Chapter 35
CIRO
“Let me call her before you. I’ll smooth things over and tell her what really happened.” Roman extended his hand so I would give him my phone.
I glared at him. Didn’t he hear anything I’d just said?
“I don’t need you to smooth things over.
I just got through saying I was going there to apologize and ask for forgiveness.
I’ll grovel if necessary.” Saying I’d grovel didn’t feel right.
A man with my power and money never groveled but when it came to Isla and my daughter, I’d do just about anything, even grovel.
“Don’t you dare fucking grovel,” Luca hissed. “A Remotti doesn’t grovel.” He wasn’t wrong about that.
“Luca! I will not have you talking that way around me. Show some respect,” Rosa said in a motherly tone. The further along she got in her pregnancy the less agreeable she was. “Roman’s right on this, Ciro. Let him call Isla to smooth things over, then you can fly out to see her.”
This was what I got for asking my family for help? Nobody agreed with me.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Call her.” It wasn’t so late, only a little after nine West Coast time. Isla would still be awake.
“Are you sure you want to make things right with her?” Roman asked in a low, steady voice.
“Yes, I’m sure.” Why else would I have called this meeting? “I know you all want what’s best for everyone involved. You’re trying to protect us. Let me assure you, I don’t want to hurt Isla or the baby. I want to be with them. I want us to be a real family.”
“What does that mean? Be a real family?” Rosa asked. “Does it include marriage?”
I groaned, scrubbing my hands against my face.
“Apparently not,” Luca said with disdain in his voice. This situation with Isla affected him on a deeper level than the others. I should be mad as hell that my brother pined after my woman, but I knew he’d never betray me. I knew he ultimately wanted Isla to be happy, and she’d be happy with me…
“Don’t presume to know what I want, baby brother.”
Luca threw up the bird. “I know you better than you think.”
“Enough,” Roman said on a sigh. “We’re just wasting time.”
I gave him my phone with her number already pulled up.
“Good. Now everyone be quiet.” He pushed the button, turned the speaker on and set my device on the coffee table in the middle of us.
I held my breath, anxious to hear Isla’s voice. My chest tightened as it rang four times. Would it go to voicemail?
Rosa and Luca leaned in. Wolf hung back with his arms crossed. I doubted he wanted to be here, but he never let Rosa go anywhere without him. I needed to be more like him.
Thankfully, Padre stayed home. It was a circus here with my brothers and sister, which would only stress him out.
It occurred to me then, having the call where everyone could hear might be a bad idea…
“I know this is you, Ciro. Stop calling me,” Isla answered without preamble.
“It’s Roman.”
Isla sighed in relief. “Oh… I. I’m sorry, Roman. But this is Ciro’s number.”
“Yes, I’m using his phone. How are you?”
“It’s nice of you to ask. I’m sure you know about the baby and are calling about her. Let me assure you, Pippa’s well taken care of and healthy.”
“No, sweetheart. I’m calling about you. I wanted to clear things up. You misunderstood what happened the other night.”
“Roman—”
“No, Isla. Listen to me,” Roman said in a commanding voice.
My brothers and I all had strong voices like our father.
When we talked, people listened. Only a few weren’t intimidated by us.
Isla was one of them. “I was with Ciro. You know I would never lie to you. What you heard was a drunk woman we were helping. Nothing inappropriate happened between her and Ciro. Nothing. I swear to you.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. Could Roman get through to her? Would she believe him? I squatted by the coffee table to listen more closely. Could our relationship be repaired?
Isla cleared her throat as if emotion was choking her up.
“Thank you for telling me that. But the truth is… I’m glad it happened.
I can be incredibly gullible when it comes to Ciro.
After one weekend, I foolishly let myself dream about the future.
Seeing the pictures of him kissing the redhead, who was the same one on his lap the day I went to tell him about Pippa, was just the dose of reality I needed. ”
I shook my head as fear engulfed my heart.
“Isla—”
“No, Roman, it’s my turn to speak,” she said, unwavering.
“I’m sorry. Please continue,” Roman replied.
