Espie, (who refuses to go by her full name Esperanza, though it's beautiful) is stunning with a perfectly freckled nose, piercing green eyes, pin-straight long black hair, and thick lashes. Her temperament is calm and antiquated. Everything she says sounds perfectly curated and almost too good to be true. When she smiles, the whole room seems to smile too, and I wonder if that's a secret weapon of hers– controlling her surroundings with ease.
“I wish you could meet our youngest, Olive. Even though she’s in a phase right now….” She places a hand on my arm and leans in as if she’s giving me details not meant to be spoken of. “Rebelling and all that….” I raise my brows and nod. “I know she would be delighted to meet you.”
I'm not certain if she can really determine what type of person I am in the few moments we’ve met or why I would be so enjoyed by their sister. The latter doesn't seem to like her family. But it’s nice what she says to me, so I smile and let her pull me into the heated conversation between Romeo and Tito. It’s the back end of the conversation, and attempting to catch up confuses me, so I stick to Vince’s side as everyone laughs alone at their heated debate over guns or something.
That is until Pops comes up behind us and places a hand on Vince's shoulder. Without saying a word, I think this means reign them in. So, he does– raises his hands and nods for them to head over to the table. Tito lets out a little groan as they walk to their seats, and Romeo pretends to punch his back from behind until Espie grabs his wrist and scowls.
I’ve never had a family this large. It's seriously overwhelming. I can’t even recount the names of his cousins, and the only people I really cannot mix up are his many siblings. It’s a desperate cycle in my head as I connect their names to their faces. I would feel awful if I were to get them wrong or have to say, “Hey, you,” in a conversation like an idiot.
Vince helps me into my chair as the dinner commences, and I try to just listen to the group and take it all in to calm my nerves.
I can’t help observingthe room throughout dinner, getting completely dazed by the four extravagant chandeliers hanging from the rounded gold ceilings. Pictures of major cities around the world depict the glamor of the roaring twenties, covering the walls like tapestry. The food was immeasurably more extravagant than anything I'd ever seen or tasted. Lobster, steak, pasta, and caviar sprinkled over things I never knew it went with (not that I’m an expert by any means).
Even though I enjoy hearing the boys banter with their brawny cousins about when they were children, the conversation remains mild for a mobster family. I’m sure they’re keeping it tame, for my sake. Every once in a while, when they get riled up and passionate, Espie looks to me with a smirk so as to apologize for their grotesque banter.
I don't mind, though I smile back to thank her. I grew up with two brothers who had no filter and didn't care that I was a girl. They treated me like one of them, and while I’m grateful for that, I also wish I had sisters. Espie is lucky she has one, even though she seems to be rejecting family values at the moment.
“It’s just the way these people are. Have I not taught you boys anything?” Their father reprimands Vince's brothers sitting on his left as dinner comes to a close and the room slowly empties. He’s sitting at the head of the table, lecturing them on finding a worthy woman like me. I try not to pull a face at his deluded words. If he only knew me, he most certainly wouldn’t feel that way.
The maids are beginning to clear the table now, and the rest of the group has fanned out to other rooms in the mansion. Vince and I sit on his father's right, listening to him continue to scoot around specifics as the boys nod in affirmation.
“And Vincenzo.” He wags a finger, turning to face us now.
“You know, I’ve thought a lot about this moment for years. Retiring and releasing control. I’m ready to have grandchildren and see the fruits of my labor take the reins. You’ve grown so much in the position I’ve placed you. Even managed to settle that little debacle this past week with ease and tenacity.” As his father continues, I notice his brother's faces change, their body language stiffening with every word.
“I want you to prepare yourself to take it all over. The family business will be yours to manage very soon, and I need you to promise you’ll be ready within the year.”
He takes another bite of bloody steak, waiting for Vince to respond. His brothers shift in their seats, and I immediately recognize this is a sore subject among them.
“Certainly, Papa. Yes, I would be honored.”
“We’ve done enough chatting about it. I thought it was time to make it official.” He gives me a wink, and I flash him an obligatory gin.
When we are dismissed, Carlito is first to rise. The rest follow a second later with irritation plastered across their faces. Just as Papa San Giovanni, Vince, and I walk to one of their entertainment rooms, Vince’s cell begins to ring.
“I gotta take this.” His eyes lock on the screen, and he dashes off around a corner. I spend the rest of the evening with his family, playing a very loud card game that ends with many enraged by their losses. Competitiveness runs in the family, I see. I couldn’t help but continue to glance down the hall in hopes that Vince would appear and take me home, but two hours went by, and he was yet to be seen.
At around midnight, he finally makes his appearance and takes my hand for us to leave. We say our goodbyes rather quickly and head home with a heavier, security-packed car. The drive home is fairly silent, and I sense something has happened by the vibe in the car. When we arrive at my building, Vince follows me up to my door.
“Thank you for coming tonight. Everyone loved you.” I stand in the doorway for a moment, feeling like Cinderella returning from the ball. Though I’m completely off base for feeling even remotely like a princess. The closest I’ll get to being a princess is in a Brother’s Grimm tale.
I head straight for the shower, staying in extra long because I can and because I want to wash away every memory I have of tonight. It wasn’t real, none of it was real, and I still have a job to do.
Damn it, pull it together.
When I’m quite sure I have no more thoughts that I haven't turned sour with reality, I leap out of the shower and slip on my robe, tying my wet hair into a messy bun. The first place I go after the bathroom is to the couch, so I can watch something mindless on the TV. I flick it on quickly, watching as Kinzi scurries from my bedroom and leaps onto my lap.
“Wow. You take long showers.” I stand up so quickly I nearly throw Kinzi across the room, holding up my fists and squinting into the darkness past the TV. A figure turns on my lamp in the corner of the room. His messy blond hair and warm skin remind me of a surfer, but his black turtleneck and slacks give away who he’s with.
“Who the fuck sent you to wait in my apartment?” I continue to raise my fists so he knows I’m not afraid to fight him. He lifts his hands in surrender.
“Officer Fine said it would be easier to keep out of sight until you were home.” He holds out his hand for me to shake. “Jack Beys.” I just look at it, then back to his naively kind face.
“So naturally, you assumed breaking in was the best solution?”
He nods his head to the side as if to say he should have rethought such an indiscretion.
“What do you want?” I lower my fists, seeing him as less threatening the more I stare at his boyish features– his softly structured face and perfectly clear skin, shiny blue-green eyes behind thick brown lashes. His dark eyebrows are as wild as his bleached hair with brown undertones, like he’s been outside playing all day in the sun.