Chapter 22

Salvatore

I’m on the phone to Tony. “No, I haven’t had a sit down with the Savage Angels yet. There’s been a development.”

“What kind of development?” he asks.

“I’m not sure yet. A woman.”

His voice is full of laughter as he says, “A woman? Geez, Boss. You went all that way to find a woman? Hell, you know my sister is single now that the douche bag has finally left.”

I smile into the phone and say, “Your sister is crazy, Tony. No, this one is different. But she’s the sister of the head of the Savage Angels.”

“And you think my sister is crazy?”

“Your sister is crazy. I’m seeing the Savage Angels in about an hour. I’ll ring you after. Ok?”

“Yeah and, Sal, be careful. I don’t understand why the Family wants you to do this alone. Doesn’t make sense. Watch your back.”

“Agreed, doesn’t make sense. Maybe it’s a test from the old man. I’ve heard rumors that he wants to expand. Maybe he’s seeing if I can handle myself,” I reply.

“Everyone fucking knows you can handle yourself, Boss. You have been proving that since you were fifteen‐fucking‐years‐old,” he says and hangs up.

He’s right. It doesn’t make sense for me to be out alone. I’m a Captain in this family, I’ve killed, I’ve beaten, and I’ve taken. I have already proved myself. I should call the old man. I turn and see Emily with the sales assistant, laughing as she tries on shoes. She is different. I like this woman. I haven’t liked a woman this much in a long, long time. She sees me looking through the window and motions me to come inside. I push open the door and hear her laughter; it goes through me and stirs up long forgotten feelings.

“Sal! Bianca is unbelievable! She thinks I need all of these shoes! I don’t have room in my closet for all of these!”

“Bianca?” She looks at me and nods. “Pack them all up, she will have them all.” Both women stop their laughter and stare at me.

“Oh, I was having some fun, sir. She doesn’t have to buy all of these. I was just having a joke!” says Bianca as her mouth hangs open.

“No, Sal! I couldn’t possibly buy ten pairs of shoes!” says Emily.

“Actually, there’s twelve,” corrects Bianca.

“Pack them up, Bianca, and have them delivered to room five at The Country Inn.” I hold Emily’s gaze as she shakes her head. I smile at her; I understand why she wouldn’t want me to buy her things. Since she doesn’t want anything from me and has no idea who I am, what’s the harm? I have more money than I can spend and the few hundred dollars on clothes and shoes will not break my bank balance. I have been careful with my money, I have planned, and I have invested. I own property all over; I do not need to work if I don’t want to but I like being in charge. I like having power over my enemies; I like control, in everything, including my women.

“No! I can’t afford that many pairs of shoes and dresses! Sal, it will take me forever to pay you back!” She has her hands on her hips and her eyes are ablaze.

“Emily, please, it is my pleasure to do this for you. Now come, we have much to discuss before our meeting.” At the sound of her name, she relaxes. Her eyes still blaze but she slowly nods her head.

“Wow, do you have a brother?” asks Bianca.

I laugh at her and say, “Yes, but he’s doing a stint for murder. He is not as smart as me.” Both women look shocked and are unsure if I am being serious. I walk to the cash register and look at Bianca. “Time to pay, yes?”

Bianca rushes to the counter and gives me a tentative smile. “Is that cash or credit?”

***

We are seated in Betties Café; as usual, I am facing the front door. Emily has been quiet since we left the shoe store. We have given our orders to Rosie and the silence is beginning to become deafening.

When she blurts out, “Your brother killed someone?” Her voice is slightly raised and she looks alarmed.

“Ahhh, my brother, this is why you are quiet. Yes, he killed a man who would have eventually killed him. It is a long story and I do not want to talk about it just now. I need to know about you, Emily; I need to why you are here and what you intend to do.”

“Sal, I’ve told you why I’m here. I came to see... no, to hurt Dane. I wasn’t thinking clearly. My father was a...difficult man. When he died, I thought of Dane; he’s my only living relative but I haven’t seen him since I was a kid. I have no idea what I was thinking.” She sighs and fiddles with her dress.

“Your mother, where is she?” I ask.

“My mother was gunned down in a stupid robbery; the kid didn’t even think the gun was loaded. She was telling him to think about what he was doing and he panicked, pointed the gun at her and pulled the trigger.” Tears well up in her eyes. “People talk about the right to bear arms but when they lose someone to a senseless murder let’s see how much they believe in it. If gun control was tougher, my mother would still be alive.”

I lower my head, reach across the table and grab her hand. “I am sorry, Amare. How long ago?” I feel a deep sense of loss for her. If she knew that running guns was part of my business...would she still be interested in me?

“It was five years ago. My father was always a drunk but Ma kept him in line, most of the time.” She looks down at the table and a single tear escapes her eye and runs down her face. Before I can say anything she continues, “You see, I didn’t have anyone, he was all I knew. I tried to leave, I went to college, I tried. But there was no one to look after him, what was I supposed to do?” Her eyes look at me pleadingly. “He was a hard man. The cancer that took him, I’ve wondered if it was because he was so mean and if it was the bad that was coming out of him or turning back on him....does that make any sense?”

More tears escape her eyes and I understand. There was a time I thought I had to stay, but I took control of my own destiny and carved a path for myself. She needs to do the same; she needs to find her own way. I pass her a napkin to wipe her tears away.

“I understand, Emily, I do. My father was a difficult man as well and unlike your mother, mine was...weak.”

“Why are you here, Salvatore?” she asks.

Suddenly, I feel ashamed of my business. It is one of many but it is profitable and brings the family much wealth. “Your brother is infringing on one of my businesses, I was sent to sort it out. I am a Captain in the Abruzzi Family, do you know of them?”

“Abruzzi Family? No, I’ve never heard of them. What’s a Captain?”

I sigh and run both hands through my hair. I am about to respond when Rosie appears with food. She places it in front of us and asks, “Do you two want pie later? You look like you could use pie; we have a really good apple pie.” Before either of us can respond she continues, “I’m going to get you both some with ice cream, in a bit.” She winks at me and walks away.

“Emily,—”

“I think I like it better when you call me Amare,” she says with a smile.

“Amare, a Captain means I am high up in the Abruzzi Family. We are organized. We run most of the East Coast.”

“What does that mean, you run most of the East Coast? It sounds like a gang.” She nervously laughs.

“Not a gang, a family.” I pause and grab both her hands. “Organized crime, Amare. We have a hand in a

lot of pies. Not drugs, we are forbidden to become involved in narcotics, but we have a hand in everything else.”

“Guns?” she asks.

“It is the reason I am here. Your brother is interfering in my business and we need to know why.” Shock quickly spreads across her features.

“Guns?” She repeats her question.

“Yes.” At this moment, I wish I were a different man. The choices I have made helped to carve me into the person I am today, but this person may not be someone she will want to be with.

“Do you have to sell guns? Could you not do something else?” she asks.

“I do many other things; it is just one of the many.” Her face scrunches up and she appears to be lost in her own thoughts. “I feel a connection with you, one I have not had with anyone else in a long time. Take some time; think about what you know, think about how you feel about me and what I do. For now, let’s eat.”

She slowly stands. “No, I need to clear my head. Please, do not follow me. I need time to process this. You are not who I thought you were.” She sighs, her disappointment in me obvious. “I have to go see Dane, to sort out that relationship.” She turns and walks out of the café.

It should not matter to me what this woman thinks. I have only just met her. I have rescued her twice and intervened in her family affairs. She would not fit into my world. As I eat my meal, I can’t help but wish that perhaps she could fit or at the very least, I could fit into her life. Now that she knows the truth about me, I can't help but feel that she would be better off without me.