The Russos 9

by D. J. Manly

  Again there was a lot of laughter from the assembled guests, along with some hoots and hollers at Mac.

  "Janet, let me warn you..." Drake looked over at his ex-wife. "You're going to notice a big difference between your first wedding night and this one. This wedding night will be much shorter."

  Mac was laughing hard, his face red. Janet too was laughing.

  "Anyway, I'm finished. I wish you both happiness and if I had to watch my ex-wife marry anyone today, I'm glad it was you."

  There was some 'ahhs' coming from the crowd.

  Mac got up and embraced Drake, kissing him on both cheeks. Janet too rose, and kissed Drake.

  Next, Janet's best friend, Kate Dawson, got up to speak. She had grown up in Brooklyn with all of them but no one except Janet had seen her in years. There was no one else but Kate Janet wanted for her maid of honour. Kate had always been overweight; now she was quite enormous, but she was the best friend in the world. She had gotten married ten years ago and had three children. She worked in one of the big grocery stores in Brooklyn. Kate was always the comedian.

  "I wish the couple all the good things in life," she began. "But I have one complaint that I really can't keep inside anymore. I didn't want to have to dress in this funny dress and do this thing, but Janet bribed me."

  Janet gasped with a big grin and made a face at her.

  Kate shook her head. "No, if the real truth be told, my best friend bribed me by telling me that Drake Russo was going to be the best man and that he was going to be my escort for the evening. Who wouldn't dress in these silly dresses for that...you, sir," she pointed to one of the guests, "even you would dress in this thing if you thought you'd be Drake Russo's date for the evening."

  People were laughing and clapping loudly. Drake was laughing so hard, he was in tears.

  "Anyway," Kate shook her head, "it was a lie. I was lured, seduced and I find out that Drake is not available, so Janet," she looked at her, "I'm very disappointed that you would treat your friend with such contempt, crush her hopes, her dreams, but just the same, I love you, girlfriend and I know you guys will be very happy together, but as for me..." She hung her head sadly.

  Drake rose from his seat now and the crowd gasped as he walked over to the other side of Janet and stood in back of Kate.

  Kate turned around and actually blushed when she saw him.

  Drake took Kate in his arms, turned her around, tipped her over the wedding table and kissed her full on the lips. The kiss lasted for at least a minute.

  Tony looked at his father. Johnny was laughing.

  Finally, Drake released Kate, who was fanning herself.

  "I can't stand to see anyone feeling deprived." He grinned, again inviting uncontrolled laughter.

  The speeches and toasts went on for at least two hours. Finally, the party began to drift away from the table. There was a full orchestra playing classical music on the back gallery.

  The Russo Brothers' instruments were set up inside.

  "Are they going to play?" Tony asked Frank as he stood beside him a little while later, sipping champagne.

  "For awhile. Not Mac. Why don't you play with them?"

  "I haven't been asked," Tony muttered. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."

  "Ready?" Frank laughed as his girlfriend returned and hung on his arm. "Drake has already drunk a gallon of champagne. He's wasted. Anyone would be ready next to him."

  Tony laughed.

  Other guests were arriving, those who weren't at the supper. Three-quarters of the floor in the hallway was covered with gifts.

  Janet and Mac were the centre of attention. Tony got only one opportunity to hug his aunt and he managed to wave to Mac across the room and mouth 'congratulations'.

  Mac raised his glass at him and smiled.

  Tony was caught talking to people he had recently met at the studio where they had done the video.

  People were complimenting him on his performance.

  He was walking tall.

  Angelo had disappeared. Tony hadn't seen him since suppertime. He hoped that he hadn't left. No, he wouldn't. It was his mother's wedding. His own father, Drake and Pepi were also busy, being swept away by the many people wanting to talk with them.

  Tony found a corner and another glass of champagne and sat himself in it.

  Around eight o'clock, his father was tuning his guitar. Then Drake came towards him and leaned over to where he sat in the corner. "Here you are. Are you hiding?" he asked.

