Chocolate and Italian Wine (Music and Mayhem Book 1)

by Lili Porter

  “Yep. I think she’d love your pizza. Make it and I’ll be in like Flynn,” Paolo teased.

  Raffaelo looked at his crazy tongued middle son and shook his head. “Since you moved to America, I need a translator when we speak. Who is this Flynn?”

  “It means she’ll be all mine,” Paolo said.

  “Ah, that is what concerns me,” Raffaelo replied.

  “Why is that?” Paolo asked sensing his father’s apprehension.

  “She may be your songbird, but our family’s ways require much more than a beautiful face and voice. You know this.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?” Paolo asked. From the way his father positioned his hands and stared at his shoes as if he was looking for a speck of dust indicated that he was choosing his words cautiously.

  “Don Vittore has gone to the council. He wants them to decide whether or not you should be allowed to back out of your commitment to his daughter,” Raffaelo said. Paolo started to interrupt but his father held up his hand and silenced him. “The meeting will take place next week and I am not going to collapse down to his plans. I’ve been more than fair. However, Paolo, I need you to think with more than just your anatomy. Be smart about this…”

  Paolo looked directly at his father. “A Bianchi can never best a Montovani. When the time is right, their family will be forced to acknowledge this.”

  “You’ve made yourself public, and not at a very good time.”

  Agreeing with his father’s assessment, Paolo sighed in and began to pace the bedroom.

  “I don’t blame you, son. He’s planning a war; there’d be no other reason for him to go to the council. We were once very good friends. But that’s no more. Not just because of this thing between you and his daughter. We’d grown apart over the years. I intend to inform the council of our own intentions. We are a very powerful ‘Ndrina. Whether it’s sanctioned or not, we move ahead with our plans.” Raffaelo shrugged his shoulders, not impacted by the direct statement in the least. He’d grown up in that environment and he knew the rules, just as Vittore Bianchi did. After another pause, Raffaelo added, “I could see years ago that you did not want to marry that silly girl, but I ignored it.”

  Paolo nodded. “Shall I accompany you to the meeting?” he asked.

  “Yes. You understand how this works, don’t you? In the end, the Bianchi family will slip into extinction,” Raffaelo said in a rather blasé voice.

  “I understand,” Paolo said. In deep thought, he was trying to assess all the possible consequences and repercussions of this.

  “Giampaolo, soon your responsibilities to this family will be even greater than they are. A man in your position can never afford to be distracted. If you truly are determined to pursue this relationship with the songbird, then this is where a man like you must put into place the barriers that will protect the woman you care for from the world you a part of,” Raffaelo said with a dramatic wave of his hand. “These scales you attempt to balance…Hollywood, Italia…weigh heavily on both sides. My question to you is, how do you intend to counterbalance the two?” He eyed Paolo, seeing if he understood what he meant.

  Paolo had walked over to the wall of the bedroom and was leaning against it, his arms crossed and one leg over the other.

  His father continued on. “I have never known the two worlds to coincide successfully. Are you avoiding the relentless paparazzi? The less contact, the better. Your picture is being taken far too much. Your mother tells me you have a fan club on social media, that you are referred to as a beautiful Roman god, and that people are predicting that when you and the songbird have children they’ll be so beautiful that crazy people might be tempted to steal them.”

  Paolo’s mouth was agape. “What? That’s insane,” he said, shaking his head.

  “What are you hoping comes of this, son?”

  Paolo smiled a little. “Comes of what exactly, Pop?”

  “Your songbird, our family. How do you propose to balance the two? Is this the fling of a lifetime, this thing you have with Karisma Montgomery? Or do you want something more permanent?” Raffaelo asked.

  Paolo walked over to his father, who had just stood up, and adjusted the older Montovani’s tie. “I have no intention of dismissing my responsibility to this family, Pop. I know what’s expected. But, I also have absolutely no intention of walking away from Karisma. She’s in here now,” he said, pointing to his heart.

  He backed away from his father, looking at the blue striped silk tie. “I’m introducing her to the family today. That should tell you that I’m serious about her,” Paolo commented, stroking his neatly trimmed chin hairs.

