Sing to Me

by V Domino

  As she straightens with a tray of bread and pasta, I tell her, “It went well. Drake got some old newspaper stories for you. He says your family is in quite a few photographs as well. He’ll be bringing them home soon.”

  She gives me one of her beautiful, beaming smiles that has my heart galloping. I can’t help but to lean down enough to kiss her. Her flavor invades my senses; the ginger mixed with her coffee is intoxicating. I forget where we are until I hear my father clear his throat and my mother’s soft giggle. I shrug when I pull away, looking toward my parents. My mom is smiling like she can hear the church bells ringing.

  Knowing her, she’s probably planning the wedding already.

  My father’s phone pings with a notification. “Yes, and I’ll be meeting with Chief Marquez tomorrow for lunch. I’ll get all the records of that night including witness statements and anything else useful, figlia. Also, we have some news to share with you while we eat.”

  My mother ushers us to the table. “Sia made fresh bread and Carla made this delicious looking Rigatoni, which is heating in the oven. Sit and I’ll have it all served in a few moments. Will Drake and Marco be here soon?”

  Sitting next to Sia with Carla directly across from her, I answer, “Marco is on his way now, Ma. Drake will be here for dinner, but he has some business to take care of right now.”

  Just then Marco’s frustrated voice can be heard coming from the side entry door that was once used for the servants in the old days. “Sì zio, lo dirò al capo. I’ll let the boss know... okay. Yeah.... Bye.”

  I hear a few more cuss words before my mother yells out, “Watch it, ragazzo! There are ladies present.” I guess that means my little sailor mouth woman hasn’t cussed in front of my mother. Of course my mother is kind of a hypocrite when it comes to swear words because I’ve heard her on more than one occasion cussing and she can put a degenerate to shame, let me tell you.

  “Perdonami, Mamma, forgive me. Zio has been on my back all day about Anastasia,” Marco says as he makes his way over to kiss our mother’s cheek.

  Sitting next to Carla, he reaches over and moves her hair over her shoulder and brushes her cheek with the back of his hand. “How are you, rossa? Feeling better? I brought you some migraine medicine so you won't be taking too many aspirins. They should get rid of that headache you have.”

  She gives him a watery smile. “I’m good, Marco, thank you.”

  I can’t hold my question back, so I interrupt their gooey stare down. “What’s Adriano want and how does he know about Sia?” I sound cold and I know it, but it’s no secret that I dislike my uncle. He is a fuck-up and an embarrassment to this family. He is a deadbeat stepfather and a lousy husband, but my father can’t do anything about it unless it directly interferes with business. Plus, he’s my father’s only brother.

  “I have no idea how he knows about her. I figured Papa told him. He wants to meet her and help look for Luca, but I’ve told him he’ll need to ask you or Pops. I don’t know why he’s pushing to meet her. It's not like he and Frankie got along, right?”

  “No, they didn’t,” my father answers, “but to hear of a surviving Romano, possibly two, well, I can understand why. Frankie was our brother. Adopted or not, he was my brother, but with Adriano being the youngest, they didn’t get on as kids. Frankie and I were always into something. As for how he knows, I don’t know either. I haven’t spoken to him. Maybe he heard Tommy and Peter talking about it. Which brings me back to the news we have for you, figlia.” But he doesn't continue; instead he nods to me.

  Sia looks at me like she's ready to slap someone if they don't start talking. "You have cousins. Tommy, Peter, Ariella, and Sophia Franco. Your mother was sisters with Marcella, whose husband died in the fire with your parents. She's remarried to our uncle Adriano."

  She's silent, but I can see the vein in her neck pulsing rapidly as she lets out a long exhale like she was holding her breath. "Do they know I'm alive? Do they remember me? Were we close as children?"

  She fires off questions back-to-back.

  “Tommy and Peter want to come visit you. Their sisters and mother don’t know about you as far as I know, but when you’re ready to see them we’ll have them over for dinner,” I tell her as she practically bounces with excitement.

  Seeing her happiness making her skin flush and the bright smile on her face makes my chest tighten.

