Antonello (Mob Men Book 1)

by Noelle Giselle

“Nello or Dominick?”

  She looks like she could burst into flames.

  “Both!”

  I go into my closet to find the dress and I hear her talking by the bed.

  “Every time I go to do something it’s like I’m a child. I’m so sick of it. I miss the days of not having a body guard. Once my dad died it’s like everything changed. Suddenly, I couldn’t go to college. One day, they bring over Raffaelo and say ‘Here’s your new bodyguard!’ Any friends I had were suddenly no good for me. And you can forget dating. Try dating with a body guard two tables down.”

  I hear her flop onto the bed.

  “Dominick wasn’t always your body guard?”

  “Nope. I had Raffaelo. He was much older and didn’t talk much, but they promoted him or something. I don’t know how that stuff works.”

  I quickly slip the dress on. I don’t want her to be out past her apparent curfew.

  “So when did Dominick take over?”

  “A few months ago. He’s always up my ass! I hate him!” She raises her voice and I could swear I hear knocking on the bedroom door. I hope he’s not hearing her say all this.

  She screams when I step out.

  “Oh my God. My brother better know how lucky he is! You look gorgeous!”

  I spin around to show her every angle. I have a pit in my stomach, though. Is he lucky? After all, I’m not really his girlfriend. I hate lying to Caterina. The deeper this lie goes the worse I feel. Not to mention I wish I had someone to talk to about everything. I’d do anything for a little advice right now. I take a breath in and I’m about to spill everything when I definitely hear a knock on the door.

  “It’s eleven fifty-five, Kitty Cat.”

  “Urrrghhhhhh!”

  Caterina stomps to the door and swings it open. Dominick is leaning against the door frame. He points to his watch.

  “You are the worst! Let’s go, Daddy.”

  They leave out the front door and I watch from the railing, still in my dress. I laugh when I hear the car doors slam. She’s pissed.

  I tell Piero I’m off to bed and change into one of the lacy nightgowns.

  Hopefully Nello is home soon. If he’s not home by now I’d think he should be home by no later than two o’clock.

  I wrap myself up in the blankets and wait for his return. I must’ve fallen asleep because when I open my eyes the sun is up. I blink a few times before everything comes into focus. The clock reads eight o’clock. I look next to me and his side of the bed is empty. I feel it and it’s cold. I panic immediately.

  “Piero!” I scream down the stairs. “Nello?”

  Silence.

  I run down the stairs still in my nightgown. My heart’s pounding. Is Nello okay?

  I start checking rooms but they’re all empty. I don’t see any indication that he ever returned home.

  I round the corner and decide to peek into his office.

  The door is closed and I hear voices. I can’t tell if any of them are Nello. I just want to know if he’s okay.

  “How much more can we talk about this? Killing Vinny will start a war with both the Crisantis and the Vassallos. Although, I’d absolutely love to break Richie Vassallo’s fuckin’ neck if shit does go down. He’s had it coming since he screwed me out of my cut from that private game down in Atlantic City in 2017. Actually, tell Nello to add him to the list. Someone’s gotta kill that fucker even if I’m already dead.”

  My body is rigid upon hearing this. So, clearly Nello isn’t in there. I’m trying to forget everything I heard and just focus on where he is when I turn around to see one angry mob man.

  “Dolcezza, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

  I back away from the door quickly. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was looking for you. I’m so sorry.”

  I try to ignore his appearance, which is awful. His hair is messed up and his shirt has blood smeared on it. I’m actually a little freaked out.

  Suddenly, the door to the office opens.

  “What the fuck is going on out here?”

  I look and I see a bunch of dangerous looking men eyeing me up suspiciously. Some look familiar but Gian is the only face I actually know.

  I’m too afraid to speak so I just stand there like a deer in headlights. It takes a moment before I remember I’m in this lacy, see through nightgown. I feel my nipples pucker.

  Nello shields my body from the men and I’m trying to ignore the smell of blood.

  He backs me away from the office and towards the stairs.

  The smell of blood is making me nauseas and I want nothing more than to get away from him right now.

  “If you know what’s good for you, you better get that ass back up those fucking stairs.”

  “I’m sorry. I was just worried about you. I didn’t hear anything!”

  “Bullshit. I am sick of you eavesdropping. I ought to smack your ass red for it. Now get up those stairs.”

  I run into the bedroom and I feel like I’m going to cry. I need to talk to Caterina. I’m going crazy inside.

  She doesn’t answer on the first few rings but when her sleepy voice picks up I’m relieved.

  “Hey, can we get breakfast? I need some girl time.”

  “Sure. Is Nello cooking?”

