Chapter 14
Tristano
My BMW engine purrs to life as I open the garage door, waiting for Capri to get in the fucking car. This bitch takes forever. We’re going to Pennsylvania so I can convince my father out of this bullshit situation. There has to be another way.
Instead of managing the escort service, I had to let Timmy Snaps handle a pretty big issue.
The guy can barely remember his own fucking name.
That’s why we call him Snaps. His fingers are always going while he’s trying to recall something.
Where did that leave me? Beating the shit out of my steering wheel trying to pin down where this woman went. I checked my house three times.
Three times … before I found her laying there all peaceful in the backyard. If mobsters were allowed to have Ring cameras, I would’ve known the second her dumbass ran around the house.
Crchk.
The passenger door opens and in comes Capri, well rested in a stunning white sundress.
I’d be lying if I said my heartrate wasn’t skyrocketing.
I’m turning it straight back into anger though, because this woman needs to learn what’s what.
How much does she get away with because of how hot she looks? Especially today. Damn.
Her tan compliments the white. High heels make her perfect calves pop, and her hair is in a professional-looking bun with two wavy bangs framing her face.
I’d take her right now in the car if I didn’t want to shove her out of it.
I dig when a woman looks freshly cleaned.
It does some animalistic things to my brain.
“Well, you rushed me. Are we going?” Her eyes are wide and angry.
I catch her looking me up and down. Yeah, I suited up too. Out of respect, in case my father doesn’t budge and this thing really has to happen.
Pulling out of my driveway like a raging bull makes her squeal. Good.
I’m so sick of her shit. It’s only been a few days, and she’s consumed my life – makes me late to everything, and I’m behind on three businesses worth of work.
Bottom line – this ain’t working.
“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” She holds onto the car handle and braces her heels on either side of the mat.
What’s she complaining about now? Am I driving too fast? The water I dumped on her? She deserves it.
“You didn’t let me get a word in when you were stomping around like a toddler last night. And waking me up like that?” She pinches me, but I take the pain without flinching. “ Such a prick .”
I’m not entertaining any of this. Bigger fish to fry.
Last night, Chestnut needed to see me in private because one of the other dancers worked at a rival club the night before and overheard the Barones talking.
Apparently they’ve narrowed the disappearance of Sonny Lucrazi down to two people – Jay Rockstar Scatilli, or Stanzo the Glove , my father.
Capri’s dad saved both their asses in spectacular fashion, giving the two of them potential loyalties over the families.
Sonny’s a high-rolling made man. His disappearance won’t blow over anytime soon. I have to report this to Pop and get him further away from the tri-state.
“Hey, are you even listening to me?” She swats my arm until I glare at her.
“Let’s just get this over with. I’m going to try my fucking hardest to convince my father to let us out.”
“Wouldn’t that be a godsend?” her voice cracks, cheeks growing red as she pulls back and folds her arms.
Did I offend her?
She’s quiet as a lamb now. The tension is deafening though. It’s like she’s a boiling tea kettle that’s going to blow at any second. I don’t dare look over. Igniting her with two hours to go would be an annoying mistake. I’m exhausted as it is. Two days of no sleep because of this brat.
The way she taps her anxious foot makes the lines of muscle in her legs twitch. She’s so fucking hot. And the way she owned the stage yesterday after never having done it? Damn. Thought we might be off to a good start.
Then she books like a damn psycho.
What in hell was that shit about? Can’t handle hanging with the other women? Did Bruno say something stupid?
A twinge of remorse tugs at my gut. If my father agrees, and I leave her high and dry in someone else’s protection – she’s going to die. No way anyone else can keep her hidden, and my father is too sick to take care of two people.
Fuck .
Why do I even care?
I look over at her, the anger fading slightly.
“What? Look at the road, Toretto.” She slaps the air to shoo me away.
She holds her ground for the rest of the trip, and I hold mine through the ‘Welcome to Pennsylvania’ sign and into the endless paths of leafy trees.
Pop told us to meet him at Cameron County clerk’s office.
The population is under five thousand and he reiterated no one would ever look for marriage licenses for a mafia family there.
He seemed really excited about it on the phone. Hurts that his cough is getting worse.