  These fucking feelings.

  Not unwanted but definitely something I’ll have to grow used to, though looking at Sia, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to anything when it comes to her.

  “Oh, girl! I’m so excited for you! You have family here who’ve missed you, chica! This is great!” Carla says while clapping her hands with genuine joy. I’m thankful Sia has a friend in her. She’s good people. She’s going to be good for Marco too, but if he doesn’t stop with the gaga looks I’m going to throw something at him.

  Anastasia looks at my father with misty eyes. She could get away with murder looking like that.

  “Thank you, Zio, thank you so much for everything you all have done for me. I—” She doesn’t finish the sentence. Instead she covers her face and sobs a little. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her to my chest.

  “It’s okay, bella, you don’t have to thank us for this. That’s what family does for each other.” At that she picks up her head and quickly kisses me. She truly doesn’t have to thank us. She doesn’t realize, but my mother and father love her. I can see my brothers agree with me; even Nico the Cold warmed to her right away.

  “Okay, sorry about that,” Sia says, pulling back and wiping her eyes. “Just happy tears, I promise, but I was wondering. Zia, you told me a lot about my mother but besides our love for singing and looks I don’t feel like we have a lot in common. What was my father like, Zio?”

  Chuckling, my father says, “Your father was from the streets. His parents abandoned him at an early age, but he took care of himself. He was wild when we first met, like the street urchin he was. He also had a love for cars and had a collection of knives he planned to give to Luca. I still have the set and when we find your brother, I’ll have them cleaned to perfection for him. You remind me so much of your father and his skills with a blade.”

  Sia straightens and I see her eyes flare.

  My father notices it as well and continues, “Yes, that’s right. Your father had to do many unsavory things to survive these New York streets, so he learned how to handle a blade. It was easier to carry and hide but mostly, it’s because he liked a personal kill.” My mother nods with a smile on her face, remembering Frankie with fondness.

  My father has never treated my mother like most mafia men treat their wives; like they’re weak and can’t take a bloody story. My father will even seek out my ma’s advice and let me tell you, my mother can be equally as deadly as my father. I’ve heard her order my father to end the lives of a few men when they’ve crossed a line against la famiglia.

  “When my father offered Frankie a home and our last name, your father accepted and we became best friends. Even though he didn’t change his last name, he was a Renzetti through and through. He and I were always into one thing or another. We never settled even after becoming made men. Until we met our wives that is,” he says with a kiss to my mother’s cheek.

  “Ragazzos, boys,” Mother says with exasperation then uses her knife to point at my brothers and me. “You three along with Drake are exactly the same as your father and Frankie.”

  “Yes, exactly like our marmocchi brats. My mother always babied Adriano, so he was never quite on the same page as us. Probably why he’s such a mess now. I failed him when I didn’t teach him after our father died.” It’s a rare thing to see regret in my father. He has always shown us that you make your choices and you stand by them with confidence even if those choices blow up in your face.

  “If he hated my father then why the sudden interest in wanting to see me? Forgive me, Zio, but I don’t think I can be civil if I hear him say
one bad thing about my papa.” Sia’s honesty is appreciated and I see my father’s pride when he looks at me.

  “I told you she’s like her father. One wrong move and she’ll cut your tongue out,” he says.

  “Oh yes, I noticed that as well and you have your mother’s foul mouth.” My mother throws in. It’s said with nothing but teasing and love and everyone laughs. I guess she didn’t hold her tongue, even in front of my mother.

  Damn, my woman is perfect.

  As everyone begins eating and speaking Sia leans into me and asks, “Why don’t you like your uncle?” Seems my coldness earlier didn’t slip past her. It’s one of the things I appreciate about this woman. She’s observant. She weighs her words before speaking and she watches a room while giving nothing away on her face. But because of what she went through to gain that quality, I sort of wish she didn’t have it.

  “Gavi, love? What’s got you thinking?” Sia’s accented voice makes me smile. I love her Texan twang. It’s rustic and unique and completely her.

