Chapter 9
Axl
We spent a couple hours on the patio having drinks and smoking cigars while the rest of men got to know Luca, Matteo and Davide.
Luca and Matteo were forthcoming with answering questions but Davide was somewhat evasive.
I get it, he doesn’t know them but if we’re going to be working together, he’s going to have to be a little more open with us.
Since he did his homework on me and my brother’s, I’ll make sure to have Felix and Marco do an extensive background check on him.
The ladies and kids returned to the house after enjoying lunch and free time on the beach. As I was introducing them to our guests, Davide leaped from his chair and grabbed Dominique’s arm.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He barks.
An angry Maxillo reaches for Davide’s arm.
“I don’t know you, but if you put your hands on her again, I’ll make you wish you hadn’t.
” Davide quick with his reflexes drops Dominique’s arm and takes hold of Maxillo’s hand twisting it at the wrist. He then uses us other hand to apply pressure at the elbow causing the giant to roar in pain.
I jump from my seat and rush to Maxillo’s defense hitting Davide hard enough in his chest for him to release his hold.
He takes two steps back looking down to where my punch landed then startled back at me.
That’s right motherfucker I touched your ass.
He slowly goes into a fighting stance. I go into my own.
Hell, if this is what he wants, I’m happy to oblige.
“Enough!” Father yells coming in between us. “We have enough going on and don’t need you two adding to it. Axl, sit down.” I keep my sights on Davide waiting for him to make his move. “Axl!” Father booms staring at me with commanding eyes “Sit. Down!”
Lowering my hands, I back away but never taking my eyes off Davide. I smirk at him because he knows just as well as I do that our time will come.
Once I’m seated, father turns to Davide. “Now, Davide can you explain that little outburst of yours?”
Davide’s eye twitches as he points to Dominique. “I think I have every right to know what my little sister is doing here!”
“Little sister!” Everyone shouts at the same time. What the hell?!
“Yes, Dominique is my little sister.” Davide confirms now watching Dominique check Maxillo’s wrist.
“But how is that possible?” Maxillo asks staring at her.
She sighs before interlacing their hands.
“We have the same father. My mother and father met when he came to New Orleans on a business trip. He was married but still pursued her and eventually an affair began which resulted in my birth. My father never turned his back on me or denied me. He would come to visit us and bring Davide with him because he always said he wanted his kids to be a part of each other’s lives.
I often flew over here to visit too. Davide’s mother wasn’t happy at first that her husband’s mixed affair child was in her house but she slowly came around after our father had some choice words with her. ”
“But your last name is St. James.” I state.
“Technically my last name is St. James-Russo on my birth certificate. I chose to drop the Russo for business purposes.” Dominique explains.
Davide shakes his head. “So, you couldn’t call me and let me know you were going to be in town?”
“It was a last-minute decision, Davide. I was anxious to get here to make sure Max and his family was alright. I was going to call you...eventually.” She replies.
“Wait until Papa finds out about this because I’m sure you haven’t called him either. You’re going to have a lot explaining to do!” He huffs then turns to Maxillo. “And you, I’m just going to let you know now I don’t approve of you seeing my baby sister.”
Maxillo attempts to go at him again but Dominique wraps her arms around his waist before saying, “Well, since my love life is none of your concern, it doesn’t matter what you approve of. I’m a grown woman; Davide and I can see whoever I choose too!”
Davide smirks at her. “Yeah, but since I am your big brother and head of our family, I have every right in voicing my opinion about your love life but it’s cool we’ll see what papa has to say about this.” They glare at one another as Davide pulls out his cell phone and places a call.
“Ciao, papà. Sì, sono ancora da Don Romano. Papà sapevi che Dominique è qui? La sto fissando. è qui con il suo ragazzo. Ok, aspetta... (Hello, papa. Yes, I’m still at Don Romano’s.
Papa, did you know Dominique is here? I’m looking right at her.
She’s here with her boyfriend. Okay, hold on).
