they can make you want to disown them.” I tried to laugh it off even though it was the truth.

“Yes, even a found family can abate the loneliness.”

Maybe I understood him just a little bit better than before. Or maybe it was wishful thinking. “I guess you’re right. I feel that way about the men and women who work at the clinic. All family as far as I’m concerned.”

He nodded, but said nothing.

“I should find Gabriel before he destroys the place.”

“I thought we’d stay the night. Maybe order a pizza. At least I hope there’s a decent delivery place.” He laughed, but the look in his eyes had changed.

“Is that allowed?”

“Of course. This is our house now.”

Our house.

I was taken aback as a shiver drifted down my spine. Everything was far too surreal. “Fully furnished.”

“Fully furnished.”

“What about the men outside?”

“Don’t worry. They’ll take turns guarding the place. Maybe I’ll order them a pizza as well. There’s a basic security system already installed. If you agree this house is perfect for us, I’ll have it beefed up in a couple days so we can officially move in.”

Beefed-up security. Another reminder this could never be a fairytale.

“Mommy! You should see my room.”

We both pulled back and when Gabriel flew toward us, wrapping one arm around my leg, the other around Alejandro’s, a lump formed in my throat. But I lifted my head, locking eyes with the man.

“I guess the decision has been made,” I half whispered.

Alejandro nodded several times. “Then welcome home, Mrs. Banderas.”