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Chapter Twenty-Three

Enrique

It’s like Ellie’s thoughts are mine. I’m certain what she’s thinking. Duty and responsibility war with what she wants. In the end, duty’ll triumph over love for her. It’s too deeply ingrained in her no matter how much she wants love and how much she deserves it.

There’s not a chance on God’s green earth I’m letting some shitbags steal my future with her. I know if I can show her a path to us being together, she won’t stop until we are. She just needs hope. This is squashing the bit she had.

“Luis, Ellie, and I will call Salvatore. We’ll decide what to do once we hear his excuses. Send Pablo in.”

I know this announcement pisses Luis off because he refuses to see Ellie the way I do. His role is to balance my power when I risk making a mistake. I know he’s also a protective little brother. But he needs to open his mind rather than be so stubborn. This situation is bad enough without my brother making my future wife feel unwelcome.

Catalina, Luciana, and Matías file out of the office, and we wait in silence until Pablo arrives. He immediately senses the silent hostility from his father and Ellie’s reserved thoughtfulness. He sits on the loveseat next to Luis. It’s a tight fit for both of them, but it allows them to look at us.

I fish my phone out of my pocket and hit Salvatore’s speed dial. It rings five times, and I expect it to go to voicemail.

“ Enrique, come stai ?” Enrique, how are you?

“Fuck you.”

“I have a wife for that, and I hear you’ll have a bride soon, too.”

“Your pieces of shit grabbed my sister tonight.”

“You don’t say.”

“Don’t be a bigger piece of shit than you already are. Stay away from the women in my family.”

“Or what? You’ll sic your girlfriend on me?”

Ellie’s nails press into the back of my hand. I look down at her, and she juts her chin toward the phone. I nod, and she launches into what must be Sicilian.

“ Stai lu cazzu luntanu da me famigghia, Salvatore, o ti fazzu cazzu accussì mali, mi preghi pi aiutàriti a ripigghiàrila. Lorenzo è appena nu cucciolu di casa rutta rispettu a chi??u ca pozzu fari. Ti lassu comu li pezzi di spazzatura pòviri ca la tò famigghia havi statu di quannu partìu da Sicilia ca cuda ntra li jammi. ” Stay the fuck away from my family, Salvatore, or I’ll fuck your shit up so badly, you’ll beg me to help you get it back. Lorenzo’s barely a housebroken pup compared to what I can do. I’ll leave you like the impoverished pieces of garbage your family’s been since they left Sicily with their tails between their legs.

I understand nothing but Salvatore’s name and one of his nephew’s. Whatever Ellie said, she means it. There’s a prolonged pause before Salvatore responds in Sicilian.

“ Ti chiàmunu Ball Buster pi na raggiuni, ma tu non mi fa scantari, signura Vizzini. Ti avìa a pigghiari tanti anni fa. Allura non avìa a lassari quarchi d'unu usari l'òmini ancùora cch? pannolini pi fari nu travàgghiu ca sapìa ca fallìa .” They call you the Ball Buster for a reason, but you don’t frighten me, Mrs. Vizzini. I should have hired you ages ago. Then I wouldn't have had to let someone use men still in diapers to do a job I knew would fail.

I recognize her nickname, and Salvatore used her old — former —married name. It’s going to be Diaz when this shit ends.

“Enrique, you lucked out this time. You got a woman far too good for you. How you managed that—You must be a cazzo d’Orro .”

Ellie chokes on a laugh.

“Considering your wife had to marry you, and I’m with Enrique because I want to be, I’d get off my high horse if I were you, Salvatore. And we both know I’m not the wealthy one in this relationship. I certainly have no complaints, but we all know I’m not with him just because of what he can do in private.”

Salvatore arranged his marriage to his wife, but they fell in love almost immediately. It’s no secret the man adores her, so he’s still close to his in-laws. Her niece married his nephew, so that doubly connects the Mancinellis to the Torrettas. That’s why we planned to use them against Tommaso. But that plan came about after someone started watching Ellie.