No fear. My girl wouldn’t be intimidated or controlled. She’d changed since having the baby. It made me want her all the more.
“I’m a mother now. Everything I do is in Pippa’s best interest. She needs stability.
Ciro and I will never be stable together.
Separately, yes.” She paused, taking a breath.
“I won’t keep her from him. Or from your family.
But Ciro and I will never be together. He’s free to do whatever he wants… ” her voice trailed off.
“Isla, don’t say that,” I replied, losing my composure. “We belong together!”
Rosa grabbed my arm, but I ignored her.
“Seriously, Roman? I can’t believe you’d do this. Who else is there besides Ciro?” Her voice hitched. “Is the whole family there?”
Rosa covered her mouth, her eyes pooling with tears.
“Honey, I’m sorry,” Roman said.
“You had it all wrong and wouldn’t let me explain,” I told her.
“Don’t do this, Ciro. If perchance all the Remotti family members are listening, I’d like to assure you all that Pippa is wonderful. She’s healthy and happy. I’ll bring her as promised, and we’ll stay for a short visit. You have my word that I will never keep Pippa from knowing any of you.”
“Baby—”
“No, Ciro.” She sucked in a breath, and I knew what was coming.
“The extent of our communication will solely revolve around Pippa. The rest of you, please don’t speak to me about Ciro.
Let’s all be amicable for Pippa’s sake. She’s what matters most. There is nothing between Ciro and me… other than the baby. Good-bye.”
The line went dead and everyone went silent.
I returned to my desk and swiveled my chair to face the windows. I’d never felt so shattered in all my life. Not when my mother was murdered in front of me. Not when I’d held Julietta’s hand in the last minutes of her life.
I couldn’t fill my lungs with oxygen, wholly decimated after the call.
Isla was resolved and strong, calmer than I’d ever seen her. She had a maternal tone in her voice, the one I’d heard many times over the weekend when she put me in my place. Becoming a mother had changed her in the very best way.
Despite her less-than-desirable apartment and the long hours she worked, Isla was doing pretty damn great. Her home was clean. Pippa was well taken care of and happy. Isla was doing it all without me. The realization she didn’t need me was severe.
“I’m so sorry, Ciro.” Roman’s voice came from behind me. “I didn’t mean to make matters worse for you.”
“No.” I turned around to face him. “None of this is anyone’s fault but my own. I did this and I will pay the ultimate price for my choice.” This time I’d never get her back.
“You will not give up on Isla,” Rosa said. “Do you hear me? You will not give up on your daughter. Now is the time to work your ass off and do whatever it takes.”
“Calm down, my love,” Wolf told my sister.
“He doesn’t get it, Wolf. Isla believes Ciro won’t commit to her. That she’ll never be more than his girlfriend.”
“That’s really sad.” Roman narrowed his eyes as if telling me with only a look that I was an idiot. He wouldn’t be wrong, rarely was he ever wrong about anything.
Rosa waddled toward my desk. “Brother, get on the jet and go to her. Do whatever it takes to assure Isla of your intentions and feelings.”
My brothers and I stared at our sister. The fire in her eyes was a first for me. She was going to be a wonderful, protective mother.
“I’m not sure how to get through to her.” Relationship stuff was never easy for me. I could be romantic, seduce women with my charm. But it had been all surface level. Superficial. Before Isla, anyway. Nothing had been superficial with her.
Still, putting my heart on the line, declaring undying love, and showing vulnerability wasn’t something I ever did… until now.
“A heartfelt apology is a good start,” Rosa replied.
“Heartfelt?” Luca pfft. “We’re Mafia men, sister. Not pussies.”
Rosa rolled her eyes. “You have a filthy mouth.”
“Women love my mouth,” Luca shot back.
Wolf growled and his laser eyes cut to Luca. He didn’t say anything and he didn’t have to for anyone to understand his meaning.
Roman cleared his throat to take the attention off Luca. “You support Isla. Help her with your daughter.”