  Raffaelo studied the young man, the one who was best suited to lead the family.

  “Is she also serious?” Raffaelo asked.

  “We’re in love, Pop.”

  Raffaelo nodded. “I see. Does ‘I love you’ mean the same thing in Hollywood as it does in Italia?”

  “It means the same thing everywhere, Pop,” Paolo told him, growing tired of the conversation.

  “Does it? She doesn’t know who the man she loves really is. I know you haven’t shared that,” Raffaelo said through narrowed eyes.

  Paolo sighed. His sapphire eyes darkened as he spoke to his father. “I haven’t, Papa.”

  “Not even, during pillow talk?”

  Paolo shook his head.

  “Good. Only a potential wife need know,” his father said cautiously.

  Paolo smiled in spite of himself. “Are you asking me if I want to marry Karisma Montgomery, Don Raffaelo?”

  “I’m asking nothing of the sort. You just cancelled a wedding. It’s okay to date her, Paolo. You think you’re in love. We all feel that way while in the throes of passion. Perhaps after a little time has passed, you’ll think more rationally about this relationship.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t think she is, either.”

  “She doesn’t know this world. One day you might feel it necessary to disclose who you are. Be sure you know her before you ever do.”

  Paolo nodded, unconvinced that he should ever tell her. He didn’t want to risk his love with Karisma for anything on earth.

  ***

  Karisma’s phone rang as she was about to put it away. “Hello?”

  “Sup, shorty.” She was wired.

  It was Ray. She frowned. “Hi. You must have a reason for calling me, Ray. What is it?” Karisma asked shortly.

  “Hey, I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d come by and say hi,” he chuckled, ignoring her tone.

  “In the neighborhood? What? What are you talking about?” she asked with more force than was necessary.

  “I’m downstairs. Come down and have a drink with me,” Ray urged.

  “Why are you in Italy? Do you have a concert or something?”

  “I’m a guest on Italian Idol. The show’s tomorrow. Come on down. We can shoot the shit. As friends,” he added.

  “How did you know where I was staying?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Ain’t hard to find you, girl,” he said.

  Karisma was feeling slightly high, but she didn’t want a drink. She couldn’t go downstairs because she didn’t want to be mobbed.

  “No. I don’t want to come downstairs to meet you. I don’t want anyone misreading us being together,” she said, pulling her hair back. She suddenly felt very sexy. How long until Paolo was back?

  “How bout I come up there?” he asked.

  “Not a good idea, Ray.”

  “I know that pretty muthafucka ain’t up there. Is that why you don’t wanna see me?”

  “I don’t want to see you because you’re an ass. We’re not friends. I don’t want to sit down and shoot the shit with you,” Karisma said with attitude.

  “I come all the way out here to see you and you treat me like a fan, girl. You gonna do me like that?”

  “What do we have to talk about, Ray?”

  “Let me come up,” he coaxed.

  She stood debatin
g. It was a bad idea but she didn’t trust him to not make a scene down there. What was the worst of two evils? “Whatever. Come on, Ray,” she sighed.

  As soon as she hung up with Ray she called Sierra and Valerie to get into her room immediately. She didn’t want to be alone with him.

  Raymond Bryant walked into that hotel suite with swagger for days. She remembered why she had been attracted to him. He was great looking. But he was no good. She hadn’t forgotten.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he said as he bent to kiss her cheek.

  He looked over to see both Valerie and Sierra sitting on the sofa preoccupied with their usual pastime. Smartphones and tablets in hand, the women looked up when he entered the room.

  “Sup, ladies,” he said, giving them both a peck on the cheek.

  “Have a seat,” Karisma said. Ray sat on the couch and she sat in an individual chair next to him.

  “You’re looking good, Ray,” Valerie said.

  “Yes indeed. You been working out, Ray? Those biceps are bulging,” Sierra added.

  “Been pumpin some iron,” he said, proudly. “Kari seems to like big muscles all of a sudden,” he said and winked.

  The other ladies grinned along with him. Karisma sat back, folded her arms and frowned.

