Chapter Six Fuggedaboutit
Julianna
Stephano looked around and said, “We will plan most of this together.” He nodded at Liv and Talon. “You can bring in the men you trust. I have two excellent snipers. Then six soldiers that I trust more than all my others.”
Talon looked at him and replied, “I will be there and so will Liv. We are both also sharpshooters. Then my strike team will be from the Rebel Saints.”
“So they are cugine?” Stephano asked.
Talon stared at him then glanced at his sister Liv.
She smiled. “Trained soldiers,” she translated.
I gasped. “I know those men. “I met them a few times.
Talon looked over at me and said, “Yeah, they live here. Well, in the area.”
“They work for my cousin,” Stephano interjected. “Alberto Mancini. Mostly in security.”
“Yes, that’s where I met them, but that was a couple of months ago.” I nodded. I knew Mr. Mancini and his family rather well. Alberto had been up on charges for murder and I got it kicked out from the grand jury. “Mr. Mancini speaks highly of the Rebel Saints.”
“A small world,” Romeo remarked. “Right? Deacon tried to kill Legend, our Giovanni. Then come to find, the Rebel Saints are like literally family to Glory, his fiancée. When all the while, the Saints have been protecting part of our family, here in Louisiana.”
“I agree,” Dante added. “This is really a surprise. I mean Texas and Louisiana are bordering states but who would have thought we would all be connected?” He chuckled then added, “And Talon here knows Houdini Mancini, of all people.”
I had heard this name. Anyone in this area knew of it. Given to Alberto Mancini because he made people disappear. I had no personal opinion on the truth of it as I was literally Mancini’s personal attorney, so I tried not to think of his guilt or innocence. That wasn’t part of my job. Alberto was a family man, just like Stephano was. But both men did have a certain look in their eyes that bespoke of the danger you would be in when you threatened them or their family members.
“Do not call him that, Dante,” Stephano got onto him.
Dante shook his head and replied, “That is what many call him, Papa.”
“That’s true enough,” Romeo said. “Sorry, but we didn’t give him that name.”
I silently agreed. The man had a rep for making his enemies disappear. Yet, I had no proof nor had I seen proof that he ever killed anyone. Thank goodness, I never did. I represented Alberto Mancini against charges and cleared them. Did I clear his name? No, and I could never do that. In defense of the man, he was very charming in person and he had a wonderful family. His wife was a strong spirited woman and she had made me feel welcome at the Mancini Estate.
Talon raised his hands up at them. “Well, I’ve never met the man. The men who will be my strike team have worked for him though. They’re in a different chapter of the Rebel Saints MC.”
“And are you a member of that club?” I asked. “I’m just curious is all.”
“I suppose I am. But it’s my brother Hawk that runs the Ramton Rebel Saints.”
“As I understand it,” Glory spoke up. “Bones runs the Holbeck Saints. And Keys runs the Cutover Saints.”
Talon turned to look over at her. “That’s correct.” He looked a bit surprised that she seemed to know of all three chapters and where they were from.
“I was at Connor House for a while, remember?” Glory reminded him. “I don’t think I will ever forget who any of you are. I talked to almost every Rebel Saint member there. I made it a point to do that. Asked about their families, their lives that they had put on hold to help the Walkers in this war. And I didn’t do that because I’m sweet and polite.” She snorted sarcastically. “Cuz I’m not. You all saved my ass from that fucking monster.”
“Amen to that,” Legend added as he glanced at Redemption. “I mean the Requiem was there too, but…”
Redemption nodded. “I have to say Liv and Talon led an army against Deacon and his men. Which was literally made up of Rebel Saints. It was magnificent to witness in person and be a part of. It went off so well and we got Glory back.” He looked up at Stephano to motion at Liv and Talon. “These people are the ones you want at your back, Mr. Descalia.”
“I agree, Dad.” Legend nodded at his father.
“Bene, bene. I am glad to have them with me,” Stephano replied. “This will be what I call a Corsa al guanto… a Gauntlet Run. Be faster, grab the prize and duck so they do not cut your head off.”
We all stared at him. This was a brutal if not an apt description of what we intended to do. I believed it was the best way to go. I also couldn’t allow Deacon to go free. He was the only person I could ask about V.
“I’d call it the Bait and Switch , Papa,” Romeo joked. “It’s cheating really.”
“Si, but you poke the bear and you get your stick shoved up your—”
“Papa!” Romeo cut into his graphic phrasing.
“…Stronzo, son. Stronzo,” Stephano said in defense as he smirked at him.
Dante and even Legend laughed at this.
Stephano had a quick wit. I’d already learned this by working with him. He was also a literal flirt. He loved sparring back and forth. I never took it seriously. It happened to me a lot in my line of work.
