How to Willingly Love a Caruso in a Month
The boss heard Sal say, “He’s been out there waiting for a while now, boss.” The meeting had just come pretty much to a close.
“He can wait. Why do you think he’s here, boys?”
“I saw her. She ain’t the usual. She’s the kind you marry then fuck.” He stared at his son, standing in the corner as he put a cigarette to his lips and lit the end with his metal lighter.
The lighter had actually been a gift from the boss the day his son had become the underboss. He thought that every man shouldn’t have just any ninety-nine cent lighter you could pick up at a gas station as you checked out. No, this lighter had been handed down over generations. He had used that very lighter for years. The only thing was, he wished his son lit cigars, not cigarettes. There’s a lot I wish he did differently.
“So, you’ve been following her?”
“Not exactly,” his son said as he exhaled and smoke filled the room.
The smell made the boss want to reach for one of his cigars, but he didn’t like to mix that shit with his good stuff. “So, what exactly were you doing?”
“I watched her for a bit.” He took another hit off his cigarette.
“What for?” He knew why, but he wanted his answer.
“I had to make sure things were going in the right direction.”
“Are they?”
“How about we ask him?” He nodded his head toward the door.
His son was right; not only was he a little suspicious on whether Nero could get the job done, but his own brother was, too.
“Sal, bring him in.”
He watched Sal open the door and head off to take care of some things. Nero came in and shut the door behind him. Unlike his older brother, he took a seat in one of the chairs.
“How was school today, son?” By the look on Nero’s face, he knew he understood what he meant.
“Promising. I got her to come around.”
“Really? How’s that?” He studied his son. He would make sure everything that came from his mouth was the whole fucking truth.
“I gained her trust. She’s not exactly the most popular girl in school, so I made them lay off her and her friend a little. Then I got lucky and one of them slashed her friend’s tires, the same friend who takes her to and from school. Took her home. Taking her to school. Going to make that a permanent thing.”
“That’s good. Do you have any proof you have her trust? Not that I don’t believe you, Son, but she’s smarter than you think.” He did believe Nero was telling the truth; he just knew a girl like Elle could pull the wool over his eyes.
“Yeah, she gave me her work schedule. Told her I needed it to see when we could go out sometime.” Nero handed over his phone with the picture already up on the screen. Boss Caruso looked it over.
He heard the flip of the lighter open, then it firing, his older son moving on to another cigarette. He watched him flip the lighter shut. His son had learned every Zippo trick out there. He’s gonna break the fucking thing soon. The only reason he didn’t take it back was because he knew his son would get it repaired if need be.
He took out a cigar. He didn’t care about the smells mixing at this point. He pulled out his own lighter and lit the end.
Inhaling the wonderful taste, he moved on, “So, what is it you really wanted to tell me?”
He watched Nero run his hands through his hair. “I don’t think she will ever tell. She keeps a lot of shit hidden. Been beat up real bad a couple of times, but would never tell who it was. I asked her if a certain person did something to her, and she protected him. He’s a real piece of shit, too, so there’s no reason for her not to tell. I asked her why and she told me she wasn’t a rat.”
He exhaled after a long hit. “She said that she wasn’t a rat, specifically?” When he watched his son nod, he flexed his jaw. He would move on for now. “Who is her friend?” Elle might tell her over anyone.
To his surprise, his other son answered the question and Nero looked just as shocked. “Chloe Masters.” He watched his son emerge from the corner and squeeze Nero’s shoulder. “You’re welcome, brother. I figured she might have given you something good for taking her home. I hope you can save her by her eighteenth birthday. You don’t mind sharing, do you? Don’t worry; you can have her first. Virgins aren’t my thing. I prefer a little experience.”
Nero stood, looking his brother in the face. “I don’t think either of us are her type.”
“Let’s hope she learns how to willingly love a Caruso in a month. You know, for her sake.” He inhaled his cigarette, letting the end turn bright red.
“Yeah, Lucca, let’s hope that ends up being me. You know, for her sake.” Nero left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Boss Caruso squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Chloe Masters, huh?”
Lucca finally took a seat in front of him. “That’s the one.”
“Shit, we were all getting along so well.” The relationship they had with Chloe’s father was crucial to his business. It had taken a while to get him on his payroll, and it hadn’t been easy.
“Yeah, one big, happy family.” Lucca put his cigarette out in the ashtray and got up to head for the door.
“Keep following her, son.”
He had known the second he saw that one-week schedule, Elle was one step in front of Nero. He owned the Casino Hotel; therefore, he knew schedules were typically more than a week in advance.
“I planned on it, boss.” Lucca left the room without a sound. Boss Caruso wasn’t even sure the door had closed.
