“I overheard him telling Marco that if he wanted to become a made-man, more than his role as an Associate, he needed ties to a family. Then he offered me to him when I become of age because he said it wasn’t like anyone else would want me.” I hadn’t told Bianca that last part, and as I meet her eyes, the pity in them reminds me why. I don’t need pity, I decided long ago that doesn’t get me through the days. I used to feel sorry for myself, asking myself why I was burdened with the parents I was. No answers ever came, no change in my life arose, so I decided to deal with it, not wallow in it. I know my father likes to make me feel less than, it’s his way of looming his position over me, never letting me see my worth. It’s hard to overlook, but I started a few years ago. He is the one lacking, not me. It’s become a daily mantra, not always working, but one day at a time is what I can do.
“No, Callie. That won’t happen. I can promise you that.” He is so assured in his promise. I want to ask him what he is going to do, but before I can, he asks the one thing I don’t want to answer. “What else haven’t you told me?” I can’t tell him. I can’t let him see the shame I live with, and most importantly, I am afraid some of it is the truth, and I can’t see that in his eyes. I shake my head. “Callie.” His voice radiates through me. “Spill it. All of it.”
I open my mouth, letting it all flow out. I know, in this moment, I have drawn a line with my dad. It’s a dangerous path, one we won’t come out of intact, but as I look into his eyes, watch him flinch when I repeat the barbs and insults my father hurls at me, see the fury cross his face, then the steely resolve, I know it’s all worth it. For every, “You’re worthless, Callie. You’re such a disappointment. We shouldn’t have had kids. You’re just like your mother,” that my father launches at me, Bianca and Bronson are right there to erase the digs and ease the pain.
Each time I repeat the insults, Bronson kisses my temple, my hand, my knuckles, and looks at me with adoration, mixed with fury for my pain. With them I’m not ruled with an iron fist and scathing words, but I’m embraced by unconditional love, soothed with the admiration of their words. Here is where I get to be the Callie Locati I’ve always imagined being.
Chapter 2
Bronson
The struggle not to kill my father’s right hand man is clawing in my chest, rising up into my throat, making it hard to swallow. I’m seeing red the entire time I’m walking to my father’s office. Each step I take, replaying his cruelty towards Callie is my undoing. I’ve never liked him, never trusted him, but the fact he dared to say any of this to his sixteen-year-old daughter, then promised her to a seedy-ass nobody who is seven years older is too much for me. The words are on instant replay, looping from my mind directly to my heart.
She’s mine. Always has been and will forever be. I need to comfort her, be her succor, but first I have to speak to my father, calm down, then I will go back to her. I will erase every destructive word her father has thrown at her if it’s the last thing I do. I will eradicate them from her memory. Seeing that she believes the insults, the blatant lies, slays me. Her expressive green eyes don’t hide the hurt; she is impressively striking and believes she isn’t anything to look at. Before I walked out of the room, I made sure to kiss her head and reassure her, “I’ll be back in a bit. Don’t leave.” I looked to Bianca, and she silently let me know she will keep an eye on her.
“He hates me because I don’t have a penis.”
“He tells me I am the ugly, red-headed child, and he has to beg someone with ambition and no ties to the family to take me.”
“He won’t let me go to college. I want to be a teacher.”
“He says you and Bianca tolerate me because you were raised with manners, but he’s heard you complain to your father about me always being here.”
Is there anything that man didn’t lie to her about? It went on and on. I almost came out of my skin when I asked her if there was physical abuse. The hesitation in her breath and her unwillingness to meet my eyes told me all I needed to know. She quickly let me know it was a grab on her arm or a bruise on her wrist when she was trying to escape his verbal taunts. I don’t care if it was a fucking paper cut, nobody, and I mean nobody, lays a hand on her. She won’t be harmed ever again. I had never questioned that she would be mine forever. It just hadn’t been determined when. I was just waiting on the signal from her, and today I got it loud and clear. In the Mafia you grow up faster than most, and in the Agosto family when you fall in love, you protect what’s yours. I had hoped she would be a bit older, more mature when I made my move, but the situation at hand sped things along. No complaints from me. At eighteen, I’m not a virgin. I passed the time waiting for her, but now there will be no one else. I’ll still take my time with her, but there is no question that I will claim her. I intend to do it now as I storm into my father’s office.
Not knocking and not caring who is in his office, I barge in.
“Figlio?” my father greets me with his brows drawn together; he knows there is an issue. He can read me, and in this moment I am forever grateful I have the parents I do.
I snarl, “Frank Locati.”
“What about him, Bronson?”
“Callie is upstairs, and she won’t be going home.” I know I am teetering on being disrespectful but not without reason.
“Son, you need to remember your place. I’m here for you, but not to take your orders.”
“She’s mine, Papà.” He just nods at me. “He treats her horribly. Calls her names, says unspeakable and spiteful things. He has marked her skin with his hand.” I’m getting worked up relaying this story again, breath ragged, and my father has done nothing to lessen my ire.
“Family business, Bronson. We don’t get involved unless he crosses the line. You know the rules, we each handle our own families how we see fit, and unless it is abuse, we don’t interfere.” I’ve heard that same spiel from him one too many times. I love my father, and have the utmost respect for him, but I need him to listen to me this time.
