Page 4 of Bitter Poetry

He chuckles, puts a call through to the maid to bring drinks to his study, and rises. Taking my hand, he walks me over to the two carver chairs, which sit before the patio windows that look out onto a manicured lawn.

Brigida arrives promptly, placing the drinks on the table before us.

“Thank you, Brigida,” he says.

She smiles and bobs her head before leaving as quietly as she arrived.

The moment feels formal and my heart beats a little too fast as my father’s eyes hold mine. Intense, dark, intelligent. A few lines crease the edges. While my father can be serious, he also knows how to smile. He can also be ruthless, but he’s never been that with me.

I don’t pretend to understand all the nuances of his position, beyond that his business is extensive and multifaceted. But I also know that if a capo wants a wife, and she is available, then he will likely get her whether she wishes it or not.

Will the same rules apply to me?

“Who?”

“Carmela, you are looking unnecessarily worried. Please don’t be.”

“You’re not helping!”

He chuckles again and shakes his head. “Fine. Dante.”

I blink as I take that in. “I wasn’t expecting Dante.”

His expression turns rueful. He’s still watching me in his intense way, probably trying to unpick the deluge of emotions crossing my face. “So I can see.”

A flutter kicks off low in my belly. I’ve thought about Dante more than is healthy. Half my friends have a crush on him. He’s sophisticated. Mature compared to me.

“Does he know?”

My father smiles. “Of course. But he wanted you to agree. To take time, if you need to, before reaching your decision.”

That takes me aback. “He did?”

“He’s a good man. I always had the greatest respect for his late father—he was as much a friend as an advisor. Dante has a good head for our business. He brings fresh ideas. He does his family name proud.”

“When would it happen? What about college?”

“I would rather you were married when you come of age,” my father says. “But Dante agrees with your mother that college should be your decision, too. That the marriage could wait until you were twenty-one.”

Dante wants me to agree. And he’s willing to wait, when I know many men in our world would not. I already see this as asign of his integrity. My father likes and approves of him, as does my mother. I have always trusted their opinions.

My father raises his brows. “I take it you’re in agreement.”

I can’t keep the smile off my face any longer. “Yes. Yes, I am. When will it be announced?”

“After your graduation party,” my father says. “Your eighteenth birthday is soon after, and most likely where we could make a formal announcement.”

I rise from my chair and go over and kiss him. He chuckles. “Mela, your father would like you to stay a little girl forever. But I realize that you’re growing up. He’s a good man. Your mother and I are pleased with this match. Our families have long had close ties. All this aside, I wanted you to be happy with it.”

“I am,” I say. “I really am.”

CHAPTER 2

CHRISTIAN

Atruck full of liquor was stolen en route to Ettore’s strip club. Someone snitched on them, and now we’re at the storage lockup where we think they have been hidden.

Never a good idea to steal from an underboss. But at least it provides a learning opportunity for me.