by B. B. Hamel
I stepped on the gas, a smile on my lips.
31
Aida
Don Leone lived in a modest rowhome in the heart of Old City. I would’ve walked past it a thousand times and never known a dangerous mob boss lived in it, never would’ve guessed it wasn’t owned by a lawyer or a doctor with three kids and a pretty young stay-at-home wife.
Dante parked out front and killed the engine. “Here we are,” he said.
I laughed. “This is really it?” I asked. “I mean, the Don lives… here?”
“What did you expect?” Dante asked. “A mansion?”
“I guess I didn’t know what to expect,” I admitted.
“He used to live in South Philly,” Dante said. “But then that got too dangerous, so he moved up here.” He opened his door. “Come on, Steven, you go knock, I’ll grab our friend. Help me out, Biagio.”
I got out my side of the SUV and stood on the sidewalk as Dante and Biagio popped the hatch. Vlas raved about ghosts and death pressing at his door but he was slurring and only half with it. Steven hurried up the stoop and knocked on the door until one of the Don’s guards answered, the older guy named Roberto.
“We got him,” Steven said.
“Good.” Roberto stepped out of the house and looked around. He nodded at Dante and Biagio and gestured at them. “Come on, bring him in. The Don’s waiting.”
Dante and Biagio carried Vlas between them up the steps. Steven followed next, and I took up the rear. Roberto gave me a look and closed the door behind me before gesturing for the group to follow him.
The entryway had rich, dark hardwood floors. There was a parlor sitting room to the right with an old fireplace and low, deep red couches set up around it. I noticed a few oil paintings on the walls, but didn’t have time to check them out further. Roberto led the group down the main hall, past a huge staircase with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and down another side hall.
I caught glimpses of rooms as we walked: an industrial kitchen with all stainless-steel appliances and prep stations, another sitting room with a large TV in the center, a home gym, a library. We moved past all of them, and I realized that Don Leone’s house must extend through a few of the houses on the block, because we were moving much deeper than a single house could possibly go. The wood floor was polished bright, and the lighting fixtures didn’t have a speck of dust on them. There were more oil paintings on the walls of landscape scenes, and I noticed more than a few included horses of some kind, mostly big black stallions. I could smell fresh floor wax and wood spice drifting up with each step, and I ran my fingers along the wood paneling along the lower half of the wall, finding it smooth and even.
Roberto reached a large ornate wooden door at the end of the hall and knocked once. There was a muffled response, and Roberto pushed the door open. Dante and Biagio went in first, Steven next, and I went in last. Roberto shut the door behind us, and I took a sharp breath as I looked around.
We were in a large study of some kind. There were bookshelves lining the walls, and the ceiling was high, as high as the entire block. I stared up at the lights dangling so far away, and wondered who would knock out entire floors to make a room like that.
But it was beautiful. The carpet was a rich, forest green and soft under my shoes. There was a card table to the right with burgundy velvet on the top and rich wood carvings all around it. The room smelled like old books and rich alcohol, and I had to admit, I really loved it. I took a deep breath and smiled to myself as I let my eyes rest on the desk sitting in the center of the space toward the front, with Don Leone sitting behind it.
There were small horse statues placed all around his desk, and lion heads were carved into either corner. He leaned back in a huge, black chair and smiled at us, still wearing a button-down white shirt with a sweater vest over top it. He gestured at Vlas then pointed to a couch beneath a window on the left.
“Put him there, Dante,” Don Leone said.
Dante and Biagio carried the groaning and mostly unconscious Vlas over to the couch. They dumped him on it and Dante let out a sigh, stretching his back, while Biagio shook out his hands.
“I come bearing gifts,” Dante said.
Don Leone laughed. “I see that.” He craned his neck and frowned. “He’s not dead, is he?”
“No, Don,” Dante said and approached the desk. He bowed his head. “I did as you instructed me.”
“Good boy, Dante.” The Don beamed. “Maksim will be angry, of course, but so long as we don’t let the boy die, things will be fine.” He tilted his head slightly. “Might I ask how you managed this one?”
“I had my boys scour the city and we got a tip,” Dante said.
“Mysterious. Well, I won’t push.” The Don’s eyes swept the room and he smiled at Biagio and Steven then looked at me. “I’m happy you came along, Aida, darling.”
“I wouldn’t miss a visit with you, Don Leone.” I stepped up to the desk and bowed my head in respect.
“Ah, she’s learning,” Don Leone said. “Tell me, Dante, is the rumor true? Did our little sweet Aida here beat down an exotic dancer?”
Dante laughed and looked at me. “Did you?” he asked.
“No, Don Leone,” I said. “I only slapped her for getting out of line. I thought it was the best way to make a point to the other girls.”
“Good for you,” Don Leone said, smiling huge. “You have to keep her close, Dante.”
“I plan to, sir,” he said. “Did you consider that question I asked you?”
“I have,” Don Leone said. “And you don’t need my permission, but you have it, if you want it.”
“Thank you, Don.” Dante inclined his head again.
