The next day, I met Giovanni, Rocco and my father at the Scuderi mansion for our weekly meeting. My father looked at me with half-closed eyes as I entered.
He had been watching me even more closely since we had gotten married.
I wasn’t sure what he was waiting for.
I shook Rocco’s hand. “How is married life treating you?”
I gave him a tugged smile, without answering. My marriage was none of their business. Then I turned to John.
“How is Val?” he asked softly. Concern flashed in his eyes.
It was hard to answer his question. Valentina was unhappy with our current situation; she had not changed the night before. She wanted closeness on an emotional level.
But she was an intelligent woman. The fact that she had asked me to work proved that. But not even a job would have completely changed Valentina’s unhappiness. Still, I had to admit that my suggestion that she take on the role of casino manager was fueled by the hope that she would be too busy to reflect on our emotional estrangement. It seemed the only way I could guarantee her happiness, and I wanted her to be happy.
“She’s doing well. She wants to start working.”
Surprise filled John’s face. I crossed the room to join his father, who had not yet gotten up from the chair. “I guess he didn’t allow her that kind of nonsense,” he joked.
Rocco pointed to the chair next to my father’s, but I shook my head, preferring the higher vantage point when dealing with the old man. Rocco dropped down, followed by John, waiting for my response.
“I suggested that he might work in one of our underground casinos.”
“The one near the Palermo?” guessed Rocco. I had just killed the previous manager because he had stolen money from the Outfit.
“Yes.”
“Raffaele and Leonardo won’t like that.
What’s he supposed to do anyway? I guess you don’t want her to be a compliment girl,” my father muttered, smoothing his white hair even though it was fine.
I looked at him with half-closed eyes. John’s face turned red with anger, his hand tightened around his knee.
“I expect everyone to show respect for my wife, including you, Father,” I said softly. Many people in the Outfit would have been offended at the very idea of a Chief’s wife working, especially in a position of importance. It was a decision for Valentina.
Dad’s eyes flashed with anger, but now I was the leader of the Outfit. Although he was still highly respected among our men, they saw me as the most capable leader, and had done so for many years. Father was old. It was time for him to die. Unfortunately, he was clinging to life as all narcissists did.
Sticking my hands in my pockets, I casually said:
“He’s going to run the casino.”
“This is ridiculous,” Dad said, shaking his head.
“Neither Leonardo nor Raphael will listen to a woman’s orders.”
Rocco’s expression was carefully expressionless, but I suspected he shared my father’s views. He was too smart not to take my side, though, and he would try to convince my men of my point of view even if he disagreed. He was an opportunist to the core, which was both helpful and scary at the same time.
Dad turned to Rocco as I expected. “You can’t agree with Dante’s choice.”
Rocco smiled tensely. “I trust my Chief to do what is best.” My father’s mouth thinned . I preferred the term Boss, but he had instilled the word Boss. This subtle use of Boss clearly showed whose side Rocco was on: mine. His gratitude extended to the present. Letting him live had proved useful in many ways over the years. He gave me a subtle nod; his eyes were those of a dog expecting a reward. My father turned to John, who, like Rocco, knew better than to show his feelings openly. “You cannot wish your daughter to work. It’s not fair.” “If it makes Val happy and if Dante agrees, I don’t see why I should disapprove. She’ll stop working when she’s a mother anyway.” I stiffened. Having children was expected, especially now that I was in my thirties and my first marriage had produced no offspring. I fought against the simmering wave of anger and sadness. Father nodded somberly. “When it will be. But I’m sure Dante has it all planned.” He said nothing more after that. Perhaps he had finally realized that his days of power were over. My word was law now. He would still repeatedly give me his opinion on the matter, no doubt. After the meeting was over, I took Father aside. “I think it is time for you to retire and stop attending my meetings with my men. Your presence undermines my authority, and that is something I cannot allow.” “Allow?” repeated Father abruptly. His old eyes met mine, trying to stare at me but, as had been the case in recent years, he finally looked away. “Very well. If that’s what you want.” “It is,” I said firmly. I went back to the car but didn’t have a chance to start the engine before my phone rang. Mother. “What can I do for you?” “I hear you allow your wife to work?” He heard it as father, of course. “Yes.” “It will cause a scandal, Dante. You have already offended many people by taking a widow, why do you insist on breaking my heart? Think of the Outfit!” My mouth thinned at his theatrical performance.
