8. Four Weeks
EIGHT
Four Weeks
ALLEGRA
E lena arrives with two bags of clothes in hand, one for me, the other for Victorio. While Gina is prepping breakfast, she insists that I go take my shower and get ready for the day. It’s going to be another long day, and I shiver when I think of meeting Reno again. I always thought that Raffaele was intimidating and ferocious, and I find that Reno has exactly the same qualities, only he is quieter, which somehow terrifies me even more. Reno has the ability to look at me with such calm, but I know that inside, there’s a volcano waiting to erupt. I never want to be the cause of the eruption.
Not wanting to hold up breakfast, I shower as quickly as I can. When I look in the bag that Elena gave me, I see that she has gone above and beyond. She picked out some very high-end makeup and hair products as well as a pair of jeans, a simple pair of tailored black pants, two blouses, one in deep green, the other in lilac, and a simple navy dress. Elena even found sandals to match the dress.
I’m instantly drawn to the jeans, but I want to make a good impression on Reno and his family, so I choose the blue dress. I don’t know how she guessed my size, but the dress fits perfectly. I gather the makeup and apply a light layer of powder and eye shadow, using light pink hues, then a dusting of blush and liner, and top it off with mascara. The final touch is a simple pink lip balm.
My hair is a different story. I must say that I spend a lot of time on my hair. I find a diffuser with the hair dryer and scrunch my soft curls until they dry, framing my face. I take one final look in the mirror and apply hair spray before heading back down the stairs.
“Perfect timing, cara,” Gina says, then turns to look at me. “My goodness, aren’t you a vision?” she continues, clapping her hands together.
“Super pretty,” Elena adds.
“Can we eat now?” Elio asks. “I’m starved.” He pulls out the chair closest to him but waits for his father to take his place before sitting. Dante takes his place on the other side of Dario, with Elena beside him.
“Sit here, Victorio,” Gina says to my brother, indicating the seat next to her. “We haven’t had a chance to get to know one another.” Victorio takes his place and is looking a little uneasy, but Gina engages him in conversation. Before you know it, I see my brother crack a smile.
Zano tugs my hand. He sits next to his brother, and I take the seat beside him. The food is passed around the table, and as Zano hands me the platter of pancakes, he whispers in my ear, “You’re making it impossible not to kiss you.”
I don’t dare move my eyes from my plate, hoping that no one else heard Zano. He’s making me feel things I’ve never felt before. I’ve seen good-looking men, even fantasized about the likes of Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds. But Zano is different. I get butterflies whenever he’s close. I find myself staring at him, especially at his full lips and soulful blue eyes.
Last night, I was a mess when he came to check in on me. When he walked in, I suddenly felt calm, like everything was going to be all right. When I raise my eyes, I notice my brother glancing between Zano and me, silently asking me if I’m okay. I smile, and his shoulders relax.
“Cara, eat up. Don’t forget you promised to help me with my hair,” Gina says, interrupting my thoughts.
* * *
I t’s later that afternoon that we drive to meet with our new capo and his family. Plans changed as Reno and Sebastian had an urgent matter to contend with, and a late lunch is turning into an early dinner. As we stand at Reno’s front door, Victorio keeps tugging on his shirt collar like it’s cutting off his airway. Dante bought him a pair of black dress pants and a crisp white shirt, telling him that he needs to look good. All the men are casually dressed, but they all look very handsome. Zano has on a sky-blue shirt that looks awesome on him, and a darker pair of navy slacks. When I walked down after doing his mother’s hair, which she loved so much she has declared me her official hairdresser, I almost tripped over my own feet when I saw him. I hope I wasn’t drooling.
“Hello, come in,” a beautiful woman says. I assume she’s Reno’s wife. Glued to her leg is the cutest little girl. She reaches down and puts the little girl on her hip. “Simona, say hello,” she coos, snuggling her close.
“About time you got here,” Dante teases from inside. “What took you so long?”
“Not all of us drive like a NASCAR driver,” Elio responds, leading the way. Gina and Dario move inside, stopping to greet our hostess, then making room for us.
