Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
Angelina
“Are you sure you want me to wear this?” Angelina Brunetti turned to the side to get a better look at her back in the mirror. The corset front was her favorite accent. It was the opposite of most. The ties were in the front with a bow at the waist in the back.
“It’s perfect for you.” Her aunt, Madison, frowned. “Don’t you like it?”
“I love it. It’s stunning. It’s absolutely gorgeous, but don’t you think someone else should wear it?”
“Like who?” Maddie was dressed in leggings, an off the shoulder sweater, and had her long dark hair up in a messy bun.
“I don’t know. Maybe one of Jasper’s daughters. Doesn’t Carabella want to be a professional model?” The dress was a dream but not for her.
“To be perfectly honest. I designed this dress for you. It’s everything I imagine when I think of you. It’s like your aura. White, beauty, fairy-like.” Madison waved her arm as if she held a magic wand.
“For me? It’s a wedding dress. It’s too frilly and romantic.” And totally not her style.
“It’s supposed to be romantic.” Madison mumbled around the stick pins in her mouth as she fiddled with the hem. Romantic came out as ‘woemanthick.’
“I like it. Just not my color.” With a puff, she blew a strand of hair out of her face. She was hot, tired, and her feet hurt. Her legs were long, so Angelina rarely needed high heels. Wearing these stilettoes was hell on earth.
“When you get married, I’ll make one in ivory, red, or black.” Madison stood and studied every angle. “Just not leather. I don’t do biker weddings.”
“Ha, as if I would be someone’s old lady.” Plus, she liked riding in air-conditioned vehicles. “I don’t think I will ever need a wedding dress.”
“Are you dating anyone?” Maddie, as everyone called her, wiggled her eyebrows.
“Are we done yet?” Angelina blew a wayward strand of hair out of her face. The last thing she wanted to talk about with her aunt was men.
She shrugged. “What? I was just asking.”
The last thing she wanted to talk about with her aunt was men. Especially since everyone she went out with never called her back. She was also Joseph’s mom. Angelina rubbed her chest. The crack in her heart still ached from where he broke it.
“Are you kidding me? I’m starting to think there’s something seriously wrong with me. There isn’t a guy in the Midwest who doesn’t know my father is a mob boss and is still willing to ask me out. It’s one of the reasons I came here.”
“Former mob boss.” Although Madison liked to believe their family was completely out of organized crime, they never really left. “Your father runs an international security firm now. I can’t believe someone as stunning at you doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
“It’s by choice.” Angelina straightened her shoulders. It might be best to swear off men, besides, they all paled in comparison to the one she wanted most.
“Good for you. Pursue your dreams and education while you can. You have plenty of time for marriage and kids later.” Madison took a photo of her in the dress with her phone.
“Maybe never. Men just boss you around.” And tell you they love you and make promises they never keep.
“Ha, not the right man.” Madison loosened the ties on the dress.
Angelina took a deep breath. If she ever did get married, there was no way her dress would have a tight-fitting corset.
Madison stepped back. “I’m sure your father has some nice young men working for him.”
Angelina rolled her eyes. Joseph was one of them.
“What? It was just a thought.” Madison held her hands up in mock surrender.
“I’ll find my own guy when, and if, I want to.” Which was never. There was only one man she’d ever dreamed of being with and the chances of it happening were slim to none. Plus, she was still mad as hell at him.
“Okay, okay. Anyway, I think this is perfect. You can take it off now.” Madison reached for her hand to help her off the platform. “Carefully.”
“It should be perfect. We fitted it last week at home.” Angelina had taken a quick trip to Genoa for the first fitting. When your family had a fleet of private jets, it was easy to do.
“We’re in Italy. I gain at least five pounds every time I’m here. The gelato, the bread, the pizza. It’s heaven here.” Madison patted her slim stomach.
“Yes, but while the rest of the family has been eating their way through Florence, I’ve been busy seeking out what I have a passion for and it wasn’t food.”
“And what’s that?”
“I want to do an apprenticeship here for Caponelli designs.”
“Really.” Maddie lifted an eyebrow. “For a minute there, I thought you might say dance or cooking or interior design.”
“That was my mother’s thing. Sure, I took every class she taught and did every recital, but my creatively lies elsewhere.” Angelina ignored the teasing. Madison was well aware of her ambitions. Her education degrees were extensive since she was never able to decide on the right one.
“I guess it doesn’t surprise me. Everyone in the family has a talent. Stephanie was a writer, her husband made knives, your mother danced. I design. We are definitely a mixed bag of people.”
“Do you have any idea yet who got the apprenticeship?” After graduating from the School of Fashion in Milan, the last month had been a blur of moving from campus to Florence to help her aunt get ready for her event.
“No, dear. I don’t.”
“I appreciate how you didn’t give me the job because I’m related.” Although it would be nice.
“You know I would in a heartbeat, but then you’d always wonder if it was the only reason you got it. I’m letting the design team judge the student designs without seeing who designed them. That way no one can accuse us of favoritism.”
“When will the winner be announced?”