Fuck!
I hit the wheel, scaring Capri to attention.
“ Jesus. What?”
I just shake my head as I pull into the unkempt parking lot. Not only has my routine been castrated, but I’m about to be tethered to the biggest brat in the world. I exit the car without waiting for my bride-to-be and stalk toward the doors of the beige-brick clerk’s office.
I see my father waiting on the side in a leather jacket that’s too heavy for the summer, and Capri’s dad, who lights up when Capri comes through the door.
“Daddy!” She runs to give him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” She breaks the embrace to look him up and down. “You look good.”
It’s true, he does. Guess Pop hasn’t been too rough on him. My father, on the other hand. He’s a little more hunched than a few days ago, and that cough is killer.
I hold my fist up for a pound, which he gives.
“Your old man might not show it, but I’m proud of you, kid.”
The sincerity in his bloodshot eyes hits me right in the gut. I’m disarmed. The fuck is he saying?
“You two getting along alright?”
Capri hears my father, her attention turning to us.
“She’s alright, I guess.”
I can’t fuckin’ get myself to break my father. He’s pathetic as is. Still though, I have to try, softly.
“Let’s go outside a minute,” I say.
“Sure.”
I hold the door for him, watching as he pulls a cigar to light.
“It’s not so bad out here.” He waves his hands at the swaying trees. “Peaceful. Not something we DeMatteos get to experience often.”
“Cut the shit, Pop. You know you’re not going to change me.”
“Ah, too cool for your old man, huh? So what’d you want to say that your in-law couldn’t hear?”
“You sure about this?” I turn to face him, watching the cigar smoke waft between us. “Cutting the Dotellis into my business? You sure this is what you want to ask of me?”
He grumbles to himself and takes a step closer, now a half-head shorter when he used to tower over me.
“I’ve known Rocco and his daughter for many years, Tristano.
They’re your window into a different life, so you don’t get consumed by the other side.
That’s what Mom was to me.” He pats his chest, holding my eyes harshly.
“You never listened to my words outside of work, so, I’m asking you take this action to learn for yourself.
Don’t know why I’m repeating myself, though. You already agreed.”
I turn away, cursing.
“You hate the broad that much?” he asks.
“She’s a handful,” I reply, hands on my hips with my back to my father.
“Most broads are. But you didn’t answer my question. Is she too much?”
Thinking back to our few days together, it’s been an insane rollercoaster. But there’s one thing that holds true – I care about her well-being, a lot.
“Your silence is deafening.” He takes a long pull on his cigar as I turn to face him. “Not so bad having someone around for more than a night, is it?”
I clench my jaw, unable to look him in the eye. He smiles at that. Bastard loves being right.
“Give this a shot, kid. For me.” He winces, then coughs long and hard, spitting out off-colored phlegm.
“It’ll be—” He coughs again. “It’ll be good for you.
And as for her being tied to the business, that means you’ll give it a real go.
The old ways aren’t always so bad, Tris. There’s reason behind the madness.”
xxx
Cipriana
The two men simultaneously keeping us alive and holding us hostage reenter the county clerk’s office.
I can’t imagine all the shit Trino just spoke about me.
Freakin’ old school men. Women are objects, right?
Running off into another room with another woman right in front of me , means nothing. Right?
If I didn’t love my dad so much, I’d toss water right back in his face and take a trip into the wilderness.
How did I end up here? I should be saving the planet, or at least working towards it. Not… running away from freakin’ mobsters so I can marry one. And stripping . Me? I don’t have that kind of raunchy confidence. This isn’t me . Everything’s backwards!
Shit!
This is the worst day ever. Why’d I even get all dolled up for?
My lips twist.
Trino does look like a model in that suit, though. But his looks aren’t enough. He’s a pig.
“Alright, boys and girls.” Stanzo rubs his hands together excitedly. “Who’s ready to get married?”
I smile sadly at him. “Dad says you’ve been taking good care of him.”
“’Course. I’m a man of my word, sweetheart.” Stanzo’s cough makes me recoil a bit. Sounds horrid. Poor guy.
Look at me, feeling bad for a killer. My eyes flick to Trino, rekindling that disdain.