Her words brought back memories of Valentina and our last night, tantalizing memories I did not want to relive as I talked to my mother. “Mom, I’m leading the Outfit into the future. Now I have to hang up. I have business to attend to.” She emitted a small sigh, but I knew her fake cries. I hung up . On my way home, my phone rang again. I looked down and caught Ines’s message. I am proud of you. My mouth twitched. Letting Valentina work was partly to my advantage, of course . She was busy and had less time to seek my company. As I expected, the past was not easy to put to rest. During the day I avoided Valentina’s proximity as much as possible , but at night my desire always won out. I had never been so unrestrained, so dominated by my needs. Valentina was unaware of her power over me, and not only at night. Even during the day, I caught myself thinking about her. Something about the way she insisted on pushing my limits intrigued me. But as I kept Carla’s picture in the drawer, her memories persisted. They were not easily forgotten, nor did I want them to be. Over the next few weeks, Valentina proved to be a capable asset at the casino and an increasingly daring lover in bed. We fell into a routine that suited me but obviously annoyed Valentina. I pretended to be unaware of her dissatisfaction because it allowed me to ignore my annoyance with myself. Part of me wanted to seek Valentina out for more than sex, but my stubborn nature kept me anchored to a promise I should never have made.
In an attempt to show Valentina in a subtle way that I appreciated her, I went to the family jeweler and asked him for an emerald necklace. He had several on display.
Since almost every Made Man in the Outfit bought jewelry for their wives and sometimes mistresses, he always had a wide selection to choose from.
I chose the one that was almost the same shade as Valentina’s eyes. Despite her stunning body, her eyes haunted me more than her curves.
On my way home, my phone rang with a call from Tommaso. I answered, my lips thinning. He was a remnant of my father’s reign, a disgusting waste of space and air.
Unfortunately, he was not involved in attacks because of his back, so he could not find an unfortunate end through a Bratva bullet. “Yes?” I cut in.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Dante. Is my wife at your house?
Your wife came to pick her up without my permission.”
“My wife needs only my permission, not yours,” I said in a low voice.
Thomas cleared his throat. “Of course. But Bibiana is my wife.”
“I’m sure Valentina is having coffee with her.”
“I would appreciate it if you could call me if you know more.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I hung up.
When I arrived in the driveway, Enzo was already waiting for me.
“Did he take the car without you?”, I guessed.
He nodded, looking unnerved. “She left before we could act.”
I entered the house and, as expected, found Bibiana and Valentina in the hallway. Valentina moved, hiding her friend from me as if she feared I had hurt her. Bibiana was a poor woman. She certainly didn’t have to fear me.
“Good evening, Bibiana.”
She crouched down, without meeting my gaze. “Evening.” Her face and arms were streaked with bruises. It was a fate I had protected Ines from. If she had married Jacopo, she would have been a broken shadow of the woman she was now, like Bibiana. I had to consider options for getting rid of Tommaso at some point.
After informing Tommaso that his wife would be spending time here, I retired to my office to give Valentina and Bibiana some time.
I sank into the desk chair and turned the small satin box back over in my hand. A Valentine’s Day gift always stirred emotions in women. That had been the case with Carla. She had always been moved and cried when I gave her something.
Sighing, I laid the box on my desk. My eyes flicked to the drawer where I kept the frame. I had resisted looking at it that day.
Instead of giving in to my need to drown in the past, I picked up the phone and called Peter.
“Dante, what a pleasant surprise.”
“Hi Pietro.”
I opened the box and stared at the emerald pendant.
The color of Valentina’s eyes…. God, those eyes.
“Is something wrong?”
“How is Ines?”
“Getting bigger every day,” she said with a giggle so full of tenderness that my heart leapt in my chest.
“Only two more months.” She fell silent. “How are things with Valentina?” His voice was cautious. He knew how reluctant I was to share any private details.
“Things are going well,” I said evasively. “I guess word of her new job is already getting around.”