  “What I meant was can we go somewhere. Nello’s angry with me and I just need to vent.”

  “Okay, let me get Dominick. We will see you soon.”

  I text Piero and ask him if he can come over to pick me up. I don’t want to go through Nello. I dig through the drawers and find yoga pants and a t shirt. I toss my hair in a messy bun atop my head. I just want to get out of here.

  I hide upstairs until Piero texts me that he’s here. I don’t see anyone on my way to the front door. I look outside and I see Piero’s car waiting by the garages but he’s not in it. I’m terrified to run into Nello again.

  “Where are you?” I text Piero. I’m such a chicken.

  He comes out of the kitchen.

  “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

  I’m itching to get out of the house.

  “Can we just go?”

  “Sure. Does Nello know we’re going out?”

  I’m not going anywhere near that office.

  “Can you please just tell him for me?”

  He seems annoyed but does as I ask and walks down the hall. I peek around the corner and watch as he slips into the office.

  I turn and head out to the car. I don’t want to see Nello.

  I receive a text from Cat with the name of a restaurant downtown.

  I type back quickly. “Lame. I want to get away for a little. Let’s go to the city. I’m obsessed after spending the weekend there. I just googled this place in Brooklyn. Has good reviews.”

  “Wow. Look at you, city girl! Dominick is going to be mad. Hehe.”

  When Piero finds out I want to go to Brooklyn he also doesn’t look too happy.

  “Are you really sure you want to drive all the way out there? You’ve never even been to this place.”

  “I just googled best places for brunch in New York City and this place popped up. Now quit being a stick in the mud. Dominick and Caterina are already on their way.”

  Having Piero follow me around has never felt like much of a big deal. Usually, he just feels like a chauffeur to me. But today, he feels like a true body guard. He’s vigilant and holding onto me. He’s practically walking me to the restaurant. I can see what Caterina means about Dominick. It is rather annoying.

  We walk in at the same time as the others and Caterina grabs me in a hug. This place is tiny as hell and not so up to date. But it’s packed. It must be good.

  We wait around for a table and the guards are shielding us from basically everyone. I don’t know how Cat puts up with this. I’m feeling claustrophobic being stuck between a wall and Piero’s back.

  “So, what happened with you and Nello? Did he like the cookies?”

  “Honestly, I forgot all about the
cookies. I’ll tell you the rest when we sit down.” I dart my eyes in the direction of the guards’ heads. I don’t need an audience. “Hey, did you ever end up picking out a dress for the weekend?”

  She lowers her voice. “It’s hard to pick out dresses when I have to take bucko over here shopping with me. I need opinions but I am certainly not asking him. Maybe you and I can go together. My mom’s been super busy with her book club. It’s her latest obsession.”

  “Nello never talks about your mom. What’s she like?”

  “Oh, our mom? She’s funny. Every few weeks she’s got a new thing she tries getting into. One week it’s knitting. The next, a book club. The worst was when she was crazy about cutting coupons. She doesn’t even do her own grocery shopping.” She smiles and for a moment it looks so similar to Nello I have to look twice.

  “You looked like your brother for a minute there.”

  “Did I? Everyone says we look nothing alike.”

  “It was just your expression when you smiled.”

  “Too bad Nello doesn’t smile anymore.”

  “Yeah, what’s up with that? Does he not know how?” I start laughing but I notice Caterina doesn’t laugh.

  “I don’t know. It’s been a long time since I saw Nello smile. Even in family pictures if he smiles it’s so forced. It’s like a smirk.”

  “Yeah, I think I saw that—“

  “Holy shit. Ciao bello.”

  Huh?

  I turn and follow Caterina’s line of sight.

  “What does all this mean? Your brother throws these words and phrases at me too and I can’t get Google translate out fast enough.”

  She waves at me distractedly. “I’m telling you that guy by the window is super hot!”

  I turn and look but I can’t see from where I am. I’m too hidden back here. Piero turns to me and moves me in front of him. Tables have opened and it’s finally our turn. The guards’ table is not next to us but a few tables away. They can still see us but thankfully can’t hear our conversation. I’m shoving my denim jacket into the corner of the booth when Caterina starts fanning herself.

  “He is gorgeous, oh my God!”

  “Are you still going on about this guy? Where are you even looking?”

  I turn and try to be discreet and look two tables away. The guy is pretty cute and he’s staring right at Caterina. I look at Dominick and he’s staring between the two. I see what she means about dating. This is awkward.

  I really need to talk to her so I try to get the attention back to the table.

  “I’m getting the French toast. Yelp reviews said that’s the best thing.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll do the same thing, then. Now, spill it about Nello. Why’s he mad at you?”

