Chapter One Amore
Dante
I admit it. I was in love. I never thought it would happen to me. I still wasn’t sure why it happened either.
Della Walker Granger.
The woman was a total mystery. Showing up here after being pulled from a crypt in the Metairie, ten days ago. She came in a bit injured and a lot angry. The way she jumped onto Valencia to beat on her had been a shocker. It showed she had lots of fight in her. Who could blame her really? The woman had locked her up in a dead man’s crypt. I think I’d take a swipe at her too.
Now, she had calmed down, though I could tell she didn't like Valencia much. Not that she said so, but she always glared at her whenever she saw her.
Every morning, I greeted her at the dining table and sat beside her. Same for lunch and dinner. I took her for walks along the property too. This was more than it sounded like. Our property spanned 100 acres. With two lakes, a river, and even a small creek or two. There were old weeping willow trees, hundred year old oaks, and kudzu growing everywhere. We also sported a golf course, tennis courts, and a full gym. Not to mention there were three different gardens.
My father did everything in grand style is what I told Della. She asked me about the mafia life. What it was like. I replied that I didn’t know. I kept the books for the Descalia Corporation. I also never saw a mafia member. Sometimes our dad had parties and Italian families showed up, but I never saw a machine gun toting badass, Made Italian, I told her. She had thought that was funny, so at least we got a good laugh out of it.
We talked about many things during these walks. Her work for Deacon and O sounded just like any business. At least the way she spoke of it. She never mentioned those things she saw that scared her. But I never asked. I figured when she trusted me more, maybe she would share that with me. We were both accountants too. I always chuckle when I realize that. I was falling for an accountant. Damn, had to be what they call fate, right?
I say falling for , but it was already too late. I’d fallen . I wasn’t even sure if Della would stay here for very long. Although I clung to the fact that initially she had told Valencia that she had no place to go. Della certainly had some savings, or a bank account though, right? She could get herself another job, an apartment and move away. If so, I’d better do something or one day she would just be gone.
The thing was…I just didn’t know how to approach this. I’d cultivated a friendship since she arrived here. But I never let my real feelings show too much. For one thing, I’d never been in love before and that made this a new thing to me.
I’d dated and had known quite a few women. I never took any of it seriously. It was all for the fun of it and I always made it clear to whatever female I was dating. It wasn’t serious. We could have a few days of fun then be friends. Some of them acted like that was fine, then when I moved on, they would turn resentful. Man, I hated it when they would renege on what we agreed to. Most said they’d thought that it could build into something serious. I would feel disgusted and think. I said from the beginning…Nothing serious. Just fun.
Now here I was wanting something serious and realizing, I probably wasn’t going to get it. How was that for a twist of fate? Me, the Italian Playboy. Jokester, the all around fun guy to date…Couldn’t seem to land the woman I wanted.
I needed advice.
So here I was in the kitchen at the smaller dining table with Zia’s teacup sitting in front of me.
“So, il mio ragazzo,” Zia Maria said softly. “You are in love, no?”
“I am, yes. At least I think so?”
“You aren’t sure?” She stared at me.
“I’ve never been in love before, so no… I’m not absolutely sure. I don’t know what to do about it, honestly.”
Zia shook her head at me and tisked. “L'amore è come la pasta, se non la mangi calda, non è buona.”
I stared at Zia then laughed. Love is like pasta, if you don't eat it hot, it's not good.
Nodding at me, she said, “Love needs to be acted upon quickly to be truly enjoyable. So mio, you need to see if she feels the same way.”
I felt a bit reluctant to do that. I mean I didn't want to push her and scare her off. “She doesn’t act like she’s interested in me as a boyfriend.”
“How do you know?” she asked.
She had a good point. I had no clue how Della felt. “I’ve dated women before. So I know all about that. But this is different, Zia. It’s important. I don’t want to scare her away by being pushy.
“Oh, dios mio!” Zia exclaimed. “Where are the men who conquer? The men who are not afraid to… how do you say it. Rock the boat.” She rolled her eyes. “I cannot fathom men and women of today. When my husband first saw me, he pulled me aside. Do you know what he said to me?”
I shook my head. Of course I didn't know. It had to be years ago.