  “Sorry, mia bella. I’m thinking of a lot of things, but to answer your question, in my eyes, and my family’s eyes as well, Adriano is a fuck-up, but to me he’s a complete stain on this family. He makes choices that usually turn into crap and leaves it for my brothers or me to clean up for him. Since becoming the underboss and marrying he’s become even more complacent and lazy. He uses the Renzetti name as an insurance policy. He cheats on his wife and was a no-good stepfather to her children. The father of her children was a good husband and father, and he would have killed Adriano if he were still here. Marcella still lives across the street from your childhood home. Although now there’s a new home built over the lot.”

  I tact that on at the end because I know my rant was a bit overdone, but I want her to know my feelings on everything especially when it comes to someone I look at with contempt.

  “I trust your judgement. If you think it’ll be a bad idea for him and me to be in the same room then I’ll decline any invitation, but if you think he’ll be able to help find Luca then I’ll gladly put my differences aside if you will. I want to find Luca, Gavi. He’s my brother and for all I know he could be going through the shit I went through. I want him to know he isn’t alone in the world. Wouldn’t you do the same for one of your siblings?”

  I soften to her words. Especially when I know she’s absolutely right. I’d do all I could to find my family. I’ll do the same for her. If my uncle can provide any information that’ll aid in finding Luca then I must put my differences aside for her.

  But the moment he says anything disrespectful toward her or her family I’ll gladly make him choke on his teeth.

  Marco and Gavriel told us what those kidnappers said and though it frightened me to my core that I have a major enemy out there with a hard-on to end my life, I appreciated the unfiltered truth. I don’t want to be babied when it comes to my best friend’s and my well-being. So here we are, in our apartment so Carla and I can pack enough clothing and items to begin our stay at the Renzetti mansion. I called in to Medusa’s and told Joe the whole stitch and he gave us time off and I promised him I wouldn’t be working with anyone else. He wasn’t worried about that, though, he just wanted us safe.

  I asked Gavi what the plan was and how they’d find out who this person is, but for my own protection he said he couldn’t give me details. Fine. I’ll concede to this because it’s his area of expertise but make no fucking mistake, I’m not your typical housewife looking to be pampered and coddled. I told him as much. He promised me that if he can tell me something then he would, but he would also like for me to trust him. Though trust has always been something I don’t give away easily, Gavriel has done right by me this whole time. Giving him my trust was simple. Of course, I had to lay on a warning, though. Once my trust is broken it’ll be a cold day in hell when you earn it back.

  “Mia bellezza, il tuo cuore è al sicuro con me. Your heart is safe with me, my beauty.” Is all he said in reply, but it was damn perfect.

  Marco tried being nonchalant when he suggested Carla come stay at the mansion too. And as much as I wanted to tease him for acting like it isn’t obvious that he and Carla have a thing for each other, I agreed with him. They obviously knew Carla was with me. Maybe others know where we lived and they could use her to get to me. After everything Carla has done for me, after what she has become to me, I’d give myself over if it meant I’d save her.

  I think she was thinking the same thing when she looked at me and said, “Hell yeah, I’m coming with you, chica. No way am I going to become leverage for some psycho.”

  Marco had growled at that comment and I’m thinking the handsome man is also another reason she’s here packing.

  I go into my room to start packing as Carla goes to hers. Shouldn’t take us too long. Well, at least not for me. I don’t have much, but Carla has a life in here.

  As I’m grabbing my lyric books a note falls out.

  The parchment-like paper is a beige color, one I’ve never seen before. I pick it up and turn it over. There's cursive writing on it. “You got away from me once, principessa, but you won’t get away again. Your new boy won’t be able to hide you for long. Soon you and your brother will meet the same end as your mother and father.”

  Carla must have come in the room at some point. “Oh my God, Sia. Gavriel! Marco!” She must have read it over my shoulder.

  The men come running into the room with guns drawn. “What’s going on?” Gavriel asks once he sees we’re alone. I can’t speak, so I hand him the note while Carla clings to my arm. I hold her and look around the room, thinking the fucking bastard is still here.

