Chapter 27 Giovanna
This year’s Demonio New Year’s Eve party is back on the rooftop of Matti’s building, Dragovari Tower, and walking in on Tommy’s arm, I half expect the guards stationed along the walls to raise their guns.
A year has changed—well, nothing except our clothes.
Tommy is in a tailored suit I had made for him, and I’m wearing a sparkly midi dress that hugs my curves.
Last year, he shoved a hoodie over my head to cover me; this year, I had to get dressed twice because he bent me over the dining table before letting me leave.
Tommy leans close, lips grazing my ear, his hand firm on my back.
“Am I dripping out of you yet?”
I laugh under my breath.
“Want to find out for yourself?”
“Yes,” he says gruffly, and turns me back toward the exit.
“Tommy!” I stop him, still laughing. He drops his chin to his chest and heaves a sigh before reluctantly following me back to the party.
Neither of us really wants to be here, but this party is a statement.
Tonight, we go public as “us.”
It’s not just about shutting our fathers up.
It’s part of Tommy’s plan to network his way into law and politics so that he can be a successful consigliere for Vin when he takes Aurelio’s place.
He grumbles, and I nudge him with a smile.
“Remember what we talked about. This is a great place to practice your conversational skills. Everyone here already fears you, so they won’t judge if you make a mistake or slip back into your icy persona.
”
“What icy persona?”
I arch a brow, and we both laugh.
“Yeah, you’re a teddy bear.”
As we head to the bar, I catch Antonio watching us.
His expression is flat as he looks from Tommy to me then back at his date.
She’s pretty, bright smile, blonde hair piled on her head and red nails that match her dress.
She looks perfect for him.
But Tommy stiffens beside me, and I follow his gaze—straight to Aurelio, already drunk and stumbling toward us.
My grip tightens on Tommy’s hand before I paste on my best camouflage smile.
“Well, if it isn’t the little heiress,” Aurelio sneers, whiskey thick on his breath as leers too close to me.
“Eredita. Heiress is the right word, Tommaso, no?”
Tommy says nothing, his hand heavy on my back.
“Yes, but I don’t know if it suits me,” I answer lightly.
“An heiress is handed her place. Status is more powerful when you earn it.”
Aurelio lurches back with a sneer.
“Is that what you are doing in my son’s bed?
Earning status?”
Tommy stiffens. My pulse spikes, but I keep my voice even.
“His bed isn’t where I earn anything. It’s where I remind him how powerful he is.
”
Aurelio sneers over his glass. “Insolence isn’t a good look for a wife.
If you are smart, you will move on. Antonio Abbiati already found a prettier whore, so you’ll need to spread your legs for another Demonio associate to gain the status you seek.
My son isn’t the man for you.”
“Apologize.” Tommy’s voice cuts through Aurelio’s slurring rant like a knife.
Matti glances in our direction, and I nod my head toward Tommy and Aurelio, eyebrows raised.
Matti immediately heads over, grabbing Vin along the way, the two of them flanking Tommy with expressions as stony as his.
“Do not tell me what to do, Tommaso, and never put a whore in front of your family. I will never apologize to this little Marino puttana,” he snarls.
Tommy lunges, and Matti shoots his arm out to stop him as Vin grabs Aurelio and pulls him back.
“She’s going to be my wife. Show her the respect she deserves,” Tommy growls.
Aurelio’s laugh morphs into a sneer. “I am showing her the respect she deserves: none. She gave her virginity to an underling. You cannot marry her.”
Matti darts a glance at me, and Vin spits on the ground.
“She didn’t fuck Tony the Hack, Pop. That’s just a rumor.
”
“True or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s what people believe.
And you cannot marry her even if it were not true, Tommaso.
It would be an abomination!”
Surprise briefly shoves the calm reserve off my face.
An abomination? That seems extreme.
Vin directs Aurelio’s attention across the rooftop as Matti leans in, his voice low.
“People are starting to look, bro. This isn’t the place.
You’ll just prove the rumors true if you let him cause a scene right now.
”
I know that look on Tommy’s face. He doesn’t care what other people think.