  “Just come by, what, to say hi?” she asked.

  “Yeah, and I was missing that pretty mug of yours,” he teased. Valerie shook her head. Sierra looked at Karisma, who seemed bored already.

  “Why don’t you give us a couple of minutes?” Ray said to Valerie and Sierra. “I’d like to talk in private with Kari for a bit.”

  The two looked to Kari, who’d just called them in, but now she nodded that it was okay for them to go. “Go ahead, this won’t take long,” she added. They retreated to her bedroom.

  “So, Ray, what’s got you following me around Italy?” Karisma asked, settling back.

  “Girl, this separation shit is whack. You had a long enough time to be pissed. We need to get back to what we know. Shit, girl. I want you back,” Ray said.

  She looked at him like he had two heads. “Are you insane? I don’t want you and I’m over it. Thought you knew. Now go away.” She sang the verse to one of her hits.

  Angered, he said, “You with that white boy? Or is he just fuckin you? I mean, everybody wants to, baby…”

  She cut him off and yelled, “Well everybody may want to, but Ray Bryant sure won’t get to!”

  “Hey, baby, don’t shoot the messenger,” he laughed. Every man out there wants to tap that ass.”

  She stood and began moving toward the door. “Get your dumb ass out of here. NOW!” she hollered. Valerie and Sierra came to stand in the doorway.

  “Look, girl, you’ll always be my lady. Ain’t no pretty mobster gone ever come between us. Believe that,” he said, pointing at her.

  “Oh, ok, he’s Italian, he’s got money, so he’s got to be a mobster, right?”

  Walking towards her, he said, “Naw, baby. He’s Italian, he’s got money, and he is a mobster. Muthafucka’s mobbed up.”

  “You are still ridiculous and will say anything to get what you want. I should have never let you in here,” Kari said, ready to hit him.

  “Your boy is mafia, baby. A boss. Don Corleone and shit. Why you fuckin around with somebody like that? Between him and that killer Wolfe, you runnin with the big dogs, baby.”

  “Fuck you, Ray. Go back to where you came from. You’re pathetic,” she said, just as Wolfe appeared at the door.

  “Oh, no!” Ray feigned. “Not the stone cold killa!” And he looked at Wolfe who was flexing his biceps and cracking his knuckles. “I’m out man, don’t shoot my ass, I ain’t no intruder,” he said then, backing down on his tough talk.

  He headed toward the door. “Bye love, we ain’t done,” he said. She gave him the finger. His tongue flicked wickedly through the air at her, as Wolfe slammed it behind him.

  “Why was that ass up here?” he asked her.

  “He came to tell me that Paolo’s in the mafia. He’s Italian, you know,” Kari said, rolling her eyes.

  Wolfe looked at her silently and Valerie walked back into the room. She said, “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I’ve heard the same thing.”

  Karisma whirled around to look at her. “Where did you hear that?” she asked.

  “The gossip show Bizzee has been sitting on it for a while trying to check it out. They ran into a wall and were shut down. That can only mean one thing of two things, CIA or mafia,” Valerie said. “I tried to tell you this once before, but we were interrupted. I haven’t had a chance since.”

  “Have they tried to get a statement from me?” she asked.

  “No. They wanted to have the facts corroborated before asking you for a comment,” she said.

  Karisma felt slightly dizzy. She held her hand to her forehead. “Wolfe? Have you heard this, too?” she asked her loyal friend.

  “Kari, I don’t know if all that’s true. But of course we check anybody out who gets close to you. Nothing’s come up. Not even a parking ticket.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you checked him out?” she asked. Fuck.

  “You’ve always known we check everybody out, wouldn’t have thought of mentioning it, especially since nothing came up,” Wolfe said.

  “He handled the shooting,” she said, looking him dead in the eye. ‘Cause he’s mafia.

  “Yesss,” he said drawing out the word and giving her a look that said to end that conversation.

  “You didn’t go to jail,” she added, ignoring the look. ‘Cause he fixed it like mobsters do.

  “It was self defense, something people don’t go to jail for,” Wolfe countered. His look was cautious.