Madison studied the line-up sheet for the event. “Right after the fashion show.”
“Great, then if I don’t win, you won’t mind helping me convince my father to let me stay here for the summer.” Angelina hoped.
“I don’t think anyone can convince your father to do anything he doesn’t want to. You’d want to stay here anyway?” Maddie’s cell phone beeped and she checked her text.
“Yes, it feels like home. I could open a shop here or back in Genoa. I don’t know. Make jewelry or something.”
“Well, that’s something we don’t have yet. Anything to keep the kids in the area is a wonderful venture. Is that what you want to do?” Madison talked while returning text messages.
“I don’t know but I’d rather stay here.” After all this time, she was fluent in Italian.
“Any reason why?” Her aunt hit send and dropped her cell into her purse.
“I want to make my own way.” Angelina only had to figure out what it was.
“I can understand that.”
Madison should. She’d started enough business. It was important to Angelina to prove she didn’t need to rely on family money.
“This show has all my designs. but you mentioned jewelry.” Madison leaned against a nearby table.
“I’ve made a few pieces. They were in the last school show. Let me get out of this dress and I’ll show you.” Madison motioned for Francesca, one of the sewers to assist her out of the complicated dress. The last thing she needed was to tear the lace, or lose a button, with the show only a day away.
Slipping into her own pants and top, Angelina felt like herself again. Even though Angelina was her name, people often shortened it to Angel, when she felt like anything but. Her preferences were simple and feminine, but truth be told, she really didn’t know what her true style was. Maybe it was the designer in her, each season was meant to be a new look or of have a different theme.
Hooking the delicate leather and crystal necklace around her neck, she gave one last look in the dressing room mirror. Her aunts were all gorgeous and always appeared as if they stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. Her mother, Layla, always dressed in red. It had been Angelina’s signature color for a while until she turned to basic black, sapphire, or jade.
Some would consider her look plain with the faded jeans, leather boots, and burgundy off-the-shoulder, gauze blouse. Her brother labelled it ‘hobo looking for a cause.’
“Did you make your necklace?” Her aunt walked over for a closer look.
“Yes, and these, too.” She held her hand near her ears. The ring was tarnished gold with a black pearl, and the studs on her ears black onyx.
Madison’s eyes lit up. “I had no idea. I’m impressed.”
“I have a lot to learn. That’s why I want to stay here and improve my craft.”
“I can see a whole new line.” Her aunt waved her hand toward an inspiration board on the wall. “You know, Gia wants to study fashion as well. The two of you could do something together. Younger, hipper than creating gowns for award shows and red-carpet affairs.”
“Club wear?” That was never her scene. Angelina turned toward a window. The street below was busy with tourists and traffic as indecision weighed her down. When would something ever feel righ t? But she’d give it a try. “Those are pretty big shoes to fill but I’m game for anything to keep me here.”
“Don’t worry. We have plenty of time. I, for one, am very impressed.” Her aunt hugged her from behind.
“Good. Then you won’t mind backing me up when I tell my parents I’m staying? If I don’t get the apprenticeship, that is.” She sat on the windowsill.
“I’ll think about it but the discussion is not up to me but between you and them.” Madison stepped back.
Even though Angelina was an adult, she still had to abide by what the family wanted if she were to remain a member. Although wanting her independence, she would never go against the family’s wishes.
“Are you ready to go?” Madison wandered over and slipped on her coat.
“Yes, where did you want to go eat?” Angelina’s belly growled. Trying to shed a few pounds for the show had left her hungry.
“There’s been a change in plans. We’re meeting the rest of the family for dinner. Everyone is here now.” Madison grinned and gathered her belongings.
“Everyone?” A pit opened up in Angelina’s stomach.
Her aunt patted her shoulder before heading to the door. “Well, not everyone but several of your cousins. Even Joseph is here and, believe me, he’s not interested in fashion. The family always supports everyone and they’ll be there for you, no matter what you end up doing.”
Angelina touched the other necklace around her neck. The tiny gold cross was warm against her skin. Joseph was the last person she wanted to see. They’d been close, too close. They’d been inseparable since they were young, almost as if they were meant to be together until the very end. Joseph’d been there for every major steppingstone in her life. Heck, he’d even helped her with her driving test. The guy had been her date for her sweet sixteen party. But then, nothing. He’d ghosted her before ghosting was even a thing. Her heart rate kicked up a notch.
Well, he may have ignored her, but she’d kept track of him every step of his career, which wasn’t easy. Except for their business, no one in their family did social media. Even then, they took pictures of places or products, but not each other. Her father hated that she was modeling in the show and how those images would be everywhere. Old habits die hard. If they were truly living clean lives then there was nothing to be afraid of. Right? Madison was rarely photographed with her celebrity clients, yet she had a waiting list of clients begging for her attention.
Still security was tight for the event. Attendance would be by invite only, and only select journalists and photographers would be allowed in. Her father, Arlo Brunetti, had always been Roman’s right-hand man. It would he and his men who would be in charge of keeping everyone safe and secure.