  "No, resting," Tony replied. "What's up?"

  "We're going to play a bit so people can dance. Mac is not working tonight, so I'm taking the drums. You want to help out, play guitar?"

  The request caught him off-guard. "I...I don't feel ready for---" Tony began.

  "You're ready. I'm not looking for perfection tonight. It's just for fun. I asked Angelo to play lead guitar. Can you play bass?"

  Tony nodded with relief. "Sure. I feel okay on bass."

  "Good, follow me, kid," Drake held out his hand and pulled Tony to his feet.

  As he walked toward the front of the big room where his uncle Pepi was sitting behind the piano, he saw Angelo come over and pick up his father's guitar.

  He plugged it into the amplifier and proceeded to tune it. He didn't look at him at all.

  His father picked up his own guitar and smiled over at his nephew.

  Drake hoisted himself up behind Mac's drum set and pointed out the bass guitar, which was leaning against the huge bay window.

  Tony went to pick it up and like the others, he plugged it in and checked the chords. It had already been tuned.

  Mac came over to where Drake sat and began saying something to him that caused Drake to push him out of the way and laugh.

  Drake adjusted the mike in front of his mouth and hit it a couple of times to check the feedback. The small vibrating noises got the crowd's attention. People turned to look at the makeshift stage and there was some applause.

  "Hey," Drake muttered, "we haven't started yet. We're going to play a few songs for you because hey, we're not being paid tonight!"

  The people laughed.

  "Anyway, Johnny's son Tony and my son, Drake Junior, have agreed to help us out. Mac is not happy about me using his drums. He thinks I'm going to pierce a hole in them or something. Anyway, I'll do my best. The first song we're going to do is at least ten years old. It's one of my favourites. It's called, 'Love Crimes'.

  Johnny nervously stepped up in front of his mike. A hand suddenly reached over and pulled the mike up a little so that it was more level with his mouth.

  Tony looked into Angelo's face. "Thanks," he said, "I'm nervous."

  "It shows," he responded simply and moved away again.

  Drake began counting, "One...one two three four," and by some miracle, they all began together. It went quite well actually, and by the middle of the number, Tony felt quite relaxed.

  Angelo was in another world when he performed.

  He was moving and dancing, his face expressing the intensity of the chords he played. He was quite fascinating to watch and as Johnny scanned the crowd, he realized that most eyes were riveted on him.

  Drake played mean drums. Tony was impressed.

  People were dancing and hopping around to the music. Mac and Janet also danced close to the front.

  Mac made faces at Drake whenever he wasn't pleased with what he heard. At one point, Drake stuck his tongue out at him. Tony was laughing so hard that it was a wonder he even was able to play the chords.

  The song ended to a long applause and then Drake shouted out, "How about 'My Life is No Good Without Rock 'n Roll!'"

  Cheers went up. Tony looked at his father. He liked this song, but the bass part was somewhat challenging.

  As if reading his thoughts, his father came and took the bass from him. He went over to Angelo and said something. Angelo handed Johnny the guitar he held in his hands. Johnny gave the guitar to him and Angelo picked up the bass.

  To
ny was pleased. He could play the lead to this song quite well and Drake had actually taught him to play this song on this very guitar. It was quite overwhelming to be up here on stage with these exceptional musicians, Drake Russo's electrical guitar in his hands. It was a dream he would have never even dared dream a few years ago.

  Angelo handled the bass guitar as easily as he did the lead and several times, Tony was almost lost in watching his cousin's fingers glide over the strings.

  They played several more songs after that, and then Tony begged off. He was tired. Pepi also went to join the guests. Only Drake, Johnny and Angelo kept playing.

  Tony watched them as he sipped on his champagne.

  They were smiling at each other, meeting each other's eyes as they sang songs as familiar to them as their own names.

  They began to improvise, rock hard and with extended musical interludes. The crowd was swept away by them and when Angelo began to sing with his father, their beautiful voices belting out, "Touch me and take me tonight." There wasn't one person in the room who weren't seduced by them. They were magic.