  Kari could see that Wolfe wanted her to stop where she was headed, but she couldn’t. “He has more bodyguards than I do.” ‘Cause they’re his hitmen.

  “So, that ass comes up here and is getting everybody riled up all over Mafia shit. I ought to fuck him up good for this,” Wolfe said, suddenly irate.

  “But you believe it, don’t you?” Valerie asked, challenging Wolfe.

  Kari shook her head and looked around at everyone. “Okay, let’s calm down before this gets too crazy! The mafia? Why the hell are we even entertaining this bullshit? He’s not mafia! This conversation ends right now, dammit!” she paused, catching her breath. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be ready to leave in 45 minutes.” She threw her blouse over her head and onto the floor as she stalked toward the bathroom and slammed the door.

  Wolfe, Sierra and Val all stood around looking at her and then each other.

  “I think it’s the pills,” Sierra said.

  “Somebody better go check on her,” Val said, looking at the other two.

  “Not me,” Wolfe said, shaking his head and sitting down.

  “You go, Sierra. You speak fluent Karisma,” Val said.

  About a minute later, there was a knock on the bathroom door. “What is it?” she yelled.

  Sierra opened the door. “Kari, I wanted to be sure you were okay.”

  “I’m fine,” she said blandly.

  Have you talked to Karla today?” Sierra asked, changing the subject.

  “No.”

  “She called. She’s on her way,” Sierra said.

  “Yippee.” Kari’s voice was not genuine when she said this, showing the stress in it.

  “Kari? Sweetie, how many of those pills did you take?”

  “Not enough to kill myself okay? I’m fine, Fluffy. Leave me alone, a while. I have to get my mind right.”

  “I’ll be right outside the door. Call me if you need me.”

  “I will,” Kari said, turning on the water to her shower.

  “You’re not going to take any more of those pills, are you? You have to meet Paolo’s family,” Sierra said.

  “I know, Sierra, thank you!” Karisma snapped. “Stop hovering. I want some privacy.”

  “I’ll be outside,” Sierra
closed the door, leaving Kari alone.

  Karisma got undressed and went into the shower, thinking about what Ray and Valerie had said and what Wolfe had not said, but his look… She suddenly felt weak and slid onto the tub floor and stayed there with the water running until Sierra and Valerie came in later to fish her out.

  ***

  “How do I look?” Maria Elena asked, glancing over her right shoulder at her mother.

  “Bellissima,” her mother replied, smiling warmly.

  “Do you think it’s too much?” she asked, now checking out her back in the mirror.

  “Too much for what? His eyes? His eyes will appreciate what they see and fall in love,” her mother said.

  Maria Elena’s face fell. “He won’t be looking at me, Mama,” she suddenly said. “Who am I fooling?”

  “Do you want to stay home, then? You are obviously not ready for this,” her mother said.

  Maria Elena paused. “I don’t want him to reject me again. He keeps rejecting me,” she whined. “Yes, Papa said he’d fix things. He hasn’t fixed this. He won’t return my calls. I call him all the time…”

  “And you must stop!” her mother interrupted. “Stop chasing him, Maria Elena. Let him come to you. Your father is working on this. Let him do it.”

  “Not fast enough! I cannot stop. I love him. Why can’t he see that, Mama? He’s mine, not hers. She’s going to find out tonight, though. She needs to know that I love him and I want him and I’m not going away so easily.”

  “Just keep your head and you will do that,” her mother replied. She sighed. What had Paolo been thinking, letting a pretty face turn his head from what was right. “Remember, this Montgomery woman has a lot of protection and Paolo will get angrier if you try to approach her. We must find another way.”

  “What are you saying? We aren’t going to the concert tonight? We have to,” Maria Elena replied desperately.

  “Of course we’re going,” her mother said with a dismissive wave of the hand. “But we won’t be able to get close to her. Her bodyguards and security will never allow it. Our best bet tonight is to get to Paolo. Let him see you. He is obviously seduced by beauty. And you look absolutely wonderful, darling. He’ll notice,” her mother assured her.