by Harley Stone
Ignoring my hand, she said, “Please, call me Rosalie, dear.”
Pulling back my awkward, outstretched hand I glanced at my watch. Brandon hadn’t picked me up for work since he’d seen me with Dom—we’d agreed that was for the best—so I needed to be out the door in thirteen minutes to catch the bus.
“Would you like to come in?” I asked.
She remained on my doorstep. “Actually, I was hoping I could interest you in spending the day with me, so we can get to know each other a little better.”
I’d told Dom I was pregnant, and now his mom stood on my doorstep. He must have sent her, but why hadn’t he called me first?
“I’d love to, but I have to work soon.” I gestured at my uniform. “I was just about to leave for my shift.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve already called Camellia and she assured me Collin will be able to find someone to cover for you.” Pushing past me, she stepped into the living room. As she looked around, her nose wrinkled in disgust.
Annoyed at her expression and still confused, I asked. “Camellia?”
She gave me a tight, condescending smile “The owner’s wife. We’re old friends.”
She’d called into work for me? She spoke so casually about rearranging my schedule, and ruining my perfect work attendance—without my knowledge or approval—that I wanted to scream. She hoped I didn’t mind? Of course I minded. Who did this woman think she was?
“I’m sorry, you did what?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, dear. You’re carrying a Mariani. You don’t need to work anymore. We’ll take care of everything. You just worry about growing my grandchild.”
Dominico had called his mother “nice,” but this woman was presumptuous and arrogant. Part of me wanted to roll over and let her bash me, because I loved Dominico and didn’t want to create waves, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to let her bully or manipulate me into giving up the job I’d worked so hard to get.
Hiding my trembling hands behind my back, I said, “Thank you for your concern,” my voice only slightly wavering. “But I enjoy my job and I can do both. Women have been working and raising babies for a long time.”
She cast another dismissive glance around my living room. “If this is about you needing money, because we have resources.”
Did she think I was some sort of gold digger, trapping her son with a child? Struggling to keep my tone respectful, I forced what I hoped looked like a smile. “It’s not about the money, Mrs. Mariani. With all due respect, I do not want your family’s money. I love Dom. He’s kind and intelligent and, despite who he is, he has a good heart. I love our baby and I will provide for him.”
“Despite who he is?” she asked, her eyes hardening.
The barb felt good, but I regretted it the second it crossed my lips. I couldn’t take it back, though, and no answer I could give her would make it better. “I’m sorry. That was out of line.”
She held my gaze, her tight smile turning cold and calculating. Seconds ticked by as I wondered if she was there to kill me. I didn’t doubt that she could. It seriously felt like her eyeballs were trying to freeze me from the soul out. I wanted to run and hide, but didn’t dare show weakness.
Finally, she melted. A real smile spread across her face and her eyes softened, taking her from beautiful to stunning. “Good, you have a backbone. You’re gonna need it.”
Wondering what had just happened, and whether or not I was still in mortal danger, I stared at her.
“I had to be certain,” Rosalie continued. “I will not allow Dom to risk everything for some weak, pathetic girl who will no doubt get him killed.”
My mind rewound our conversation. “So… you didn’t change my work schedule?” I asked.
“Of course I did. I’m here to help you, dear, so we need to talk. I’m famished. Let’s go get lunch.”
My brain could not keep up. She’d complimented me, insulted me, offended me, possibly complimented me again, and for a few seconds there, I thought she was going to kill me with her eyes. Now she wanted to take me to lunch? The woman was giving me mental whiplash.
“Would you like to change first?” she asked, looking pointedly at my uniform.
I hadn’t even decided whether I should leave with her or board myself up in my room, but real smile or not, Rosalie clearly was not the type of woman people said no to. Besides, something she’d said kept bugging me.
“Wait, what do you mean by sacrificing everything? Is Dom’s life in danger?” I asked.
“Now you’re asking the right questions. Go change, then we’ll talk over lunch.”
Wishing I could contact Dominico to make sure he was okay and to get some advice or information, I hurried to my room to change. Unmarried and pregnant with her son’s child, I could guess what kind of woman she probably thought I was. Determined to make her see me and not the situation, I tugged on my most modest dress—floral and knee-length with a fitted waist—let my hair down, and checked out my reflection.
My baby bump was starting to show. My clothes had been getting tight lately, but before the pregnancy tests, I’d dismissed it as too much pasta. Still unable to believe I was going to be a mom, I rubbed my belly and said a quick prayer that I was doing the right thing by leaving my house with his scary grandmother, draped a shawl over my shoulders, and headed out.
Rosalie drove an immaculate white Lincoln Town Car with tan leather interior and powered everything.
“I thought we’d start at the spa,” she said as we climbed in. “I could go for a little pampering, and I’m sure you could, too. The past few days have no doubt been stressful for you.”
That was an understatement. Waiting for Dominico to call so I could tell him about our baby had just about killed me. Although he and I had spoken about many things, we’d never once discussed kids and whether or not he wanted any. I hadn’t even considered the option until I suspected I was pregnant. But now that I had this little guy growing inside me, nobody was taking him away.