“Mrs. Vizzini?—”

“Ms. McCann, and you know that Salvatore.”

She releases my hand and stands as she speaks. She puts out a staying hand and walks to my desk. She grabs a pencil and then looks around. She spots the printer and grabs a piece of paper before scribbling something as she leans over the desk.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree. You and that giant dog of yours.”

“You should know Constantine’s and my bite are worse than our bark. We’re both silent but deadly.”

She hands the note to me before sitting again.

He told me he had to let someone use men. He didn’t say his men, and he didn’t say he used them. He gave someone permission to use Sicilians. Who?

I hand the note to Luis, who skims it before handing it back to Ellie. His eyebrows rise, but he offers no other acknowledgement. She reaches for the paper and bends to use the coffee table to write more on it.

Tommaso swore it wasn’t him when I called, and I don’t think it is. But it’s definitely an outsider. I don’t believe it’s the O’Malleys or the Volkovs. My last job was in Sinaloa. It got messy before I could escape. I think Jesus found me and planned to strike, but then you and I met. Would he do this—take your sister or me—to get back at both of us?

I read her second note and nod.

“How’re Luca’s in-laws?

Salvatore’s oldest nephew and heir married a woman with connections to the Culiacán , the most powerful cartel in Mexico. It wouldn’t surprise me if that cabrón Jesus Espinoza wasn’t behind all of this. He’s more than just an asshole, but if Ellie can read my thoughts as well as I think I read hers, I don’t want her to know how much I loathe him.

“Fine, last I heard. I don’t keep tabs on them, but you should. As we speak, his family’s getting to know the O’Rourkes.”

I take the pen and paper from Ellie.

Since he didn’t hurt Catalina, just scared her, I think it could be him. He wants to fuck with me, but he knows not to push too hard or too far.

I look at Pablo and add a note for him before pointing to the top of the sheet as I hand it to him.

Son.

Pablo looks up from the paper and nods. He fires off a text and will soon know what Santiago Espinoza is up to. The guy lives in NYC because he’s in grad school. He’ll head back to Chihuahua when he’s done. He keeps his distance from us, but we keep an eye on him. We like to know where all our rivals are. Pablo will have an exact address soon enough.

I have another question for my longtime nemesis, sometimes ally. “Sal, did you hire Gérard and Johann?”

“No. I had nothing to do with this, Enrique, beyond staying out of the way.”

“And allowing Jesus to use Mafiosos right under your nose. He didn’t find them on his own. You found the men for him. Did you pick the shittiest ones, so they’d fuck up? Did you want to prove you’re in control? Or did you pick useless ones because you knew the consequences if Ellie or I got our hands on them?”

“This isn’t my fight. I brokered a deal, then stayed out of it. I didn’t decide who came over.”

I won’t say anything about Torretta since fucking with Tommaso already involves the Sicilian don. I don’t need to play that hand yet. I’m focused on Jesus. We have history, and that bastardo has owed me a favor for nearly thirty years. I’m cashing in…after I get some payback.

“Mrs. Vizzini?—”

“Stop being a prick, Sal. You know you’ll be calling my future sister-in-law Mrs. Diaz soon enough. Until then, use Ms. McCann’s name. Being a little bitch about it only makes you look like you have no huevos .”

Luis sounds bored, but no one misses his endorsement. I glance at Ellie, and she’s staring at Luis until she realizes he, Pablo, and I are watching her. She flushes, dips her chin, and smiles.

Whatever she said at the beginning set the tone, and we’re getting the info we want without having to beg or even issue that many threats. It’s almost too easy, but I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Salvatore, I have never struck your family because Tommaso never ordered it. But I don’t work for him anymore, and I’m not married to Enrique yet. I’m a free agent. If you’re fucking us over, my earlier threat stands.”

