Chapter 1 Angelo #2
James and Thomas have a solid bond. More like natural brothers than legally by marriage. It comes from their time working together undercover at the DEA and then opening their own private investigation firm. They’re both pretty badass and not anyone I’d fuck with even if they weren’t related to me.
“Did you ever think we’d be here?” I ask, looking around the room at the men before me. “I sure as fuck didn’t.”
We were such shitheads when we were young.
Out of control, really. Even though we were younger than them, that didn’t stop the antics and shit we pulled.
We weren’t sitting inside playing Legos or building forts.
Nah. That wasn’t our style. We were city kids.
Hood rats. We played in the alleys, getting dirt under our fingernails.
“I wasn’t sure any of us would make it to this age.” Joe pulls a chair across the floor, making the most horrendous noise, before he turns it around and straddles the back. “We did some dumb shit.”
“Not me,” Mike says, which is technically true. He didn’t get into the kind of trouble the rest of us did because he was too busy with sports to give a flying fuck about playing with us. “I was too busy.”
Anthony rolls his eyes. “You were always a suck-up. Still are. You didn’t want Ma and Pop to think differently of you. Always thought you were better than us.”
I’m still amazed Anthony settled down, joining adulthood, and quit his rock band. The man swore he was going to be famous someday and have an unlimited supply of pussy at his disposal. He and Vinnie are so alike in that way, but here they are, taken and one-woman men.
Mike waves his hand in the air. “I am,” he answers flatly. “I can’t help that I’m pure perfection.”
Thomas drags a hand down his face, muttering something into his palm. “Anyway, are we just chilling here for the night?”
Vinnie shakes his head. “Nope. I made all the plans. Our ride will be here in ten.” He smiles.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, wishing I’d called this off weeks ago. The last thing I want to do is party my ass off the night before my wedding. I don’t give two fucks about drinking, strip clubs, or whatever insanity Vinnie has planned. And I know there will be insanity.
“Where are we going?” My voice comes out harsher than I’d planned, but I plaster a smile across my face instead of grimacing in an attempt not to come off as a complete asshole.
“Well…” Vinnie clears his throat, and I brace myself. “I know you don’t want to go to the strip club.”
“No,” I blurt out. “I have the only tits I ever want to see at home.”
“Amen,” Joe agrees as his brothers and mine nod their heads in agreement.
“Yeah, Bianca would have my balls anyway.” Vinnie glances toward the ceiling and sighs.
“Already does,” Lucio mutters under his breath so quietly, Vinnie doesn’t hear.
Thank fuck.
“I made reservations at the best steakhouse in town, and then we’re going to a gentlemen’s club.”
“Dude, I said no strip clubs,” I remind him, grinding my teeth together to stop myself from yelling at him.
He shakes his head quickly. “I know, fucker. It’s not that kind of ‘gentlemen’s club.’” He uses air quotes on the last two words. “It’s truly a club for men only. We can play cards, hang out and smoke cigars, or whatever the fuck we want to do without having to worry about women bothering us.”
The Vinnie from a year ago wouldn’t have worried about attention from women. He never would’ve made a plan that involved only men. Never. But that’s what love does. For once, he’s no longer thinking with his dick, even though that’s where his love apparently started.
I slowly shake my head. “You really are whipped, huh?”
My statement earns me a middle finger. “You can fuck right off. Every guy around this table is whipped in some fashion.”
“Unless you’re like James,” Morgan says with a bit of laughter.
I’ve missed Morgan.
I remember the day he left for boot camp, waving to us over his shoulder as he walked inside the hotel, ready to join the army.
Aunt Fran couldn’t bear to take him herself, and instead of my mother going alone with her, she piled us into the car to wish our cousin farewell.
Never did I think he wouldn’t come back.
I always thought he’d be a Southsider again and come back into the fold.
The guy had a restless spirit, though, especially after he was a SEAL.
James throws up his hands. “Oh, no. Don’t think I’m the boss all the time. Izzy can hold her own.”
“Uh-huh.” Anthony laughs and rubs his chin, eyeing his brother-in-law. “You let her whip your ass too? Or does she put you over her knee and spank you?”
I lean back in my seat, waiting for the fireworks to fly, or more likely, fists, as James’s eyes darken and focus on Anthony.
“Oh.” Vinnie moves his chair a little closer to the table. “You two get down like that?” He waggles his eyebrows, totally amused.
James tips his chin up, turning to Vinnie across the table with a completely straight and unreadable face. “Why don’t you ask her? I’m sure she’d be more than happy to answer.”
“James, are you trying to end his pro career before he’s really had a chance to get started?” Thomas presses his fingers against his temples. “I swear to fuck, Izzy will eat him for dinner.”
Vinnie chuckles. “Izzy’s a little thing, isn’t she? I think I can hold my own.”
Laughter erupts around the table because everyone knows Izzy’s trouble with a capital T. She may look small, but fuck, not even I would mess with her.
“Then ask her,” James tells Vinnie with a smirk.
“Fuck.” Vinnie runs his hand back through his hair and nods, playing it cool. “I will, man.”
“Don’t.” I place my hand on Vinnie’s arm. “Don’t fuck with Izzy. Like, for real. If you like your balls in any way, don’t say shit to her.”
“Come on.” Vinnie doesn’t look convinced. “I’ve put up with Daphne for years.”
“Daphne’s a cream puff compared to Izzy, kid.
Don’t fuck with her, or you’ll get bit,” Joe tells Vinnie, pointing his finger at him to drive the point home.
“I’m dead serious. We taught her to fight—and I don’t mean like a girl.
She’s South Side one hundred percent. She will not hesitate to kick your ass. ”
“Our ride is here,” Lucio says, ticking his chin toward the doorway and climbing quickly to his feet. “Let’s get a move on. I’m starving.”
“Roger’s meeting us later. He had to stay at the office late,” Vinnie says, jamming his phone into his pocket as he heads toward the door.
“Good,” I say. I’m happy my soon-to-be brother-in-law will be joining us. Technically, he’s not my brother-in-law at all, but what else would I call him? He’s like a brother to Tilly, the only other family besides us she has. Therefore, he’s one of us too.
I lock up the bar as the guys pile into the party bus. I’m happy we decided to close down for a few nights to celebrate, opting to spend time with the family over anything else.
In the end, that’s all we have anyway.
Money isn’t important, things are irrelevant, but family is the only other constant besides time.