“Is Dom in danger?” I asked again.
“We’ll get to that, dear. First tell me about yourself. I want to know all about your family, your job, anything else important to you.”
And I wanted to know what was going on with the father of my child, but the important conversation would have to wait until Rosalie got her answers. Taking a deep breath, I relented, and told her everything about myself, answering questions as she fired them off. Yes, my mom had died of cancer. No, I’d never spoken to anyone from the mafia on the east coast. Yes, I enjoyed cooking. No, none of the families had planted me in the restaurant. By the time we got to the spa, I felt like I’d been through the strangest, most non-politically correct, interview of my life.
She dropped all serious conversation the moment we stepped into the spa, morphing into an average, everyday mom who was determined to be manicured, pedicured, massaged, fed, and mud bathed.
During lunch, she broke out a few stories about Dominico’s childhood, all of which had me rolling with laughter. According to her, he’d been quite the clown, suspended for everything from mooning his teacher to putting fake spiders in the principal’s office. He and Michael had run off more nannies than she could count.
“Those two always made me laugh,” she said, her eyes misty with memories. “Of course, sometimes I had to wait until he’d left the room, but I always got a chuckle out of his antics. I miss those days.”
The way she sounded like those days had come to an end made me sad. “I can’t speak for Michael, but Dom makes me laugh all the time,” I hurried to reassure her. “He’s got a great sense of humor. It was the first thing I noticed about him.”
Really, it was the second, but I wasn’t about to tell her I’d first been attracted to her son’s delicious body and dangerous smirk.
She studied me, as if trying to decide whether or not I was telling the truth. “Forgive me, Annetta, but it’s been a long time since I’ve heard my son laugh. It’s good to hear that he still ha
s the ability.”
Despite my first impression of her, Rosalie turned out to be a gem. Granted, she still scared the hell out of me, but I kinda wanted to be her when I grew up. As our pampering came to an end, she took me into a small room where she sat us down facing each other and held my hands in hers. Suspecting that she was finally about to divulge why Dominico was in danger, I leaned forward and waited.
“You’re not a stupid girl,” she said finally. “You have to know what Dom does… As you said, “who he is”.”
I nodded, knowing it was dangerous to admit too much.
“I’ve been married to his father for twenty-six years now, and I can tell you first-hand how difficult it’s been. Late nights, early mornings, days when I wondered if he’d come home at all… the lifestyle is lonely.”
“I imagine.”
“You imagine, but you don’t know until you experience it. My father had no sons. Giovani—Dom’s father—was his first soldier… the oldest of two orphans my father took in and raised as his own. Gio was loyal and ruthless, everything my father needed him to be. So when I came of age, Father arranged our marriage and made Gio a Mariani.”
“Your marriage was arranged?” I asked, horrified.
“It’s how things were done,” she said with a wave of her hand. “How they’re still done. There’s no better way to form an alliance than with a marriage.”
As her words sunk in, my mind drifted back to the girl in the pink dress who was bragging about marrying Dominico. My stomach sank. “Dom’s marriage will be arranged, won’t it? To the girl in the pink dress from the engagement party?”
“I see I don’t need to explain much to you.” She squeezed my hands. “That’s helpful. You’ve met Valentina?”
It was true. My heart bottomed out as I leaned back in my chair. “No. Just overheard her in the bathroom. She’s not right for Dom. She’ll drive him crazy.”
She nodded. “Gio never had the patience for puzzles. When we were children, he would force the pieces into place and get angry when they didn’t form a picture. He hasn’t changed much, still trying to force his pieces in where they don’t belong. Everything would flow better if he took the time to find the right spot.”
Dominico would have to marry Valentina. How long had he known? Since the party? Before? Had he been stringing me along this entire time? No, that didn’t feel right. He loved me.
“He should have told me,” I whispered, releasing Rosalie’s hands to cradle my stomach. “I asked him about her and he…” What had he said? “Not if I have anything to say about it.” What did that mean? Was Dominico plotting something to get out of marrying her? Cold dread filled my veins.
“What will happen if he disobeys his father?” I asked.
“Sharp as a tack,” Rosalie replied, watching me. “I see why he likes you. He’ll risk the wrath of his father, but that’s a risk he’s willing to take for you and his child.”
Her vague answers were beginning to drive me crazy. The wrath of a don? What did that mean? “How much danger will he be in?” I asked.
“You let me take care of that,” she said. “My grandbaby doesn’t need the stress. But before I intervene, you have a decision to make. Do you want Dom enough to become a Mariani?”
Of course I did. I opened my mouth to tell her as much, but she stopped me.
“It’s not as simple as it sounds. This is not an easy road to travel, and most people regret choosing it. You’ll be lonely. Sure, you’ll have your kids, friends, the family, knitting groups, book clubs, spa days, guard dogs you have to ditch in order to talk to your son’s girlfriend, but none of them can ever truly know you. You can’t show them weakness, can’t talk about the family business, all relationships you have will be on the surface.”
I frowned, letting her words sink in.