” Davide grins showing all his teeth as he holds the phone out to Dominique. “Papa wishes to speak to you.”
We watch, still dumbfounded as she gives him a death look. Dominique breaks her silence, “I can’t stand you” She counters before snatching the phone from him.
“Ciao, papa...So papà, stavo per chiamare...Sì, signore (Hello, papa...I know papa, I was going to call...yes, sir)” If looks could kill, Davide would drop to the floor.
She hands him back his phone. “He’s on his way over here.
” She rolls her eyes turning her attention to Maxillo with a soft smile.
“Max, can I speak to in private, please?”
The side of the gentle giant’s mouth turns up as he nods.
He takes her hand and lead her down the steps of the patio.
Davide watches them as they leave before yelling out, “I wouldn’t go too far, Dominique!
” She ignores him as she Maxillo take a seat on the bench in the backyard.
I truly hope Davide doesn’t try to come between those two because we all know how Maxillo feels about Dominique and I don’t think any of us would be able to stop him from trying to destroy Davide.
“Nothing better happen to my little sister, Axl!” Davide sneers hawking me.
“She’s in good hands, so you have nothing to worry about.” I return with a daring look. Shit, he might run his family but he’s wasn’t running shit over here.
After father informed the kid’s he now had Disney Plus added in the den, they ran into the house to get cleaned up so they could spend the next few hours binge watching movies until it was time for dinner. The ladies said their goodbyes and disappeared into the house after them.
Twenty minutes later, Alessandro came walking out on the patio with a not so pleasant look on his face but it quickly changed when Dominique ran into his arms. It was obvious he was overjoyed to see her.
“Mio piccolo, sono così felice di vederti (My little one, I’m so happy to see you).” He says pulling back, looking at her. “Ma sono ancora arrabbiato con te per non aver chiamato il tuo papà (But I am still upset with you for not calling your papa).”
“I’m sorry, papa. I promise I was going to call you.” She gives him a pouty look with sad eyes.
Alessandro chuckles. “How could I stay mad at that face, that’s how you always got your way when you were a little girl.” As he hugs her again, she looks over at Davide and sticks her tongue out at him. He cocked his head to the side squinting his eyes at her.
Dominique then introduced Alessandro to Maxillo, who stood tall and gave him a firm handshake, never breaking eye contact with the old Don.
Alessandro smiled at him before he leaned in and whispered something in Maxillo’s ear.
Maxillo’s face remained stoic as he listened to his words.
When Alessandro was done, he lifted his head boring his eyes into Maxillo.
Maxillo gave a tight-lipped smile before lowering his head.
After visiting for a while longer, Luca, Matteo, Davide and Alessandro left but not before confirming our dinner plans for tomorrow night.
The rest of the afternoon we spent down in father’s garage admiring his vast collection of cars and trucks.
I fell in love with the all black 1970 Plymouth Barracuda.
This was an elite muscle car with all of its original parts.
It showroom clean and I didn’t want to put fingerprints on it so I stood back admiring it.
I guess father saw how completely in awe I was over it, he walked up to me with the keys in his hand.
“Take her for a spin son.” He offers handing the keys to me.
I stared at his hand then back at him. “I can’t do that. This is one of you prized collections and if I get behind the wheel of this beast, I’m going to run her wide open. So, if you want her to stay in mint condition you really shouldn’t offer me those keys.”
He chuckles. “That’s the point. I haven’t driven this car in over eight years.
Giamo makes sure the maintenance on all the vehicles are kept up so I think they all need to be driven.
” He turns to the other men. “Gentlemen, I think it’s time we take a drive through the countryside.
” The Corner’s and James smiled as if they knew what he was suggesting.
“Gentlemen, choose your fancy.” The older men nonchalantly walked over sport cars of their choosing and stood in front of them.
When my brothers, Zo, Nolan, Marco, Reese and Maxillo saw what the old heads were doing, they scrambled to pick the cars and trucks they want to drive.