by Hamel, B. B.
And I knew he could give it to me, if only I’d ask.
“Come on, little wife,” he said, and helped me get dressed. We went back upstairs and into my room without speaking, and he got me into bed, then curled up behind me. I felt taken and protected, and I shifted back against him as his stubbled chin brushed the nape of my neck, and he let out a soft, animalistic sigh as he smelled my hair, then kissed me again.
We stayed like that in the dark, and drifted off to sleep.
15
Dean
I slipped out of her room early. No reason to wake her up. She drifted off almost immediately, like the sex took a lot out of her.
It left me craving her. As soon as I went back to my room and got changed, all I wanted to do was go back into that bed and smell her and taste her and fuck her again.
But I had calls to make, family to console, soldiers to reassure. I had to find a replacement for Lorenzo sooner rather than later, and make sure that any of his kin were taken care of. The Valentino family made sure nobody got left behind.
It took a lot out of me. Anger rolled through me in waves, anger mixed with sorrow. I hated losing anyone, especially a Capo. My Capos were my hands and my fingers, the men that ran the streets for me, that followed orders and made sure the family ran smoothly. If I was the heart and the brains, they were the blood and the muscle.
Losing a Capo was a very big deal. For all the years my father ran the family, he’d lost so few men, only a handful of Capos. I’d been in charge for weeks, and already one was dead on my watch. It ate at me, and the need for revenge was like a disease.
Around nine, I went back upstairs. The calls were over, and now it was only a matter of picking a replacement and giving the soldiers what they wanted.
Blood and money. It was always blood and money.
Mags looked at me from beneath the sheets. She had them pulled up to her chin, and she stretched like a cat with an uncertain smile on her lips. I wasn’t sure how she wanted to play this—if we were going to talk about what happened the night before, or if she was going to pretend like it hadn’t happened.
“Morning,” I said.
“Morning.” She shifted a little and sat up. “What time is it?”
“Past nine,” I said. “I figured you’d need to sleep in since you had such a workout last night.”
She blushed. “Oh, right. Thank you.”
I smiled and stepped into the room. She wanted to ignore it then. Well, I wouldn’t let her. “I know you’re probably wondering when I’m going to fuck you again, but please, I think I need a little space.”
Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”
I held up my hands. “I like you, Mags. You’re beautiful, you really are, and I want to taste your delicious, dripping little cunt and do all the nasty things you ever dreamed of, but please. You’re smothering me.”
“You’re such a dick,” she said, throwing a pillow.
I knocked it away with a laugh. “I’m only speaking my truth.”
“Seriously. Such a dick.” Another pillow spun at my head. I ducked and it hit the wall. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing,” I said, drifting closer. “You’re running out of pillows.”
She glared and grabbed the last two. “Come closer. Seriously. Come give me a kiss.”
“Only if you take off your panties first.”
She threw both pillows and I let them hit me with a laugh. She sighed and fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Don’t make me regret last night,” she said.
“I don’t think you will.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “But you’re not staying inside all day today and sulking.”
“Why not?” she asked, glancing at me.
Fuck, she was beautiful. Even with messy hair and bad breath, she was gorgeous.
“Because you lie around and feel sorry for yourself too much,” I said. “Come out and enjoy the world.”
“Don’t be a dick,” she said. “I lie around and feel sorry for myself because I’m stuck with you.”
I laughed and stood up. “Fair enough, but you’re still coming out with me.”
“What are we doing?” she asked.
“I need to pick a replacement for Lorenzo,” I said. “I’ve got someone in mind. I want you to come with me while I tell him.”
She frowned and tapped at her tooth with her fingertip. “Are you sure?” she said, then ran a hand through her hair. “That sounds like mafia business.”
“You’re my wife,” I said. “It’s your business now.”
She opened her mouth then shut it again. I didn’t want to leave her home alone today, not when she’d spend all afternoon thinking about the sex and wondering if she made some horrible mistake. I wanted to bring her into my life more, if she’d let me.
“All right, fine,” she said. “Even if I’m a fake wife.”
“Political marriages can sometimes turn to real, lasting love,” I said.
She snorted. “Name one.”
“I can’t, but I’ll Google it.”
“Go away,” she said. “I’ve got to get dressed.”
“And I can’t watch?”
“No, you can’t.” She looked around. “If I had more pillows—”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” I said, and walked to the door. I picked one of the pillows up and threw it back at her. She caught it and laughed, then put it back under her head. “I want to leave in twenty. So hurry your ass up.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, making a face.
“Sir?” I asked, touching my chin. “I think I prefer Daddy.”
“I’ll call you Daddy the day I learn how to fly,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Twenty,” I repeated, and left her alone to get changed.
* * *
I parked outside a rundown-looking bar on Passyunk street and climbed out. Mags followed, dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt that showed off a hint of cleavage. I could’ve sworn the girl was trying to tease me.
The room was smoky and dark, and the chairs were still up on the tables to the left. Gian stood behind the bar wiping glasses, and a few mafia guys sat on stools. I spotted the man I was looking for, nodded at Gian, and held up a hand to get everyone’s attention.
