Chapter Five- Snow
I looked into the rearview for like the twentieth time since I’d been driving. I was going to my brother’s pizzeria to sit down and reason with him. I already knew he was going to be pissed, but it is what it is.
It had been two days since Angel’s fiancé came by the club, promising me that he would inform Edwardo that his daughter and I were involved.
Did he actually do what he said he would?
I was pretty sure he had; last night, some men came into the club who looked very much like Edwardo’s bodyguards.
I stood in the VIP section and watched them as they walked around.
Their eyes scanned around as though they were searching for someone.
When they saw me standing, looking down at them, they stood there and stared at me for a solid five minutes, and then they left.
They didn’t speak to anybody; they didn’t even buy a fucking drink; they didn't act like good patrons.
They just stared at me and then walked out of my club.
So, yeah, Edwardo knew about his daughter and me and sent his fucking goons to try and intimidate me.
My phone began ringing, and I cursed under my breath when I saw it was Angel.
I sent her the most disrespectful text message after her fiancé left.
She has been calling me ever since, and I never picked up. I had time tonight, though.
“What do you want?”
“Did I ever tell you how much I hate being ignored?” Angel asked, getting straight to the point.
“Have I ever told you how much I despise liars? You fucking crazy woman!” I yelled at her, damn near running off the road.
“My next doctor’s appointment is in the next two weeks. I expect your ass to be there,” Angel said, basically ignoring my rant.
“Are you even pregnant? Is that baby even mine? You lie about fucking everything else; you’re probably lying about that also, you fucking psychotic bitch!” I continued screaming at her as I got closer to my brother’s pizza restaurant.
“Wow, idiota (idiot), you were right there when I took the test, and you knew Mervin had been out of town for a while when I conceived. This baby is absolutely yours. I may be a liar and tell a small, white lie here and there, but I’ll never try to pass another man’s baby off on you,” Angel said, trying to convince me.
“Why did you tell me that Mervin was a nerd? That mothafucka swole like Tom Hardy, you do too fucking much,” I told her, searching for a parking spot.
“What does it matter what that fucker looks like? I don’t love him or want to marry him. I love your stupid ass, Vincent. Why can’t you see that?” Angel’s voice cracked, and she sounded as though she was choking up. Who knew with this girl if she was being truthful or not?
“Angel, this is exhausting. Don’t you think your life would be easier if you got rid of the baby and moved on with Mervin or anybody else but me? I’m telling you this is gonna end badly when Edwardo finds out. Your father hates my fucking family.” I was really trying to get through to her.
“I don’t want anybody else, Vincent. Can’t we just sit and talk, please? Just give me half an hour of your time. I miss you,” I shut my eyes, feeling irritated because I know what I was going to say.
“I’m at my brother’s pizza restaurant; if you get here in the next hour or so, I’ll still be here,” I told her, knowing fully well I was probably going to regret this.
“I’ll be there,” Angel replied, ending the call immediately.
“Fuck,” I muttered, running my fingers through my mohawk. I opened the door, climbed out of my vehicle, and made my way into my brother’s restaurant. I hadn’t really spoken to him much since he got back from Italy. I knew I was about to ride his last nerve with what I was going to tell him.
My brother’s pizzeria was always such a vibe; it was always packed and had the most beautiful women dining. Most of the women were single and came solely to catch a glimpse of Buddha, hoping to catch his attention.
I waved at a couple of workers who had been working here from the day those doors opened. The supervisor on the floor was Diamond, a certified baddie who was once a stripper. Even though my brother denied it, I just knew he had hit that a few times.
“Hey, Diamond. My brother in the back?” I asked, pointing toward his office. Today, her eyes were blue, matching her blue butt-length lace-front wig. Diamond had the fattest ass I’d ever seen. I just knew she would do some freaky shit to a nigga.
“Yes, he is. I’d tread lightly; he’s in a bad mood,” Diamond made a face. That was the last thing I needed to hear, so I decided to proceed with caution.
“Thanks for the warning, bellissima (beautiful),” I said, winking at her as I continued. I knocked twice on the office door before I let myself in.
“I’m gonna kick your fucking ass when I get home.
How did you even get Catalina’s number to give to my mother?
