by J. L. Drake
Vinni was waiting outside for me. I jumped in the car, and we drove away.
“How was your visit?”
“I’m still digesting it.”
“Bad or good?”
“I’m still unsure.”
“Sorry.” He went back to driving while I stared at the countryside, letting my tired head idle.
When I arrived at Elio’s, I hopped out with Vinni behind me. Francesco stepped out of the house with a handful of files. I didn’t break my step as I flung myself in Francesco’s arms, holding him tightly.
“Hey, are you okay?”
I nodded. I just needed the moment. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For my name.” I felt him stiffen, but he bent down, holding my shoulder, and whispered, “Sienna you can’t tell a soul about that. I mean, your mother should not have shared that.”
“I made her a promise to keep it quiet,” I assured him. “I will honor it, until I feel it’s safe to share it.”
“I hope you come to me before you ever make that call, because—”
“I know, people are looking for me.”
“That and…” He stopped himself. “Just talk to me first.”
“I will.” He smiled and got into Vinni’s car. Vinni looked at me strangely.
I gave him a wave and a smile, then I headed inside the house, where something smelled really good. Our earlier conversation suddenly hit me like a brick wall, so instead of heading to the kitchen, I decided to go upstairs, as I needed to go through a suitcase of my belongings. I had packed it the other day, and Vinni was kind enough to drop it off here without anyone noticing.
I found exactly what I was looking for and started to strip down.
“Okay.” I had checked each pot and was pleased everything was cooking just right. Flipping the hand towel over my shoulder, I sliced the homemade bread Donte had made me this morning and drizzled a little olive oil over top then set it on the dinner table in the next room. I dimmed the lights and lit the candles, thinking how nice the table looked.
I dropped the lighter, and it rolled under a stool. I bent and retrieved the little contraption, and just as I was about to stand, a pair of sexy heels appeared next to me. The air in my lungs stayed put as I dragged my gaze from her come-fuck-me heels, to her toned legs, to a very short black skirt that sat just below her ass. Still without a breath, I took in her stomach and her plump breasts that were barely tucked into her plunging neckline and then allowed my eyes to go to her gorgeous face. Slowly, I sucked in a deep breath as I stood. I kept my body inches from hers until I was towering over Sienna.
“Where were you?” I tried to play it cool, but my hands twitched with the need to touch her.
“Out.” She set her purse on the counter and broke eye contact with me.
“In that?”
“What smells so good?” She avoided my question and brushed by me to peek inside one of the pots. “I didn’t know you cooked.”
“Mama wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
“I love that woman.” She chuckled as she leaned over, and her breasts almost fell out of her top.
“It’ll be ready in just a few minutes.” I moved close to her and poured us a glass of wine. Her perfume attacked my defenses, and I gave in and inhaled her fresh scent. “Thirsty?” I whispered, trying to rein in the fact that I wanted to toss her perfect ass up onto the counter and devour every inch of this perfect woman.
“I am.” She took the glass from me and sipped, watching me. “How was your day?”
“Frustrating.”
“Sorry to hear that.” She played with her necklace.
“I heard what you brought to Papa today. That was a pretty big discovery.”
“I’m just glad I heard what I did before anything more could happen.”
I studied her face, wondering what the odds were that she would have overheard two big things, one after the other. “How was the rest of your day?”
She turned away and moved to look out the window. “It was interesting.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, and I could tell something was bothering her.
The timer went off, so I filled our plates and motioned for her to move into the dining room.
“Filetto di maiale sott’olio,” I announced, filling her in on what I had made. “It’s one of my favorites.”
“It looks really good.” She tried a piece of the pork and moaned at the taste. “I’m impressed.”
“Happy to hear it,” I leaned back in my chair and started to eat. Although, ten minutes in, all I could hear was Nonna’s conversation playing like a loop inside my head. It didn’t help that she called just moments before Sienna arrived, asking me some questions. Ones I didn’t have the answers to.
“I found you a new driver.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, Abramo will be your new driver.”
“Who is that?”
“Nonna’s consigliere.” She quickly turned to look at me and became still. “What? He’s been in the family since before me. He’s trustworthy, and he’d take a bullet for you. That’s what I want for you.”
“Why? Won’t she still be needing him?”
“She doesn’t go out often, if ever, and she said you two can work it out. It’ll be good. It will help you two get closer.”
She started to protest. “I’m not sure.”
I grew frustrated with her hesitation. After all, I had spent a lot of time and energy finding her the ideal driver.
“It will be perfect. What’s not to like about it? I’m confident.” I handed her a card with his number on it. “Enter it into your phone.”
“So, that’s it?” Her eyebrows drew together.
“No.” With Nonna’s voice in my head, I decided to ask. “I want to ask a couple questions. I’d like to know how many men you dated during the time we weren’t together.”
She lowered her fork and cleared her throat. “Is that really something you want to know?”
“Yes.”
“Three. One lasted a while.”
“Who was the one that lasted a while?”
“Martin. He was a decent guy, but we wanted different things, and eventually, well, that was what ended it.”