“I have no reason to doubt you, Ms. McCann.”

Did I hear his voice tremble for a moment? I’d like to think I did. Maybe a healthy dose of fear is why Salvatore’s being so cooperative. I doubt it, but I can dream, can’t I?

Pablo reaches across the table to show me his phone. I scroll a text before looking up at him. He shrugs, and I nod.

It’s not Jesus’s son after all.

Pablo’s headed out to Jackson Heights in Queens because Jesus is indirectly involved, even if it’s not his son. Cormac O’Rourke’s there, and he shouldn’t be anywhere near our neighborhood. Hopefully, Pablo can kill two birds with one stone and fuck things up for both families.

“This is your last chance to confess to anything else, Sal.”

“You’re the furthest thing from a priest, Enrique.”

“If I find out you’re more?—”

“Ms. McCann’s threat is more convincing than yours.”

I look at my brother, and he grins. I suppose seeing and hearing Ellie was what it took. I’m certain he saw her shoot down the drone, and we’ll hear about what Ellie, Luciana, and Margherita did in the backyard soon enough. All Luis and I know is that they helped our men from the guestroom. I’m not sure I want to know, but I have to.

“Sal, how’s Maria?”

“She thinks she’s over the worst of it. The doctor’s threatening bedrest if her blood pressure keeps going up. She’s never sat still in her life, but she’s been the perfect patient. Matteo’s the one who’s driving the doctor crazy. I’ve never met a man with more questions. His wife’s a damn doctor, and he won’t believe her unless her OBGYN says the same thing.”

Salvatore’s only niece by birth is pregnant with her first child, and it’s been high risk since the beginning. She’s unlike the men in her family despite being raised with six guys close to her age. She’s unjaded. She’s a radiologist and has a heart of gold. But she’s a Mafia daughter through and through. God help anyone who looks sideways at her children.

“Give her our best. Remind her she can always call Margherita if she needs anything.”

Luis speaks up, since our family sincerely hopes things improve for Maria. My sister-in-law’s a midwife. She wound up delivering Alejandro because Catalina got stuck at her house during a blizzard. Margherita braved driving from New Jersey into Queens rather than Catalina trying to get to the hospital.

The syndicate women don’t like each other any more than the men do. But they’re better at putting aside their pride and offering help when it’s needed. They can keep the peace and be civil when it’s the right thing to do. But I’d hate to see a fight between any of them. It’d be far worse than scratching and hair pulling. It’d be way worse than punches. As generous as all of them can be, none are nearly as forgiving as the men if they believe someone wronged their family. They’ll put a bullet through anyone and walk away with a clear conscience.

“Thank you. I’ll remind her. Ms. McCann?”

“Yes, Salvatore?”

“When you realize you’re too good for the ape you’re sitting next to, and you don’t want to help Tommaso, I’ll hire you full-time.”

Ellie scowls but says nothing. I can’t help myself.

“That many people trying to kill you these days that you need a full-time mercenary to protect your sorry ass?”

“You know I’m not one to settle for second best.”

Ellie pipes in, her hackles up in my defense. “Neither do I, Salvatore, so I definitely won’t settle for anyone in last place.”

“You say that now.”

“I wouldn’t keep insulting my future husband. I’m feeling mighty protective.”

Salvatore laughs. “All right, Ms. McCann. We live to fight another day, Enrique, Luis. Goodbye, Ms. McCann.”

“It’s Elodie. Goodbye, Salvatore.”

I hang up since neither Luis nor I care enough to play his game. I look at Ellie and find her already watching me.

“Why’d you invite him to use your first name?”

“He’s never used my last name out of deference. It was to put me in my place—at arm’s reach. He wanted me to know he’d see me as nothing more than an employee if ever I worked for him. If I’m going to be his wife’s equal, then he’s going to give me the respect that position comes with.”

“Not ‘if,’ chiquita. When.”