Stephano then went on with his rant, “This whacko sister and brother pair took on the Bad Moon, didn’t they?” he asked with a raised brow. “Like they just rushed in and did what they have been doing, thinking they were going to call the shots. However, you cannot do that to Familia.”
“Or you’ll be sleepin’ with the fishes, right?” Dante joked in a thick Italian accent.
Stephano looked over at him and shook his head. “The proper term is lupara bianca.”
“Yeah, you’ll be wearing cement shoes,” Romeo added in a mock accent as well.
“Taking a one way ride,” Dante said. “Or make one’s bones.”
Dante and Romeo both laughed loudly.
I chuckled too. Their overdone accents were hilarious and the bored look on Stephano’s face was priceless as they teased him about the mob. I gathered they did this a lot.
I looked over at their brother Legend and he was smiling, but he looked a bit uneasy by the teasing. Oh – I could clearly see it now – he did not approve of this familia-mafia thing. I kept quiet as even I know you cannot deny where you came from. As I understood it, Legend or Gio as Romeo called him, just got home from a ten year separation from his family.
“I love the whole Italian genre,” Dante said. “It is so funny. I mean pops here doesn’t see it as funny but come on… A goodfella? When they are soo NOT a good fellow. Or when they say…Che figata! Which means that’s cool. Or one of my favourites is… Figurati! Which means no worries. Like oops, sorry I’m late and you say, Che figata, figurati!”
“Wow.” Romeo laughed.
I nodded. “Fuggedaboutit!” I bravely added in my best Italian accent, which really wasn’t a stretch as I did speak Italian.
The room fell completely silent as all heads turned and everyone there stared at me.
Romeo suddenly smiled hugely.
Dante was snickering loudly.
Nervously, I bit at my lip then I told Romeo defensively, “It just slipped out!”
Stephano actually leaned his head back and laughed.
We all stared at him.
“Minchia!” he exclaimed as he nodded at me. “I mean it. You need to be our consigliere.”
I halted then blinked at him. “Your advisor? Oh, no...”
“Why not?” he asked. “You just proved what I thought the day I met you.” He then shook his head and corrected that, “No, it was that day I saw you in front of that Grand Jury. So damned smart, confident and you kicked ass!” He chuckled again. “Then look at what you did today. Stepped right in and gave us a plan.”
I shook my head. “That was just an idea. I mean what if it goes south? I…” Wow, I never thought Stephano Descalia would think of me as their wiseman or wisewoman. I also felt a twinge of remorse. I thought up that plan, yes. But for my own reasons I also didn’t want them to release Deacon Walker.
“I have a confession to make, Ms. Regatta,” Stephano said.
“Uh-oh,” Dante muttered.
“Let me guess,” Romeo spoke up. “You invited her here, knowing she would be in on this meeting?” He stared at his father.
“Si, that was what I hoped for,” Stephano admitted with no seeming shame. “I wanted to see if you were as smart as we all thought. Luca is my second, he is my Captain. Make no mistake…my sons are all intelligent and capable. However, they never pitch ideas or solve problems.” He looked over at Legend. “And some aren’t interested in the business at all. Romeo runs my legal contracts as he knows corporate law and such. Dante is my chief accountant. Amadeo runs the offices, but he even says he doesn’t want an important spot.”
I stared at him and tried to get out of this. “I’m not sure…”
“Of course you aren’t, but please think about it?” Stephano asked.
The man really was serious? I looked from him to Romeo.
He slowly shook his head at me.
I wondered at his reaction. He didn’t look happy but he did look surprised.
“è ora di cena!” It is dinnertime.
Everyone in the room looked over at the doorway to the person that had made this announcement.
An older woman stood there. Placing her hands onto her hips, she gazed around. “Buonasera. I will make this easy. I am Maria. Stevie’s sister.” She beamed at Stephano.
He scoffed and corrected her, “My name is not Stevie.”
She ignored him and went on, “You can call me Zia, or Zia Maria.” She gave us a nod. “I came to get you all for dinner.” She looked over at Romeo and asked, “Is this meeting done?”
He paused and glanced at his father.
“Si,” Stephano said. “For now, it is.”
“Bene, bene,” Zia said. “Come and sit at a true Italian table,” She motioned toward the doorway.
Max, the British butler stood there now as if he had suddenly just appeared. He wore the entire butler outfit like before, white gloves and all. “If you will all follow me?” He bowed then straightened up.
Me, Talon, Liv and Redemption, simply stared at him.
I chuckled and looked over at Romeo. “He is for real, isn’t he?”
Romeo leaned in to whisper, “Yes, and he has been since before I was born. This is not an act. He is really what he appears to be.
“Romeo,” Zia interrupted him. “Is this your girl?”
Romeo looked over at her and chuckled as he answered her, “She is a fellow counselor who's working with us.”
Zia narrowed her eyes at us and asked, “She is an avvocata, a lawyer?”
