Chapter 21
Uncle Emilio
Oni
I got a text this morning from Fredrico Sr., telling me to be ready to head out. Rico was already gone when I woke this morning, still in his bed. I didn’t feel any way about that.
I know he gets up early to work out before he starts work for the day. I returned to my room to shower and dress. It was once I stepped out of the shower that I remembered Rico told me he loves me. I wasn’t expecting that at all.
Although I’ve tried to deny it to myself, I know I’ve been falling for him as well. I couldn’t help but say it back. I’ve been smiling so hard my face hurts.
“He loves me,” I whisper as I get dressed in gray slacks and a red button-down.
Once I’ve passed a flat iron through my edges, I head down to breakfast and to wait for Fredrico Sr. I didn’t think there was anything that could take the smile off my face.
However, the moment I step into the kitchen and find Juliana standing in Rico’s face while he sips from a mug, I scowl so deeply my soul feels irked with the gesture.
Juliana turns to look at me. Rico winks at me over her head as she glares right in my face. My scowl softens just a bit.
“What is she doing here? She’s not coming with us, is she?” Juliana says.
“Good morning, Rico. Did someone say something?”
“Ugh, whatever. I’ll be outside. Your uncle will deal with this situation, I’m sure,” Juliana says and stomps off.
Ignoring her, I note the smile Rico has behind his mug. I continue to collect the breakfast that’s been wrapped and left in the warmer with my name on it. I smile to myself as I find the food is still perfectly warm.
Humming, I uncover the pancakes and sausage and dive in. I’m extremely hungry for some reason. Closing my eyes, I moan as I chew.
Suddenly, I feel warmth against my back. I stiffen and drop my fork and knife. My heart is racing as Rico kisses the back of my head. I open my eyes.
“Are you okay?” Rico murmurs.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I startled you, didn’t I?”
He moves so he’s standing beside me as he rests his backside against the island. I look into his face to find him looking back at me with concern in his eyes. I reach to place my hand against his stomach and shake my head.
“It’s okay. The only way to move forward is to move through.”
“I don’t think it works that way, baby,” he says with sad eyes.
“For this, it has to. I promise, I’ll be fine.”
He shakes his head. “You’re amazing. I want to wrap you up and protect you, but you keep popping out of the box where you’re supposed to be safe.”
“I’m cool,” I say around a forkful of food. “Do you know where your father is taking me?”
Rico groans. “We’ve been summoned. Uncle Emilio has asked that we all appear at his place this morning.”
“Her included?” I ask, pointing in the direction Juliana went.
“Yup, her included.” He gives a smirk and leans in to kiss my forehead. “Before you start to buck, I think this meeting will clear some things up.”
“What makes you say that?”
“All of my uncle’s games have a point to them. Everyone will learn from them, someone will pay the price for them, and someone will elevate from them. Never fails, that’s how he works.”
“Do you have any idea who is who this time?”
“After what I’ve learned this morning, I think I might.” He shrugs.
“Ah, you are both here. Let’s get moving. I have shit to do. I’m too old to be getting called to the principal’s office,” Fredrico Sr. grumbles as he claps his hands for us to get moving.
I try not to laugh at his last comment. However, I sober up as I get the feeling my actions at the pool party set some things in motion. I get the feeling that’s what Rico just left out of what he said because there were holes in his words.
Something I’m learning to detect more easily the more I’m around him. With Rico, it’s more of a hear what I don’t say type of situation. There is a lot in what he doesn’t say.
We walk out of the kitchen and find the cousins and Mario all waiting at the front of the house. We all climb into the awaiting cars. I get into the SUV with Emilia, Ed, and Al. Rico climbs into the car with his dad and Juliana.
As I stare out of the window, it keeps nagging at me that I know her from somewhere. The feeling is so much stronger today. It’s like it’s right there on the tip of my tongue.
I frown as she flips her hair and looks back at Rico. It’s in the way she looks back up at him. Something clicks in my mind and my frown deepens.
A name comes to mind and recognition hits. I know exactly where I know her from. My mouth falls open as the memory comes to mind.
“This is rich,” I mutter to myself.
“What’s that?” Emilia says from beside me.
“Nothing. Hey, can I ask you a question?”
I remember her saying she knows things because people talk around her like she’s not there. I get that a lot around here, so I’m hoping in this case she can shed a little light for me.
“Yeah, sure. What’s up?”
“How long has the engagement been a thing?”
“Juliana’s father came to my dad about a year ago with the proposition. It didn’t seem like he was interested at first. Then something changed about two months before you arrived. It’s totally weird if you ask me.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because my uncle hates the Abato family,” Al answers for her.
Rico
“Any of that make sense to you?” Mario asks from the driver’s seat.
