“What are you doing in here? You aren’t allowed in this house.” He steps forward and I flex. Mirabella places a hand on my arm. She stands, and I already miss her near me.
“Who do you think you are to come into my house and tell my guests they’re not allowed in? The last I checked, I own this house.” Mirabella stands toe to toe with this man. She may be five feet five inches, but she’s six feet tall today, standing up for herself and me.
“Your father didn’t want him in the house.” Faro doesn’t even make eye contact with Mirabella. “He needs to leave. I saw his mother talking to a few people.”
“What did you do to my mother? I swear to God, if you touched her I’ll gut you like a pig.” I’m now standing with my fists on the desk.
“She’s outside waiting for you,” is all he says. I start to leave the room, when Mirabella tells me to stop.
“Faro, listen to me good. Mrs. Rossi is not a threat to me, and I’d appreciate it if you would stop running things like you know what is best for me. You may have been my dad’s right-hand man, but you’re not mine and you don’t own me. I decide for myself. If that angel of a woman is scared or looks to be harmed, I’ll let Benvolio gut you while I watch and I hope you squeal like a pig. Now get out of my office.” She sighs. I shut the door. “Are you in charge now, or is he?” Mirabella’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Mira, I’ve always known who your father was and what he did. He told me everything close to the wedding. He wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting in to, and that I was prepared for the life you lived.”
“You knew? You said nothing,” she whispers.
“Is that why you left me at the altar?” Mirabella nods. “Oh,La Mia Anima,I would walk through hell with you. You are my heart and soul. I wish you had talked to me. Your dad said you would talk to me after we said ‘I do’. He asked me not to say anything.”
“I’m in charge now, but they don’t know it yet. We’re making the announcement tonight at our meetings.” She smiles a devilish smile.
“You’re going to be amazing at running things. Remember, though, you’re not alone.” I kiss her nose and stalk to the door. “I promised Aurora ten minutes. I don’t want her shooting me in the cock. I’m kind of attached to it.” I wink at her. I leave the room in search of my mother, but knowing that Mirabella and I can move forward makes me smile. I wink at the fab four when I see my mother standing outside on the porch. She’s freezing. I’m about to say something, when I’m hit from behind by Mirabella’s shoulder as she storms out front.
FOUR
MIRABELLA
I leavethe office and am wandering to the living room when I see my ex-future- mother-in-law outside in the rain. My blood boils. I race outside, bumping into Benvolio, not caring if I knock him over.
“What is the meaning of this? I told Faro she wasn’t a threat. She is allowed in my house.” My voice is three octaves higher
“We’re following orders, ma’am.” The man diverts his eyes to behind me. I swing around and see Faro standing there.
“My house. My guest.” I’m seething right now. “Come inside, Mama, and get some hot tea to warm you up. These assholes are going to pay for doing this to you.”
“Oh, I don’t want to be a bother. They were going to call me a taxi if Benvolio didn’t come out soon. I should get home. I caused enough trouble today. Is my son okay?” I nod. “You two talk?” I nod. She places her freezing hand on my cheek. “We miss you, Mirabella. Come for Sunday family dinner. I promise to make your favorite.” I smile at her.
“Only if you let me help you cook. You know I love being in your kitchen.”
“Perfetto amore mio.” She kisses both my cheeks. I smile through the tears. “Now tell that son of mine I’m ready to go.”
“Right here, Mama.” I feel his hand around my waist. The strength of his hand has me melting against him. How does he still have this effect on me? “I’m going to call you later.” It wasn’t a question or a demand, more like a statement of fact.
“Sure,” I stutter, not really sure what to say to him. He kisses my temple before helping his mother down the steps and into his car. I turn to walk into my house and head over to the girls.
“What the fuck was that?” Ana demands to know. I tell them how Faro took over and threw a sixty-three-year-old woman out of my house and made her stand in the freezing cold.
“He thinks he’s in charge. He even said as much when he told Lio to leave.”
“Speaking of Lio, what’s going on there?” Aurora wiggles her eyebrows.
“He knew about the mafia. Dad told him two days before the wedding.” They all gasp. “He still wanted to marry me. We have a lot to talk about, but tonight this shit gets put to bed first. I’m not having the disrespect in my house again. Faro thinks he’s calling the shots. I’ll let him think he’s bested me for now.”
“They’re all going to shit a brick when they find out.” Catarina smiles. It’s a sinister one, and we can’t help but laugh. As everyone winds down and leaves one by one, the fab four, as Lio always calls them, are still in the kitchen with me. Faro stands in the doorway.
“There’s a meeting tonight to discuss what’s going to happen now that your dad is gone. Since I was his right-hand man, I’ll be running things.” He smiles. “The guest room will be mine from here on out since I’ll be using your dad’s office to work out of.” I nod. “You’ll have a couple of guards here for now. If you plan to leave, let me know so they can go with you. We don’t know anything about who ordered the hit on your fathers, but we will find them,” Faro states. Then he leaves.
“He isnotmoving in here with me. He’s a creep and would probably make me marry him,” I tell my girls, shivering in disgust. “They’re going to be surprised tonight. Meet tomorrow for lunch at the restaurant?” They all nod in agreement. We all retreat to our homes so we can prepare for battle.
The meeting starts at eight o’clock. It’s a little after seven-thirty. I take a nice hot shower and begin prepping for tonight. My father was not an easy man to please, and I try to think back to a time where I thought he said he loved me. He never did, but I knew he did in his own old-school Italian way. After I finish zipping up my thigh-high black leather boots I glance at myself one more time in the mirror, pleased with myself. I walk out the front door. The two men guarding the house argue with me about orders for me to stay. I whip around to stare at them.
“Listen here. I’m going to say this one time. Give me your phones.” They stare back and forth at each other before reluctantly agreeing to it. “There is a new sheriff in town and it’s not that fucker, Faro. I’m in charge. You have two choices: loyalty to the DeSantis Family or Faro. Make that choice now.”