I stared at her and her suspicious expression. This woman seemed to see everything and sense something about me. I bit at my lip.
Romeo laughed. “Now Zia, don’t look at me like that.”
She scoffed. “I could have sworn by the way you and her…” Her voice faded off. “Oh… I see.”
“Non sono la ragazza di nessuno,” I finally spoke up. I am no one’s girl.
She stopped to stare at me. “You are Italiana?”
I nodded. “Si, i sono.” I am.
“Oh, Santa di Madre!” She rushed over and scooped me up into a tight hug. “Che meraviglia!” How wonderful.
I gasped as all the air left my lungs.
“Maria!” Stephano exclaimed.
She let go of me and looked over at him.
“Why are you strangling the girl?” he demanded.
She tisked. “I am doing no such thing. You are such a ragazzino.” A little boy.
I stared at her in shock. Did she just call Stephano Descalia…a little boy?”
Romeo noted the shocked look on my face. “You need to realize that Zia is…well, um.”
“I’m the comare,” Zia stated proudly. “You know… the Goomah.”
As I understood this word, it sort of meant like a godmother. Or an Italian female leader. I looked from her to Stephano.
He smirked. “She is my sister. And she does have that position here. A mafia princess.” He sniffed arrogantly and said, “Or, I would never allow her to speak to me like she does.”
“Ha! Mafia Princess.” Zia scoffed. “It is because I am not afraid of you.” She smiled at him. “I mean I know many are, Mr. Bad Moon!” She raised her hands up in mock fear and chuckled. “But I’ve seen you in diapers, Mr. Mafia .
I had to try hard to hide my shock and my grin. I felt amazed at how she teased him so effortlessly and she seemed unaffected by his steely eyed glare.
Stephano shook his head and said, “That is not true, she has never seen me in diapers. I am her big brother. She cooks and cleans like some servant but I can’t seem to convince her that she shouldn’t.”
“Shouldn't?” Romeo and Dante exclaimed.
“Papa, her cooking is a reason to be alive!” Dante said.
Romeo laughed. “I have to agree.” He looked around. “All of you are going to see soon. After you have one of her dishes, you will never want to leave.” He glanced back over at his aunt and asked her, “What are we having tonight, Zia?”
“Lasagna,” she replied. “Five layers. Along with my homemade garlic bread. Then tiramisu chocolate mousse for dessert.” She stepped to the side and waved her hand toward the doorway. “All of you are welcome. Please follow Max and I will see you there.” She again looked over at Romeo to add, “Bring your girl along, si?”
We all moved out of the room.
I walked alongside Romeo. I knew I should leave the subject alone, but instead, I asked in a whisper, “Why are they all thinking that I’m your girl?”
He chuckled. “I think they are seeing something that we don’t see yet.”
I paused and stared at him. “Like what?”
He took my hand and pulled me along the hallway. “Like I said, we don't see it yet. Well, maybe you don’t.”
I knew he had flirted a bit with me and we got along really well. And yes, he was the hottest lawyer I’d met in the three years I’d been in New Orleans. Sexy, sweet, funny and warm. I shook my head. Why wasn’t I dating him again? I knew why though. I also hoped he didn’t think we would be dating. That just couldn’t happen. I opened my mouth to tell him this.
“Here we are,” he announced as he took me into the dining room.
The scent in the air was almost ambrosia. It permeated my senses. I slowed my walk and simply reveled in it. “What is that heavenly scent?” I asked.
“Yes, see?” Romeo said as he chuckled. “My father is insane if he wants her to stop cooking.” He led me over and pulled out a chair. “It would be a serious mistake. A sin against all that is holy.”
I chuckled and sat down.
Romeo scooted my chair in. Sitting next to me, he said, “Believe me, there are very few addictions in life that could snare me. Her food is one of those that has. I have to go to the gym every damn day, but her food is worth it.”
I laughed. “You look very fit.” He really did. I’d only noted that like fifty times now. Tall, wide shoulders, long legs and he moved like a dancer. A smooth glide. I imagined he’d enraptured many female jurors when he glided into the courtroom.
“I am. But I wouldn’t be if I didn’t haunt the gym five days a week.”
I looked at him then gazed around at the table.
The guests were all filling their plates.
Looking back down at the table, I saw that Romeo had set a plate of this lasagna in front of me. I stared at it and my mouth watered. “Wow, this is like what they serve at five star Michelin restaurants.”
“I know, I know.” He nodded as he poured wine and set it next to my plate. “Actually, it might be better than that.”
“Thank you, Romeo,” I said and laid my napkin onto my lap.
Patting my hand, he gave me a dazzling smile and said in a Sicilian tenor tone, “Fuggedaboutit.”
I looked over at him as I burst into laughter. Again, did I say he was funny? Yeah.