Chapter 32
FRANCISCO
We’re not traveling in a limo in the old country. It’s funny how accustomed I’ve gotten to driving in style. This time, we’re ushered into the backseat of my cousin Luca’s town car. Luca hops behind the wheel, playing the chauffeur.
“Luca, this is Marlena,” I introduce them. “Marlena, this is Luca, my cousin.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Marlena says softly.
I know this has been a big day for her, and so I scan her face looking for signs of stress. Though she seems subdued, I don’t see any cause for alarm. She meets my gaze with delight in her eyes, something I didn’t think was possible.
Here, I thought she was just marrying me to protect her brother, but I can see that’s not the whole reason.
She genuinely cares for me. You can’t fake that kind of thing.
I hope that means we’ve got a lifetime of mutual affection ahead of us.
As long as I can take care of Andretti, and as long as she remains safe by my side, this marriage will be blessed.
I squeeze her hand. “You doing all right?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says simply.
I want to reassure her that the hard part is done. Now all that’s left is for us to enjoy our evening in the company of friends and family. She seems distant, but I let that slide. She’s probably wrestling with her own demons the same way I’m wrestling with mine.
“We’re going to Bella’s,” Luca announces.
“Luca is representing my family,” I tell Marlena. “Everyone else comes from your side.”
She laughs, and the sound is music to my ears. “I didn’t know I had such a big family.”
“They come out of the woodwork for a wedding,” Luca quips.
It’s a short drive to Carmine’s restaurant. They’ve closed the place down to regular customers so we can celebrate in peace. Inside, the place is full of partygoers. I hardly recognize most of them, though I’m sure they’re all related.
Wine is flowing freely. Carmine’s sister-in-law has been cooking all day, and the place is warm from the ovens. I can smell the gravy from a mile away. That slow cooked tomato sauce with all its spices brings me home.
There are some dishes laid out on the counter buffet style, and family members are helping themselves. Marlena is still in her wedding dress, so she goes into the office with Carmine’s wife to change.
I help myself to a bit of bread dipped in garlic oil. It’s so simple and delicious, it beats the socks off anything you can get in America. Carmine comes up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Beautiful ceremony,” I tell him.
“It’s not often I get to officiate for family,” he says.
“How often do you get to officiate at all?” I ask him.
“Not often,” he admits. “But it’s an honor when it happens.”
Marlena reappears wearing one of the dresses I purchased for her. It seems like ages ago when we wandered the city looking for a new wardrobe. I try not to laugh when I think about the scene she caused at the airport. Who would have guessed that just a short week later, we would be wed?
I toast her with my wineglass as she selects one for herself.
We circle the room, talking to everyone.
Marlena is much more interested in learning about how she’s related to each and every one of them than she is in talking to me.
That’s okay. We have a lifetime to get to know each other, starting with the wedding night.
I guide Marlena to a table away from everyone so we can take a break from mingling.
She’s happy to follow my lead, which is a good sign.
Sitting down opposite me, she gives me a satisfied smile.
It warms my heart to know that she’s accepted me as her husband, not just because I’m offering to save her life, but because she genuinely cares.
“Thank you,” she says.
“For what?” I ask.
“For all of this,” she responds.
“I think this is largely Carmine’s doing,” I reply.
“Yes, but I never would have met Carmine if it wasn’t for you,” she argues. “I never even knew I had a family, and I sure as hell wouldn’t have been able to come here to meet them.”
“I’m glad you approve,” I say.
“This whole thing feels like a dream,” she admits.
“That’s good, right?” I guess.
“It’s good,” she confirms. She pauses, and a shadow passes across her face. “What do you think this means for Brandon?”
“I let Giovanni know we’re married,” I report. “He’ll pass the word around the city. It won’t be long before Andretti’s aware that any harm that comes to your brother will mean war. I doubt he’ll be interested in taking on both of our families.”
“I hope so,” she replies.
I reach across the table, covering one of her hands with my own. “Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
She smiles bravely, just as Carmine’s wife finds us hiding out.
“Come meet my sister,” Carmine’s wife demands.
Marlena looks at me as if to ask if it’s okay. I appreciate the gesture, so I nod my approval. I find myself increasingly comfortable with my new wife. She’s fitting into my world as if she’s always been there.
