True to his word, the soldiers under Nicolo’s command don’t need long to take the enemy out, the sound of gunfire fierce at first, waning as the hour nears, and then coming to an almost complete stop, with a few random shots ringing out over a ten-minute period before it ends.
Nicolo’s phone buzzes and he answers and gives me a nod. “We got ‘em all. And three of the fuckers are being delivered to the warehouse as we speak.”
Gianni claps Nicolo on the back and my chest swells with pride. “Fucking A we did. Any of ours hurt?” I ask.
Our underboss shakes his head. “Not one.”
I grin. “Great fucking job, Nicolo.” I turn to Gianni. “We’re going out the back way. Drinks are on the house. Stay here, deal with the cops. They’ll come round with questions, you can bet your ass on that. We stopped by, hung out and then left when we heard all the commotion. Make sure Torro and Larry got thatstory straight and that the girls didn’t see a thing. I’m feeling fucking generous tonight. Put an extra K in their checks this week.”
“Got it.” Gianni lights up a cigar. I gesture to the thousand dollar a week habit my brother’s managed to get. “You know those things will kill you?”
He laughs in my fucking face. I scowl. “What’s so funny?”
Gianni waves his hand in the air. “Seriously? Look around. We’re in the most dangerous business there is, people getting whacked every day and you’re gonna jump my ass about a cigar?”
“Fuck off and put it out.” I gesture to Nicolo that it’s time to go. We walk to the office bathroom, open the sliding panel and walk down a small hallway that leads to the back exit. Nicolo opens the door a crack, and as soon as Terry pulls up, we step outside into the breezy night air.
Terry catches my gaze in the rearview as we get in and settled. “Where to boss?”
“Home for me.”
Nicolo smiles. “Good, that’s what I like to hear.” He turns to Terry. “Let’s drop the boss off and then head out to the warehouse. We’ve got work to do tonight.”
The minute we reach the DeLuca Casino and Hotel, I get out and head straight to the tall glass doors, giving a nod to Barry who holds them open for me. I tap my watch. “You saw me come in right about now.”
“Got it boss.”
What a fucking night. As soon as I get to my penthouse, I pour a glass of scotch into a crystal tumbler and let the golden amber seep into my veins. Nothing takes the edge off after an anticlimactic night like tonight. Maybe I should have had a little fun with one of the ladies, took one of them to a private room in the club for a little celebration tonight, but what used to haveincredible appeal just doesn’t anymore. Not for fucking months now.
My jaw tightens as I tug off my tie and loosen up my collar. I sink into my desk chair watching the lights over the boardwalk and on the ships out at sea. One fucking night over six months ago and I still can’t get the Cassone girl out of my mind.
One night six months ago. The whole clusterfuck of a night still weighs heavily on my mind. No matter that I risked my life and those of my men to pay back a favor to the Rosellis and rescued the long dark-haired angel, carrying her out of that dank spot the bastards had her tied up in and holding her in my arms while the helicopter got us to safety. But still, it wasn’t enough.
Injured far too badly and passed in the night. That message still runs through my mind over and over again. That communication came loud and clear through the family channels and rippled like waves through the crime industry. Not that anyone blamed me. The Rosellis knew I did the most that I could. I paid my debt and tried to save the girl at the same time.Yeah, I fucking know it, but it still doesn’t make this haunting feeling go away.
The crimson red, gold embossed card from Mistress Valentina, manager of the DeLuca X Club in the lower level of our casino and hotel sits in front of me. I trace the letters with a finger.
I need something to blow off a little steam or I’m going to fucking explode. Maybe it’s not such a bad idea. I haven’t been down there in quite some time, having grown tired of the clingy power and money-seeking women who know I can give them exactly that. But, a masquerade party, that’s a little different, intriguing.
It would give me some sense of anonymity. At least the new women in the circle wouldn’t know who I am. Maybe some would recognize me, but not all.
I twirl the invitation to the masquerade ball this coming Friday between my thumb and forefingers letting the thought of attending stir new excitement into my blood.
2
ANNA
Three months of healing and another three months sulking around. None of which will change what our father did and what Sophia and I went through as a result. I eat breakfast slowly, almost subconsciously bringing the succulent mango slice to my mouth before tackling the eggs which my younger sister thinks are the best thing in the world for healing. I eat them intermittently with bites of toast and then go in search of another coffee.
The large Tuscan style kitchen has already been cleaned up from earlier, but the coffee pot still has another two cups left of the imported blend, purposely for me. I like this time of day. Sophia and Massimo get up and have breakfast together every single morning no matter what is going on or how late he’s out dealing with business the night before. Then they go for a swim in the Atlantic when it’s warm enough or for a run on the beach when weather allows. And I have peace.
Alone in their home during this time, I can relax and breathe a little bit without constantly being fussed over by my sister. I know she’s only worried, but still, always hovering, trying tomake sure I’m okay. Well, little sister, I’m not really okay. And I can’t tell you that without causing you more worry.
But I’m going to be. Day by day, I am going to dig myself out of this dark place I’ve been sitting in and find a new life. One that I’m not going to let them keep me fearful of, because tiptoeing around and staying locked down here or with the one friend they’ll let me visit just in case someone is out to get me is driving me absolutely insane.
As the oldest daughter of a mafia family like Cassone, I’m always going to be a target, not just because my overprotective brother-in-law Massimo Roselli isn’t comfortable letting me out because of Barcelo’s family, but because as daughter to the Cassone crime family Sophia and I have always been targets. Nothing Massimo says or does is going to change it.
We are Cassones, and it’s the life we were born into. It’s the life we were trained from youth to handle. And it’s time to step out into the world and handle it. No matter what they say.