Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Nicolette
Despite the coolness of the evening, a thin trail of sweat trickled down my spine. I prayed it wasn’t visible through the champagne-colored dress I wore. The Sunday dinner with Mama Vitale had been canceled with Vittoria going into labor, but like a true champion, she’d had no complications and had been released from the hospital, brand-new baby in her arms, within forty-eight hours, to Romeo’s shock and delight.
I’d heard from Marko that Romeo had thrown a fit over what he felt was the lack of proper attention until Tano and Gaby arrived and took over at the hospital. The doctors and nurses available were perfectly capable, but Romeo wanted Tano and Gaby and no one else would do. They left Italy immediately to come home and set Don Vitale’s mind at ease.
Now, here we were, on the threshold of the mansion for the promised dinner. I was about to step inside and surround myself with the family I’d left behind. I was even more nervous than before the arrival of the baby. But maybe the cute little bundle would have softened their hearts and I could avoid the death stares I was fully expecting to receive.
Gio stalked behind Marko and me to the entrance of the Vitale Mansion. I traced a finger over the beautiful insignia etched into the stone pillars. remembering how impressed I’d been by the Tuscan-style villa and the massive three-story portico held by the thick stone columns when I’d first seen it.
Their family home had ramped up its security measures since the last time I’d been here, and I shuddered at what must have transpired for them to add an identity scanner to their front door. Marko mistook my shiver for being cold and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, before reaching out his other hand as if to ring the doorbell. Gio glared at him and placed his thumb on the scanner. The door immediately swung open.
Shouts and laughter met us from deeper inside the mansion, the dining room most likely.
I stayed rooted to the spot, not sure if I was ready to face the adopted family I’d left behind without a word.
“Having second thoughts, tesorina ?” Gio’s hard cerulean-blue eyes were at odds with the deceptively quiet smoky tone of his voice. “I bet she’s praying to Mary right now,” he chided, looking at Marko whose lips had drawn up at one corner in acknowledgement of his jest. Neither man looked happy to be here but once their word was given, they always kept it.
A deep sadness at how things had turned out pulled at me. I was about to say I was leaving, deciding this was way too much for me, especially with things so estranged between the three of us, when Vinnie came around the corner.
“There you are.” His eyes were lit with his ready positivity, and he swept me up in a hearty embrace. His athletic frame felt solid, and I clung onto him a moment longer than a friendly hug would normally last. He pulled back, looking puzzled, his gaze shifting from me to Marko and landing on Gio.
“Mother is so excited to see you. Come on, I’ll introduce you to the newest member of the family.” Their gazes felt like daggers being thrown into my back as I followed Vinnie to the dining room. The faces were mostly the same, but the positions had shifted since the last time.
Romeo now sat in Luciano’s seat, with a drop-dead gorgeous woman at his side holding a sleeping baby. That had to be Vittoria. On his other side sat their mother, Isabella, and beside Isabella sat a tiny woman whose hand was being held by Gaetano. The tiny woman must be his new wife. Gaetano looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen him, and I decided marriage looked good on him. Fausto was next to Tano, and the empty seat beside him with a half-full glass of wine was probably Vinnie’s spot.
On the other side of the table, Simo sat beside Vittoria holding a tiny rattle that he was shaking at the baby while making cooing sounds. I was rooted to the spot for a moment. Seeing Simo, the man who had a reputation for being one of the deadliest enforcers on the planet, holding a rattle and cooing at a tiny baby was mind-boggling, if not a little painful.
Perhaps if I’d been honest from the beginning and stayed, Simo would be holding a rattle for my baby. Ugh, how narcissistic was that? But since I’d been back the past and present had been colliding, and sending not only my thoughts, but also my hormones, into overdrive.
All three of us—Gio, Marko, and myself—were young enough to have a decade of baby-making years left. It had been a dream of ours, way back when, to have little versions of us running around with Marko Daddying all of them.
It was hard to imagine that I’d ever be forgiven and brought back into the family fold however, especially as I still hadn’t told them the truth regarding what had driven me away from them. Either they bought that it was interest in another man, or they were biding their time until I was desperate enough to tell the whole truth.