” Buddha was pacing in front of his desk, his hand on his waist as he argued with whom I’m sure was Dior.
One thing stood out, he said, Catalina, the only Catalina I knew was Edwardo’s wife.
“You know what, Dior, if you’re home when I get there and not at the main house, I’m locking your ass in the dark room. So you better not be there,” he said before hanging up the phone on his wife.
“Welcome to the good life of being married, my brother,” I cracked, pulling a pack of Davidoff cigarettes. I took one and handed the pack to my brother.
“Catalina?” I asked, using my lighter to ignite the end of my cancer stick.
“You're not gonna fucking believe this,” Buddha said, taking the lighter from me.
He sat at the edge of the desk and lit his cigarette.
For the next fifteen minutes, I listened in awe as he told me everything that took place in Italy.
This mothafucka had more problems than me.
I was beginning to feel a little bit better about my situation.
“That’s fucked up. Do you think Enzo is yours?” I asked, using the ashtray on his desk to put out my cigarette.
“Who the fuck knows. I’m starting to believe all women are fucking crazy,” Buddha said, tilting his head so he could blow out the last puff of smoke above his head.
“My fucking wife is the craziest of them all. Getting me half-way drunk, fucking my brains out and then taking my phone to get Catalina’s number when I fell asleep to give to fucking Victoria.
Catalina called to inform me that my mother had called her.
This is about to make me lose my shit.” Buddha yanked the black elastic band from his hair in frustration, and his long hair fell to his shoulders.
“What did mamma say to Catalina?” I was afraid to even ask because our mother was scary as fuck. She scared all three of us. Buddha, our father, and I were terrified of that woman and what she was capable of.
“I have no idea, she just said, why is your mother calling me? I asked what she said to her. Catalina’s response was, don’t worry about it. The next thing I knew, she hung up,” he shrugged, massaging his temples. I felt kind of bad that I was about to add to his frustration.
“Damn, that’s messed up, but not as messed up as Luca trying to force himself on Dior in a fucking toilet.
That mothafucka never respected women; he got mummy issues for real.
Do you wanna get rid of him? We could make it look like an accident,” I offered.
Buddha and I never really looked at Francesco and Luca as our for-real family.
We just got along with them for our father's sake.
However, Luca attacking Dior- that shit would land him in the pig pen as their food.
“In due time, I would fuck him up. I know one thing: I’m not going into business with them. That Italy deal is fucking off. Fuck those bastardi (bastards),” Buddha rubbed his tired eyes as he sighed loudly.
“I think Edwardo found out about Angel and me,” I blurted out, knowing there would never really be the perfect time to let him know. Buddha’s head flew up, and he watched me as if I spoke as though I was demon-possessed.
“The fuck you just say?” He whispered in disbelief.
“Angel’s fiancé found out, and he came by the club and threatened me.
He basically told me he knew I was fucking his wife, and he knew about the history between the Riccis and the Bianchis.
He didn’t hesitate to tell me that he was going to tell Edwardo,” Buddha opened his mouth as though he was about to say something, but no words came out.
“What makes you think that Edwardo knows?” Buddha finally managed to ask.
“He sent a couple of his men to the club last night. They didn’t do anything, just stood and stared as I looked down at them from the VIP section,” I tried to figure out what my brother was thinking, but his expression didn’t really give much.
“Snow, nothing good is going to come out of this. We’re about to go toe to toe with Edwardo.
He’s been itching for a reason to start some shit between us again for years.
Then this whole Catalina thing gets dredged up again…
” Buddha sighed loudly, shaking his head, not bothering to complete his sentence.
“Look, Angel is meeting me here soon. I’ll try again to pound some sense into her.”
“Nigga, this is past that, Edwardo knows. It's on another level now.”
I was about to say something when a knock came at the office door.
“What?” Buddha shouted at the person. Diamond stuck her head in. She smiled at Buddha before focusing on me.
“There’s someone outside asking for you, a female.” I quickly got to my feet to meet Angel and deal with this once and for all.
“Diamond, let me talk to you. Snow, I’ll meet you out there,” Buddha said. I walked by Diamond as she stepped inside the office, running her fingers through her hair. Yeah, now I was convinced he had definitely hit that; maybe he still was.