He takes two steps up to us. “May I have a word with your daughter?”
“Of course—” Dad tries to speak, but I cut him off.
“C’mon, let’s get moving,” I lower my voice, letting go of my dad and turning toward the front desk alone. “Don’t like being out in the open right now.”
Dad and Stanzo exchange a look, but I rush ahead to avoid any more protest. Honestly, I just want this over with so Dad can start settling into his new life, while I remain the miserable sacrifice.
“Capri told me about the car chase.” Dad nudges Trino. “Considering what shit choices I made defending the Lucrazis, I’m sure glad you’re around to defend us.”
“I’m good at what I do, Mister Dotelli.”
“Call me Rocco, please. Formalities went out the window when you took out Sonny and Groundhog for us. We’re in your debt forever. Well, I am.”
Trino grunts.
I glance over my shoulder to see them bonding, and a pit swells in my belly.
“Yes, Miss Dotelli. Hello! I know this is an exciting day for you,” a woman behind the front desk speaks in a drawl. “Mister DeMatteo already checked you in. All set?”
“We are.” I tilt my head and smile.
“Great. We called in the local photographer, and as Mister DeMatteo requested, he will be using film cameras that will be handed over after the ceremony. His name is Fern. Should be here any moment now. Please follow me.”
Dad pushes Trino to step up next to me.
We scowl at one another when no one’s looking. In another world, this could’ve been a nice moment. Even if it is arranged.
“Why’d you have to be such a pig last night?” I whisper to him as we walk behind the lady. I can’t hold it back any longer. My eyes are getting slightly watery, but I don’t dare let it show.
“The hell are you talking about, Capri? I threw the water on you because you ran away when I was trying to protect you.”
Our whispering is pulling the attention of our two fatherly witnesses behind us.
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Here we are!” The lady presents a windowless square room with a podium, some discolored walls from water damage, and a woodsy musk that couldn’t be aired out if they tried.
I want to cry inside. This contrasts so hard with my wedding dreams growing up that I can’t even let those thoughts pop up right now. One look at my dad tells the same story. What’d he work for all these years if he can’t provide his daughter a lavish wedding?
You screwed up, big guy. I sniff back tears.
A cute, little old lady comes bustling up with papers in hand and steps on the podium to be eyelevel with us. The two fathers step back, whispering to one another, and I can’t help but notice the lack of flowers, patrons, and church bells on this horrid day.
“You going to make a dramatic scene and run the hell out of here again?” Trino side-eyes me while everyone is distracted getting ready.
“Depends. You going to run to the back room with another woman again?” I arc my eyebrows at him.
“Is that what this is about?” he raises his voice, and the old lady clears her throat so we remember where we are.
“I’ll be getting started momentarily. Just waiting for the photographer,” the woman says.
“Capri, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“Ahem! Language, young man.” The woman adjusts her glasses.
Trino takes a deep breath and straightens. “Sorry, ma’am.”
“ Ello. I am here!” A middle-aged man with an old-style camera and deep pit stains on his shirt barges into the room.
“Sorry for being late. I’m ready, I’m ready.
Had to dust this one out from the basement.
Yes, I’m Fern. Hello. Hello.” He takes a surprise picture of our fathers, who jump back from the huge flash.
“What a nightmare,” I mouth.
Trino actually hoots at their reaction, which makes me smile for a fraction of a second.
“Love birds. Love birds, please, turn all the way around for a pre-wed shot. There we go . Perfect.” He gives an awkward thumbs up, then looks up from the camera with a furrowed brow. “C’mon! Look like you love each other!”
I grab Trino’s arm since the photographer forces us to, and twist pinch him where no one can see.
“Bitch,” he mouths.
“Dirty man-whore asshole,” I say through my smile.
“I was protecting you , you idiot,” he says, and the blood drains from my face.
Protecting me?
No. I refuse to be that stupid woman who trusts a man’s cheating nonsense. How dumb would I be if I believe him? Really?
The flash goes off, and we both blink horribly from the blinding light.
“Is this really happening?” I squeeze my eyes shut to make the blotches go away.
“Yeah, your dad really screwed us both.”