Chapter 10
CIRO
“Ciro, it’s been a long time.” Fabio Ferrari opened his arms and hugged me at the entrance of his luxury apartment. “What brings you to San Francisco?”
“A personal matter.” I patted his back. When I’d reached out to him yesterday, I hadn’t said what I needed.
Hell, I still didn’t know why I messaged him or what I wanted from him.
The meeting was mostly about showing my respect while being in his district.
I would’ve done the same with his brother and sister in Seattle.
“Thank you for meeting me on such short notice.”
“No worries. Please sit down.” He directed me to a leather club chair in his living room. A wall of windows was across from me, providing an exceptional view of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
“Your view is stunning.” I imagined at night, when it was all lit up, it was breathtaking.
“One of the best in the city.” The corner of his mouth twitched as if holding back a cocky smile.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less living on Billionaires’ Row.” I would buy a place in the Pacific Heights area if I visited more often, but I didn’t.
Actually, if Isla rejected me and remained in San Francisco, I might consider buying something with a billion-dollar view.
“Can I get you a drink? Beer. Wine. Pellegrino?”
“Whatever you’re having is fine.” I relaxed in the chair and admired the view. “No, Remo?”
Fabio snorted. “No. My brother is much too busy with his family to meet with an old friend. He sends his regards.”
“I see.” How rude, but I shrugged it off. “Well, I was just looking to reconnect.”
“I must admit, I don’t believe you.” He gave me a glass of red wine. “We go way back to college, Ciro. You’re not the kind of person who calls just to reconnect.”
“You haven’t changed either. Still right to the point.”
“I’m a busy man.” He sat across from me with his own glass of vino. “Trying to make more money than you.”
“Good luck.” I chuckled, something I rarely did. But Fabio amused me with his ballsy comment. “My family will always have more.”
“Yes, but what about you alone?” He eyed me with a smug grin. “I’m setting myself up not to need my family’s wealth and power. I’m tired of following someone else’s rules.”
“I understand. With so many older brothers, you’ll never be at the top.”
“I never wanted to be. But such is the life of a Ferrari.” He drank his wine and seemed to ponder something. “So why did you call?”
“What can you tell me about West End? It’s a bistro I want to buy.” No idea where that came from, but now that I’d said it, buying the bistro was a fabulous idea.
Fabio’s eyebrows raised. “Why?”
“Someone important to me works there.” I set my goblet down on the round glass table. “My ex-girlfriend.”
“If she’s your ex, why do you want to buy the bistro?”
“I don’t know. I just want it.” I shrugged like spending millions of dollars on a bistro was pocket change. It mostly was compared to overhauling casinos or building them from the ground up.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but West End isn’t for sale.” Fabio set his drink down, matching me. “The owner is an old friend. Find something else to buy.”
“Anyone can be bought. Tell them to name their price.”
“Still a cocky son of a bitch, aren’t you? Not everyone can be bought.” He scratched his chin. “Let’s not forget, you’re in my city now. I’ve invested billions here, and West End is not for sale.”
I smiled, understanding his meaning. “I see. It’s one of your investments. Well, I thought I’d ask. It’s a top-rated, award-winning establishment. The kind I’d like to own.”
“You’ve done your research.”
I nodded, giving him a friendly smile.
“Anything you find in the Bay Area with such high credentials is probably owned by me.”
“Good to know.” So, he had been setting himself up not to need his family’s money.
Good for him. But I couldn’t imagine he’d cut ties with them.
They’d never let him out of the Mafia alive.
Neither would my family. Being born into the life came with great responsibility and duty.
We couldn’t just quit the family. “So, I need a favor.”
“Finally.” He raised his hands at the sides of his head. “Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want.”
“Do you have someone local who can look into my ex?” Normally, I would have asked one of my brothers, but I didn’t want them up in my personal business. “I’m only putting her on your radar, out of respect, as this is your city.”