Zano does the introductions. “Anna, this is Allegra and her brother, Victorio.”
“Thank you for having us, ma’am,” Victorio says.
Anna gives him a bright smile. “It’s our pleasure.”
“Hello, Mrs. Viale,” I say. I wonder if Anna knows how stunning she is with her dark hair and exotic features.
“Please, call me Anna. Welcome!” Then, without warning, Simona lurches out of her mother’s arms and into mine, framing my face with her tiny palms.
“You’re pretty. I like your hair,” Simona says in her shy, tiny voice.
“Well, that’s a surprise,” her mother declares. “Simona usually takes a while to warm up to new people.” She wiggles her fingers, “Come on to Mama,” she says, trying to entice her daughter to come back to her.
“I’m fine with Simona if it’s all right with you,” I tell Anna. Meanwhile, Simona has already put her head down on my shoulder. I think I’m in love with this child. She’s so sweet.
“I’m more than fine!” Anna declares, then guides me to join the others in the family room. “Reno is just finishing up in his den with Leo and Sebastian.” Anna sweeps her arms across the room. “This is everyone. I’m going to go check on dinner. Dante, you’re in charge of getting everyone drinks and doing introductions. I’ll be back in a minute.”
After Anna leaves, Simona wriggles in my arms, wanting to be put down. She takes my hand and drags me over to where Elena, Gina, and two other women are sitting on the sofa. “This is baby Marcella,” Simona announces, totally ignoring the other women.
“I knew the day Marcella was born that I’d be an afterthought,” the baby’s mother says with a laugh. “I’m Olivia, Sebastian’s wife and this little angel’s mommy.”
“Hello, I’m Allegra. I’m…uh.” Well, dang, how do I introduce myself? I’m the problem Reno took on. Or, maybe, I’m Zano’s future bride that he didn’t know he was going to end up with all because he’s a good guy and saved my brother’s ass.
“This is Zano’s fiancée,” Gina finishes on my behalf, putting her arm around me. “And she’s a magician with a brush. My hair has never looked better.”
“I was wondering what you did differently. It looks so shiny and full,” Olivia comments with a grin, then turns back to me. “You’re a hairstylist?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Well, maybe you can do something with my hair. Since Marcella, I haven’t had the time or inclination to go out. I just don’t seem to have the energy,” Olivia says with a pout.
“Anytime you like. I’d be happy to come over and give it a nice cut with some highlights. I often thought a mobile hairdresser would be a great business to start. There are lots of people who, for one reason or another, can’t make it to a salon. I used to go to retirement homes once a month because the elderly have such difficulty getting out. They looked forward to me coming to them. And they have such amazing stories to tell about their lives,” I say.
“It’s a date, Allegra. I’m going to hold you to that,” Olivia replies. “I’ll get your number before you leave.” Baby Marcella stirs in her arms, her lips forming a pout that leads into a powerful cry. “She needs changing.” Before Olivia can even get up from her chair, Dante’s double appears out of nowhere, taking the baby out of Olivia’s hands.
“I got her,” Dante’s double states and carts off Marcella. Dante bursts out laughing, and the other men do their best to contain their chuckles.
“Who thought the thing that would bring Sebastian to his knees would be a baby?” Dante sputters, continuing to laugh.
“You just wait until you’re a daddy.” Olivia wags her finger at Dante. “We’ll see who laughs then.”
“Come on, even you have to see the humor in it,” he pushes, and a hint of a smirk comes over Olivia’s lips. “See!” Dante turns to me. “That was my brother, Sebastian. We’re twins. You’re not seeing double.”
I nod with a grin. “It was very nice almost meeting him,” I kid.
“Allegra, come and meet Leo and his family,” Zano calls to me. With my brother standing next to him, Zano waits for me to join him. The woman who hasn’t yet been introduced comes with me. She must be Leo’s wife. “This is Leo, his wife, Lucia, and the little monster in Leo’s arms is Joseph. This is my fiancée, Allegra, and her brother, Victorio.”
