Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
FRANCESCA
I never imagined moving back to Savannah would be so lonely, but here we are. I’ve been back for three days now, but it feels like it’s been a year.
A very long, boring, and uneventful year.
Plopping down on my white plush couch, I glance around at all the boxes containing my belongings. I still haven’t unpacked and fully moved in.
Hell, I haven’t even gone grocery shopping, but I did place a grocery delivery for today. I’ve been living off of food delivery except for the pasta that Rhett cooked my first night back into town, and I haven’t spent another night with Rhett since then.
Between working and trying to figure out what Dad and Joey are hiding from me, I haven’t really been in the mood. It didn’t help that Rhett wasn’t willing to answer my questions about the club name or what business goes on there.
He actually refused to divulge any information, like he’s in on whatever is going on.
Am I being petty? Maybe, but I need to figure out what they are hiding from me and why they don’t think I can handle it.
And why they told Rhett about the club before they told me .
Is he helping with the operations now? Is he the one Dad and Joey added to the ranks without consulting me?
I shake my head.
There’s no way Dad and Joey would bring Rhett in on things without talking to me beforehand. Family comes first, and even though Rhett was almost family, he isn’t blood.
I grab my laptop, prop my legs up on the coffee table, and do some digging. I need to find out the club’s name first.
Opening up my internet browser, I type in a quick search of all the clubs downtown, and am surprised at the few that pop up. There are several dance clubs and a few strip clubs.
Would Dad and Uncle Tony buy a strip club or a dance club? Both would benefit business. Both could sell the drugs we ship in. But I would think a strip club would be more of a liability than what it’s worth.
Which one would be more up to Uncle Tony’s speed?
I continue searching the map for any hint as to which one is the newest family asset, and that’s when I see it.
The King’s Empire Gentleman’s Club.
This has to be the one.
It’s close enough to the arena to slip out of work and go there to check on things, but far enough away that it’s not glaringly obvious.
I zoom in on the map and gasp. “Son of a bitch.”
The club is right across the street from the south port terminal. Dad’s most used terminal for illegal shipments .
That’s no coincidence. The club has to be moving the product. It’s pretty smart, to be honest. To have the club so close to the port.
According to the club’s reviews, it was recently under new management last year after being sold, and the new owners added a bar and restaurant.
That sounds like Uncle Tony. He loves any place with a restaurant.
I continue reading reviews, stopping when a reviewer mentions their most popular burger is called the princess.
Dad and Uncle Tony have used that nickname my entire life, but one morning I said I couldn’t be the princess unless they were the kings. Dad chuckled and said they were both kings of the Marino empire, and one day Joey and I would inherit the kingdom.
I thought it was a joke until I learned about the family and our history.
Clicking on a picture of the menu, I scan the burger section, stopping when I come to The Princess. It’s my favorite burger. A bacon cheeseburger with avocado slices and a teriyaki glaze.
Now that is too coincidental to not be the club I’m looking for. The name, the location, and the burger all match up with the Marino family.
Since Rhett, Joey, and Dad want to keep me in the dark, there’s only one person left for me to ask. I grab my phone and dial Uncle Tony’s number.
He answers after the third ring, sounding out of breath, like he had to run to the phone before his voicemail picked up. “Principessa, how come you haven’t come to see me yet? Are they keeping you locked up? Do I need to come rescue you?”
I let out a chuckle and lean back against the couch cushions. “No, I’ve just been busy with my new job. It takes a lot of energy to keep that many men in line and the business in good standing with the community.”
The newspaper article about Dad being a former mafia boss hasn’t sat well with the community. They want the Savannah Sharks to stay a family oriented establishment and think Dad will only bring crime to the sport.
Uncle Tony yells at one of his employees before saying, “You’ve only been here for a few days and the team is already causing problems?”
I let out a long sigh and close my eyes. “More than I ever imagined they would.”
“It sounds like you need to ask for a raise, or quit and come work for me. A pretty face like yours would look great as an assistant manager for the restaurant.”
This isn’t the first time he’s offered me a job. “Thanks Uncle Tony, but you know I’d eat non-stop if I worked there.”
His food is always homemade and fresh. It’s definitely better than what I’ve been eating this week.
“There’s plenty of food and work here for you. You’re family, Principessa, and family sticks together.”
I catch the subtle change in his tone. He’s moved on from me being the assistant manager of the restaurant to me working for his side of the mafia business .
It’s more like I’d be working with him and not for him. Sure, he’s in charge of the business, but he treats me like an equal. Just like he treats his own son, AJ and his daughter, Angelica. He’s never played favorites.
Over the past two years, I’ve considered working for him full time and not letting anyone know, but deep down it feels like I’d be betraying Dad and Joey. We all might be family, but Dad and Uncle Tony conduct their businesses differently.
“Speaking of work. ” I pause and glance around my empty apartment as if someone can overhear my conversation.
“Are you looking for work ?”
“I’m looking for information that I think you can help with.”
“Hold on while I move to my office phone.” The line goes silent before his voice comes back through. “What kind of information are you looking for?”
“It’s about a recent acquisition that Dad and Joey wouldn’t talk about.”
“Let me guess, they don’t want you to know about the club?”
“Yeah. Hell, I didn’t know about the club until the meeting on Monday, and I just found what I think is the club on a map because no one wants to tell me shit.”
