chapter Three
Lorenzo
Lorenzo Botticelli
How could this happen? I don’t believe it. That was all I could think as I sat in my car, in the mall parking lot. What did I just do?
I mean, it was very stupid for me to call my father and say what I did. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was just so…so shocked and angry. Just the thought of the whole thing made me punch the steering wheel.
“Damn!” I screamed, glad I was alone. My stupid friends were still in the mall, thinking I was upset because the beautiful caramel skinned girl and her friend rejected me. If only I were so lucky.
I knew exactly who she was, the birthmark, the dark skin and the too perfect Italian that shouldn’t have come from those lips. Sixteen, turning seventeen in a month. It took the birthmark to really make all the clues fit, but once I saw it I know exactly who she was.
The girl I was supposed to marry, not by choice, but because my family says so. It didn’t make sense. I should’ve been happy to meet her and to be so drawn to her. She was gorgeous, breathtaking. It wasn’t fair, I wanted her, but not if they wanted me to. I couldn’t be so attracted to her.
I was running from this, I thought to myself. All the trouble I was causing my family was keeping me from this. The girlfriends I would bring home and pretend to be so in love with.
Wrecking car after car, in hopes my father would take me to be too irresponsible for all his plans. Shutting down the last six months, not speaking to anyone, praying this would all go away. But there she was, more beautiful than I had ever expected and drawing me in with that beauty.
What choice did I have but to call my father and tell him I’d seen her? Only thing was, I lied, not about seeing her, but about her. I told my father that she was not Botticelli material.
I painted a picture of a loose girl with no manners. I said everything I could to get my father to cut the charade he was playing. This game, I had no intentions of playing.
I will not let my future be predetermined for the sake of blood and money. I didn’t want what the families wanted. I won’t do what they want.
I was no stranger to what I grew up in. I had it all, the homes, money, cars, clothes, but it came with a price. My father was supposed to be in the wine business; that was funny.
My father was into squeezing, but grapes weren’t the only things he pressed. I was so used to all the drama that it was a null point in my life now. I was the heir to one of the most powerful families, second only to the La Marcellos.
I have seen things no decent parents would expose their children to. It was all repulsing to me. My father would try to explain that it was my place to know the family business. I wanted no parts of it, I would tune him out any chance I got.
I wonder, did she know who I was or about this stupid arrangement at all? Probably not, from what I know, her father keeps her pretty sheltered. I have only heard stories about her and what she looks like.
I met her father officially for the first time last year, when our fathers met to discuss the agreement. Mr. La Marcello was insistent on meeting and talking to me. He wanted to know I was as good a kid as I seemed from a distance.
Kid, that’s how they see me. That’s why they think they can control my life. At the time, I didn’t think they were serious about their plans.
Especially, the way my dad went on and on about her not being his legitimate daughter. I was sure that was my out. However, once Mr. La Marcello talked with me and shook my hand, I was dismissed from the meeting by my dad.
Later in the car, my dad informed me that he had seen pictures. He gave me a detailed description and told me she wouldn’t disappoint me. Somehow, her illegitimacy was canceled out and the plans were stronger than ever.
I was desperate when I called him. I didn’t know what to do. By the time, I was off the phone and made up my mind to look for her, to talk to her again, she was gone.
Now, I am sitting here feeling pretty stupid. My father sounded a little more furious than I was looking for. I just wanted to get out of this mess, not start a war. I had been banking on finding a way out of this before next year. I was scheduled to meet her on her eighteenth birthday. That just sounds disgusting.
I needed to get out of the parking lot and fast. I stabbed the button for the ignition and started the car. Then, I raced out of the parking lot and headed straight for home. I need to talk to my father. I want to know what the things I said had done.
Was there a way to change what was said? Maybe he just wrote them off like everything else I have done in the past year. I didn’t know why it mattered to me, but it did. I needed to know that I didn’t ruin the chance to meet her again. I needed to know I still had that option.
I pulled my C350 into the driveway of our estate. I almost jumped out of the car before turning it off. My little sister stood in the doorway with my mother, as I jogged up the stairs.
“Hey, munchkin, dov'è il fuoco?” I asked, as I hugged my sister, Lucie. Then, I kissed my mother, who seemed to be in an extra hurry.
Lucie rolled her eyes and grinned. “Mamma dimenticare che avevo balletto pratica.”
Just like my mother. It didn’t matter that Lucie had been taking ballet for three years, at the same school, on the same days, and at the same time. Mom forgot all the time.
This was great news. I would get to talk to my father one on one. At least, as one on one as you got with Mr. Botticelli.
I know my mother knows some things, but I’m not sure how much. The women in the family weren’t really involved in things so much. Mom pretty much goes along with whatever my father tells her.
As they rushed out the door pass me, I ran into my father’s study. Uncle Fredo and Uncle Michael were standing in the room with him as usual. He stood up the moment he saw me enter. I stayed away from this study so much lately, I had almost forgotten what it looked like.
The mahogany built in shelves on the wall behind my dad’s desk, were filled with tons of books. I don’t believe there’d be room for one more. The shelves that flanked the door were just as full.