“Is she in danger? Is one of your enemies after her?”
“Not to my knowledge, but when I return to Canada, she may not go with me. I want to make sure she’s protected. No matter the cost.”
Fabio considered me a long second. “Give me her name, and I’ll see what I can find. Shouldn’t be difficult if she’s an employee at West End.”
“I appreciate it.” I relaxed again. “So, what about you? Any woman in your life after things didn’t work out with Lucia?”
“God, don’t bring her up. She isn’t trustworthy or faithful.” Tension rolled off Fabio like the famous fog in San Francisco that would engulf the coast until it burned off in the afternoon. “Of course, my family likes her because of her money.”
“If she isn’t trustworthy…” I shook my head, knowing I would never be with a woman like Lucia.
“They would expect me to keep her in line, anyway necessary.” He reached for his glass and gulped his wine. “Anything she did wrong; I would pay the price.”
“Jesus, that’s brutal.” Instantly, I regretted my choice of words.
The stories Fabio had told me in college had turned my blood cold.
The beatings and isolation he and his brothers suffered during their youth were inhuman.
And Fabio had the scars to prove it. In public, the Ferrari famiglia looked like a perfect, loving family but behind closed doors, they could be monsters.
“I’m not a fucking babysitter, you know? You’re fortunate your family doesn’t have impossible standards, especially regarding marriage.”
“How do you mean?”
“Don’t you get to pick who you marry?” he asked.
“Yes, within reason. But an arranged marriage isn’t unheard of in my family.
” My father was a patient man, but he most certainly wanted heirs and would force my brothers and I into marriage, eventually.
I’d felt the pressure for years which made it more difficult being with Isla.
Padre loved her and was furious I let her slip through my fingers.
Luckily, my sister Rosa and her husband were having a baby later this year, which took the pressure off me and my brothers. For the time being, naturally.
“There is no within reason in my family. Full blooded Italian is required, and they must have money and power to grow the Ferrari empire.”
“What about love?”
“Love?” He laughed, rather obnoxiously. Back in college, Fabio had been a miserable man and he rarely laughed. But when he did, it was like this. Loud and forced. “Did you say, love? Surely, you know love is a weakness.”
“Yes, of course.” Love made men behave irrationally and it put the women we cared about in danger, which was why I’d kept Isla at arm’s length.
But all the money in the world wouldn’t make me feel whole and truly rich the way Isla could.
Love was a weakness for men like me and Fabio who were from Mafia families, but I was beginning to see that sometimes we needed to risk it all for love.
As Isla had said before she left me, we won’t know unless we take a step forward to find out.
“How much richer do you want to be?” I chuckled, wanting to lighten the mood. But Fabio didn’t seem amused. “I mean, my family will always be on top, of course.”
“Dream on, friend. My father wants to rule all the families.” He casually drank his wine. “But I am on the rise and doing so without my family’s money.”
“Impressive.” It was good to know our friendly rivalry hadn’t faded. In college, we battled over everything. Grades. Sports. Women. I wasn’t the least bit surprised Fabio’s endeavors had been lucrative.
“Yes, and I may need your help one day.”
“Of course. Might it have to do with a woman?”
“Isn’t it always about a woman?” He stood from his chair. “Or an arranged marriage?”
I nodded, understanding his position.
“More wine? Lunch should be delivered soon.” Fabio took my glass and went into his gourmet kitchen.
“Yes, I have nowhere to be.” I’d planned to stay for lunch. Paolo had dropped me off and went to watch the bistro. Just to make sure Isla was working.
Sitting there in Fabio’s open-spaced room and gazing at the Golden Gate Bridge, I realized what I needed to do about Isla.
Apologize.
Ask for a second chance.
Maybe declare my love. Maybe.
And if she refused me, I would make her an offer she couldn’t refuse. But I wouldn’t think about that now.
Isla was a reasonable woman, and I had a feeling she still loved me.