Chapter 21 #2
“Mad I can handle. I just need you safe.”
She nodded.
“I need to have a shower. Stay.”
“Can I at least call Izzy?”
“That’s okay by me.” I tossed her my phone and walked into the bathroom to have a quick shower before everyone got there. It was going to be a long night.
I wasn’t surprised when Dominic didn’t show up.
I also wasn’t surprised to find Lucia making her way down the stairs, dressed, clumsily working her crutches.
My father and Roman stood in the foyer watching her, my father looking at her with tired eyes rather that the contempt he normally showed. I walked up to her with a look that said I’d deal with her later, but when I tried to take her crutches and carry her down, she refused.
“I’m not an invalid. I just need to get used to these. Besides, my ankle can take a little weight.” She flinched as she demonstrated putting a bit of weight on it.
“Pigheaded.”
I walked the steps with her to make sure she didn’t fall. By the time we got down, Natalie walked into the house with a sleeping Jacob in her arms.
“Father, Roman, why don’t you go ahead into the dining room.”
They both nodded and left. Everyone was tired.
Rainey went to Natalie and took the bag off her shoulder. I’d woken her to prepare a room.
“Natalie, I’m sorry to keep you and Jacob up so late, but I thought you’d be more comfortable here,” I said.
“I’d be most comfortable in my own house,” she said, glaring at my father’s receding back.
Lucia giggled, then had the presence of mind to cover it up with a cough.
“This is Lucia,” I said. “Lucia, Natalie. And my nephew Jacob.”
Jacob stirred, opening his eyes then closing them again.
I watched how Lucia looked at Natalie and saw Natalie with renewed eyes.
I’d known her for so long, and she’d been so much like a sister to me from day one that I sometimes forgot how attractive she was, even with her long dark hair wound into a bun, wearing no makeup, and dressed in an old pair of pajamas.
“Nice to meet you,” Lucia said. She then peeked at Jacob. “You probably want to get him to bed.”
“And me too. It’s nice to meet you. Salvatore’s told me about you.”
They both glanced at me.
“Should I be worried?” Lucia asked.
Natalie smiled and shook her head. “Not given the way he looks at you,” Natalie said with a wink.
“Why don’t you go up with Natalie and help her get herself and Jacob settled,” I said to Lucia. I then pulled her in close. “And this time, stay up there,” I whispered, squeezing her ass so she knew she’d pay if she came down again.
“Fine. I don’t want to be around your father anyway.”
I didn’t offer to help her upstairs this time. She’d refuse anyway. Instead, I went into the dining room and closed the doors.
“Where’s Dominic?” I asked.
“Don’t know,” my father answered.
“I thought he’d come home,” I said.
“Why would you think that?” my father asked.
“Because I talked with him. He was at Isabella DeMarco’s house.”
My father’s lips tightened. “What the fuck was he doing there?”
It wasn’t my place to tell him about Effie.
I’d let Dominic do that when he was ready.
Strange. I realized just then how difficult these last five years must have been for my brother.
He’d abandoned his child and a woman he’d at one point cared about all out of fear of my father’s disapproval, his wrath.
He’d wanted his acceptance, his approval, as much as I had.
Maybe he still did. He was as much a puppet to my domineering father as I was.
Roman cleared his throat.
“Why do I get the feeling you two know more than you’re letting on?” my father asked.
“Let me make a call. I think I may know where he is,” Roman said, standing.
“It’s important he’s here,” I said. “Critical, actually.”
He nodded and made the call. My father and I waited in awkward silence until Roman returned.
Rainey knocked and entered with a tray holding a bottle of whiskey and several glasses.
I poured for everyone and sent her to bed.
She’d need to be up early to greet the remainder of our guests.
It was only a few hours before they got here.
“I know who was behind things.”
My father drank his glass of whiskey then pulled the bottle over to pour a second.
“Isabella DeMarco and Dominic have been working together with Pagani’s son, Paul Jr. Luke was just the front man, acting on her behalf.”
“I knew that fucking bitch would be trouble. Only good DeMarco is a dead DeMarco,” my father said.
“That’s enough,” I said more calmly than I expected I could. “I called this meeting to put an end to this stupidity. This feud that’s torn your own family apart. When will it be enough for you?”
“When I’m dead.”
“Don’t push me.”
“Gentlemen, we’re on the same side,” Roman said, standing between us with a hand on both our shoulders. “I’m having someone pick Dominic up and bring him here.”
“Where is he?” I asked.
“He has a bar he likes to go to.”
Roman didn’t expound on that, and I left it alone.