Tommy looks at me, and I show him the camouflage smile I taught him, hoping he’ll follow suit.
Tommy’s shoulders soften, but he doesn’t mirror my expression.
He holds my gaze as Vin leads Aurelio away, and Matti claps him on the chest.
“Come on,” Matti says grimly.
“Let’s go get a drink.”
Tommy turns a murderous stare to Aurelio’s retreating back, and I touch his arm.
Words never work, but my touch seems to ground him.
Tommy shakes Matti off and pulls me to him, growling, “I’m going to kill him—”
I shake my head, camouflage smile in place.
“Assholes are everywhere, Tommy, but he didn’t hurt anyone.
Better to take his soul than his life.”
The seconds tick by as he stares at me, Matti’s gaze flitting back and forth between the two of us.
Tommy exhales long and slow then turns to Matti, a half smile in place that doesn’t reach his eyes.
He slides his hand around my waist.
“Giovanna would like a vodka tonic.”
Matti turns to me, a look of respect on his face as he gives me a slow nod.
“Vodka tonic it is, then.”
**
Three vodka tonics later, Tommy is networking with politicians and lawyers, his smile thin but practiced.
Every so often, his eyes find mine, locking on for a few seconds, before turning back to the conversation.
I’m so proud of him. I stood by his side most of the night, but as I finish this third vodka tonic and contemplate a fourth, I stand back, watching him admiringly.
He can’t turn on that creamy smooth deep voice like a switch yet, and his eyes belie his disinterest in the conversations, but he manages to maintain eye contact with everyone he speaks to and hasn’t once abruptly walked away in the middle of a conversation.
I feel someone at my elbow and turn to see Matti, sipping a whiskey on the rocks and watching Tommy as well.
“You’re good for our boy. But be careful.
With that kind of power comes a shit ton of responsibility.
”
I consider the implications of his statement, but by the time I turn to respond, it’s not Matti standing by me but Antonio.
My heart rate spikes, and I dart a glance at Tommy, whose view of me is blocked by the politician.
“I guess you belong together,” says Antonio, not looking at me.
“Or that’s what I tell myself so I don’t hate you.
”
“I’m sorry, Antonio,” I say, but it sounds hollow.
“No, you’re not,” he says simply, and I don’t argue.
“But for what it’s worth, I would have given you everything.
”
The politician shifts, and Tommy sees us, his eyes instantly glittering with rage.
Antonio lifts his glass to him before walking away.
He didn’t look at me once, and I’m grateful.
Tommy abruptly pushes past the politician, who is mid-sentence, and blocks Antonio’s path.
Glancing around for Matti or Vin to help squash this if necessary, I spot my parents in the crowd.
My father is in a group of men with cigars and drinks in hand.
My mother is with two women, chatting behind their wine glasses.
I catch her eye, and she winks at me.
My father has not acknowledged my existence since I moved in with Tommy, and tonight is no different.
Whatever Tommy says to Antonio is short, and Tommy immediately backs me against the wall, just like he did at this party last year.
“Are you going to force me to put on your hoodie again?” I say playfully.
He’s not interested in playing. “What did you say to him?”
“Antonio? Nothing. He was only here about 20 seconds before he left.”
“What did you say to him?”
“He did most of the talking, Tommy. There’s nothing to get angry about—”
“I don’t give a shit what he had to say.
What did you say to him?”
I sigh. This is not going to go well.
“I said I was sorry.”
Tommy sneers, gripping my shoulders.
“Why the fuck would you apologize to that piece of shit?”
“Tommy, why do you hate him so much? You won. You literally fucked me in front of him while I was on a date with him.”
“He tried to take you from me, Giovanna,” Tommy snarls.
He digs in his fingertips, bruising my shoulders.
“He would take you from me now if he had the chance.”
“But he doesn’t,” I snap, then lean in, lowering my voice.
“I’m not the one who tried to convince me to fuck him.
That was you, remember, and I said no.”
“I told you I had to be there if—”
“Tommy! I don’t want him!
And it doesn’t matter who wants to fuck me or take me from you or break us up.
