Joey
Two days later, we drive Sophie’s new Mercedes SUV to Al’s house. He’s home from the hospital, although still recuperating from some brutal headaches.
Carmen greets us at the door and gives us both a hug then leads us to the master bedroom, where Al lies propped up with pillows, looking sour. The heavy brocade curtains are drawn, and the room is dark and quiet, the large plasma television silent on the wall opposite the bed.
“Hey, bro.” Al winces, and I lower my tone. “I’ll bet you’re happy to be at home.”
“Damn straight. I’ll be glad when these headaches are gone, too.”
“Hi, Al.” Sophie leans over and touches her cheek to Al’s.
“Hey, sweetheart. I was wondering if you’d do that thing again. What you did in the hospital?”
“Reiki? Yes, of course.” Pleasure lights Sophie’s face.
I settle in an armchair while Sophie stands next to the bed to cradle Al’s forehead between her two hands. She works in silence for a long time, moving hand positions every so often, her countenance angelic and glowing, even in the dim light.
The drawn muscles of Al’s face relax, and his eyes drift closed. They open twenty minutes later when Carmen enters the room, carrying glasses of iced lemonade which she sets on the table beside us.
“Thanks, honey.” Al reaches for a glass and takes a sip of his. “And thank you, Sophie.” He looks at Sophie appraisingly. “You know, my brother’s crazy about you.”
Her eyes flick across to where I sit, and I smile and wink at her.
“And I know my brother,” Al goes on, ignoring me. “When he decides he wants something, he doesn’t stop till he gets it.”
Sophie flushes. “So I’ve noticed.”
“So are you really going to marry him? You’re not going to let our ma talk you out of it?”
Sophie laughs. “Not your mom or mine.”
“Glad to hear it.” Al looks from Carmen to Sophie. “Can you ladies give me a minute to talk business with Joey?”
“Sure,” Sophie says, and she and Carmen leave the room.
“Any update?”
I already filled Al in on how I handled the Matranga’s and Sammy yesterday. “Ned says they’ve got nothing on us.”
“Good.” Al looks at me thoughtfully. “So… do you still want to step back?”
I run my hand through my hair, blowing out my breath. “Yeah.”
“For her or because that’s what you want?”
“It’s what I want. I’ve never really been cut out for this, Al, you know that. I know I’ve been a disappointment to you. I never wanted to be boss-I may be trained for it, the men may respect me, but it’s not what I want for my life.” I shake my head. “I’m not like you. I wish to God I were, but I’m not.” I stare at him, some of the emptiness I used to feel before Sophie seeping back in.
“You’re not a disappointment,” Al says fiercely, then winces and brings his fingers to his temples. “You never were-not to Pops, not to me.”
I shove my hands in my pockets and bow my head.
“It’s true. You are who you are-it’s not something less than me or anyone else in the Family. That’s why I convinced Pops to send you to college-I knew you had gifts in areas we didn’t. And it takes a team, Joey. It takes all of our skills.
“I don’t want to run this organization without you, but if you want a change of duties, you got it. You want to just be the business accountant, that’s fine. You’re great at it. Who knows what wizardry you can pull? I know we’re better, safer, and more secure as a family because of you. You’ve brought diversity to us. No one can take us down without the world financial markets falling apart. Whatever makes you happy is okay by me.”
I gape, scarcely believing my ears.
“What? Don’t look so shocked. You’re my baby brother. You think there’s anything I wouldn’t do for you?”
My eyes burn as I embrace my brother with several claps on the back. “Thank you.” The words don’t come close to expressing my gratitude.
“Now go on, you’re giving me a fucking headache. Go and take care of your beautiful bride out there. She’s perfect for you.”
Epilogue
Two months later
Joey
“I know what you think, Nancy. You think I’m not good enough for your daughter.” I finally cornered Sophie’s mother, who timed her flight in for our wedding, so she would arrive right before the wedding rehearsal. Clearly she wants as little to do with the Family as possible.
“You’re right-I’m not. But I can promise you I will take very good care of her.”