  People were yelling, "Ya...ya..." as they sang.

  Johnny began singing background, harmonizing with his tenor pitched voice, blending expertly with Drake and his son's deeper, raunchier style of singing.

  It was the best Tony had ever heard. People stopped dancing. They stood in awe as the three of them began to sing without music, reaching impossible notes. Then Angelo struck his guitar again, Johnny joined him, Drake pounded the drums. They were wet with perspiration, and Tony doubted they even knew where they were any more. It was like sex to them, one orgasmic rush after another.

  Johnny and Angelo were back to back now, hammering their guitars, the notes were climbing with an intensity that sent shivers down Tony's spine. There was nothing more sexual, more sensual, more erotic than Drake, Johnny and Angelo were at that moment. It was raw, naked, honest. It was better than drugs. When it was over, the crowd didn't applaud, they couldn't move. They all felt as if they had been a trip. They were high and they were overwhelmed. These three men on stage had taken them hostage, driving them to a feverish crescendo. Someone began to clap very slowly and then there were whistles and yells and loud, unrestrained applause.

  Tony went up to his father and hugged him. Angelo went over to his father and they slapped palms and gave each other identical grins.

  They played no more that night, despite the crowd's pleading. They knew that there was no way to top that performance. A variety of top rock tunes came over the speakers. People began to dance again. Everyone was talking about Drake's son and how amazingly talented he was.

  People came and complimented Tony as well. He was heart warmed by the response. His father was proud of him. He bragged about him throughout the room until Tony finally told him to stop.

  "You're embarrassing me, Dad," he said.

  "Well, you did so well. You haven't had the years of practise that Angelo has had and yet you held your own out there. Toward the end, you looked almost comfortable."

  "I think I was, but I was a little distracted..." Tony gave his father a knowing smile.

  His father nodded. "I noticed that. I also noticed that people in the crowd were watching him rather closely."

  "He's very pleasant to watch," Tony smiled softly.

  "Let's face it, the guy's young, and remember I told you that one day he was going to be almost painful to look at because he'd be so gorgeous...well, that day is here. He's beautiful and he moves like...well...I don't need to tell you and God, he can play that guitar. It's heaven to hear him play."

  Johnny placed his hands on his son's shoulders.

  "God, you are in love."

  Tony closed his eyes. "It's the last thing in the world I thought would happen. I'd do anything to change it. It was only supposed to be sex, Dad."

  Tony opened his eyes. His father nodded. "Yep."

  Johnny patted his back and walked over to talk to some people he knew.

  At midnight, Mac and Janet made their grand exit.

  They were finally going to use the Christmas gift that Pepi, Drake and Johnny had put on the tree for them last year. They were going to a small island off of Fiji for two whole weeks, where they would have privacy and enjoy every luxury.

  Janet took her son aside before leaving and asked him to take care of the wedding gifts before he left to go back to Phoenix. He promised that he would help Carter take them all back to the house.

  "Mom, are you and Mac going to live in the house at Malibu?" Angelo wanted to know.

  "For now," she answered, "but as soon as we get back, Mac wants to look for another house. He's going to sell his. Anyway, I spoke to your father about it. He wants me to give the house to you. I'll have the papers drawn up. If you don't want to live in it, sell it. We'll talk about it in a few weeks."

  Angelo didn't have much time to argue with her about it all. Other people were butting in to say goodbye, so he was pushed aside.

  Within a half hour, they had gone. Carter was taking them to the airport in the limo, which had a big 'Just Married' sign stuck in the back windshield.

  Angelo stood beside his father and waved goodbye.

  All around them were as many people as could fit outside the front door. Johnny was stuck way at the back and Tony didn't even make it out the door, but that was all right. He had managed to say goodbye earlier.

  People gradually drifted back inside the house. For some, the party had just begun.

  By quarter after three, there were still at least fifty people in and around Drake's house. Some were dancing quietly together in the corner. Others were involved in lively conversations. One couple got into a terrible fight, and the woman threw a punch at the guy.