Reno, standing behind Leo, adds, “Leo will be taking you under his wing, Victorio. I suggest you get to know one another.” Anna joins her husband and links her arm through his, giving it a little squeeze. Reno looks down at his wife’s face and lets out a sigh. He then says, “Welcome to our home.”
Anna must be a miracle worker because this is the first time I’ve seen Reno’s features soften. Victorio speaks up. “Thank you for having us, Capo.” He then extends his hand to Leo. “Sir, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m going to work very hard, I swear.”
Leo takes the extended hand. “I expect nothing less. After dinner, we’ll take a walk outside and discuss matters.”
“I’d like to get a few things out of the way beforehand,” Reno states. “Dante, Sebastian, Leo, Zano, in my study. Allegra and Victorio as well.” He kisses his wife’s cheek. “We won’t be long,” he tells her, and extricates his arm from hers before leading the way to his office. We encounter Sebastian on the way. “Give Marcella to Anna and meet us in the den.”
Reno’s office is impressive, with a dark brown leather sofa and chairs, a bar in the corner of the room, and a massive heavy oak desk that he sits behind. He nods his head, indicating for us to sit. We all comply and wait for his word. Zano reaches for my hand, holding it in his.
“Zano has asked me to grant him the opportunity to save Allegra and her brother. I’ve already explained how this affects our relationship with Ultimo Morte. In order for this matter to be put to bed, Zano and Allegra will marry.” There’s a pause in which Reno stares at me, adding, “In four weeks.”
I blink but prudently say nothing.
“My mother is not going to be happy,” Zano replies, blowing out a breath.
“I don’t care. The other underbosses think this is a terrible idea, that Allegra and Victorio are not our problem, and they’d be correct. However, I recognize your attempt to save a damsel in distress, and when you could have backed out several times, you chose not to. Therefore, you have a wife. Victorio has proven to make errors in judgment. He will be staying with Leo, in the bunkhouse with the other soldiers under his command. He will go to school and work for Leo,” Reno tells us.
“I can’t see Allegra?” Victorio asks, visibly upset.
“Leo makes that decision based on your actions. You do as he says, and you can see her anytime you are off duty. You fuck up, and your time will be spent making up for your mistakes,” Reno states in a steely tone. “I’ll be checking on you, and I expect to see the kid with bad judgment turn into a man with superior decision-making skills, dedicated to Nostra Casa . Do you know our mantra?”
“No, sir.”
“Nostra casa, nostra fortuna. That means that in our home, in this family, we are able to create our own fortune. My men, even my newest soldiers, are paid well and earn a good living. My eyes are always on them, looking for the finest to move up. They know this, and now, so do you. You want more, then show me. But in this room, with all these witnesses, I vow to give you every chance to prove yourself. However, turn traitor, and I will kill you. There will be no place you can hide where I won’t find you and make you pay for your sins against this family. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Capo,” Victorio replies in a shaky voice.
Reno turns to Leo. “I want weekly reports on Victorio’s progress.”
Leo merely nods.
Reno then looks to Zano. “Four weeks. The capos from the other families will be in attendance as well as several senior underbosses. The rest is up to you. Understood?”
“Yes, Capo.” Zano squeezes my hand, urging me to say something to my new capo.
“Capo, thank you. I realize that you have taken us under your wing to protect us. Victorio and I won’t let you down.”
“Allegra, I believe you. But you can only speak for yourself. Victorio is his own man. The days of you trying to be his mother are over. He needs a man to guide him. You can be his sister, but his education from this point on comes from Leo, until further notice,” Reno says. “I’ve had enough upheaval for the day. Let’s enjoy the rest of our evening.”
Reno dismisses us, and we all file out of his office. Gina and Dario are the first we encounter, and Zano breaks the news about having four weeks to plan a wedding.
“Four weeks! Dio Mio, that’s not possible,” Gina mutters, clearly beginning to panic. Anna and the others rally around.
“We’ll all help,” Anna offers, patting her hand. Anyone would think Gina was getting married instead of me. And for some unknown reason, I’m not nearly as freaked out as I should be.