“He’s got some explaining to do, that fucking bastard,” Franco said. “Cancel the meeting. I’ll deal with my son myself. You deal with the DeMarco cunt, and Pagani will deal with his son.” He rose to his feet. “I’m fucking tired. You called me here for this bullshit?”
“Sit down,” I spoke quietly, not rising but remaining where I sat, feeling more in control than I ever had in my life. I knew what I wanted, what I needed to do. It would all truly end tonight.
“Be careful, son,” he said, but he lowered himself back down into his chair.
“We’re dealing with this publicly. We’re forgiving what’s happened thus far and calling a truce.”
“You’re not boss yet, Salvatore. I decide, not you.”
“I already decided, old man. Let it be.”
“Franco,” Roman started.
My father kept his eyes on me, but listened.
“Let’s do this Salvatore’s way and end this. It’s grown too far out of proportion,” Roman said.
“And how do you propose to get Dominic to agree?” Franco asked.
That was where we were all at a loss. He couldn’t be given a property to manage, not as volatile as he was. He’d bring war wherever he went. He needed to be controlled, but I didn’t know how. I was truly at a loss when it came to Dominic.
“I will talk to him,” I said. I’d give him one more chance, talk to him like maybe I should have been talking to him all along. Maybe he’d have come to me five years ago when he was in trouble if I’d been a better brother to him.
By the time Dominic arrived, it was almost five o’clock in the morning. He stank of liquor and stumbled in making a lot of noise, propped up by two men who worked for my father.
“You called, brother?”
The lids of his eyes were drooping, and the bruises I’d given him earlier had colored a dark purple.
“Summoning me to your grand estate?” he said, slurring his words as he gestured around the house.
“Get him in the fucking shower.”
“I’ll make coffee,” Roman said.
Marco had also arrived in the meantime, and men were being arranged throughout the property. We had about two hours before everyone would get here. According to Roman, Pagani Sr., wasn’t surprised by the call, which meant he’d already talked to his son. Good. The less surprises, the better.
Isabella was a different story. Roman had spoken with her and told her the reason for the meeting.
Maybe it was vanity, a feeling of being acknowledged as head of the DeMarco family, because for all intents and purposes, she was.
We just underestimated the DeMarco family’s level of activity.
It was stupid on our part. Isabella would be here bright and early, as anxious as me to put this behind her, now that she realized what she could have lost.
I had Dominic taken to a bedroom downstairs, knowing he’d raise hell wherever he was just because he was Dominic and he was piss drunk. Roman remained with my father while I went to check on Dominic’s progress.
“You’re not boss yet,” was the greeting he threw at me when I walked into the bedroom.
“You at least smell a little better,” I said, tossing one of my dress shirts at him. “Put this on.” I’d changed too, wearing a suit minus the jacket.
“You want me looking respectable for those assholes?” he asked, but he took it.
“I know about Effie,” I said, sitting down.
He met my eyes but remained silent.
“You haven’t told anyone all these years?”
“What, that I knocked up a DeMarco? All while father hands you one on a silver fucking platter.” He shook his head in disgust. “You’re the golden boy, aren’t you? First it was Sergio, then you. Fuck Dominic.”
I wanted to punch him but had to remind myself why he was being defensive. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it easier for you to talk to me.”
“Don’t get sentimental on me now.” He said, then returned his attention to buttoning his shirt before continuing. “Does father know?”
“No. Only Roman and I. That’s how it’ll stay unless you decide to tell him.”
He nodded, and I knew it was as close to an actual thank-you that I would get.
“Tell me about Luke DeMarco’s shooting.”
Nothing.
“Isabella and you were working together with Pagani, Jr.”
He snorted. “He is a colossal fuckup. Fucking dimwit.”
“That we can agree on. They’ll be here soon, Dominic. We’re all going to be in a room together. I would rather know the truth now, from you.”
A knock came on the door.
“Sir.”
It was Marco. “Come in.”
He opened the door and glanced at Dominic but spoke to me. “Isabella DeMarco is here.”
I checked my watch. “She’s early.” It was barely six a.m. “Does Lucia know?”
Marco gave me a short nod.
“Of course she does. Where are they?”
“Your study.”
“All right. I’ll be right there. Make sure they stay in there until I get there.”
“I will.”
He closed the door. I turned back to Dominic, who’d finished dressing and was now combing his hair, studying me.
“Last chance to tell me everything.”
“Go get everyone under control, brother. I’ll see you when it’s time for the meeting.”
“Suit yourself.” I walked out of the room and directly to my study.