  Immediately Marco begins searching the apartment. “Get Carla out of here, Gavi,” he yells over his shoulder.

  Gavriel is on his phone, though, ordering more men to the complex, so I turn to Carla. “Let’s finish up and go wait in the car. I’m sure the guys want to get us far from here.”

  Noticing how scared Carla looks, I whisper, “Looks like Marco is really into you, girl. What spell did you put him under, huh? Did you flash your boobs or cooch?” I waggle my eyebrows at her like a fucking villain.

  I’m trying my hardest to look and act like it ain’t shit for me to have a death threat. But inside, I'm a fucking mess. It's one thing to come into my home and threaten me, but to threaten the life of my brother?

  I’ll skin the motherfucker.

  It works, though, and she’s giggling while grabbing her bag. “Fuck off, Si, I didn’t do anything to him. He just saw a damsel in distress and wanted to swoop in and save the day.” I hold back my eye roll. Who the fuck is she kidding? I’ve seen her blush more times around Marco than a fucking nun in a strip club. This is Carla I’m talking about here. Bitch is tougher than a two-dollar steak and she’s blushing like a prude every time Marco stares at her or speaks to her and I don’t see her asserting her independence when he opens doors for her or smooths her red hair out of her face.

  I don’t tell her this of course. I can understand the front she’s putting up. I know she doesn’t bend easily to men, which is why she’s been single all this time. She’s not a virgin, don’t get me wrong, but relationships are not her thing.

  Jerking a man around by his balls until she’s over it? Yeah, that’s her thing.

  Until Marco that is. He’s a Renzetti and he’s more manly than any of her past hookups. It won’t be so easy for her to walk away from him.

  “Right.” Is all I say and she throws a glare at me. “Okay, I’m done and ready to go.”

  Carla nods just as Marco comes out of her closet. He grabs her things and tells Gavriel everything is clear.

  I’m done too, so I turn to follow him and Carla out the door.

  Gavriel takes my backpack and looks at my small suitcase, but before he can ask, I tell him, “This is more than what I had when I first got to New York. I don’t need much anyway.”

  Instead of the pity I expected to see when I looked up into his beautiful e
yes, I see a mixture of pride and anger. “Never again, tesoro. I give you my word that if you want this, want us, then I will never let you want for anything. I’ll make sure you always have the best of everything. Biggest house, best cars, designer clothing, anything I can get you, Anastasia, I will.”

  Leaning up on my toes, I kiss him. “What if I say I do want this, us? Then what happens?”

  Hovering his lips above mine, he says, “You and me, baby. That’s what happens.” He kisses me then and it’s a scorching, powerful kiss. He tastes of menthol and mint, the mixture of cigarette and gum. A heady mixture that has me dropping the handle to my suitcase and wrapping my arms around his neck. I nip and lick his lips as he tangles his fingers in my hair.

  “I want us, Gavriel. I want to go forward with you,” I say as he pulls back to look at me.

  His eyes are dilated and his breathing is choppy. “Are you sure, mia bella? I don’t do things halfway. If we do this, we do it all or none. No hesitations and no turning back. I won’t ever step out on you and my eyes will be for you only. I’ll worship your body with my fingers, mouth, and body until the day I die. I swear it. So, tell me now, love, do you really want to do this?”

  I wait a moment, like I have to consider the pros and cons or some shit, only to mess with him. “Yes. I want this. I don’t care about any trivial or material things. I want you. A life with you.” I don’t get to give him my amazing speech because he drops my bag and smashes his lips to mine. He grabs my ass and lifts me and my legs automatically wrap around his waist.

  We fit so fucking well together. He’s the moon to my waves, the breeze in my branches. I love him. I do. I really don’t give a fuck if people think it’s too soon or too fast to feel such emotions because I know my mind and heart.

  And my heart is screaming with love.

  Just as he pushes my back up against the wall and continues kissing the life out of me, Marco’s voice has us both flinching. I laugh because anytime we’re together we always forget everyone around us. We get lost in each other so easily. I love it.