My breathing gets faster as anger builds. I’m not a porcelain doll that will break if they fill me in on what’s going on.
“Well, what do you want to know?”
“Anything. Everything. Is it the King’s Empire? ”
Commotion comes through the other side of the line, like something is being thrown or broken in the background. A man yells something and I can’t tell if it’s aimed at Uncle Tony or someone else.
What the hell is going on over there?
“I’ll answer any questions you have, but I need to go handle something right now.”
“Can you at least tell me if that’s the correct club?” That will help me know if I’m on the right track and can dig deeper into King’s Empire.
“Your research hasn’t steered you wrong before, Principessa. I doubt you’ll even need me to answer your questions, but come on by the restaurant later if you still have questions.”
“Thanks Uncle Tony.”
I hang up the phone and open a new browser window. Not two seconds later, my phone rings.
The caller ID doesn’t have a contact name. It only shows a local number.
“Hello?” I ask as I put the call on speaker.
“Good afternoon. Is this Francesca Marino?”
“It is.” I say cautiously.
“This is Maria calling about your grocery delivery for today. Unfortunately, we don’t have a driver, so I was wondering if you wanted me to refund your order, or if you wanted to come pick it up? I can give you a discount for your troubles.”
That changes my evening plans a bit, but I need groceries.
“I can come pick them up. It’s no problem. ”
“Thank you for understanding. I’ll start getting your order together now.”
I hang up the phone and stare at my screen. Who am I going to ask? I don’t have a car and the store is too far to walk, so that’s not an option.
I open my messages and text Rhett.
Are you still at the arena?
He immediately responds.
Depends. What’s up?
I dial his number, and he immediately answers.
“Hey, Chessie. What’s up?”
“Sorry if I’m interrupting anything. I just figured this would be a lot easier than explaining my problem through texts.”
His tone changes, sounding worried. “What’s going on? Are you in trouble?”
“The grocery store just called and said they don’t have a delivery driver today, so they can’t deliver my groceries. Can you give me a ride to the store so I can pick them up? I know it’s almost dinnertime, so if you already have plans, I can call a taxi.”
“Meet me out front of the apartment building in five minutes.” Without waiting for my reply, he hangs up.
I gather my keys and wallet before slipping on my sandals. I opt for the stairs just in case the elevator is slow .
Rhett pulls up in his truck a minute later. Getting in the passenger seat, I see he’s wearing lounge shorts and a t-shirt.
“Thank you for doing this for me.”
He grunts in response, clearly not in the mood to talk to me. I don’t really blame him, though. I’ve avoided him since the incident on Monday.
But he’s going to have to get over that because I was partly busy dealing with his shit and trying to find any information on the club.
I wait until he’s driving on the main road to turn in my seat and look at him. “So, what’s the deal with King’s Empire?”
His jaw ticks and his hand wraps tighter around the steering wheel.
“Come on. You can tell me. I’ve already found out some stuff already.”
Still nothing. His jaw is clenched, and his knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll find someone else that will. I’m bound to find out more, with or without your help. You would be making my life less hectic and stressful if you just told me what you know.”
He glances toward me. “Look, I know how stubborn you are, but you don’t want to get involved with the club.”
“Are you speaking from insider knowledge or personal experience?”
Not that I was expecting an answer, but his silence makes me wonder if he’s ever been to the club.
It doesn’t matter. We weren’t together .
Besides, he’s Joey’s best friend, so I have a feeling he’s been to the club several times.
Rhett might not know the full truth about my family, but it’s time to clue him in just a little bit.
“If my family is involved, then I’m involved. It’s hard for me to explain things clearly, but my family is different from most, and it’s only a matter of time before I catch up on everything I’ve missed over the past two years.”
Uncle Tony has helped a little, but clearly there’s more for me to uncover.
He pulls up outside of the grocery store, parking in the fire lane.
“I just have to know. Do you frequently go there? Perhaps an ex-girlfriend works there?”
Rhett slams his hand on the steering wheel, making me jump at the sudden movement.
“Damn it, Francesca. You have zero right to act like a jealous girlfriend. You broke up with me, remember?”
Of course I remember. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.
“But if you must know, there hasn’t been anyone since you left two damn years ago. Just stop asking questions about the club, because you’re wasting your time. If you have other questions, then ask them, but no more about the club.”
His anger slowly subsides until he’s left looking defeated and heartbroken all over again.
I get out of his truck and head inside as I let his words sink in .
I have more than one question for him. Hell, I have an entire monologue I’ve replayed in my mind for the past two years. With several bulleted points where I beg for his forgiveness, but my need to keep him away from the mafia lifestyle has won every argument I’ve had with myself.
Stepping up to the grocery pick up counter, I give the cashier my name before grabbing my bags of food.
I take my time heading back outside.
What am I supposed to say to Rhett after that argument? “Sorry, my need to find out my family’s secrets are getting in the way of us having a relationship like old times?”
I freeze as I step through the doors. Rhett has his head resting on the steering wheel with his eyes closed.
After putting my groceries in the back seat and climbing into the passenger seat, he lets out a deep sigh and glances my way. “For two years, I’ve been waiting for you to let me in, Chessie.”
It’s now or never.
Do I tell him why I left two years ago?
If we stand a chance of having a future together, he needs to know.