“This is going to get us killed” I tell Gianna for the what? Sixth time tonight? I first said it when we ordered the drinks, then I said it again when the penis shaped balloons arrived, I also saw myself saying it when the giant banana shaped cake arrived. Now however I am saying it for a whole different reason, male strippers? I shake my head while giggling into my palms, Niko is going to be so pissed.
I do not know whose idea it was to throw a bachelorette party for Isabella, oh! I know, it was Barbra’s, it first started as a joke. We thought we should all stay in Isabella’s house, because we had to start preparing early
“Niko says you should teach me how to drive” I tell Michaelone faithful morning. His eyes widen then narrows. “No, he didn’t” “Yes, he did” I say with full confidence, trying hard not to smile.
*** I’m somewhat surprised when I see Anna-Lucia seated at the back passenger seat beside Vanessa of Gianna’s car. “Hey girl, its being a while” And it has been a while since I last saw her, she was unable to join us during the planning for Isa’s wedding saying she was sick and her husband had whisked her off at just after the wedding claiming she was too sick to be up and about. So, she had missed the reception as well. Now, I look her over with narrowed eyes above my sunglasses seeing that she seems to have lost some weight, her eyes looking quite dull and her skin pale. “Hi Lola” as always, she speaks softly. “How are you?” I asked crossing the seat belt over my chest. Nodding at Gianna at the drivers’ seat who is driving us today. The guards were following behind us in an SUV. Although I’ve gotten quite good from my lesson every other day with Mig
*** It took three days for Anna-Lucia to take the test and Gianna called me to confirm what we already knew. Anna-Lucia is pregnant. And another three days for Gianna to call me and tell me a what had me rushing down the stairs in only jean, a black cashmere sweater and flipflops. “I’m on my way” I tell Gianna phone to my ear as I snap at Miguel “let’s go!” “Where are we going?” he swings his legs down from where he had it crossed on another stool in the kitchen coming alert in a heartbeat. “Anna-Lucia house! Do you know the way?” I hurry out of the house. “Yes, and why are we running?” he followed me “Because there’s an emergency, obviously” “You shouldn’t- “be started but I cut him off. “Now isn’t the time to be telling me what I can and cannot do you, you hear me?” I snapped at
*** Unlike Gianna I don’t pace while we wait for news on Anna, we decided not to call the other girls to inform them on what was going on until we had more details. Until we knew if the baby made it. We were in the waiting room, the other guards stationed around the room, Miguel disappeared with his phone to his ear the moment we got here, my guess, to report what happened to Niko. I hold a seaming a cup of coffee in my hands, one of the nurses had been kind enough to get it for me, I hadn’t even sipped it yet, unable to bring myself to even look at it so I just
*** Miguel stationed two guards in front of Anna’s room in case her husband comes back. I know we won’t be able to keep him away for long which is why when I hug Gianna good bye and she goes to her husband who was waiting for her in front of her car, I take a moment to imagine how such a large man would fit into Gianna’s cute little blue car. But my mind returns to other important things as we drive off. The doctor advised us to report Anna’s assailant to the proper authorities and I plan to do just that. I can’t go to the police, obviously.