I was surprised when my father asked him to drive as he climbed into the vehicle with us. I was expecting him to ride in his own car and take Juliana with him. Mario and I have things to discuss, but that won’t happen with her in the back seat.
I was right not to trust her ass. She’s lucky I haven’t put a matching bullet into her head. She belongs with that motherfucker she brought into my pop’s home.
“Nope. Not yet.”
“Read it again. You will see what I did,” he says with disguised heat.
I know him too well not to hear the true menacing tone beneath the words. I nod my head and open up the email he sent again. As I sit in the front passenger seat staring down at my phone, I reread everything Mario learned about the Abato family. I work to continue to keep my face expressionless.
“I’m enjoying Miami for the most part. I was happy to get the call from Mr. Gallo to come out,” Juliana says in her annoying-ass voice.
“I’m sure you enjoyed yourself at the party yesterday. You young people kept me up past my bedtime,” Pop says, not giving his true mood away.
He’s not fooling me. I know he knows more is going on. He’s as good at Uncle Emilio’s games as he is. A glance in the rearview and I can partially see his face.
Yeah, he’s onto the bullshit.
I snort to myself and shake my head. Then I return my focus to the phone before me. Something catches my attention, and my blood begins to boil.
Juliana has no idea I’m onto her and her family as she sits babbling to my father in the back of the car. I want to keep it that way. I have a million questions as I read this report Mario sent me this morning.
I’m seeing everything differently now. Pauly and Jonny, Andy Cusumano, the bullshit in New York. Everything.
If my uncle knows all this, why is Juliana here? What’s his endgame? How do I fit into any of this?
My thoughts go to Oni. What have I gotten her in the middle of? The more I read, the more pissed I get.
We need to get to my uncle’s so I can get some answers. Romeo Abato has been working with our enemies. He doesn’t want this marriage between me and his daughter any more than I do.
“Juliana, is everything all right?” My father asks, causing me to look out the side-view mirror.
She has turned white as a sheet as she looks down at her phone. Good, it looks like she’s been informed that her boy is dead and her plan failed. Oni killed that motherfucker in my father’s house. There was no way I could keep that from him.
My father, knowing he shouldn’t and probably couldn’t keep the information from his brother, reported it to him. That’s the reason for this little field trip.
I knew from the moment he requested Juliana’s presence; he knew something more—the man always does. What Mario sent me only confirms my suspicions. However, I’ve yet to figure out what my uncle is up to this time.
What I do know is that asshole who attacked Oni works for Connor McFeely. McFeely is Finn Sullivan’s right hand. The Sullivans have been after our New York territories since before I was born. It’s no secret we don’t fuck with them.
Those Irish fucks are a pain in the fucking ass. To work with them is like a slap in the face to a Gallo. Abato has some balls trying to arrange a marriage between me and his daughter when he’s been dealing with those scumbags behind our backs.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Your face just went white as a sheet. Did you have something for breakfast?” Pop presses.
“I did. If you’ll excuse me. I just need to respond to a text,” she mutters distractedly.
I want to burst out laughing. I told Mario sending those pictures to her was going to fuck with her head. I’m hoping it will cause her to show her hand.
I had them cropped so she could make out the dude with his brains blown out, but not recognize the location.
I snort when I get a text from one of my guys back at the house, letting me know Juliana is texting the phone we found on that asshole and cloned before dumping the destroyed original with the body.
Oni’s suggestion, by the way. He sends me a screenshot of the text she just sent to the dead asshole. This time, I can’t hold my laughter in.
Juliana: Why haven’t you answered my calls? This isn’t funny. What are these pictures? Where the fuck are you?
“You’re in a good mood this morning,” Pop says to me.
“Nothing to be in a bad mood about. Business is good, I’m engaged. I see my promotion coming any day now.
“Who knows, Uncle Emilio could be calling us in to discuss the wedding or the promotion.” I pause and rub my hands together. “This is all so exciting. Right, Juliana?”
“Uh, um. Yeah,” she says, still sounding distracted.
I cut my eyes to Mario in the driver’s seat. He’s giving me the same look. I give a slight nod, causing him to pull his phone. At the next stoplight, he begins to type feverishly.
I shoot a text to Ed and Al, so they’re on alert. We’re not that far from my uncle’s house now. However, I will feel better when we’re all there.
My next text is to my uncle. He should know what’s going on and what might be headed his way. However, before I can get the text off, a group text comes in from my pop. I stare down at my phone, wide-eyed.
Pop: Floor it, Mario. Rico, look alive. Emilio, we are coming in hot. Be ready.
I elbow Mario to get him to look at his phone. He looks down and then immediately steps on the gas.