Hail Mary, full of grace.
My time alone in New York with only my demanding career and the competitive political climate of our dance company had kept me from having to think over much about the might-have-beens of it all. But every day back home brought fresh onslaughts of emotional pain.
Tears threatened to fall but I blinked them back, not wishing to get pulled down by despair with such a happy family scene surrounding me. Vinnie tugged me toward Isabella. She rose to her feet and pulled me to her. She wasn’t a big woman, but she dwarfed my tiny frame even with my two-inch heels on.
Her scent was the same as I remembered and triggered more memories of the past that I’d buried deep down. Unshed tears speared my eyes and I had to blink rapidly to hold them at bay. As soon as she’d finished crushing me in a hug, Isabella held me at arm’s length, scanning me like I imagined a caring mother would.
“You are skin and bones, Nicolette.” She tugged me in again and I knew she felt the tremor that wracked my body. One lone tear escaped through my thinly veiled armor.
When she released me, I blinked hard at the woman whose eyes held nothing but love for me.
“Don’t worry, little ballerina. Things will be made right.”
I wanted to ask how she could say that and wished wholeheartedly that her words could be true.
She continued, “Let me introduce you to the ladies and my grandson.”
She looked so damn proud that I allowed her to steer me to Vittoria. Romeo’s gaze was hard as he watched me get closer to his wife and child. He’d always been possessive and protective, being the eldest Vitale, and I could tell he was on guard with me being so close to what he held dearest. His gaze flipped between me and his wife and softened on his baby. I almost thought I’d imagined that brief look of love as I’d never seen anything resembling softness from the heir apparent back in the day.
Vittoria stood to greet me. She appeared serene, resembling more of a Madonna than a mafia queen, or would have if it wasn’t for the mischievous gleam in her eyes. I reached out to shake her hand, but she grabbed my hand and tugged me in for a hug. She smelled of roses and vanilla and I took a deep inhale of the heady fragrance.
“Sisters don’t shake.” Her silky voice rumbled in my ear. I had no doubt she had the ability to keep the entire family in line. She reminded me a bit of Gio, in his ability to speak softly while simultaneously invoking fear. “I’ve heard so much about you Niki, it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
That was a surprise. Vittoria herself was a complete shock. Most mafia women I met appeared snooty, snobby and full of themselves. This woman was not only none of those things, but she also didn’t appear to hold any judgment regarding me.
“I hope some of it was good,” I joked before I could silence myself.
Her smile never faltered. “I can assure you, everything I’ve heard has been nothing but favorable. Don’t worry about those two hardheads.” She pointed her chin toward Gio and Marko. “They’ll eventually get their heads out of their ass.”
She spoke quietly but with humor in her tone, and I couldn’t hold back the giggle. However, Romeo was close enough to hear what she said and growled out a warning for her to behave or else.
A smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth. “If I play my cards right, I may get lucky tonight,” she whispered conspiratorially.
“You’ll get more than that, marmocchia, ” Romeo threatened.
With the way he was undressing her with his eyes, it wouldn't be luck at all, but Romeo acting on his desire to have her. That much was clear just from the brief exchange.
“Beautiful and funny, do they know you’re a double threat?” My attempt at humor had its desired affect when Vittoria giggled.
“I do give my husband a run for his money,” she said loudly, and his brothers couldn’t help chiming their agreement. “See.” She smirked.
“I would really like to hear stories of how you do that, give him a run for his money,” I said, surprised to find that I meant it. Getting to know the woman who tamed the terrifying Don Romeo Vitale may give me some tips on how to deal with Gio. I wasn’t as concerned about Marko as he accepted Gio’s lead, and I assumed he always would.
“Let’s do lunch. I heard you have time during the day on the weekends?”
How the heck did she know that? But it made sense, all the Vitales were probably in the know about everything about me, including, and not limited to the tension in our group of three.
“True.” I smiled tightly.
“Wonderful. I’ll be in touch.”