It was Arlo and Roman who worried most about having Madison’s showing in Milan, the fashion capital of the world. A recent uptick in crime had everyone on edge. The mob never forgot. A wrong word, a death, a missing piece of art, nothing was ever let go, no matter how small or trivial. Madison insisted it take place there and what Madison wanted, Madison got.
“The car’s here.” Madison glanced at her phone and looped her designer bag over her shoulder. “Ready?”
“Yeah. Sure.” She grabbed her coat and purse.
“The girls are so excited to see you. This really is a dream come true.” It had been Madison’s wish to have a fashion house, and since she now had one in Italy was huge.
“It is. Do you ever regret giving up your career to raise a family?”
Her aunt held the door. “I never gave up anything, dear. It just got postponed while I did the more important things in life.” They hurried down the stairs.
One of their guards waited inside the entrance. The tell-tale earpiece and nice suit made him appear as if he were part of a secret service team. Another man waited out front. Together they shielded them as they hurried to a waiting black Mercedes SUV. It was a given the windows were bullet proof as well as the doors.
The brief time they were outside in the chilly air made Angelina shiver. The heated seats were a welcome luxury. It was late April, and despite a warm spring, a damp chill had settled in for a few days.
Angelina snuggled into her leather jacket and stared at the old buildings of Florence as they passed through the winding streets. Some were only wide enough for one car. Soon they reached a main road and were able to get up to speed. In no time at all, they reached the gates of their destination.
A high wall surrounded the property with a guard who opened the iron entrance. “Do we really need this many guards?”
Her aunt shrugged. “You know Roman. He never leaves anything to chance, and Arlo is overseeing everything?”
The Caponelli villa was an old, regal, family estate. The two-story main house boasted twelve bedrooms, twelve baths, an indoor and outdoor pool, a guest house, terra cotta floors, thick wooden beams, and marble flooring scattered about. The exterior of the stately brick mansion was covered in ivory stucco, dark green trim, and a rust-colored tile roof. The multitude of windows were accented with green shutters.
“Is my mom here yet?” Her father had been in Italy for over a week checking things out, but her mother had some last-minute things to finish before she could leave.
“No. Bad weather had the flight delayed. She won’t get in until late.” Madison stretched her long legs and sighed. “What’s going on between you two?”
“You know how traditional she is. I’m already considered an old maid at twenty-three.”
“She was older than you when she wed, so that can’t be the only problem.”
“I don’t know. I think she’s worried about me staying here or how I haven’t settled down yet. It’s not like she has an empty nest at home. Heck, I’ve been gone since I got out of high school.”
“It’s always hard when kids leave home. You want them to spread their wings and yet, you can’t stand how quiet the house becomes. Joseph was never as wild as the younger ones, yet when he moved out, I felt the loss right away.”
At the sound of his name, Angelina looked away. Heat flooded her face. Anger, loss, yearning. Who knew the reason for the flame igniting whenever she heard his name? “What is Joseph doing now? I’m sure he has ladies following him everywhere.”
“That he does.” Madison laughed but didn’t elaborate.
Angelina saw red. It figured, all her male cousins were popular with the female population, yet she hadn’t had a date in, well she couldn’t remember. Who would want an angel with broken wings? One who was so afraid to fly, she’d hidden behind campus walls for years. Her classmates were so much younger now, they had nothing in common.
They pulled up and parked in front of the villa where Roman strolled out the door. The guard must have told him of their arrival. His hands were tucked in the pockets of custom-made dress pants.
“By the way, I forgot to ask. Was there someone special you wanted to have attend the show? They will need a ticket and security clearance.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No one.” The driver opened her door while Roman helped his wife out the other side. Roman immediately hugged and kissed his wife. The pair were inseparable and passionate, even after all their years together.
When you’re alone, seeing others in love drives the loneliness dagger in deeper. At one time, Angelina thought Joseph was the one who would come back and ask for her hand. He’d been there one day and gone the next. Her pride hadn’t let her question why. A couple years older than her, he’d probably left to pursue everything in a skirt. They’d been avoiding each other ever since, which was hard to do in a family as close as theirs. She’d not seen him in the flesh in years. Until now, that is. With her rotten luck, he’d be chosen to watch her.
“Hello, Angelina.” Roman enveloped her in a hug then kissed her cheeks. “Are you excited for the show?”
“Yes, I am.” With Roman’s arms around each woman, they walked through the massive front doorway at least ten feet high and several inches thick.
“It’s going to be something everyone will be talking about for months to come. You have no need to worry while you’re there. Your father specifically assigned Joseph to keep an eye on you. I couldn’t be happier to have both you kids here.”
Angelina stumbled. Her uncle grasped her arm keeping her upright.
No, need to worry? She bit her lip. Seeing Joseph again was all she’d thought about since learning he’d be coming to Italy.
“Are you all right?” Roman steadied her.
“Yes, just took a stumble.” She righted herself.
“Hello cousin.”
Speak of the devil. His deep voice sent a chill up her spine. All the air left her lungs. Joseph stood in the hallway, looking sexy as sin and not at all happy to see her.