“Now, one small piece of business. Eastwick and Gray’s Ferry.”
“Both ours now,” Dante said. “Any business that wouldn’t flip to our side will be burned to the ground. But most were smart enough to see which way the wind was blowing.”
“Good. I must say, Dante, you’ve exceeded my expectations yet again. Despite our little setback, I think this will be one of our most profitable ventures yet.”
“I hope so, sir,” Dante said.
“As a reward, I’m going to give you a cut of the ransom I get for Vlas there,” Don Leone said.
“Thank you, sir. But if you could, please split it among my soldiers, sir. They deserve it more than I do.”
Don Leone laughed. “You’re a good Capo, Dante. But no, you do the splitting, you deserve the credit.”
Dante inclined his head. “Thank you, Don Leone.”
“Now, I have a meeting with the Jalisco tomorrow. We’re going to hammer down the details of the deal you started with them. Once the shipments begin arriving, I expect your people to start moving our product as soon as possible. Will you be ready?”
“More than ready, sir,” Dante said. “We’re very eager to get started.”
“Good. You’re going to need new muscle, so I recommend recruiting from your new territories.”
Dante looked surprised. “You’re giving all that new territory to me? I thought you might… name a new Capo.”
“I considered it,” Don Leone said. “If I were to raise someone up, do you know who it would be?”
Dante looked at Steven. “I would put forward any of my men, but Steven deserves it,” he said.
Steven bowed his head. “I would be honored, Don Leone,” he said.
Don Leone smiled. “What a good Capo,” he said. “Very well then. Steven, I’m going to raise you to the rank of Capo, and we’ll build you a crew of soldiers. Your territory will be all of Gray’s Ferry. Dante, you will control Eastwick along with Girard Estates.”
“I would be honored, Don Leone,” Steven said.
“Thank you, Don,” Dante said.
“Good. Now, I’m going to get a doctor in here to make sure that idiot doesn’t die on my couch. You people get out of my sight and go start making the family some money.”
The men all bowed their h
eads and I joined in. Then Dante turned and left the room as a fast march, followed by Steven and Biagio. I followed behind again, and Roberto took us back through the house, following the same route as before. When we reached the main entry, Dante paused on the threshold.
“You two go first,” he said. “We’ll be out in a moment.”
Biagio and Steven hesitated, but did as Dante asked. I lingered next to Dante as he looked at Roberto.
“Could we have a moment?” he asked the security man.
Roberto grunted. “Just a moment,” he said, and disappeared back down the hall.
I was left alone with Dante in the gorgeous entryway of the most powerful man in the city. I felt a chill run down my spine as I stepped up to my man and put my hands on his chest. He pulled me against him and kissed me, deep and slow.
“It’s over,” he whispered.
“No, I think it’s just starting.”
He laughed. “You have no clue.” He reached into his back pocket and took something out. He moved back and showed me a small black ring box balanced in the center of his palm.
I reached out and touched it like the thing might disappear at any moment.
“Is this real?” I asked.
“Open it,” he said.
I took the box and opened it. A single, enormous, teardrop-shaped diamond sat in a band of white gold with more small diamonds scattered down along it. I sucked in a gasp of air, and he took the ring from the box.
“Marry me,” he said. “Be my bride.”
“Yes,” I whispered.
He pushed the ring down my finger and I let out an elated laugh as he kissed me. I kissed him back, pushing myself tighter against him.
This felt right. It felt like I was finally finding myself. He said he was going to make me his bride, and now that was coming true. I was going to marry Dante, run his businesses, be his mob wife, and give him all the children he could ask for.
I pulled back and stared into his eyes. “I love you,” I said.
“I know you do.” He pulled my hair and I gasped. “I love you too, my Aida.” He kissed me again, deep and slow, and I savored that moment.
So much had happened since we first met. I was a different person then, a different girl. I was so scared all the time, so lost and angry. But now I can see my place in the world, so clear and so obvious. My place is by Dante’s side, with my man, in his world.
I pulled away and held his hand, the diamond ring sparkling in the light. “Come on,” I said. “Let’s go celebrate.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” he said.
We walked out of the house together, hand in hand, looking forward to our new life.
32
Aida
Two Years Later
I stood in front of a small picture in a black frame that sat on a bookshelf in the back of our living room. It was quiet while Dante was upstairs packing, and the swell of my pregnant belly pressed up against the wood of the bookshelf. Early morning light slanted in through the windows, illuminating the light brown hardwood floors, the chic modern style furniture, the antique lamps, the working fireplace.
I picked the frame up and smiled to myself. In the picture, Dante stood with his arm around Gino. They both looked so young, both of them wearing baggy jeans and t-shirts way too big for them. They were in some park, maybe near some swing sets, I couldn’t tell since the background was blurry, but they looked so full of adventure. It was taken not long after they’d first met, and I found it shoved in the back of Dante’s closet one day a few weeks after we’d moved into our new house together.
I barely knew Gino. He was my guard for a few weeks while I was living with Dante, back before we got engaged, back before we got married and started an empire together. But Gino had saved my life, and I thought about him often.