I was about to say how, you don’t have my number, when again, I reminded myself that everyone at this table probably knew more about me than I did.
Romeo stood up and reached out his hand to shake, then surprised me by tugging me in for a perfunctory hug.
“Welcome back,” was all he said before sitting back down and leaving us in an awkward silence.
“This is Raffaello.” Simo spoke in a modulated tone that parents often used while speaking to babies. He jiggled the rattle and little Raffaelo seemed appreciative of his uncle’s efforts. The baby cooed, his eyes moving in and out of focus on the rattle.
I was introduced to Gaetano’s new bride, Gabriella, who was almost as short as me, but held an air of mafia princess in the way she held herself. From the little I knew, Gabriella had run from her family to avoid an arranged marriage. There was a story there about how she and Tano ended up together that sounded better than any mafia romance I’d ever read, and I’d read plenty.
“Welcome.” Gabriella’s hug was soothing, and I remembered Marko had said she was a nurse, or studying to be one.
Tano, who in the past had been the most reserved in the group, gave me a one-armed hug, before tugging Gaby to his side. Something about her seemed familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. We chatted amicably until the staff started bringing in platters of food, and I was escorted to my seat between Gio and Marko.
Marko placed food on my plate and then leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Eat it all, tesorina, or else.”
I was sandwiched between two men who had stolen my heart and my virginity all those years ago and all I wanted was to succumb to being theirs again. But I’d hurt them, and we still hadn’t talked about it. Our conversation had been limited to basic communications. They were angry with me, and I couldn’t blame them, didn’t, in the least, but I’d wished we’d been able to work through the past and begin anew, especially with my retirement looming after the show ended.
Or else? I wished to whisper back but didn’t have the heart to play the game. Instead, I moved my fork around on my plate. I’d always had a tough time eating when I was stressed, which until I met Marko and Gio, had been almost all the time.
“Does someone need to sit on my lap and be fed dinner?”
I gasped but kept my gaze on my plate.
Gio chuckled. “Don’t think I won’t do it Niki; you know better than that.”
Those gentle threats had turned me on in the past, but now, the idea that his adult brothers and mother would witness him feeding me like a child was embarrassing, not sexy. I straightened in my seat and forced forkful after forkful into my mouth, chewing and swallowing on autopilot like I’d done when I was a kid.
Back then, if I didn’t eat everything on my plate, my father would rap my knuckles with a spoon or fork. I’d learned to eat, and later I’d learned to throw it all back up. Only Gio and Marko knew this, and I could feel their gaze intently upon me.
Before I was finished, Marko pulled my plate away.
I gazed up at him quizzically. “Enough, or you’ll get sick if you keep eating like that, Niki. I thought having a career as a dancer would have helped you rectify your bad habits.” His saddened Daddy tone pulled on my heart strings and the tears threatened to fall again.
“Did I mention I’d seen you perform, Niki?”
My gaze darted to Gabriella, grateful for the distraction. “Really? No, you didn’t. I hope I didn’t disappoint.”
“Are you kidding? I was enthralled. Do you remember performing in Toronto three years ago and meeting Don Calabretta and his three daughters?”
The image of the Italian women, three all very similar in looks, and then the tiny gorgeous one… “Oh my god, that was you? I remember thinking that you looked so different than the rest of your family.”
“Yeah, well that’s a whole thing that would take longer than dinner to explain.”
“We’re having a date next Saturday. Gaby, you should join us.” Vittoria spoke up and the two of them discussed where and when and Vinnie jumped in saying he’d set up something special at Buono come il mammas .
She’d said she’d call, and I guessed she’d already decided when we’d meet. This should be no surprise; it was a trait of their family, to tell me my plans. Instead of being annoyed by it, I liked that I was being tugged into the fold. Who knew, maybe Isabella’s words were prophetic and my relationship with the men would soon be rectified.
Romeo finally brought the noisy chatter to an end when he thumped on the table the way his papa used to.
“There will be no Mammas in the foreseeable future. I’ve been meaning to speak with all of you regarding security. We have an outside threat, and not just the one Niki is dealing with, but a very real issue with the Irish.”