  I don’t know what to tell her. I want to tell her the whole story. I want to tell her how this whole thing has been pretend but how the feelings I have for him are real. I want advice and she is probably the one who understands him best. She’s his twin for God’s sake!

  Our coffee comes and I decide to settle one issue at a time.

  “He never came back last night.”

  Her eyes are wide. “No?”

  “Nope.” I shrug. “I woke up and I panicked. I just wanted to find him. So I went downstairs to look for him.”

  The French toast comes out. I barely have an appetite as I recount the story. “I’m checking all the rooms and I’m yelling out for him or for Piero. Well, I go to his office to see if he’s in there and I hear these voices. I’m trying to detect if any of them are Nello. I can’t believe what I heard. They want to kill some guys or something insane! Vinny and Richie or something, I don’t know. Anyway,”

  Someone bumps into my arm as they walk by.

  “So was he in there?” She takes a bite of her French toast. Her hair is down and it’s dangerously close to going into her syrup.

  “Watch your hair, it’s going in your food.” She throws it behind her shoulder. “Anyway, no! He was standing behind me! He saw me listening in and he thinks I was being nosy!”

  “Oh, he will get over it. You know how many times I got caught where I wasn’t supposed to be growing up?”

  She’s not getting it. Maybe I should tell her how I was caught eavesdropping before.

  “I didn’t even get to tell you the most mortifying part. The door opens and all these guys are in there and they’re staring right at me!”

  “Those are probably my cousins,” she’s cackling now.

  “Your other brother was in there too.”

  I take my first bite of French toast. It is pretty good.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure they had no idea what was going on.”

  “Maybe, but the biggest issue is I was standing there in that little red get up you bought me. That lacy nightgown!”

  She bursts out laughing and slams her hand on the table. The silverware clangs and she seems to think it’s the funniest thing. I glace as Dominick looks over again.

  “Cut it out! Stop laughing at my expense!”

  “That nightgown is like completely see through! They must’ve gotten some show!” She waves her hands to dry her eyes.

  “Yeah, don’t mess up that mascara or Mr. Breakfast Boy over there may change his mind about you.”

  She picks up her napkin and dabs her eyes.

  “This place is so busy I don’t even know where he went. So, now Nello isn’t talking to you?”

  “I don’t know. He yelled at me and told me to get upstairs and that’s when I called you. He can be really scary sometimes.”

  “He can be really over protective. That’s just how he is. Especially after our dad died, it’s like he went crazy. He took this whole ‘man of the house’ thing to a new level. I’m surprised he even opened up enough to get a girlfriend. I’m still in shock sometimes that you two are together.”

  Here’s my in. It’s like the seas have parted for me.

  Come clean!

  Come clean!

  I can hear the angels’ voices singing in the background.

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I could really use a girlfriend right now.”

  “If it’s your sex life,” she holds her hand up, “I’m going to have to give you the red light here. That’s one thing I definitely cannot hear about.”

  “Oh, no it’s not that at all actually. I can spare you the details there.”

  “Kitty Cat, we need to go. Your brother called and he wants you both home immediately.” Dominick’s standing at our table and he hurries Caterina and tries to help her into her jacket. She swats at him and puts it on herself.

  “Stop it! There’s a cute guy in here and you’re ruining my chances!”

  I glance around but her crush is gone. Piero guides me out the door behind them. Another failed attempt at telling Caterina the truth.

  An hour later Nello officially goes off the deep end.

  “What in the hell were you thinking?” He’s scowling at me.

  Caterina and Dominick left with Piero. Nello already yelled at her but it’s not as much as he’s yelling at me now. Even the guards got yelled at. Geez.

  At least he’s showered and looking back to normal.

  “We just wanted to go for breakfast. I don’t see what the big deal is!”

  “Yes. I’m aware of that. I told Piero you can go downtown to The Breakfast Nook, not to Brooklyn to some fucking diner!”

  “I had fun in the city this weekend, I thought it would’ve been nice. Your sister still needs a dress for the banquet. Maybe we could have gone shopping after. The guards were with us. I don’t see the big fucking deal!”

  “The big fucking deal is that I did not permit you to go joyriding in New York City, today! You disobeyed me!”

  “I totally did not! Besides, why the hell do I need your permission? I can totally see why Caterina feels the way she does.”

  “What do you know anything about when it comes to my sister and why I protect her the way I do?”
/>   “Because we talk and she tells me things!”

  “No, you don’t know fucking shit about anything when it comes to my family. She may chat with you but you’ll never know the true reality of me and my family so stop it with that mouth.”

  That hurts. I was feeling closer to him and his family each day. I can’t believe he would put a barrier between us like that. Maybe the way I feel really is one sided.