“You all are too nice.” Luca sighed, approaching my desk. “Don’t give her any reason to doubt you. Show her you’re worth a second chance. And if she still rejects you, force her to return to Canada with you.”
Rosa and Roman threw their hands up in the air in unison, showing their frustration with Luca. The two of them had similar traits: patient, observant, wise beyond their years. And apparently, they hit their breaking point at the same time.
“I’m good at being a ruthless ass.” I winked at Luca. But I wanted real love with Isla and mistreating her to get what I wanted was a low I refused to sink to.
“You better not be mean to her.” Rosa grabbed her handbag. “I’m ready to go,” she told Wolf.
“Good.” Wolf jumped to his feet and quickly ushered my sister to the door.
“I know you’ll do the right thing, brother.” She waved at me and left.
My brothers and I waited for the door to close before speaking.
“What’s up with Courtney?” Luca asked. “I never liked that bitch.”
“That’s because you fell for my woman. Until Isla was in the picture, you were just fine with Courtney.” I rocked in my chair and folded my hands against my chest.
“I care about Isla like a younger sister. I’d be defensive for Rosa just the same,” Luca replied. Of course I didn’t believe his romantic feelings for Isla had faded, but I wouldn’t call him out on it. He knew what would happen to him if he tried anything with her.
“In any case, I’m taking Courtney to a rehab center in Los Angeles in the morning and from there I’ll go to the Bay Area. I should be there by the evening. I trust, you’ll both handle things in my absence.”
“Yes,” they said in unison. Roman was the least of my worries, which was why I’d been considering making him my underboss.
He was an excellent Consigliere. Reliable and intelligent, and I trusted him.
But it was difficult to give up my power.
I thrived on controlling the family’s business.
However, when I wasn’t available to deal with issues, I needed an underboss to take my place.
But moving Luca from Capo up to Consigliere to replace Roman gave me pause. Luca had a short fuse and a thirst for violence. He didn’t have the patience to dig deeper for information, nor did he have the charisma that Roman had with our business associates.
“I can have one of my men take Courtney so you can go directly to Isla,” Luca said.
“No, I need to do this. After tomorrow, I won’t see her again.” I just wished the facility could get her in today, but they’d said they wouldn’t have a spot for her until Friday after four. If everything went smoothly, I should make it to Isla’s in time to do Pippa’s bedtime routine.
“Whatever you say, boss,” Luca replied.
“What’s the status on Kira?” I asked him.
“He’s out of Canada,” Roman said.
“Good.”
“Wolf put him in a safe house in North Dakota. Cobra has a crew guarding Kira and the others.” Luca watched for my reaction.
“Did you approve of the safe house?” I asked Roman, because I sure as fuck wouldn’t have.
“I did. He’s Wolf’s brother.”
“We’re not in the business of protecting people who stole from the fucking Bratva!” I yelled, wholly outraged at my brother’s stupidity. “The last thing we need is for Zotov to connect us to Kira, and then we’ll be in a war I didn’t start. How can you be so stupid?”
Roman’s jaw twitched, but he kept his mouth shut.
“And you.” I pointed at Luca. “Did you even question Roman’s orders?”
“Why would I? Eventually, he’ll be the underboss.”
I shook my head. “And this is why I don’t like to be away for too long. Everything goes to shit when I’m gone.”
“That’s not true. This was an unusual situation,” Roman said.
“And fucking dangerous for all of us!” I tapped my fingers on my desk, thinking. “Send two men to the safe house.”
“Why?” Roman asked.
“Because I want to make sure that asshole doesn’t cause any more trouble.” Just because Kira only had three men with him, didn’t mean there weren’t others lurking in the shadows. Roman should have considered all this before he allowed Kira to stay on the estate. Hell, Wolf should’ve done the same.
“Cobra’s men can handle it.” Roman appeared annoyed with me, but I didn’t give a fuck.
“Send them.” I locked gazes with Luca.
“Done,” he replied.
The sooner I dealt with Isla and brought her and Pippa to Canada, the sooner I could get back to running things around here. My casino was opening next month, and I wanted to be here for it… and have my woman on my arm.