Peter laughed. “Well, what did you expect? This is the first time a Chief’s wife is working. Up to now, even the wives of the Sub-Chiefs have always stayed at home.”
“Valentina is eager to work and has leadership qualities.”
“You will have to be very convincing in the Outfit, do you realize that?”
“I know, but I don’t even have to explain my decisions. The Outfit is under my control.” It was not that easy. I needed the support of my Sub-Chiefs and Captains, so I was going to have to tread carefully, especially regarding our traditions.
“How are things in Minneapolis?”
Peter easily followed my change of subject. I had never regretted my choice to support his quest to marry Ines, and he was one of the few men I trusted. I closed the box with the pendant, uncertain whether to give it to Valentina.
Valentina was still sleeping when I got up. As usual, her face was turned toward me, gorgeous in her sleep and without a touch of makeup. She deserved more than I had given her. It was a truth I knew without the slightest doubt. I laid the box with the necklace and a handwritten note beside her, then left.
I had a busy day ahead of me. My Detroit Sub-Chief was in town and we wanted to discuss his problems with the Bratva.
Later that day, I was on my way to visit Valentina at the casino. Leo and Raphael still needed clear instructions from me. Their reluctance to work under a woman was very evident. My phone rang when I was only a block away.
“Enzo, what’s going on?”
“We have a problem, boss. Valentina just left the casino without telling anyone and is meeting a stranger.”
Fury followed by surprising jealousy overwhelmed me.
Valentina was alone with a stranger?
“I’ll be there in a minute. Wait for me.”
Enzo was already in the parking lot when I stopped.
I wasted no time and followed him to a warehouse near our casino. Looking around the corner, I saw Valentina talking to a stranger. He was definitely not one of my men.
He was barely taller than my wife and had reddish hair.
I squinted my eyes as I tried to stifle my jealous rage. This overwhelming sense of possessiveness was new to me.
Enzo and I approached stealthily, keeping close to the building.
The man grabbed Valentina’s arm. “Valentina…”
Holding back the urge to shoot the man on the spot, I said , “Hands off.”
Valentina turned away with a cry of surprise, her eyes wide. The man did the same but then tried to run away.
Enzo grabbed him and pulled him into a headlock.
I sneaked up to Valentina and grabbed her arm. It took a lot of effort not to take my anger out on her. I had given her a lot of freedom, more than most Made Men give their wives, and she seemed to be abusing my trust in her.
I signaled Enzo to take the man to the warehouse, away from prying eyes, and followed him with Valentina. “So this is what you do when I’m not around? Do you meet other men?” I asked in a deadly voice.
Valentina gave me a shocked look. “No! It’s not what you think .”
“He’s wandered around the house twice now, boss,” Enzo said, then grunted when the man’s knee hit him in the groin .
“Explain yourself,” I growled, tightening my grip on Valentina’s arm even more as she gasped.
“It’s Frank.”
I loosened my grip on Valentina. A flash of pain shone in her eyes.
“Antonio’s lover.”
Enzo shot me a look. Every now and then he met Antonio.
A shot rang out in the silence and Enzo gasped with a cry. Another bullet hit the wall above us.
I dragged Valentina to the ground with me, protecting her with my body, my gun pointed in the direction of our attackers. Frank broke free and ran away. I aimed at him and pulled the trigger at the same time Valentina pushed my arm. The bullet missed its target. “Valentina!” I growled.
Frank disappeared from sight before I could fire again.
“What the fuck was that?”
Valentina shook her head, her skin pale. “I don’t know! I thought he was alone. Frank doesn’t even know anyone who can shoot a gun.”
“You should have let me shoot him. Don’t ever interfere like that again.”
“He’s innocent. He doesn’t deserve death.”
“Bullshit. The guy set a trap and you fucking walked into it,” Enzo muttered.
I nodded. It had not been a coincidence. My wife had walked right into a fucking trap.
Valentina looked at me. “What do you mean?”
She managed to sound sophisticated and knowledgeable about our ways, but at the end of the day Valentina knew little about the real danger of mob life. “Didn’t you wonder why he wanted to meet with you? Maybe he was approached by the Russians and agreed to help them. They would love to kill you .”
“Frank wouldn’t.”
So trusting and naive! I was not going to lose Valentina. I could not .