“What things?”
She shifted uncomfortably, which piqued my interest even more.
“He wanted to get married, and I didn’t. He wanted to have kids, and I didn’t.”
“You don’t want those things?”
“I do, just not with him.”
I nodded and took a sip of my wine. I couldn’t help but watch her breasts. They were like magnets that pulled my mouth toward them.
“What else?” Her expression was unreadable.
“What was living on the streets like?”
“Very different than living in a mansion,” she shot back, and I felt my temper spike.
“I was simply asking. Did you ever find yourself in any trouble or mixed up in something like drugs?”
“Drugs?” She shook her head at me like I was crazy. “What is this? When have you ever wondered if I was on drugs?”
“It’s just a question, Sienna.”
“Is it, though? Because somehow this feels more like an interrogation.”
“It’s not. I’m just doing what needs to be done to protect my family.”
“To protect your family?” Her eyes widened. “Elio, really?”
“I don’t see what the big deal is here.” She looked away, and I could tell she was trying to control herself. “I’m just making sure I know everything before, you know, before we go any further.” She suddenly stood, tossed her napkin on the table, and walked out the front door.
Anger coursed through me, fanned with a little guilt. I refused to go after her. I tossed my fork, sent a text to the guys that I wanted a family meeting, and started to clean up. I bent a lot of rules with Sienna, and it was time she learned who was in charge here. Still, I g
lanced at the window, hating that she left the way she did.
Just as I finished cleaning the counters, I heard the guys arrive.
“Elio cooked?” Vinni looked at his brother over his shoulder. “Damn, I didn’t have any time to prepare myself.” He made a show of himself, studying his reflection in the microwave, fixing his hair.
“Where is the pretty little lady?” Harris, Niccola’s good friend and one of our soldiers, smiled and set a box of beer on the counter.
“Out,” I grunted, not wanting to talk about it.
“Oh, shit,” Niccola eyed Harris, “sounds like things aren’t going well.”
I made myself a sidecar and motioned for them to follow me into the living room, where I had the game table all set up.
“Evening, all.” Papa entered from the back door with Francesco. “Ready to lose some money?”
“Always,” Vinni sighed shuffling the cards.
I couldn’t get my head on straight, and I knew everyone sensed it. Twice I folded, even though I had great hands.
“I’d ask what’s wrong,” Papa cleared his throat, “but I only know of one person who can get you this out of sorts.”
“Just a disagreement, that’s all.” I huffed as Vinni tossed down a nine of hearts and I finally was able to get rid of my ten. “She just needs some time to cool off.”
“Is her mother harping in her ear again?” Niccola asked, which made me look over.
“I didn’t know she was.”
“The night of Vinni’s party, I heard her mother saying Sienna should be looking at us for answers about her past.”
“What?” That was odd. “Why would she say that?”
“Elenora carries some old wounds from the Capri family.” Francesco came to her defense. “However misinformed, she still has the scars. Those issues have since been cleared up, Niccola.”
“Sometimes it’s easier to hate.” Niccola shrugged. “She’s not happy about Sienna being with you, and I’m guessing she will work her way in between the two of you.”
“Sienna knows better.” Papa shook his head. “She’s different.”
“What if she’s not?” slipped out of my mouth, surprising even myself. When Vinni’s face suddenly froze, and Harris closed one eye, I knew someone was behind me.
Sienna came into view with an armful of books. Her face was pale, and her mouth was set in a tight line.
“Excuse the interruption.” She set the books on the bar top and put her hands on her hips. She was still in her sexy black dress and heels, and I noticed Vinni was gawking, so I pinched the back of his knee, and he yelped and glared at me.
“What are those, dear?” Papa smiled warmly.
“I started to journal when I was younger, to help ease the chaos around me. Maybe it will help to clear up any concerns you might have about my past.” She made a point to look directly at me. “These are the most important things I own, next to these.” She grasped the pendants that hung from her neck. Then she rested her hand on the journals for a moment before she turned on her heel and marched from the house without looking back.
“What did you do?” Papa didn’t miss a beat.
“What I had to do.” I snatched my glass off the table and headed to the bar to fix another drink. I didn’t really need it. My head already spun, but the rest of me was twisted in a giant knot.
“What does that mean?” He followed me.
“I’m just doing my job.”
“Hurting Sienna is doing your job?” He let out a long sigh. “Oh, son, doing your job should never hurt the ones you love. I never taught you to do that.”
“I have a duty to the family, to protect us. I mean, do we have any idea where she was for the past ten years?”
“Time to go.” Niccola motioned for the guys to make a hasty exit while Francesco stayed put in his seat.
“How do we know that she didn’t get tangled up into something that can blow back on the family? Think of the parties, the dinners, the lunches we had when we lived in Sicily. Everyone knew she and I were together. What if, after we left, they approached her asked her questions, offered her money to come find us?”
Francesco spoke up. “I knew where she was for most of the time after we left. I know she had ample opportunity to use the Capri name to get help or to exchange information, but she never did. And if she did know anything about who we really were, which I know she didn’t, we’d know it by now. That girl took every hit in life and never once used her connection with your family for anything.”
