42. JOEY
JOEY
I had been losing my mind. Not sleepy. Just fucking lovesick for Adriana. Desperate for her lips, her touch, her scent. It was like a fever that wouldn’t break, a thirst I could quench. I couldn’t rest until I had her.
Luckily for me, the day had come.
I stood in my office, arms crossed, half-listening as Sal droned on about the invoices we’d sent out. “We’re getting some complaints,” he said, shifting on his feet. “It’s raising eyebrows.”
The inflated invoices. The extra cash we skimmed off businesses under our protection. Standard shit, nothing new. But if people were starting to talk, it could mean trouble.
I exhaled through my nose, rubbing my jaw as I leaned back against my desk. “Who’s talking?”
“A couple of shop owners over in Brooklyn.”
The moment I tried to think about handling business, my mind went right back to her. Adriana . She had taken over every inch of my brain, leaving no room for anything else. I checked my watch. I had a meeting with the florist before I picked her up .
“Handle it for me,” I told Sal. He nodded, understanding what that meant. I grabbed my fedora and headed for the door.
I felt untouchable. Walking through my wholesale business in a brand-new, tailored, pinstripe suit, I adjusted my cufflinks, smoothing down the fabric as I strolled past my guys. Confidence dripped off me like cologne. I tipped my fedora onto my head, slid into my car, and pulled out slowly. The window was down, letting in the fresh spring air. Sinatra hummed through my speakers, my fingers drumming against the car door.
I pulled up to La Rosa d’Italia , the local flower shop tucked neatly between the diner and the shoe shiner. Through the large glass window, I spotted Rosa, the sweet old woman who had owned the place for as long as I could remember. She was hard at work, arranging flowers into beautiful arrangements.
I killed the engine and stepped out, the bell above the door jingling as I walked inside. Rosa looked up, her face lighting up as I stepped inside.
“Joey!” she beamed, walking around the counter with open arms. Her hands, small and soft, cupped my face like she’d done for the past twenty years.
I bent down, hugging her gently. “How you doing, Rosa?”
“Better now that I see you,” she said, patting my cheek. “What brings you in, dear?”
“I need some flowers. For someone special.”
Rosa’s eyes twinkled. “Oh? Well, do you know what sort of flowers she likes?”
“I don’t,” I admitted, running a hand down my tie. “But she needs something perfect.”
“Well, tell me about her.” Rosa grinned.
“Oh,” I grinned like a child on Christmas, “she’s strong. Resilient. Beautiful. She’s perfect, Rosa.”
Rosa tilted her head, thinking for a moment before her face lit up. “Oh, I know just the thing!” She patted my arm before shuffling off towards the back of the store. A moment later, she returned, holding a delicate lotus plant in both hands.
I raised a brow. “A lotus?”
She nodded, smiling. “The lotus is a symbol of rebirth and growth. It rises from the mud, untouched by the dirt, blooming into something beautiful. Just like your special someone.”
I looked down at the flower, the weight of her words settling deep in my chest. Rebirth. Growth. Adriana had been through hell, but she was still standing. Still fighting.
Yeah. This was the one.
Just as I stepped back into the beautiful spring air, the sun beating down on me, Renee came whipping into the parking lot like a bat out of hell, tires screeching as she jerked her car into park.
I exhaled, feeling the irritation flood my senses, but forced myself to remain calm as I placed the lotus carefully on the passenger seat and slid into the driver’s side. I had barely reached for the gear shift when I saw her in my rearview mirror—standing directly behind my car, arms crossed, making damn sure I wasn’t going anywhere.
I tossed my head back against the seat and let out a long, slow groan. She really knew how to ruin anything good for me.
Pushing the door open, I climbed out and stalked toward her. “You’re not very bright standing behind my car, Renee. What, are you asking to get run over?”
She let out a sharp, humorless hiss. “You wouldn’t dare.”
She was right—I wouldn’t. But still.
I pulled a cigarette from my pocket, lighting it up. “Are you gonna move anytime soon, or are you just trying to put on a show for the whole damn town?” I asked, taking a slow drag.
Renee’s eyes burned into me as she crossed her arms tighter, hip cocked, lips pressed into a tight line. “In a hurry to take my replacement on a date? You couldn’t wait to get rid of me, could you? ”
I stared at her, saying nothing. It wasn’t her business what I did. I let the silence stretch between us, inhaling deeply before blowing the smoke out slowly.
“You don’t have anything to say for yourself?” she scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.
No. I didn’t.
I had always wanted my spot as boss of the family. Christopher was about to make me underboss before I got locked away for a decade, and then Vincent succeeded me. Renee didn’t just hate me. She hated that I wouldn’t bend for her. That she couldn’t own me, control me, or manipulate me into submission. If she couldn’t have me, she damn sure wasn’t gonna stand by and watch me give myself to someone else.
Well, maybe she ought to close her fucking eyes—because I was about to give Adriana a hell of a lot more than a lotus plant and a pearl necklace.
I was so deep in my own head that I barely noticed Renee yelling. It was almost impressive, the way I had mastered dissociation in this life. I only snapped back when I felt her fists pounding against my chest. I let her get it out of her system, then calmly flicked my cigarette onto the pavement, stepped back, and slid into the driver’s seat.
“You will fucking pay for this!” she shrieked, her voice shaking with fury as I threw the car into reverse.
She slammed her palms against the hood as I pulled away, her rage disappearing in my rearview mirror.
But I didn’t look back.
I would pay for pissing her and Vincent off. But please let it be after tonight.