“I need a minute with Matteo,” I said. “You all wait outside.”
Nobody hesitated. That was good. They filed out, all except Matteo, with his dark hair and dark eyes. He glared at me like I was about to dress him down for doing something stupid. Gian remained behind the bar, wiping glasses.
I looked at him, head cocked. “Don’t you got something better to do?” I asked. “You don’t strike me as the bartending type.”
He laughed and poured himself some whiskey. “Ash usually watches it during the day but she went out for lunch,” he said. “So I’m on duty.”
“I thought I paid you to run my crew.”
“Don’t worry,” he said, shrugging. “I do that too.”
I grunted and sat down. Mags took the stool next to me, and Gian slid her a gin and tonic with a wink.
“What can I do for you, boss?” Matteo asked. He had a half-full beer in front of him and a sour look on his face.
“I know you heard about Lorenzo,” I said.
He nodded and looked down at his hands. “Fucked up,” he said. “Wasn’t right. Not his time.”
“Any time could be our time in this business,” I said, glancing at Mags. She sipped her drink and said nothing. “He was a good man. Replacing him is going to be tough.”
Matteo grunted and rapped his knuckled on the bar. “Damn right it’ll be hard,” he said. “Lorenzo had respect, you know? Can’t be a leader without it.”
I leaned toward him. “Do you have respect?” I asked.
He eyed me for a moment. “I might,” he said.
“How many guys in Lorenzo’s crew do you know?”
He leaned back and studied me before answering. “This seems like it’s a job interview,” he
said.
“That’s because it is.” I cocked my head. “How many do you know?”
“Close with a couple,” he said, eyes narrowed and face serious. “I know the rest well enough.”
“Would they follow you?” I asked.
He didn’t answer right away. I liked that. If he said yes immediately, I’d think he was a liar, saying whatever he needed to say in order to get the job. If he said no, then he was too timid.
But hesitating, and thinking, that showed he wasn’t just a smoking gun and a knife in the dark. He had some brains.
“I think so,” he said. “Most of them at least. Some are broken up about Lorenzo and won’t follow anyone at all until they get over it.”
I nodded and glanced at Gian. He grinned at me and shrugged a little, like that was the best answer he could’ve heard.
“You know Lorenzo was fighting on the front lines,” I said.
Matteo shrugged. “You gave him all the best jobs.”
“Gian too,” I said, nodding toward the Capo cleaning glasses like some hourly barman. “That right, Gian? You think the Healy family’s soft?”
“Not yet,” Gian said. “But they will be.”
I snorted. “What do you think, Matteo? You want to get your hands dirty?”
“Yes, sir,” he said, nodding sharply.
I looked back at Mags and winked. She rolled her eyes.
“I’m not saying you have the job,” I said, head cocked as I studied Matteo’s reaction. His back was straight, and his face was drawn and serious. “But if you can get the support of most of Lorenzo’s crew, then I’ll make it happen. You come to me when you’ve worked it out with them.”
“I’ll talk to everyone tonight,” Matteo said. “Thank you, Don Valentino.”
“You’re a good soldier,” I said. “You deserve it. Now get the fuck outta here.”
Matteo jumped up like a shot and nodded at me. I thought he might salute, but he ran out of there and left his beer behind.
I took it and polished it off. Gian gave me an appraising look.
“You’re sure about him?” he asked.
“We need someone willing to take the fight to the Healy family,” I said, and put a hand on Mags’s thigh.
She brushed it off. “He’s so young,” she said. “How old is he? Twenty?”
“Twenty-six,” I said. “Old enough. I was doing worse at his age.”
“You were the Don’s son,” Gian said.
“And I was running around with Ewan,” I said, grinning at the fond memories. “I had to earn respect the old-fashioned way.”
“I have to admit,” Mags said, “the way you guys talk about violence is pretty creepy.”
Gian laughed and threw the rag over his shoulder. “It’s a fact of life in this job,” he said. “I think we’d all rather if it didn’t happen, but you can’t escape it.”
“Some guys like it,” I said. “They tend to stay soldiers. Truth is, at the top of the family, it’s like running a business more than running an army.”
“Except for when there’s war,” Gian said.
The door pushed open then and a pretty young girl stepped inside. She looked at me, scowled, looked at Gian, scowled some more, then finally looked at Mags. She wore jeans and a black shirt, her blonde hair piled up on her head.
“Who the hell’s this?” she asked, gesturing at Mags.
“Hey, Ash,” I said. “This is my wife.” I touched Mags on the shoulder. “Meet Ash, Gian’s better half.”
“She’s usually nicer,” Gian said. “Well, usually.”
Ash glared at him, then gave Mags an enormous smile. “Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot.” She swept over and hugged Mags tightly, who seemed a little flustered.
“Nice to meet you too,” Mags said.