“I’ll be right back,” Marlena promises, getting up from her seat.
“Take your time,” I tell her. “I’m in no hurry.”
As soon as the girls walk away, Carmine and Luca sit down. They’ve each got a glass of wine, and Luca has a plate full of linguini. He digs in, talking and eating at the same time.
“You’re a lucky man,” Luca says.
“Thanks for coming out here,” I reply, knowing that he had to drive at least three hours to attend the ceremony.
“No problem,” he says. “Anything for my cousin.”
“Let’s step outside,” Carmine suggests, pulling three cigars out of his pocket.
“Hang on,” Luca bargains, slurping up the last of his noodles.
As soon as he finishes, we move to the front of the restaurant, leaving the comfort of the place behind.
It’s a little chilly outside, but nothing I can’t handle.
There’s a group of men sitting at a table out front.
They’re playing cards and shouting at each other.
I recognize a few of them as people I saw at the ceremony.
Carmine shakes hands, tossing out compliments before introducing me. “This is the newest member of our family,” he says jovially.
“Hey, America!” one man calls in heavily accented English.
“Hey, Italy,” I shout back.
I feel young again. This is like old times, when I had fewer responsibilities and all the time in the world to shoot the breeze with my friends. Carmine leads us down the block so we can talk privately. He hands out the cigars, and we pass around a lighter.
I take the first few puffs to get the cigar started. It tastes expensive, and I know Carmine has spared no expense. Then we get down to business, looking for all the world like a groom and two family members discussing sports or maybe family. In reality, we’re talking business.
“So, tell us about the trouble your wife’s been having,” Luca says.
I already shared the fact that this marriage happened so quickly in order to bring Marlena into the fold. But I haven’t given Luca any of the specifics. “You know the Andretti family?” I ask.
Luca nods. “I’m acquainted.”
“We’ve had some trouble in America,” I disclose, without adding any details.
They understand. In our line of work, the less you know, the better.
“And that’s who you think has her brother?” Luca guesses.
“That’s my educated guess,” I confirm. “Carlo Andretti has been out to get me since I took over the family ten years ago. He has a mole in my organization.”
“How do you know that?” Carmine wonders.
“It’s a hunch,” I say. “But we were talking about that just a few days before Brandon was kidnapped. Then I learn who Marlena really is and suddenly her brother goes missing? It’s too big of a coincidence.”
“You think someone in your organization is working for Andretti?” Luca asks.
“I would bet good money on it,” I reply, thinking about my closed-door meetings with Marcello and Giovanni.
They both said that Andretti was trying to poach my men.
Hell, I beat one kid up because I suspected he was involved.
I can’t be sure who, but that’s the only thing that makes sense.
Someone close to me is feeding information to Andretti. And I’ve got to find out who.
“I’m going back to the States tomorrow,” I say. “We’ve been gone long enough.”
“I’m coming with you,” Luca says.
I study him for a moment, wondering if he has a visa. But then, I suppose, it doesn’t matter. We’re not regular Joes. We can get our hands on anything we need.
“Thank you,” I say.
“I can send a few of my men along for the ride,” Carmine offers.
I shake my head. I have plenty of manpower. That’s not the problem. I don’t want to have to babysit a bunch of men who are unfamiliar with American ways. But Carmine puts his foot down.
“Take them,” he says. “They’re all anxious to see what life is like over there anyway.”
“Thank you,” I reply, knowing better than to make a fuss.
If Carmine wants to help me out, I should let him.
That’s half of the reason we’re here in the first place.
I may not need the added support, but one glance at Carmine’s men and Andretti will know that the Roccas are behind me.
It’s more than muscle. It’s a statement that says we’re all family.
If Andretti messes with one of us, he messes with us all.
And Carmine’s reach isn’t contained to the European continent.
He wants to prove that he can be just as dangerous in America as he can be in the old country. So I nod, accepting his gift.
We continue smoking our cigars, moving on to lighter topics until we’re through. Marlena and Daniela come outside to find us, making me feel all warm inside. Though I need privacy to conduct my business, it’s a boost to my pride that she wants to be with me. Maybe there’s a future for us after all.