Nancy looks away, scanning the family members milling around the private room at L’amore with wine glasses and hors d’oeuvres before the rehearsal dinner, probably looking for a rescue from her husband. Her eyes are the same cash green as Sophie’s but with paler skin and hair, they’re not as striking. Still, her beauty has held over the years, which tells me my wife will be just as hot at sixty as she is at twenty-seven, not that I had any doubt.
“I’ve taken a step back from the organization. Did she tell you that?”
Nancy drags her eyes back to my face. “I’m sure she believes that.”
“It’s the truth. Listen… I’m sorry Artie broke your heart-”
Sophie’s mom sucks in a sharp breath.
“-but it’s not going to be that way for Sophie. I have legitimate investments we can live on, and I have most of Al’s business flipped into legal business dealings. I love your daughter, Nancy. I love her. And I’m going to work every day to make her happy.”
Nancy stares at me. Her expression is no longer as closed as it was when I started, but she still frowns.
From across the room, Sophie spots us and leaves her friend Sereva to make a beeline over, a worried crease between her brows. She looks stunning in a new designer dress she chose last week in New York when we went to pick up the blue opal tiara I bought as a wedding present. One of many.
I draw her against my body when she arrives, trying to absorb the anxiety that had built around her mom’s arrival. I already gave her three orgasms today to calm her nerves.
“I was just vowing to your mom I will keep you happy.”
Sophie’s hand slips to her abdomen, still visibly flat, but full of the promise of a fourteen-week-old fetus.
Her mother doesn’t miss the gesture. “Are you pregnant?” she gasps. “Is that why-?”
“I’m marrying Joey because I love him.” I’m warmed by her staunch defense of me. “He’s the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“She wouldn’t have me at first, you know,” I tell her. “She didn’t want to suffer the way you did.”
Nancy’s mouth opens and closes without speaking.
“I had to work hard to convince her I was worthy.”
“Joey-” Sophie protests.
“I don’t want you to think she entered this lightly or hasn’t thought it through. She’ll be holding me to a standard, and I intend to meet it.” I wink at Sophie, and she melts into me.
The fight leaves Nancy’s body, and she blinks rapidly. “Are you pregnant?” she asks in an awed voice. It’s the voice of a grandmother-to-be, not the voice of a shocked mother.
Sophie nods, the glow of joyful expectation that always appears when she talks about the baby shining on her face. Her mother pulls her into an embrace. “Oh God, Sophie, I’m so happy. How far along?”
“Shh, Ma. Only fourteen weeks. We’re not telling everyone until we’re through the first trimester.”
“Wait, what is this?” Pauly appears behind the women. He’s dressed in a fancy suit, his shoes shined, and his hair slicked back. Sophie asked him to give her away at the wedding, and I’ve never seen Pauly look so proud.
Sophie beams. “It’s true, God willing. You’re going to be a great-uncle.”
“Hey, hey, that’s great!” Pauly sweeps her into a bear hug then pumps my hand with several congratulatory slaps on the back. “Great-uncle, eh?”
“How about Godfather?” Sophie’s gaze darts to me. “I mean, I haven’t discussed it with Joey, but…”
“It’s fine by me,” I say. Al might be offended, but this bond between Sophie and Pauly is important. She lacks a father figure, and Pauly needs a purpose in life. Their baby might give him just that.
“I’m going to spoil that kid rotten,” Pauly declares proudly.
Nancy throws her arms around Pauly, the love of the moment overcoming her previous stiffness. “I’m glad you’re going to be there for my grandbaby,” she sniffs. “Just like you were always there for us.”
“What about me?” I wink. “You going to accept me as your son-in-law?”
Nancy smiles in amused concession, the expression so similar to the looks I wrung from Sophie it’s uncanny. She offers her cheek for my kiss. “You’d better not hurt her.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure he doesn’t,” Pauly says.
I grin.
Sophie turns into me, pressing her cheek against my chest and wrapping her arms around my waist. “I love you, bossman. Do you know that?”
I kiss the top of her head, her hair silky against my lips. “Keep reminding me.”
She smiles up at me. “I will. Every day.”
Continue reading for next book.