It’s been three weeks since our conversation with Salvatore. My family’s watched Jesus’s in NYC since both of his children arrived. We haven’t struck yet, but we will. I’ll let Jesus think he’s gotten away with things for a while. He might not have succeeded, but I’m certain he doesn’t think he failed. I’ll wait for the complacency to set in. That’s when I’ll strike.

In the meantime, I’m having lunch with all three of Ellie’s sons today. She knows I’m in the city for a meeting. She just doesn’t know who with. Pablo’s with me, and Tres J’s discreetly spread out throughout the restaurant. I spot Will easily. The brothers resemble each other strongly, and it reminds me of a photo I saw while Ellie and I packed up her house last week.

They rise when Pablo and I approach the table. Will and I shake hands first, the pecking order very real, before the others greet us.

“Thank you for coming down here. I would have been happy to go up to Boston.”

Three identical expressions tell me I’m not welcome up there. Not surprising.

We wait to start our conversation until after we order, making small talk until then. I survey them, and they’re watching me like I’m a snake they expect to attack at the slightest movement.

“If I’d seen any woman on a ladder looking like she was about to fall off, I would’ve offered my help. But something about your mother struck me the moment I saw her. When she looked down at me from that ladder, I expected her to refuse and order me off her property. I know she was tempted. Her common sense and pragmatism won out, and I respected that about her from the start. She’s easy to talk to, and I enjoyed her company immediately. It didn’t take long to realize we had enough in common to chat when we saw each other. Your mother isn’t an open book by any stretch. She’s a book tucked away in a chained and locked cabinet. But she let me in. I couldn’t help but fall in love with her.”

“She said you were bossy but sweet.” Hunt grins at me, and I know where he got that smile from.

Pablo clears his throat, his water going down the wrong pipe.

“Sweet?”

I elbow my nephew. “I can be when I want.”

“That’s what Mom says, too.” Steve’s more skeptical than his younger brother.

“I’ve met no woman like your mother. I don’t think there’s anyone else like her. I know you know how lucky you are. I can tell just from the way you look right now. I can tell from how suspicious you are of me. I don’t know everything about your parents, and I probably never will. It’s not my place to know. But I know our relationship will never be like theirs because our situation is far different. I can promise I’ll always love, respect, cherish, and protect your mother. She means more to me than anyone else in the world.”

“You know she’ll never say the same about you.” Will doesn’t say that to be hurtful, so it doesn’t bother me.

“And I shouldn’t be. I’m not a parent, so I don’t know first-hand the depth of her feelings toward all of you. I have no interest in coming between you and her. I’d like to be in your lives as much as you’ll let me, but I won’t push my way in.”

All three sit back, putting their knives and forks down in unison.

“I’m certain you know why I asked to see you.”

Three chins rise in the same mannerism Ellie’s given me so many times. I wonder if it’s natural or if it somehow imprinted on them from seeing her do it so much over the course of their lives.

“I’d like to marry your mom. May I?”

There’s a protracted silence while they assess me. Pablo’s discreetly observing the conversation while he eats. I’m certain he’s loving every minute of this. He knows how important this is to me and how anxious this prolonged standoff is making me. It’s an emotion I’m unused to.

I watch all three as they speak together.

“Yes.”

I didn’t see any of them signal it was time to answer. I think it’s intuitive. These are men trained, just like my nephews. Ones who can communicate silently because their lives depend upon it. They trust each other as brothers who’ll do anything to protect each other. Do anything to protect their family.

I swallow my relieved sigh.

“Thank you. I know this relationship puts you in a tough position, and that’s something that weighs heavily on Ellie. She knows I’ll never ask you to do anything but protect her. I don’t expect your loyalty or anything like that. You’re all too old to need a stepdad, but I hope we can be friends.”

A wall goes up around all three, and I don’t know why.