“He promised her to Marco.” My father is taken aback. I can see I finally got to him. “I want her promised to me, by you. I need the announcement made, today.” Time is of the essence because if Frank promises her to Marco in front of the family, my dad can still overrule him, but it will create more hardship for her.
He seems to mull this over. “You sure? This is life-changing. You are giving your word, making her untouchable to anyone else, and it will be your honor to keep that promise. Are you sure you are willing to do that? You need to think about it, son.”
“Nothing to think about. She’s mine. I don’t care who knows it, but I want her father to know it. I also need him to know she is untouchable.” He studies me and must like what he sees because a smile spreads across his face.
“I’m proud of you, Figlio. I was wondering when this day would come. I’ll make the announcement this evening.”
“When can we move her in here? She can share a room with Bianca or take a guest room.”
He shakes his head. “Bronson, you can’t do that. I can’t do that. She is sixteen, and it’s not my call or yours.”
The hell it isn’t. “Father, she can’t stay there. I need to be able to protect her. I’m committing to her, and it is my duty to keep her safe.”
“I understand. Once this announcement is made, she will be safe. You know he can’t go against us, so she will be fine. Until she is of legal age to marry, you can’t make her choices.” My mind knows he is right, but every other part of me is screaming to find another way.
“I don’t like it. Not at all. How would you like it if it was Bianca being treated that way?” I can tell I hit his Achilles heel.
“Enough, Bronson. We do it my way.” His final word has been spoken, and I can’t do anything but abide by it. But I can work around it. She will be safe. I turn to leave his office, knowing I still need to calm down before I go to her. “Bronson,” my father’s voice stops me, “have you decided what you are going to do? I see the w
ay you look at this lifestyle. I know you hate it. I want you to know, you have choices, and whatever you decide, you have my full support. This life . . . it isn’t for everyone.” He seems resigned. Part of him wants me to follow in his footsteps, and part of him wants me to get as far away from it as I can. We mimic each other perfectly in that. I don’t want to be a part of this life, but I don’t want to spit in the face of my heritage.
“I can’t do what I really want to until you’re out. I won’t risk you, you know that.” We have had many talks about my dream. I want to be a DEA agent. While the majority of my father’s crimes aren’t drug related, they are still mixed up in some. And I won’t be able to choose whom I take down, not to mention, I would be used against my father at every turn . . . by both sides.
“You can. I only want your happiness, so I beg you to follow your dreams.”
“Right now my dream is upstairs hating herself for telling me things she tried to keep a secret. She is worried sick that her father will take away all her of options, so my future will be figured out on another day.” He just nods his head towards the door, dismissing me.
I text Bianca.
Let Callie know it’s handled. Heading to gym, keep her with you until I get back. It will all be fine.
I still have some energy I need to work out, but I feel most of the tension melt away as soon as my dad agreed. Now, I have to figure out how to get her to be with me most of the time while still giving her the freedom that has been taken away from her. I want her to spread her wings, explore life, and grow. I’ll always be here to guide her if needed, but I want her to be with me out of want, not obligation. We will be walking a slippery slope. I still need to tell her what I did, and hope it’s what she wanted. I don’t doubt it; it’s just the way it is supposed to be. Now, we just move forward slowly. Ease into the relationship aspect of us. We’ve always had the friendship; we just have to grow that.
Attraction isn’t the issue for me; I am hard at just the mention of her name. I’ve had many fantasies involving her auburn hair wrapped around my hand, her mouth around my cock, her beautiful emerald eyes staring at me. I can’t wait to stroke her creamy, white porcelain skin and claim her, but I won’t rush that. I can’t wait to nurture her dreams, blossom her confidence, and turn her into the woman I see underneath all of her insecurities and age, first.
Getting a good work out is just what I needed. I took my anger out on the punching bag, jabs and kicks until I couldn’t catch my breath or stand. I hadn’t worked it all out, but knowing I was going to be able to tell Callie she was safe, she was mine, made me eager to get home. I was hoping she would stay at the house tonight, let the blow of my father’s announcement sink in and ebb out with no repercussions for her. Her dad should be happy, being tied to me, the Boss’s son is a great honor, but for some reason I know, I feel it in my gut, he won’t be. He has his own agenda, and I am thwarting it. I just hope he doesn’t underestimate me and take it out on Callie. That will be one mistake he won’t recover from. From this point forward, she is off-limits to him.
I walk into Bianca’s room, and the look she gives me tells me she is worried about Callie. She is in the same place I left her, staring off into space and doesn’t even realize I am in the room. I go straight to her and sit down next to her pulling her as close as I can. I feel her relax in my arms and there is no greater high than knowing her faith in me, knowing she draws her consolation from me.
“What happened?” Her wide eyes are probing, trying to read me.
“I took care of it. I promise you, you’ll be safe.”
“How?”
“You are now promised to me. You are mine.” Her gasp of surprise catches me off guard. What did she expect? She has to know what my intentions were when I told her I would handle it. My father’s word is the final in all things familia related. He can veto the promising of her to Marco, and claim her for me.