  Johnny quickly stepped in and calmed them down. The wife left in a huff and the husband turned his attention to one of the young women who appeared to be on her own, but in this town, who knew.

  Pepi was talking to a woman that no one had ever seen before. She was a beautiful woman, a Sophia Loren double and at least twice Pepi's age. They seemed quite cosy, huddled together on the sofa.

  Frank Carr was in a heavy discussion with Johnny at one point while Drake lingered near by, playing a soft tune on the grand piano.

  Tony came to join Frank and his father. He was tired and he had drunk far too much champagne. He wondered when people were finally going to leave. He assumed that he would be staying with Drake tonight because it didn't look like his Dad, Pepi or Frank had any intention of leaving.

  It occurred to Tony as he sat listening to Frank and his father discuss the business end of the music industry that Frank's girlfriend was missing and he hadn't seen his cousin since the bride and groom left hours ago.

  When he got the opportunity to speak, he asked Frank where Trish was.

  Frank seemed unconcerned. "I don't know, Tony. Around, I guess." He turned his attention back to Johnny. "But the cost of promoting a rock group," he was saying, "counteracts that. It's damn expensive."

  Johnny shook his curly head and began to quote some figures of the millions and millions of dollars which was made at concerts.

  Tony sighed and stood up. He asked Drake if he had seen Angelo. He said no, and kept on with his piano tune. Tony walked outside. There were people asleep in lawn chairs and there was even one young guy who had passed out by the hedges.

  Tony smiled and shook his head as he walked around the house. He should check the outdoor pool.

  As drunk as everyone was, he hoped no one fell in. The floodlights around the back of the house illuminated his path as if it were the middle of the day. In fact, if it wasn't for the quarter moon grinning down at him from the sky, one would think it was still daytime.

  He checked his watch. It was almost four in the morning. Soon the sun would come up in the sky and the floodlights would go off. As he walked past the roses and around the corner, he stopped. He heard voices.

  "But it's a fair exchange," a female voice drawled a
nd then giggled loudly. The giggle sounded familiar to him.

  "Sex in exchange for drugs," a deeper, masculine voice commented dryly. "Do you often make these kinds of exchanges?"

  "Only with men who look like you," she returned huskily.

  "But it's too late, you already gave me a few drags off your cigarette and I don't want any more." There was teasing in that voice. "Besides, I can get it from almost anyone here at the party without having to pay for it."

  "Yes, but you had your toke, now you have to pay up," the female voice returned. "Show me yours and I'll show you mine."

  There was deep laughter. Tony recognized the other voice. He moved around the corner of the house to where he could see them. Trish, Frank's girlfriend was taking off her clothes in front of Angelo, who was sitting on the deck, his back against the wall of the house. His jacket was gone, his ruffled shirt opened to the waist, his long hair windblown.

  Trish was now entirely naked.

  Angelo looked wasted. He raised his eyes to her and smiled in a rather listless way, as if he couldn't care one way or another, what happened.

  "So?" she asked him, hands on her hips. "What do you think?" She paraded around naked in front of him and then leaned over and shook her breasts, which were pretty damn near perfect, in front of his face.

  "Nice," he said. "Great tits. Come here," he motioned with his hand, his gaze lingering on her breasts and moving down to the sculptured mat of hair between her long legs.

  "You have to come get me, baby," she invited, running a tongue over her shiny lips. "If you want it, come get it."

  Angelo managed to stand up.

  "Take off those clothes," Trish demanded. "I want to see if you're going to be worth it," she cooed. "Did I waste half a joint on you?"

  Angelo took off the shirt and threw it aside.

  She moved toward him. She ran her hands over his chest and growled. "Great muscle tone, is the bottom half as nice as the top?"

  "Nicer," he said softly, trying to pull her against him.

  She danced away from him.

  "I like them big and hard. Think you can accommodate me?"

  "Come closer and we'll see." He smiled enticingly at her.