“And are you her father?” I shot back. I did wonder about that, but right now I was also just looking for a fight to rid myself of some of the anger.
“No,” he made a sad face, “her father was killed.”
Suddenly, her words, can you mourn for someone you’ve never met, came rushing back to me.
“Where is this coming from, Elio?” Francesco asked.
I wanted to explain, but something held me back. Maybe Nonna was right, maybe Papa was too soft with Sienna. He always had been right from when they met.
“Boss?” Donatello was in the doorway of the living room. He nodded out of respect to my family. “My apologies for the interruption.”
“Out with it.” I waved my hand, welcoming the change in topic.
“I just got word that Jacob Raine’s been poking around the New York dockyard and talking to people he shouldn’t be about you and yours.”
I glanced at Papa, who gave me a nod. It was time to deal with Jacob Raine once and for all. I could feel my excitement brewing at the idea of a good hunt and the ensuing bloodshed. If I focused very carefully, I could feel Zazzero clawing his way back to the surface.
I packed my bag and waited long into the wee hours of the morning. I sipped a drink and tried to be patient, but Sienna didn’t come back.
I eyed her journals and wondered which one held the heartbreak of me leaving without a trace or perhaps which one held a secret. I pushed Nonna’s words out of my head and leaned forward to slide out the third journal from the top and rested it on my leg. My thumb fiddled with the cover, wondering if I wanted to know the truth this way…
“Trust is everything, grandson.” Nonna held my hand in hers. “If there is the tiniest shred of doubt, there’s something wrong.”
I opened the book and scanned the first page.
Wyatt left me another meal outside the bar tonight, covered in tinfoil. I’m glad he knew the rats and flies would attempt to feast before me and had made sure they couldn’t. He’s kind to me, but I couldn’t help staying hidden in the shadows as I ate the bread. Food still has no taste, colors are still dull, and I’m still completely hollow. My heart beats lonely inside me.
I used to wonder where he was all the time, but it consumed me.
Was he okay? Had he moved on? Did he ever think of me?
Now I let my imagination paint me a better picture, one of a man looking for his lost love. But still, every night I say goodnight to the stars, and when I wake up and take a breath, feeling the sun on my face, I hope that somewhere, somehow, he is doing the same. That he can feel me.
I snapped the book closed, squeezed my eyes shut, and felt guilty that it had come to this. I would go through them more later, but right now her words cut deep. Yet, on some level, it made me feel a little better reading her words and knowing she’d felt the same way I’d felt at that time. Tossing the book aside, I leaned forward to stare out the window.
The light in her bedroom at the Hill House never turned on, and I wondered what she was up to. I could have gone to look for her, and maybe I should have, but I also wanted to let the darkness seep into my veins to be ready to deal with Jacob. I dwelled on every inch of the conversation we’d had and thought of him as he carved his initial into my woman’s skin, touching and hurting what was mine.
Minute by minute, I sank back into my old self, the person I had become after I had left Sicily without her. The tunnel vision, the racing heartbeat, the manic thinking of one
thing only—to kill. I was born into this life, and although we presented ourselves as reserved and classy to the outside world, beneath it all we had learned to be ruthless. Now, I would honor my roots with Raine’s blood on my hands.
The next morning, I unfolded from the bedroom chair, grabbed my bag, and headed up to the Hill House where the guys were prepared to leave with me.
“Morning, boss.” Vinni poured me a cup of coffee and tried to gauge my mood. There wasn’t one; I was on autopilot.
“Good morning, boys.” Mama floated around the kitchen making small talk with Donte. “Be sure to eat a good breakfast before you leave.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Niccola shoved a pastry in his mouth.
“When you see Sienna,” Mama stirred her hot tea, “could you please send her to see me?”
I nodded once and went back to reading emails on my phone.
“Don’t you three look sharp.” Mariano strolled in. For once, he didn’t look like he was up all night long. He made my eye twitch. “Whose funeral are we crashing today?” He looked around when no one bit at his tasteless humor. “Anyway, where’s Sienna? I want to take her to the beach today. Her in a string bikini makes my mouth water.”
I slammed my cup down and stood towering over the man I once considered my best friend. Mama caught my attention, and her eyes begged me to calm down.
“I need a moment, then we’re leaving.” I couldn’t curb my murderous tone as I hurried down the hallway and up the stairs to my bedroom. “Sienna.” The room was empty. I immediately tried her room, but the door was locked. Using my key, I opened the door to find Sienna packing a suitcase.
“Where are you going?” My voice made her jump and drop her shirt.
“I’m going home.”
“The hell you are.” I moved into the room, closing the door behind me.
“Elio, I just need a break.”
“From me?”
“From everyone. You all forget that my life has stalled staying here, my job, my social life, my responsibilities. I did that because you asked me to, but now,” she shook the emotion from her head, “I’m being questioned by you.” Her voice cracked on the last word. “I know the risks, and I know how this might look to everyone, but I don’t care. I’m taking some time because I need it.”