“Dom will buy you cars, clothes, jewelry, whatever you want. The only thing you won’t have, is his time. He’ll try to be there, but trust me… he’ll miss birthdays, anniversaries, ball games, ballet recitals. Your children won’t understand why he has to work all the time. Sometimes, even you will forget. One day, you’ll get so frustrated and angry with him you’ll be tempted to leave him. But make no mistake, Annetta, once you join this family, there is no walking away.”
The cold, calculating Rosalie was back. She stared at me like she was waiting for something, but I had no idea what. Questions maybe? I had none. Everything she said, I’d already suspected. Did I love Dom enough to join him in his world? Did I love him enough to put him at risk so I could become a Mariani? I needed to think about it.
Her expression softened again. “You don’t have to make any decisions today, dear. You have options. Should you decide you want out… that you want a normal marriage with a husband who can be there for you, Dom will survive. I will set you and the baby up somewhere safe, somewhere far away from here. You won’t have any contact with my son, but you and the baby will be taken care of. You’ll never have to worry about a thing.”
“But I’ll never see Dom again,” I said, understanding what she meant. “And the baby will grow up without knowing him.”
“It’s unfortunate, but yes. If you decide this life isn’t for you, Dom will have to move on. He still has duties, expectations, you understand.”
I did understand. Dominico’s mafia boss father would force him to marry that little tramp in the pink dress and I’d never see him again. “Yes ma’am.”
She let out a breath, straightening her dress. “Good. Now let’s put this unpleasantness behind us and enjoy the rest of our afternoon together. My grandchild needs a sweet, and the desserts here are to die for.” She grabbed a menu from the table beside her and handed it to me. “I promise you will not be disappointed with anything, but the tiramisu is exquisite.”
My appetite was gone, but Rosalie ordered us dessert anyway. As I nibbled, she spoke of a trip she’d recently taken to Italy, prattling on about scenic vineyards while my mind and heart churned about the problem at hand. Could I be in a relationship where I couldn’t count on my other half to be home at night? The wives of truck drivers and undercover police officers did it all the time. I didn’t need Dominico coddling me, and I knew not even the most attentive man would ever be responsible for my happiness. That was on me. And so far, I’d handled Dominico’s absence pretty well. Soon I’d have the baby, and from what I’d read, my hands would be more than full. Especially if I planned to keep working. Which I did.
After dessert, Rosalie took me home. Before I exited her car, she grabbed my hand. “Think about your options, Annetta,” she said. “Whatever you decide, I will help you. For the safety of you, Dom, and the baby, you will need to decide soon.”
I nodded.
“Who have you told about the baby?”
“My best friend, Adona. That’s it.”
“Can you trust her not to tell anyone else?” she asked.
“Absolutely. I swore her to secrecy. She won’t blab.”
“You haven’t told your father?”
Shame heated my cheeks. “No. I wanted to tell Dom first, and Papa got home late last night and left early this morning. I haven’t had time.” Also, I was a big chicken and didn’t want to tell Papa I’d gotten knocked up.
“Good.” She nodded to herself. “Tell no one. Not your father, your employer, no one. In fact, you need to quit your job.”
Stunned, I stared at her, a protest forming on my lips.
“You must,” Rosalie said, giving my hand a little squeeze. “I know you’ve worked hard and you love what you do, but you’re beginning to show, and people will start asking questions. Dom has been careless in picking you up from work. The restaurant is connected. If they find out you’re pregnant and suspect it’s Dom’s child, they’ll tell Gio, which would be disastrous for all of us. Trust me on this, dear, he will kill you if he finds out before you’re protected.”
Strangely enough, I did trust her, but I was still devastated. Hand on my belly, I whispered, “I ha
ve to quit my job.” Saying it aloud made it feel so final, so awful.
She nodded. “I know it will be difficult, but you can do it. Never underestimate what you can and will do for your child, Annetta. Amor di madre, amore senza limiti.”
A mother’s love has no limits. Yes, I was beginning to see that. No doubt Rosalie was putting herself in danger by being here.
“Thank you for everything,” I said, meaning it. “I just have one last question.”
“Yes?”
“If I stay, are you sure you’ll be able to keep the three of us safe?” It was the one key to the puzzle that I still didn’t understand. Giovani sounded a little like the boogeyman, only he was very real. How could anyone protect us from him?
“Because I am a woman, my father wouldn’t make me a capo. No family has ever had a female capo, and he refused to be the first. The old fool dreamed of taking Vegas, and believed he needed a strong male heir to turn that dream into reality. But Father never realized that women don’t need a title to rule. The Mariani family will one day take Vegas, but it won’t be because of the fear and respect my father demanded as a man and a capo. No, that earned him nothing but a pine box. You see, Annetta, real power doesn’t need to demand fear and respect. When the Mariani family rises, it will be because strong women like us—the real power behind this family—got sick of watching our loved ones die and shoved our family to the top where it’s harder for everyone to reach us.”
She released my hand and passed me a piece of paper with a phone number written on it. “Take care of yourself and my grandbaby. That’s my house number, but only use it from a payphone and in case of an emergency. Don’t speak to anyone at this number but me.”
I thanked her, and then headed into the house to think.