I’m with you.” I lean back, touching the chain around my neck that has his ring.
“There’s only one person who can change that, Tommy.
”
Tommy steps closer, his amber and leather smell enveloping me.
“Who?” he snarls.
“You,” I hiss.
A voice interrupts us from behind Tommy.
“If you’re going to assault my daughter yet again, I’ll thank you to at least do it privately.
”
Tommy lifts his gaze to the sky and sucks in a slow breath before turning to face my father.
“You’re the only one here who has assaulted my partner, Lorenzo.
This conversation is none of your concern.
”
My father’s face burns a dark red, a combo of alcohol and rage.
“She’s my daughter. She is not your anything, and you will treat what is mine with respect.
”
I almost choke on a laugh. What’s his…
“Do you find something funny, young lady?” My father sloshes his drink in Tommy’s direction.
“Are you proud of your official announcement to my business associates that you are spreading your legs for this… thug? Antonio Abbiati is working with me now, taking more of an interest in the family than you are. If you would just—”
I place my hand on Tommy’s arm as my anger comes to a boil.
“It’s New Year’s Eve, and I am here with my boyfriend, Dad.
What Antonio does is immaterial, and this isn’t the time to discuss your prejudices.
”
Over his shoulder, my mother watches the three of us, though she continues chatting as if she weren’t.
“Prejudices?!” he shouts incredulously. “This is not prejudice, Giovanna Marino. What you are doing is against God!”
Seriously?
Against God? Tommy and I exchange a confused look, but my mother’s tinkling laugh jerks my attention back to my father.
She’s standing beside him, a hand on his arm, that performative smile that she so often wears with him firmly in place.
“That’s a bit strong, isn’t it, Lorenzo?
This is a party after all. We’re not in church.
”
“God is everywhere, Caterina! You of all people should know that this relationship is an abomination!” My father slurs, stumbling away from my mother.
There’s that word again: abomination. What the fuck?
Have the old guys been talking? And if so, why the fuck did they land on that word together?
My mother laughs again. “Oh, Lorenzo, you know how young girls are. The more you argue against her choices, the longer she will choose what you find most distasteful.”
“You know I can’t just accept this!
You. Know. I. Can’t.” He spits out each word like he’s alluding to a private understanding between them that Tommy and I aren’t privy to.
My mother’s smile remains in place, but her voice is firm.
“I don’t believe you have a choice.”
“There is always a choice,” booms Aurelio, joining us.
“You are making quite the scene, Lorenzo. Someone get the man another whiskey so he will leave the children to play house together. We both know it will be over soon. When my boy is done coming, he will go.”
A look of pure rage passes over my father’s face, and my mother hides behind her wine glass, her eyes on me then my father.
I grind my teeth but stay quiet. Aurelio hates us together, but he must hate my father more if he’s pretending to be okay with our relationship.
“Don’t worry. Don’t worry. I will give the boy enough work to do that he won’t have time to knock up your little daughter.
” Aurelio laughs at the fury on my father’s face.
“Come, you and I will have a drink.”
Everyone’s eyes are on my father, waiting for his response; refusing a drink with the head of the Demonio family is a death sentence.
Lorenzo looks like he’d rather kill Aurelio than exchange another word, but he shoves his glass into my mother’s chest without looking at her and snarls at Aurelio, “Lead the way.”
Aurelio nods, gloating darkly.
“Yes. I lead. You follow.”
The three of us watch the two men move toward one of the bars in the back of the rooftop.
My mother touches my cheek softly, her eyes glistening with tears, her words directed at Tommy.
“Take care of our girl.”
She smiles at me and turns away, shaking her head at the two women who are waiting, giving them her best tinkling laugh.
“Men and whiskey! The worst combination!”
I turn back to Tommy, but he’s already moving in close to me.
“Don’t apologize to him again, Giovanna.
He’s not worth your time or concern.”
I stroke his cheek and tuck his hair behind his ear.
“You’re the only man I’m concerned with, Tommy.
Now will you please take me home so that we can start the new year together the right way? ”