I stood so fast my chair tipped dangerously close to falling. Marko’s arm streaked out to steady it. All eyes turned to me. “I’m sorry. Did you say the Irish?”
Romeo’s eyes shuttered and I was no longer speaking with Gio’s brother, but the Vitale Don. Beside me, Marko and Gio tensed, ready to intervene on my behalf if needed, or drag me to their dungeon. I hoped it was the latter.
“Do you mean the Irish mob?”
By his glacial stare, Romeo hadn’t appreciated the question. I’d asked. I felt ill with the knowledge that this could have something to do with me, but I had to know.
“Which branch?” I managed to squeak before I lost my voice completely.
“Why does it matter?”
I did my best to clear my throat. “Please.”
I didn’t know what the please meant other than it being a plea for an answer. But I already knew what he was going to say. Still when he said, “The éannas,” my fragile control broke completely, and I felt myself falling toward the floor, only to be scooped up at the last possible second by strong arms.
“Niki!” Gio’s concerned voice penetrated through the fog in my brain.
“Marko, carry her to the clinic room.” Gaetano’s voice, and then nothing.
I blinked my eyes a few times before they finally fluttered open. Gio stood to one side, his expression tense. Marko on the other was gripping my hand stood looking concerned. “She’s awake,” he commented, letting out a shuddering breath.
Tano appeared from behind the patient curtain. “How are you feeling, Nicolette?”
I swallowed. How the hell did I end up in the private hospital of the Vitale mansion? It all came back in a rush. I attempted to sit up, but Gio placed a hand on my chest.
“Stay. I don’t want you getting dizzy.”
Gabriella appeared, standing with Tano wearing a large smile. “You’re awake. Here, have some water.”
Marko held my head and fed me water in small sips. Tano flashed a light in my eyes and told me to follow it side to side and then up and down. He checked my blood pressure and other vitals before pronouncing me stable.
“Gaby and I will go and look over the lab results. If there are any concerns, we’ll let you know.”
The pair left and then there were three. Gio’s thumb ran gentle circles over the back of my hand, while Marko smoothed back the stray tendrils of hair that had fallen over my face. I wished I could freeze this moment, but I needed to tell them once and for all about what happened.
“I have something to confess.” My gaze found Gio’s. “Please promise me you won’t do anything stupid when I tell you.”
His eyes narrowed. “First, I don’t do anything stupid, Niki, and second, I decide what actions I take, not you.”
“I won’t tell you if you don’t promise. You must promise you’ll hear what I have to say and if you feel the need to do something, you’ll consult Romeo first.” I gulped down the bile rising in my chest. I’d never asked for a promise from Gio before, and prayed he’d take it in the way it was meant— with love .
“Jesus, Niki, you're making this sound like World War Three.”
A tear leaked from the corner of my eye. “It kinda is. Do you remember Liam Kelly?”
Gio’s eyes turned black. I shifted my gaze to Marko. “Promise you won’t let him get himself killed.”
Marko smiled; his entire demeanor had shifted. “Don’t you worry little girl, I got this.” His words of assurance were what I’d needed to hear.
I more than owed them the truth, but it was hard to let go and confess.
“I’m afraid. This secret I’ve been keeping…” I gulped and took a few breaths. “Has been the hardest burden I’ve ever carried.”
“Niki,” Gio said softly, “we love you too, always have and always will. If it helps, then I promise I won’t be rash and endanger you any more than I already have.”
I could no longer hold back the waterworks. “It’s not me I’m afraid for, it’s you, Marko and the entire Vitale family. If I tell you this, it could turn into something even you can’t control, and I could never live with myself knowing I was responsible for bad things happening to the people I love.”
I dropped my eyes not wishing to see the love I felt for the two men who had stolen my heart a long time ago not reciprocated.
“We understand,” Marko soothed, “and we’re ready to hear whatever you have to say, tesorina.”
I felt like I was about to leap off a bridge and prayed that when I landed someone would be there to catch me.