Roman
“Cold out today,” Arlo mumbled.
“Huh?” Roman tuned out the man driving. “What’d you say?” He still reeled from seeing Madison. He loved the boldness she displayed by showing up at his house. Trapping her to keep her there flickered through his mind. The woman crawled under his skin and stayed there. Her showing up today was a bonus to the otherwise boring events.
“The weather. It’s cold out today.” Arlo, his enforcer, kicked the heat up a little higher in their vehicle.
“It’s January in Wisconsin. It’s going to be cold. We should’ve left earlier. I’m never going to get all this shit done.”
“What’s on the list?” He started to tap the brake long before the intersection. The roads were still a little slick after last night’s snow.
“We have to swing by Gessner’s.”
“The cheese maker?” Arlo eased onto the interstate and pressed the pedal to the floor, constantly checking the mirrors for followers. The vehicle was bulletproof but neither of them wanted to test it.
“Yeah. Too bad he fell on hard times and had to borrow. Alvin’s making his final payment today.” Roman started out like most guys in the business, breaking fingers and legs of those who couldn’t pay. It was nice to know this man was able to keep up.
His cell rang. The image on the phone was that of his sister. “Valentina. What’s up?”
“Roman.” Her voice was hoarse.
“What’s wrong?” It didn’t sound like her.
“I’m in bed. I caught a bad cold. I hope it’s not the flu.” Her voice muffled into the phone as she coughed.
Roman groaned and scratched his forehead. “Did you send Uncle Matteo flowers yet?” Their favorite uncle was in the hospital.
“I haven’t done anything.” She sniffed into the phone. “I’ve barely been out of bed.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at Mom and Dad’s.” Their parents’ home was in Chicago.
“Shit. I need you.” He groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. “Dammit, I invited Madison over to discuss her bridal show. I told her you’d be there and she could use Firenza.”
“Ha, you are never going to convince her to date you, Romeo.” He hated that nickname. It meant he was a player. Maybe he fucking was, but he would reconsider it if he could have another chance with Madison. She was the one who got away and the one he intended to catch. “You are playing with fire, getting her bridal show banned from every place in town.” This time she coughed into the phone. “Shame on you.”
“I have no shame and you agreed to help me.” He exhaled and scowled out the window. The gray sky matched his mood perfectly.
“I’ll help you with anything. You are my brother, but I never said this was a good idea.” Another coughing fit started. “I’ve got to go.” The phone went dead.
He beat his fist against the dash. “Son of a—” Then he rested his elbow on the arm rest. Roman was a man used to control, even if it was the location of a fucking bridal show. Madison needed to learn. Ever since he spotted her heart-shaped ass as she bent over, staring at the cake counter in the coffee shop, she’d been on his mind. From the first time he stared into her deep blue eyes, he was intrigued. Why, he wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the fact that she was so far removed from the underworld he lived in. Maybe because she was a small town girl with a special innocence about her. Or maybe it was the fact that she was a challenge. She’d turned him down, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“Now what?” Arlo kept both hands on the wheel as they drove.
“Valentina’s sick.” Roman tapped a finger against his chin. “Firenza was supposed to be her thing, not mine.”
His driver chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. You got it bad for Madison and you won’t stop until you get her.”
It was all true, but what would happen after he had her? Would he want to move on to the next like he usually did? For some reason, he suspected the answer would be no.
Madison was someone who had her own life, her own business, and her own dreams and ambitions. She had choices Roman didn’t. His life was already planned out. Hell, his father was putting pressure on him to get married and soon. His father wanted him to marry and unite his strong family to another one—the Rinaldis. The family needed an heir. Being the son of Don Caponelli had never been easy. The arranged marriage his father pushed for was something he couldn’t comprehend. If he was getting married, it would be on his terms and to the one he wanted to spend his life with and no one else.
When Madison popped back in his mind, he smiled. She was beautiful—tall, curvy, with thick shoulder-length brown hair. Her skin reminded him of fine china. He’d never asked about her parents, but there was something about her that made him think she might have some Italian heritage somewhere in her background.
“What? You’re not going to deny it?” Arlo joked and took the off-ramp to Milwaukee.
“No.” Roman wasn’t denying anything.
“Good. I like her.” Roman lifted an eyebrow as he listened to his friend. “Girl’s got spunk,” Arlo added.
“Well, that’s good you like her. I have to get her to like me.” That had never been a problem before. He was used to getting any woman he wanted, anytime he wanted. At age thirty, he yearned like a bastard for a more meaningful relationship—a partner in life. The old school, traditional prearranged family bit the big one. His parents’ marriage was arranged many years ago. Roman knew after only spending a short time with Madison that she may be the one. He couldn’t explain it, he just knew it. She complemented him. The only problem was that sweet girls with ambition and goals didn’t fall for bad boys whose lives were already planned. They wanted their own control. Frustration slammed into his chest. He couldn’t change what he was, but he was determined to show her what kind of man he could be for her.
The hearty smell of cheese hit his nose as the bell jingled on top of the door of Gessner’s.
“Roman,” the man behind the counter yelled. “Welcome. It’s good to see you.” Alvin Gessner had been a friend of Roman’s father for years. They’d gone to school together and both had followed each in their own family’s business. The cheesemaker had been successful for years until the economy went bust and they lost some valuable restaurant and specialty food store accounts. The banks weren’t loaning money and the family stepped in to provide the cash. Thankfully, Gessner had been able to keep up with the payments. It would have been hell if he couldn’t. Roman didn’t want to leave Alvin’s wife a widow. He liked the family. Always had, but business was business.
Alvin’s wife, Judy, was wrapping cheese. She looked in his direction and smiled. “Roman. Hello.”
“Al, Judy, you’re both looking well.”
Alvin came around and shook hands with both men. “Wait here.” The guy patted him on the shoulder and headed for the office.
“How have you been, Judy?” Roman tasted a piece of cheese off the sample tray. The Asiago here was the best. They even carried chocolate cheese made with cream cheese. Madison would love that. How easily she popped in his head, and seeing her today had his thoughts on overdrive.
Judy wiped her hands on her apron. “Busy. You know…with the holidays. So many cheese trays.” She used both hands for emphasis.
“That’s good.” He tried the parmesan this time. The hard cheeses made him think of Madison again and the front of his pants tightened imagining her. If it weren’t for his long coat covering himself, it would’ve been an awkward moment for sure.
“Here you go.” Alvin came back in the room. He carried a thick envelope in one hand and a box in the other. He handed both to Arlo but addressed Roman.
“What’s this?” Roman wondered about the box.
“I boxed up some of our specialties for you.” The man was all smiles.
“Thanks, Al. Good doing business with you.” He shook his hand again and nodded to his wife. It was a relief that the money was paid and their account now closed.
Roman and Arlo left. It was already dark out and they had to haul ass to get home in time. They drove the rest of the way home in silence. Roman’s heart rate ticked at an exhilarating rate. He was going to see Madison at seven. He had to prepare. Everything had to be perfect for his spit-fire.
“You need to pick up Madison at six-thirty,” Roman ordered Arlo as a reminder.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Roman tapped his finger on the dash. He was on edge. It was like how he felt before a hit, only this time the target was the woman he hoped would fall in love with him.