Ash had changed a lot since we first met. She came from money, a powerful, wealthy family, but she’d softened in some ways, and hardened in others. The violence and danger didn’t get to her as much, but she wasn’t so uptight and standoffish anymore. She was smart and warm and beautiful, and she made a great partner to Gian.
Looking at Mags and Ash, I wondered if maybe I made an equally good choice. Even if that choice had been pushed on me from the outside.
“I think I’m going to steal her for a minute,” Ash said, and took Mags by the hand. “Would you mind helping me in the back?”
“Uh,” Mags said, and looked at me for help.
“Go ahead,” I said, nodding. “Give me and Gian a second.”
Mags got up and let Ash lead her around the bar and into the back room. I watched them go with a smile, and Gian leaned against the bar near the beer taps. “You sure that’s a good idea?” he asked. “Sending those two alone in a room might be trouble.”
“I’m sure they’ll say nothing but nice things about me,” I said.
Gian snorted. “Yeah, man, that’ll totally happen,” he said.
I laughed then reached into my pocket. I had a small scrap of paper with an address written on it, and I slid it across the bar. Gian picked it up, read it, and frowned, head tilted to one side.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“I need you to do something for me,” I said. “I need you to leak that address.”
“What do you mean, leak it?” Gian waved the paper in the air.
“Tell a few guys that work in Roy’s crew,” I said, and met his gaze.
He stared back at me and his expression shifted into something serious. “There a reason for this right now?” he asked.
“Call it curiosity,” I said.
“You think there’s something going on.”
“I think a new Don can’t be too careful.”
Gian grunted and shook his head, but put the paper in his pocket. “And what am I going to tell the guys in Roy’s crew about this address?”
“Tell him it’s where the Don takes his new girl in the city,” I said.
“Any truth to that?”
“Could be,” I said. “Just make it happen, all right?”
“Yeah, all right.” Gian seemed troubled, but he didn’t press. I knew he wouldn’t be happy about this, but he was one of my best Capos, and I considered him a close friend. Of everyone in the family, I trusted him the most.
I pushed back from the bar. “I should go get Mags before Ash poisons her mind with horrible stories about me,” I said.
“You mean, before she tells the truth,” Gian said, though his smile seemed hollow.
I grinned and headed toward the back. Gian would do as he was told, even if the implications were dire. I couldn’t blame him for hesitating.
A rat within the mob was a nasty thing, and the fallout could be deadly.
16
Mags
Even though I only got to talk to her for a little while, it was nice meet another woman married to a mafia man. Ash was funny and kind, and I could see myself being friends with her. Although my marriage with Dean was based entirely on how much money he was going to pay me in five years, I still had to be around him for a while, so I might as well try to make the best of it.
Dean drove me around the city for the rest of the day. We made stops all over: Point Breeze, Girard Estates, East Oregon, Greenwich Lovely. Each time we went into a bar, or a house, and spoke with some of his solders. Most of them grieved for Lorenzo, and Dean did his best to listen to their stories about the fallen Capos, and to empathize with them as much as he could.
And he shared that grief. I saw it in the slump of his shoulders each time we got back in the car and went to a new location. It hung heavy on him, like he held a mountain, and each new stop only made that weight so much heavier. He was exhausted by the time we finished and parked outside of a house I didn’t recognize. The sun was setting over the buildings, and couples walked down the street with little dogs on leashes, yapping and jumping at each other. We were somewhere in Society Hill, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods. The houses were pristine and expensive, and the
re were no bars on the windows.
“Can I admit something to you?” I asked as we sat in silence.
“Sure,” he said, leaning his head back on the seat. He shut his eyes and sat very still, like he was falling asleep.
“I know you call this a family,” I said, looking down at my hands in my lap. I wondered when they’d gotten so thin and old-looking. “But I didn’t really get that until today.”
He turned his head in my direction and opened one eye. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“Well, I mean, it’s a mafia,” I said. “It’s a gang full of guys trying to make money doing crime, right? That’s the whole thing. You guys do crime. That doesn’t sound like a family to me at all.”
“But today you saw something different,” he said, his voice sounding thick.
“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “The way the guys talked about Lorenzo. They’re really upset, you know?”
“He was well liked,” Dean said.
“I mean, I guess I thought it wouldn’t be such a huge deal, you know? Since you all live with the threat of violence all the time. But you all care about each other.”
He laughed softly and ran a hand through his hair, tugging at it gently. “Sometimes I forget most people don’t grow up in this shit,” he said. “I think it warped me, you know? I think it stained me somehow.”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I said, and reached out on impulse. I took his hand in mine and squeezed it.
“The mafia’s always been my family,” he said. “They raised me as much as my father did. But I guess from the outside, we seem like a bunch of heartless criminals.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I said quickly, but it was what I meant. They did seem like monsters to me—Dean was a killer, they were all killers to some degree. Even the nice ones were hiding some darkness beneath their smiles.
Ash said she thought they were all broken men, but they could be fixed. She said she thought they could be redeemed, that Gian showed her they all have that spark inside. A potential for something better. It was an intense conversation, even if she was smiling the whole time.