*** I visit anna in the hospital the following day, on our way to the hospital I ask Miguel “Is Niko going to punish you for yesterday?” He looks his eyes away from the road for a second to look at me “No, why?” “He was mad”
I still can’t believe Eva choose to live in the heart of the city, unlike others in the family that prefer the quieter and more remote areas in the city. Eva just don’t doesn’t seem the type, when I first visited her, I was expecting an Italian style duplex with wooden floors, a large kitchen and lounge chairs in the veranda and whatnot, how wrong I was, my mother in law lives in a penthouse suite of a skyscraper, in the middle of the city. I walk past the bar and lounge area on the ground floor of waving at the barman that smiles at me. I w
I push the intercom again, waiting for Eva to open the door. Trying to wrap my head around what Matteo told me. “Did you forget some- Lola?” Eva’s shocked face appears as soon as she opens the door. “Good afternoon, Eva” I greet her. “Lola, what a surprise” she looks behind me, “what brings you by?” she leans against the door. The tiny strap of her equally tiny pink satin slip falls down her arm. Her feet bare and her hair in a mess. This is the most un-put together I’ve ever had the pleasure of s
My uncle was right, everything will change from now on, the Grecos, Mendoza, and the Oriente arms of the New York Families are no more. Though we weren't particularly friendly with the other two, it wasn't required for the business. The Greco’s however have always been closely allied with the Salvatores, it wasn’t because of that friendship that Julio was my father's right hand and his father before him, as capo it was my decision to choose my right hand, but for decades, that honor belonged to the Greco’s, until Julio fucked it up. With them gone, there is a gap, in the prominent families, and someone needs to take over for the business to run smoothly. As things settled, I just wanted some peace to be with my family, my children, I already missed so much. It was something I would never retreat, I kept them safe. I did what had to be done, even though it hadn't been my Knife in their throat or my orders. My actions lead to their deaths. And their deaths created a power vacuum, one
**“We have to leave here, get to another safe house we don’t know who else- this place has been compromised” Arms wrapped under my arms trying to pull me away. I was staring blankly at the Man I'd grown so close with. I didn't know what to do.“We can’t leave him here” Tears spilled down my cheeks. “You think I want to leave him? He was like a father to me, but I have to protect you, he would want you to get to safety”“Miguel…”“Now Lola, Now." he shook me "We have to-“ a phone ringing cuts off the rest of his words. Miguel bends down and searches through Matteo’s jacket to retrieve his phone. I crawl back to him lifting his head into my lap, spatches of blood stained my jeans as I run my fingers through his hair. “Please Matteo open your eyes,” I begged softly.He couldn’t be gone. He felt warm despite the blood pooled on the ground beneath him, he couldn’t be gone. He couldn’t...“It’s Matteo…” I hear Miguel say to the other person on the phone “He’s gone” is all Miguel says
I straightened at the sound of a car pulling closer. I know it isn’t Miguel as he’s in the next room, slowly tiptoeing to one of the windows and pushing back the curtains, “Lola don’t do that-“ “It’s Matteo” I gasped in recognition at the dark hair and family face of the man that exists the drive's seat. “It’s Matteo” I repeated “He’s here!” I announced as my heart began to race in my chest. “Stay here, stay down” Miguel ordered, as he headed to the door a gun in hand. I remained at the window, clutching my rounded belly with a shaky hand, the other fisted around the thick curtains as I tried to listen to their exchange. It went on for about half a minute but it was too long and then Miguel crossed back to the porch, he disappeared from my line of sight, and I moved to the door. The bottom of my oversized jeans dragged on the floor over my bare feet as I had left the zipper undone to accommodate my large bump. I’m standing behind the door when it opens and Miguel says “It’
“That puta was whoring around dirtying the family line-“ she gurgles, choking as red spills from a thin line across her throat. A hand flew to her neck eyes wide in shock. No one was allowed to speak of that, I took pains in ensuring it remained that way. The consequences would be devastating. I look at the blade in my hand then swipe the napkin beside her tea set to wipe the little blood at the end. I turned around and came to a stop at the dark figure at the entrance. Fuck. “Is it true what she said?” I observe his stance, the pistol hanging loosely at his side, my brows furrowed as I tried to figure out how long he’s been standing there, how much he heard, I let out a sigh, “Tommy…” He sucked in a deep breath, his empty hand clenching into a shaky fist. “Did you know?” Tommy asked calmly. I grit my teeth and wipe the blade once more, then I return it to the sheath strapped to my wrist, soothing down my sleeves to keep it hidden. I turned to my brother fully and asked “Wh