Pablo gets what I don’t. “But if you ever wanted a stepdad, I know my uncle would never say no. He was the fun one when I was a kid. When I was upset with my parents or my younger brother, I would turn to him. He’s not a father, but he’d be a great dad.”

Oh.

“I have five nephews, so I’ve never felt like I missed out on having children. But there’s something nice about knowing you’ll be my stepsons.”

It takes a little longer for the wall to crumble around Hunt and Will than it does for Steve. But eventually, they smile again.

“What should we call you?”

“Enrique, if you want.”

“Have you already proposed?”

“No. But we’ve been talking about marriage for the past few weeks.”

“When is Mom bringing over the last of her stuff?” Hunt acts casual, taking a bite of his steak when he finishes speaking.

“In the next few days. Do you object to us living together before we’re married?”

“Hardly. But we’ll be sure to call or text before coming over.” Will grimaces, and I don’t love recalling what he would’ve witnessed if he arrived five minutes earlier.

“Does Dad know?” Steve’s question has no undertones to it, so I think he’s merely curious.

“Not unless someone else told him. We haven’t announced it because I wanted to ask you before officially proposing. Should I be worried when he finds out?”

“No. It’ll shock him. He knows she’s with you, but I don’t think he’s prepared for her to remarry. Not because he wishes her unwell or because he thinks she shouldn’t. She just swore up and down she never would.”

“Believe me, I know how resistant she was.”

Will looks at his brothers before turning his attention back to me. “Take care of her. She’s spent nearly three decades taking care of everyone else. She’s had no one do that for her since she lived with our grandparents, and that’s not the same. Be someone she can rely on, even when she swears she doesn’t need anyone. Even when she tells herself she needs no one.”

It’s clear her sons know her. I’m glad they want the best for her, that they appreciate her. Steve shifts in his seat. I can tell whatever he’s about to say, he wishes he didn’t have to.

“Will your father object?”

I look at each young man, and Steve answers.

“No, but he’ll have something to say.”

“To you or to Ellie? Is his objection because she’ll marry into a Cartel family? Or will he object because he doesn’t want her to move on?”

“He doesn’t want her back. That’s not what it’s about. She swore she would never be in a relationship again and that her need for independence drove her to leave. She even told him he should remarry because he hadn’t run a household before. She took care of everything for everyone. Grocery shopping, clothes shopping, cooking, bill paying, doctors’ appointments, all school events. She deserves to be an equal partner, and it’s clear she’s found that with you. It’ll force him to see some of his shortcomings, and that’s never pleasant.”

“As long as he doesn’t upset her, then he’s free to think what he wants. But if he contacts her and upsets her like last time, I will suggest she have no more contact with him unless it’s about you.”

“Suggest?” Hunt’s eyes narrow.

“Yes, suggest. I don’t dictate to your mother. Your father is her ex-husband, not mine. I won’t decide for her who she will or won’t speak to, but I will support her if she doesn’t want to deal with him anymore.”

The brothers stare at me for a moment before they nod. Will holds up his water glass, and the rest of us raise ours.

“Welcome to our family, Enrique. Treat our mom right, and we’ll be one big happy family. Make her unhappy, and there will be no remains for anyone to find.”

I suppose that’s as good a toast as I can expect. I clink glasses with the three young men, and they all grin.

“Seriously, though, we’re glad Mom is with you, Enrique.” Steve extends his hand, and I shake it across the table before I do the same with Will and Hunt.

The rest of the meal is easy conversation, and their stories about Ellie show their deep devotion to her and an appreciation for what she’s sacrificed because she’s just as devoted to them. It ends on a positive note, and I’m eager to get home to Ellie.

“Give Mom a hug for all of us.” Hunt makes the request, and Will pretends to grimace.

“Call then knock.” I grin at the brothers, and they all cringe.

If I’m already mortifying them, maybe I’m already figuring out how to be a stepdad. I won them over, but I may not be so lucky with Tommaso and Tim.