On the right side of my father’s desk was a wall that held a huge family portrait. In the center of the office, sat my father’s large mahogany desk, with his leather studded winged desk chair. Two identical smaller versions sat in front of the desk. The room would have been a dark one, if not for the recess lighting my mother had put in when we bought the place.
“Come in, son,” my father greeted me, “I was just talking about you.”
He seemed in a good mood that was a good sign. Sometimes I’d swear the whole arranged marriage thing seemed to bother him just as much as it bothers me. Yet, he continued to push it, much to my annoyance.
“Hey, dad,” I said as I sat in one of the black leather chairs that faced the desk.
“I spoke to Venny after our talk this afternoon. I wanted to assure you that things were taken care of.”
His tone was a little smug. I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going. I eyed him suspiciously as he spoke those words with such arrogance. I wasn’t in the mood to play around with the subject, so I was direct.
“What does that mean?”
My father sat back in his chair and folded his arms. “Venny had a little talk with his daughter.” I hear Uncle Fredo chuckle in the corner. “I guess it was more than a talk,” my father continued. “I don’t think she’ll be in anyone’s mall acting like street trash again.”
As he said those words I could feel the anger rising. Though they were my very own words from this afternoon, I was enraged to hear them come out of his mouth directed at her. What had I done? She did nothing out of the way this afternoon.
I thought it was cute to see she was so innocent and sort of awkward as she spoke to me. It was as if she was trying to be confident, but still shy at the same time. I could tell she wasn’t much for talking to boys.
I was probably the first she tried to talk to in that manner, from the looks of it. Not to mention, what I’ve heard of Venncesso La Marcello. I don’t think she has ever had a chance before.
Besides, what did my father mean, more than a talk? Had I gotten her in trouble? That was not my intention.
I felt sick to my stomach. I had overreacted and it looked like she had to pay for that. Great, me and my big mouth. From the looks of things, all my lies hadn’t gotten me closer to ending the ridiculous idea of me marrying a girl I barely knew. I had just gone and gotten her in trouble.
“Son, are you alright?” If only my dad knew, I was nowhere near alright.
I just shook my head, hoping to rid myself of the sick feeling. “Yeah, I just think maybe I exaggerated about Victoria earlier. She was very sweet, I think I was being innovative with my description to you.”
I could tell my father caught onto what I meant. I had seen it in the way his face changed. He turned bright red and the black hair on his head looked like it stood up on its own.
His smoke grey eyes turned to grey steel. I could trace the fumes coming from his scalp with a pen. I stood up, ready to sprint, but my father wasn’t having that.
“You sit down, right now you, little punk,” he hissed through his teeth. My father never talked to me like that. I know I got poor Victoria in trouble.
“Do you have any idea the trouble you’ve caused that family!” he shouted at me. “Venny was half drunk when he called me back. His wife now knows the truth about those children and she is going to make his life hell, Lorenzo. He hit that poor girl! If you’re telling me that I called Venny with a lie, another of your stupid games… I’m a bit sick of this. This is not just about you! Where in the world do you get this from…,” he continued. I stopped listening after he said Venny hit Victoria.
My heart was hurting. All I wanted was to find her and make sure she was okay. Then I wanted to find Venny and hit him.
How could I fix this? I knew I wasn’t supposed to meet her for another year, but I had to see her. I wanted to tell her it was my fault and that I would do anything she wanted to make it right.
I wanted to run my fingers through her long chocolate hair, look in those hazel eyes, and say how sorry I was for being an idiot. I needed to wrap my hands around her waist and hold her to make sure she felt safe. Fuck, how did this happen?
One stupid trip to the mall and I not only ruined any chance of me not ever seeing this girl, but all I wanted was to be with her. I have hurt her and I still don’t know her. This shit is unreal.
“Get out of my face, Lorenzo,” my father bellowed when he finished his rant. “Don’t touch a single, motherfucking one of those cars. I mean that shit.”
I stumbled to my feet. It vaguely registered that he just threatened to take away my cars, but I knew he would take that back in the morning. He always did.
No one ever wanted to drive my grown ass around. Besides, my mother hated seeing me mope around the house. She would always drive my father nuts until I got at least one car back.
I jogged up to my room. I needed time to think. What am I going to do? I know what school she goes to. Her cousin Matt is my age, we’re both in college.
However, back in high school, I played his team a few times Junior and Senior year. I know she goes to the same school because I heard my dad talk about how over protective Venny is.
Matt’s her guardian at school, even now. I wasn’t worried about that. Matt’s a decent size guy, but I would hold my own. I’m sure he knows enough about me, or at least the family name to back off.
The real trouble is, I have no idea what to say to her. “Sorry, I ruined your life.” Yeah, that would be real smooth. Besides, it’s Friday and I need to see her now.
When she told me where she lived that confused me a little. I know her dad lives around Saddle River, New Jersey. She mentioned something about English Town.
That little detail almost threw me off earlier—along with the Italian she spoke. My father knew nothing about that. The light bulb clicked when I remembered she lives with her mother.
My thoughts were getting me nowhere. As I threw myself in the lounge chair that faced the huge flat screen in my room, I knew I needed a distraction. However, I wasn’t in the mood for TV.
Instead, I grabbed the headset to my Xbox and decided to take my frustration out on some zombies. After about two hours, I was distracted enough to try getting some sleep. I was determined to figure this all out in the morning.