“Sei l'amore della mia vita.” You are the love of my life. She nodded at me . “That was what he told me. I admit, I was shocked. But later, I realized I loved him too. We had to wait until we were married to…you know? Our wedding night.” Her face went pink. “But we lasted for many years. So, if you keep quiet about this and she leaves…what will you do then?”
I cocked my head at her as that thought had plagued me for a few days now.
“Maybe just test the waters then,” Zia suggested. “Like holding her hand more. Make sure to touch her arm or shoulder more than you do now. Then when you feel it is right. Kiss her.”
I stared at her.
“It isn’t rocket science, Dante.” She smirked at me. “You cannot tell me you have never made a move on a girl.”
I felt a little squeamish now. This was my aunt after all. I hadn’t intended to come in here and actually talk about sex. “I never had to,” I admitted.
“What?” she asked while looking confused.
“Women always hit on me first.” I shrugged. “So then I knew they wanted…” My voice fell away.
“Oh, my,” Zia murmured. “Well, I go back to what I said before…Hit that while it’s hot.”
With a gasp, I stood from the chair and almost knocked the teacup over.
“Babino, do not look so scared!” She laughed.
I actually ran from the kitchen while hearing Zia’s laughter from behind me.
As I rushed into the living room, I ran into my father.
He raised his hands up at me. “What the devil?”
“Oh, sorry Papa,” I apologized.
“Why are you running through the house, Dante?”
I shook my head. “I…” I didn’t have a good excuse handy.
He stepped back and looked at me. “Is it that girl, Della?”
I stared at him. “Why do you say that?” I asked.
He slowly shook his head. “Do you think I’m dumb? Or blind? You are with her every day. I can see that you like her.”
“Babino, come and finish your tea,” Zia called from the hallway.
My father’s head shot up and he stared at me. “You’re having tea with Maria?” He knew that was the drink she pulled out whenever she had advice or a discussion with any of us Descalia siblings. “You asked her for advice?” he asked.
I let out a long sigh. My father and Zia had lots of arguments, and I certainly did not want my love life or lack thereof to be a new debate between them.
Stephano stared at Zia as she came closer. “What nonsense have you been up to, Maria?” he asked in a suspicious tone.
She straightened her shoulders and retorted, “That is private. I do not have to tell you what we talk about. I swear you think you are a king or something!”
“I am. At least in this house, on this property,” Stephano snapped back.
I swiftly stepped to the side and headed over to the stairs. No way did I want to be in the middle of that. I mean it was funny to witness sometimes as me and Romeo would laugh at their outrageous squabbles. But not when it was about me.
“You were giving Dante advice about that Della woman?” my father exclaimed.
Upon hearing this from behind me – I stopped in my tracks and stared at Della – in front of me as she stood at the bottom step.
Her expression showed her confusion. “I-is everything okay?” she asked softly.
I knew by the way she looked that she had heard my loudmouth father.
“Sure, I did,” Zia’s voice could be heard now. “He has feelings for her and he doesn’t know if she feels the same way.”
I stood there at the stairs and wished the floor would swallow me up. I would gladly just melt into a puddle of humiliation and just disappear.
Della stared at me with wide eyes.
I decided to brave my way through. Be the man my uncle was. The man I knew my father was as well. Conquer my fears and own it. Stepping forward, I grabbed Della up and said, “I’m falling for you. I want us to take a chance on each other. And I don't mean just a casual thing. I mean a serious thing.”
Blinking at me, she looked stunned.
I tugged her close and crushed her lips with mine. I committed everything I had to the kiss that I never planned to initiate. I suppose I was over my head already so I might as well jump all the way in. Wrapping my arms around her, I deepened the kiss.
Hot…that was the only word that came to mind. Burning. My whole body went hard.
Della slowly raised her arms up and wrapped them around my neck. She was kissing me back.
I felt supreme. Relieved and hungry for more as her soft breasts were up against my chest.
Suddenly, she broke the kiss and stumbled back. Her eyes were overly bright as she stared at me.
I opened my mouth to speak even though I had no idea what I might say.
Turning, she ran up the stairs and out of sight.
The fuck did I just do?