Chapter Eight
Mancuso
I wake sometime later to the sound of laughter filtering in from outside. Slowly, I force my body from my bed before making my way over to the curtains. Thank God my pain meds have kicked in once more because the pain isn’t as bad as it was when I went to sleep. Pulling the material back from the windows, I stare down at a massive pool in the backyard. Guilia and Jessica are swimming, splashing each other with Andrea watching from the steps.
The thing that draws my attention is the other woman with them. Callie. Dressed in a skimpy-ass swimsuit that leaves all her mocha skin on display and finally shows me the curves I have been trying to glimpse beneath her clothing.
She is stunning in the late morning sunlight as the water sluices down her skin. She has full, ample breasts that sway naturally with every movement as she plays with my niece.
Fuck me. I run my hand down my face before turning away. I have no business lusting after this woman. Hell, any woman for that matter. My life is this family and our business. I can’t afford the distraction. Besides, Callie is blue collar through and through and I am a damn criminal.
A knock on my door draws me from my thoughts.
“Come in,” I call, taking a seat on the bed, resting against the headboard.
Alceu walks in before closing the door behind him. His sharp gaze surveys me before taking in my bedroom.
“How are you feeling?”
I don’t answer his question. My oldest brother, and the head of this family, isn’t here for small talk. He knows all the pertinent information on the health of every person in this house, not just me. Instead, I wait for him to speak. There is a reason he is here right now.
“Callie will be leaving us soon,” he says flatly. “Her ex has been handled and no charges will be pressed.”
“She told you not to handle her ex.”
“And I rarely listen to anyone,” he counters. “Besides, if you throw enough money at a problem, it eventually goes away. But I was unable to convince her employer to keep her on.”
“And?” I ask trying to sound as bored as possible. “Haven’t you done enough for her?”
“I don’t know what your problems is,” he says with a frown. “Or what crawled up Severu’s ass and died there, but both of you need to get the fuck over it.”
We glare at each other, neither willing to give any ground.
“Both of you need to get with the program,” he says firmly.
“What does that mean?” I ask, afraid to hear the answer.
“It means Callie may leave this house, but she will be a part of the Cammareri empire going forward.”
His words are final, and I know, for better or worse, nothing will change his mind.
“What did you do?”
“I bought the garage.”
“You can’t be fucking serious, Alceu. We are criminals, not mechanics.”
“She is. And she’s good,” he says walking to the window. “While you have been up here, I have spent my time finding out about the woman that saved your life.” The last part of that sentence is rife with condescension. “Besides, I think it’s good for us to have a few legitimate businesses in our portfolio.”
“Are you trying to go straight?”
He laughs freely. “Don’t be ridiculous. I love what I do. But I do want to offer my daughter something more for her future.”
“So, you bought a garage?”
“I did.”
He turns to look at me and I see fondness in his gaze. None of us are overly affectionate or emotional but I know my brothers love me just as I love them.
“Stefano will be her contact point,” he adds as an afterthought. Even though I want to rage against his words, I know it’s for the best, so I nod.
He doesn’t say anything else as he walks out of my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the laughter from outside.
****
I spend the rest of the day alone in my room. I gather the courage and reserve needed to take a shower after hours of fucking around on my phone. Afterward, I feel more like myself than I have since waking up after the shooting, and slowly dress before making my way downstairs to get something to eat.
I have no idea what time it is but when I enter the kitchen, I see Severu, Lyra, Guilia, Andrea, and Stefano eating dinner. Alceu and Callie are nowhere to be seen.
When Andrea sees me, she rises and starts preparing a plate for me. Sitting beside Stefano, I smile and thank her as she places a large helping of lasagna in front of me before retaking her seat.
No one speaks as we all enjoy the meal that has been prepared for us.
“You’re insane!” Callie’s voice carries through the house and filters into the kitchen, shortly followed by her footsteps. She storms into the kitchen, taking in each of us before turning to face Severu. “Do you know what he’s done?” she asks angrily, pointing a finger at Alceu as he walks in.
“Yes,” Severu replies with a frown before stuffing some food into his mouth. Never once does he look at her, his gaze trained firmly on the plate in front of him.
“And you let him?” she asks incredulously.
A beat passes before Severu harshly pushes his chair out and steps up to her. He glares down at her as she tilts her head back to return the gesture.
“Alceu is the head of this family. No one allows him to do a damn thing.” His chest heaves as he fights to control his anger. “I voiced my opinion, loudly. And he chose to do whatever he wanted.”
Callie’s hands shake as she holds her ground, and I wonder if it’s fear or adrenaline that evokes the reaction.
“Callie,” Guilia says softly, breaking the tense silence that has taken over the entire house. “This is what Alceu wants.”
She stares at my brother’s wife like she has just grown a third eye. “Are you nuts? I can’t run a business.”
“I’ll be running the business,” Stefano cuts in.
“What the fuck do you need me for then?” She throws her hands in the air.
“Staffing,” he replies calmly. “If the business is to flourish, we need decent staff. And all any of us know about cars is how to start, drive, and refill them.”
She glares at Stefano even as she fights a smile. I want to say something that will have her giving in to the impulse to smile at me too, but I don’t. I don’t know this woman and I shouldn’t want to. Her shoulders slump and she shakes her head.
“Does that mean you accept?” Alceu asks from the spot where he leans against the wall. The cocky fucker is already smiling, certain of her surrender.
“On a trial basis.”