“Why would you do that? You know there is no getting out of it.”
“Of course I know that. I did it for us. I did it because I was always going to do it. It was just time, now.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Callie. Have I not made it clear? I see only you.” She shocks me when she launches herself on my lap and takes my mouth with hers. It’s sloppy, it’s spontaneous, and it’s her first kiss. It’s blissful. It’s ecstasy. It’s completion. I gently take over. Brushing my tongue over hers, gently and slowly, I allow her to acclimate and imitate my actions. Before I know it, I’m sinking into a trance, lost in her taste. Her feelings and her warmth spread through me, creating our own cocoon from the outside world. I slowly break the kiss, peppering her lips with small nips and whisper, “Tuo per sempre.”
Her smile is the most peaceful and euphoric thing I have ever seen. Her words sear into my soul, imprinting on my heart, “Sempre tu.”
Chapter 3
Callie
Holy shit. The way his tongue is moving in my mouth is like a conductor creating a symphony, and I want to weep with the music he is producing inside me. I was out of control when I hurled myself at him, hearing his words of endearment; his claim over me, his promise of forever; it was all too much . . . but not enough at the same time. I had no clue what I was doing when I attacked his mouth like a piranha feasting on flesh, but I knew I wanted all my firsts to be with him. He will be my first, my only, and most surely my last. At a young age, some may question whether I know what I want. I agree, most sixteen-year-old girls and eighteen-year-old young men don’t know . . . but then they don’t grow up in this life. Extreme power, wealth, life and death decisions; it all ages you quickly, but we also learn by lessons. We see destruction, joy, and loyalty at every turn and are taught family first. Well, most of the families are imparted that, and I have been adopted into this family so it’s worn off on me. Our future is mapped out for us, we marry within the families, choices are not always given to us, women are to be cherished, and men are to be worshiped. Old fashioned, traditional, but it’s all we have known. Some elements may change from generation to generation, leniency on future and selections is granted but it is still ingrained in us . . . the customary values that seem to be missing from a lot of relationships are still very prominent in our lives. We don’t always have to agree with them, but as long as we don’t totally disregard them, then there are ways to finagle around them.
“Stop!” Bianca’s squawking is making my ears bleed. “I’m cool with you two finally admitting how you feel, but my eyes will not withstand all the bleach needed to get these images burned out of my mind. No tonsil hockey, no hiding the salami, no indulging in one another in front of the sister and best friend. Not cool.”
“I’ll try not to damage your vision if you quit using that tone and making my ears bleed.” I rub the side of my head checking for blood. Bronson starts snickering, and we all dissolve into a fit of laughter. Happiness. This is what it feels like, and it is surrounding me in this moment. I believe it will be all right.
“Bianca, can I talk to Callie for a minute?” Just like that, my ecstatic feeling is gone. Stripped away and left in its wake is terror. He doesn’t wait for an answer before he pulls me up off the couch and leads me towards his room. I try not to freak out that I will be in his room. With him. Alone. Oh God, what if he wants to do it? I’m not ready, but am I allowed to deny him that carnal pleasure? See, I need a guidebook on how to be a Mob Wife. VH-1 doesn’t tell you all this when they are glamourizing our life. He squeezes my hand, “Relax, baby.” Easy for him to say. He isn’t about to get a zucchini shoved into a wine bottle opening. I may hyperventilate. I feel the signature kiss on the side of my head and all is fine in my world. He can do whatever he wants (within reason) to me as long as he keeps kissing the side of my head in reassurance.
I’ve been in his room many times but always with Bianca. This is new territory. “What’s up?” I ask, nonchalantly. He gives me a grin with the shake of his head. I guess I amuse him.
“First, calm down. W
e’re talking. That’s it.” While relieved, I’m somewhat disappointed. I was warming up to playing hide the salami with him. “I want you to stay here tonight, as a matter of fact, I want you to stay here as much as possible.” He sees the bewilderment in my expression and clarifies. “Not here in my room, but here at the house.”
“Bronson, we can’t live together. We’re both in high school our parents won’t allow that.”
He can’t hold in his laughter. “Callie, not living together. Sleep over like usual with Bianca. The only thing that will change is that I get a good night kiss now.” I don’t say anything. I’m loving this new arrangement and don’t want to argue about it. “We are going slowly. My dad is making the announcement tonight, I hope there won’t be fall out with your dad, but if there is I need you to tell me.” He must notice my dismay; I can’t involve him in that. “I mean it, Callie. If anything happens from here on out, I’m the person you go to.” He waits for me to acknowledge him, and I know I won’t be able to deny him anything he asks of me.
“Okay, but you need to let me handle as much of it as I can. I don’t want things all muddled up now.”
“I can’t promise that.”
“What else?” I decide to maneuver the conversation away from this topic. It’s a hot button for him, plus I like sweet Bronson, not angry Bronson. Sweet, take control Bronson is the best, and I am wondering how many personalities he actually has.
“We date. We go slowly. You’re only sixteen, but make no mistake, you’re mine. I’ll court you, just like is expected, but we are together.”
Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) Page 2