Chapter 16 Old Friends #2
“I’ve never been to a club before,” she says, her gaze glued to the black-and-silver double door blocked by two huge bouncers.
The wait to get on the list for this club can be a month or two, unless, of course, you belong to La Famiglia.
Since we own the club, many men take their women, or in most cases, their mistresses, here.
I do need to warn Serafina that what she sees in the club remains between the two of us.
In La Famiglia, men run their households as they see fit.
If they choose to fuck around on their wives, that’s their business.
Discretion is key, and Serafina needs to understand that her place is to enjoy her evening and gossip is not acceptable.
“Many of our soldiers come to The Vault. I feel it prudent to remind you—”
“I won’t say a word. I don’t care what other couples do or don’t do together,” she cuts in.
She sidles closer, cupping my jaw and looking me directly in my eyes.
“I know I have no right to ask, but I hope that I am enough for you, Eros. I want to be enough for you.” Then, in a whisper, she adds, “Because I’m in love with you. ”
My heart lurches, and I search her face, filled with hope.
She tries to turn away when I’m too choked up to speak, but I hold her chin steady, bend my head, and murmur, “I didn’t think I would ever be capable of caring for someone as I do you.
It’s not something you can expect me to profess, and never in the company of others, but this one time, I will tell you: I love you.
I never expected it, and God knows I tried to resist my feelings, because loving someone puts them in danger, but I do love you.
” A tiny gasp escapes her lips. I place my fingers over them. “Only when we are alone.”
She nods, then presses her lips to mine in a chaste, sweet kiss. Then, with her lips still touching mine, she says, “Only alone.”
I get out of the car, come around to open her door, and help her out. “Never leave my side,” I say. I hold her hand tightly in mine as we move through the main doors and into the club.
The music is blaring, the bar is full of patrons, and the dance floor is alive with people gyrating to the beat of the music. The place is packed, and everyone seems to be having a great time. I scan the area, looking for the couple of friends who are supposed to meet me.
There’s a part of my life that only a select few are aware of.
The stories of me becoming a mercenary and leaving La Famiglia behind are something I really don’t care about.
But there is more to my past. Nero, Luciano, and Alessio Cassini, don of Il Destino, are the three men who slowly brought me back home.
After Marco and Alessio agreed to a truce, Nero approached Alessio to consider having me work under Il Destino, while he worked on his father to call me back to La Famiglia.
Both Nero and Luciano were sick of me disappearing for months at a time without a word, never knowing if I was dead or alive.
When they approached me about working for Alessio, I thought they’d lost their minds, but after meeting Alessio and hearing him out, I agreed, at least temporarily.
Everyone in Il Destino thought I was a distant relative who had come to get experience from the master himself.
I have to say, Alessio taught me plenty, as did Niccolo, his consigliere.
I mainly kept to myself, but during my time with Alessio’s crew, I formed some solid friendships. With Alessio’s approval, I shared with them who I truly was and why I was there. When Marco finally called me home, Alessio was sorry to see me go.
I often wondered if Marco was in on the plan from the start.
We never speak about it, but my gut tells me that Alessio and Marco had plenty of discussions before I moved to Las Vegas.
To maintain the truce between families, Alessio would never keep this from Marco.
I still don’t know why Marco allowed this, and I don’t much care because, in the end, I made solid connections and good friends in Il Destino.
There he is, sitting across the room: my friend Julian, along with Fern and a couple of others from Il Destino.
Every so often, they come for a visit, or I go to them.
These guys know how to have fun, and since Julian is recently married, I wanted Serafina to get to know his wife, Milana.
It’s rare that Milana comes with him when he drops into town, but tonight, they made a special trip.
Alessandro takes a position at the bar. He’s all business tonight.
It doesn’t matter how many women are eye-fucking him and trying to get his attention, Alessandro has a job to do, and he won’t be deterred.
Cassio is scoping out the rest of the room, just as Alessandro taught him.
One day, Cassio is going to make a formidable soldier.
I can see a vast improvement in him already.
Alessandro has recruited several other men to work with him too.
Vincenzo and Danilo are checking out the back of the club.
I lead Serafina to where Julian and the others are sitting at a private table in the VIP area. Seeing us approach, Julian and the other men come to their feet. Julian steps from behind the table and embraces me in a manly hug, with a solid slap on my back.
“Damn, you look good, Eros. Marriage agrees with you,” Julian says with a grin.
Fernando is next to greet me, along with Joe and Nick.
The only woman with them is Milana, but that’s because the others have not yet taken a bride.
I still can’t believe that Julian is married.
When I heard that Milana saved his life at great risk to her own, I was stunned.
Their story has a happy ending, but the road to happiness had its perils.
“God, it’s good to see you all,” I say, making eye contact with all of them. I wrap my arm around Serafina and bring her tight to my side. “I’d like you all to meet my wife, Serafina.” I look down on Serafina’s face and say, “Gioia mia, these are some good old friends.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Serafina replies brightly, then looks toward Milana, who is now standing next to Julian.
“Thank you for not making me the only woman in a brood of men,” she giggles.
Milana doesn’t hesitate to pull Serafina down to sit next to her, and the two begin to gab as if they’ve known each other for years.