Bang! Bang! Bang!!! Gunshots sound as I make my way down the hall of an Italian-styled penthouse. The enemy tries to return fire, but they are quickly overwhelmed by my men. Martino Greco led me to Valentina's hideout like a mouse to the cheese. Pained grunts and shocked yells followed by the thuds of bodies heating the ground, and then quiet. Hmm. I walk in smooth strides past pools of blood, bodies littering the polished wooden floors noting the soldiers Valentina called from her mansion in Italy, I frown at the sight of a falcon tatted on one of the fallen men’s forearms, seems she hired some mercenaries also. Splendid. Last night Valentina sent her men to Mendoza and Orinete households while they slept and took them out in one swell move. It is why I can break in with little to no resistance, half of her man power is gone. Danilo inclined his chin at me then motioned up silently a gun in hand, corked and still at the ready. Chase and Emilio stand beside him each o
I stared out the window on the ride back. Like the two times we’ve gone out, I remain in the car while he checks the property, when he signals all clear I open my door and move to the back to get the kids. Miguel goes around the other side and gets started on Angelo’s seat, he undoes the strap holding the child to the seat and then unhooks the chair fully so he can take it inside. “Want to tell me what happened at the clinic?” he questions as we walk. I shook my head nothing. “You don’t really expect me to believe that do you?” “What makes you think I did anything." “Excluding the fact that you looked guilty as hell when we got back, there’s a tear glued to your lashes" he pointed one end of his bottled water at me, "Why were you crying” We entered the cabin and I unstrapped the kids to let them run free. “I just needed to use the bathroom quickly” I paused helping Angelo to his feet. “I called him” I admitted. His expression remains unchanged. “You don’t seem surprised
NIKO That evening I left using one of the hidden exist. There's a car parked under the bridge, I pull up behind it, leaving the engine still running as I look out the window, moments later a male form, wearing a black oversized coat blowing the wind takes long steps in my direction as far as his short legs can carry him, the side door opens and he drops down beside me, the smell of tobacco that follows him where ever he goes fills the car. I make no effort to his my frown. Excluding the fact that it was a shitty habit that kills the liver, I imagine it would make stealth impossible if they can smell you from a mile away. And I preferred to leave no traces, unless it was a warning that is. I have half the mind to ask him to exit my vehicle before he saturates it with his unpleasant smell but I need him tonight so I decided to play nice. “How did it go?” Martino Greco smacks his lips once, “Just as you expected boss, Maxim sent another offer, I did as you said while showing some
LOLA I’ve been teaching my twins simple words and pointing out items around the house for them. I once read that kids need contact with other people and other kids to stimulate growth, and I’ve been doing what I can to fill that role. "Nana" Angel mumbled pointing at the banana when Miguel walked past eating a banana last night.It is also his favorite fruit. Micaela liked peaches.I also roped Miguel into watching some soap operas airing every evening with me so I’d have something to look forward to and someone to discuss with. Soap operas were always better when you had someone to discuss them with. He acts like he hates them but I swear he secretly enjoys them. He finds it hard to understand the motives of the main antagonists and often wonders why the ‘good guys’ give so many chances.No one is that inherently good. Miguel had said when the main female character got played for the fourth time in twenty episodes. It's plain stupidity. he added his two cents, I shook my head with
NIKO -Months later... “Who can we count on?” Tommy asked his chin on his jaw. In front of me at the other side of the desk Matteo cleared his throat and the other turned to him, “Brenadi, Orisi, Ajello, the Sances are a given" he tips his head. With Chase one of my trusted enforcers the head of the Sances family, it was a given, I trusted him to keep his house in check, the others however, "The others will need more convincing" Matteo added voicing my exact thoughts. “That’s four out of twelve” Vincent grunted unable to hide his displeasure. “How can Valentina have eight over us, the bitch has been in Italy for almost three decades," Tommy growls. “Exactly, lots of families owe her favors, she ran this family before us with an iron fist and she never fully removed her claws while my brother was capo, that’s nearly four decades of loyalty from the New York families. "Enough time to amass a fortune's worth of secrets and debts to call in, moreover, a number of the men are too sca