I wished I could’ve known him better. He seemed like a decent man. Quiet and kept to himself, but he listened to Dante, almost looked up to Dante in a way that very few people did. They had history together, and I knew Gino was loyal into death.
“There you are.”
I turned around at the voice and smiled. Dante smiled back, leaning up against the wall, his arms crossed in over his chest. He wore a black suit, form-fitted and perfect, with a little red pocket square and shiny black shoes. He never wore a tie, but he somehow always managed to make himself look perfectly put together.
“Hey,” I said, putting the picture down.
He walked over and tilted his head. “Thinking about him again?” he asked.
“Can’t help it. Especially around now.” I touched my belly and felt a spike of nerves.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I think so.”
“We’re going to be fine.” He pulled me against him and kissed my cheek. “Trust me, Aida. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of and our baby’s perfectly fine.”
“I keep thinking about the baby,” I said. “And the name.”
“I thought we were going to do Dante, Jr.,” he said.
“I don’t know.” I frowned at him, tilted my head. I reached up and touched his cheek. “I’m not sure I could survive two Dantes.”
He laughed and took my hand. “Okay then. What were you thinking?”
“Gino,” I said.
He frowned a little bit and looked at me for a long moment. Then slowly he nodded his head. “Yeah, I think that’d be good,” he said. “That’d be fitting.”
“Since he saved us,” I said. “You know? Made sure we survived.”
“All right then. Little Gino Valenti. Future king of the Leone Crime Family.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Don’t let anyone else hear you say that.”
“Ah, it’s okay,” he said. “I don’t plan on moving up any more than I already have. I think Capo is enough for me.”
“What else could you possibly want?”
“Underboss, maybe.” He shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter. Our neighborhoods are so profitable, I can’t imagine needing more.”
I laughed and kissed him before looking past him and into the hallway. Three bags sat there, two of mine and one of his own, just waiting to be picked up and carried into the car. I felt my stomach do flips again and I bit my lip.
“I’m afraid,” I said.
“I know.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “But I’ll be there with you the whole time. You can do this.”
“I know.” I took a deep breath and let it out. “I know I can.”
“Remember when you slapped that stripper in the face?”
I snorted. “I remember. That was when I was just coming over to the dark side.”
“Yeah, exactly. And you slapped that bitch so hard, she walked off and quit.”
“No, I fired her.” I leaned my head against his chest. “I’ve done way worse since.”
“True,” he said. “But you weren’t mob back then. You were just… just my little Aida. Still just learning.”
“We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?” I smiled and looked up at him. “Six successful clubs, three restaurants, and a thriving drug business on the side. Keep this up and Don Leone is going to give you more responsibility.”
“Better not,” Dante said.
I stepped away toward the bags and nodded to myself. “Right. Okay. We can do this. Let’s just head to the hospital and it’ll all be okay.”
“That’s good,” he said. “Keep saying that. It’s the truth, anyway, it’ll all be okay.”
I walked over to my bags and stared at them. He scooped all three up and lingered near the front door. Our place was in the middle of Girard Estates and was actually two rowhomes turned into one massive single structure. We bought the first one a few months after getting married, and the second one a few months after that. Dante built it for me as a surprise present, to congratulate me on all my businesses doing so well.
As it turned out, I had a knack for running strip clubs. I found it was all about keeping customers engaged and spending mo
ney, keeping girls pretty, happy, and paid, and keeping trouble outside. It really was simple as that, and most clubs failed because they had shitty owners or stupid people running them.
I made sure my clubs ran like clockwork, and I got paid because of it.
But not everything was perfect.
I was two weeks overdue, the longest my doctor was willing to wait. I hoped little Gino would have come out on time, and getting induced was never part of the plan, but I couldn’t wait anymore. He had cooked enough, it was just time to bring him into the world.
I was ready. I knew I was. I’d read every single book available and I was prepared for what was about to happen. I even caught Dante reading a book or two on being a father, which surprised the hell out of me. I knew things were going to be okay, but I hated doing something that wasn’t perfect.
Still, that’s how life was, nothing was ever perfect, nothing went according to plan. Dante hesitated at the door. “You can do this,” he said, then walked outside. I stepped onto the front stoop and watched him pile the bags into the back of his SUV, just like his old SUV with all the armor plating and the bulletproof windows. He loved that car so much, probably since the first version had saved our lives once.
He turned and looked at me. “Ready?” he asked.
“Ready.” I came down the steps and into his arms. He kissed me and hugged me.
“Trust me, little Aida,” he whispered. “You’ve got this.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”
We got into the car together and drove to the hospital.
The rest of the day was a blur of doctors, drugs, and pushing. But by midnight, I had my beautiful little baby boy in my arms.
My little Gino, my miracle.
Dante sat on the edge of the hospital bed, leaned over, kissed my head then kissed Gino.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you both,” he said. “Now, when should we try for the next one?”
I laughed and hit his arm then leaned against him, feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and complete.