He thought about what Nero had said as he brought the cigar to his mouth. ‘She told me she wasn’t a rat.’ His gut had been right; she had done more than just hear what happened in that alleyway, and he was going to do whatever it took to find out exactly what she had seen. He exhaled in an attempt to get rid of the horrible cigarette smell permeating the room. I’ve seen a lot of men turn rat.
* * *
Nero walked out of the room, fuming on the inside. He only hoped he didn’t give himself away. When he made it to the elevator, he decided to text Elle again.
Need a ride home?
While the elevator traveled down, he made sure to keep his calm. He had to keep in mind that this whole place had cameras everywhere.
When he exited the elevator, he started his journey back to his car, passing the security guards, going down the escalator and walking out of the casino. He had walked into the casino earlier with a different feeling than he had when he walked out.
When the city noise greeted him, he turned his head to look at the diner next door. It took everything he had in him not to walk in there and take a seat at one of her tables, especially seeing how packed it was now with men. He took a deep breath in and smoothed his hair down before he walked back to his car.
He unlocked the doors and slid in, glad the windows were tinted. At night, it was impossible to see in.
He punched the steering wheel with his already-battered hand, drawing blood from his knuckles for the second time today.
You’re welcome, brother.
Nero wanted to fight his brother like they usually had when they didn’t agree. But this time, he couldn’t. It was job related and you didn’t just get in a fight with the underboss unless you’re prepared to get your hand chopped off. Not even if you’re brothers. The family was built upon one thing, respect.
He knew his brother wouldn’t touch Elle in that way, but he still didn’t like the words that spat from his mouth about her.
That’s not why I’m even fucking mad, is what he told himself. They don’t fucking think I can do it.
He hated the fact they were going behind his back. Once you give someone the job, then it was their job alone. There was no bullshit. This was Nero’s first job, and he didn’t want any help.
I can do this on my own.
Nero watched Elle through the diner windows. He saw her laughing while she filled up cups at a table full of men. He gripped the steering wheel, having had enough. He was going to walk in there.
He got out of his car and saw Elle go to the bar. She looked down and started smiling. He had stopped walking immediately. The smile stopped him in his tracks. The smile she had on her face was one he hadn’t seen before. He felt his phone vibrate.
Bite me, he read.
He pulled up the keyboard. I’d love to, when I take you home.
He stayed put, watching her just a little longer.
She went back to the bar and smiled that same smile that made his chest a little weaker. He wasn’t sure what it was.
His phone vibrated again.
I’m sure you would, wolf. I can make it home to grandma on my own.
Nero texted back, You watch way too many movies. What’s your favorite movie, anyway?
Nero smiled as he got back in the car. Elle’s smile had calmed him down. Now that he knew what her real smile looked like, the ones she was giving her customers couldn’t even compare.
I don’t have one. I like too many. You? he read when his phone vibrated again.
Nero and Elle texted each other throughout her shift, getting to know one another. Nero surprisingly enjoyed it; watching her smile behind the bar when she thought no one was looking at her, while secretly texting.
He wasn’t into texting girls. Really never gave a shit what they had to say. High school girls only wanted to gossip and he only wanted to fuck them. Elle was different; she only answered his questions and asked her own of him. He told himself that this was a good thing for the job; she had to get to know him to completely trust him.
He watched her end her shift and put on her coat. He was relieved she was finally getting out of there. She walked the few blocks to the bus stop and got on while Nero followed right behind her the entire time. She exited the bus and he turned his headlights off, trailing her until she made it to her house.
When she got in, Nero rubbed his eyes. The night had been rough on him. He didn’t think he could watch her go to and from work again. The city was dangerous and Nero really knew exactly how dangerous it could be. He had no idea how she was still in one piece, or sane for that matter, for as long as she had been working there. He was going to have to come up with something. And by seeing her schedule, he needed to do it soon; otherwise, his sanity was going to be the one lost, for good.
He picked up his phone, rolling through his contacts before he hit call. It rang three times before it was answered.
“What do you need now, Nero?”
Nero laughed. “You didn’t let the two little girls get to you, did you?”
“Nope, not at all.”
Nero could hear something in the background. Smiling, he asked, “Is that anyone I know?”
“Nope, she goes to public school. I’d rather not have all your sloppy seconds.”
Nero started thinking. “Public school, huh?”
“Yeah, and they come without sticks up their asses.”
“Does she come with friends?” Nero knew he was going to go crazy if he didn’t find someone to get rid of his blue balls.
“A lot of them. That’s the best part about public school.”
“Well, let’s set something up.” Nero looked at Elle’s house. “Immediately.”
A deep laugh came over the phone. “Sounds like one little girl is getting to you.”
“Well, that’s actually why I called. Amo, I have a job for you.”