Page 19

Dante

The shoes had arrived in two boxes only a minute after Della went into the bathroom. I decided to just get dressed as time was moving fast.

I just got done when Della came out.

A dream floated into the room. The best dream I had ever had. The dress did for her skin tone and long dark hair just what I knew it would. The woman almost glowed as she turned in a circle and smiled at me. “So, what do you think?” she asked.

All I could do was stare.

“Dante?” she asked.

“J-just give me a minute,” I stammered.

Tilting her head at me she said, “You don’t like it?”

Oh, I liked it but my mouth had completely dried up. I strode over and framed her face with my hands then kissed her soundly. Finally, I pulled back and looked her over again. “Damn…”

She smiled and urged, “Yes? I still haven’t heard what you think about it.”

Slowly, I nodded. “I would have told you right away if my mouth hadn’t dried up from the shock.”

Biting her lower lip, she asked, “You hate it that much?”

I laughed and took both of her hands in mine. “I’ve never seen a woman that made the dress more beautiful by wearing it.”

She smiled back. “So it looks ok?’

“Ok?” I exclaimed. “I literally was almost knocked down to my knees when you came in here.”

Laughing, she shook her head and did another silky chiffon twirl. “I have never worn anything like this. It fits me perfectly too!”

I nodded. “It just makes me want to rip it off of you.”

She paused. “Oh, no… you can’t.”

I chuckled. “Oh, I won’t but you look gorgeous.” I motioned for her to sit in the chair by the table.

She stepped over and sat down.

I grabbed the box and set it at her feet then knelt in front of her. Pulling the top from the shoe box, I took a sandal, then grasped her feet. I held her lovely foot and massaged her instep with my thumb. Then I placed the expensive blue sandal onto her foot. Grasping her other foot, I did the same thing, except I paused to massage her ankle before setting her foot back down.

Peering down, she beamed at me. “These are so pretty.” She raised her gaze back up to mine and added, “And you should think about quitting accounting to sell shoes. Because that was sexy as fuck!” She laughed. “I felt like Prince Charming was placing the glass slipper onto my foot. I got the shivers.”

“Welcome to the shivers Cinderella because that was what happened to me every time you twirled in that dress.”

A loud knock sounded on the door.

I just kept staring at her.

“Dante?” Della called to me.

I shook the webby dream-like-daze away and went over to open the door.

My father stood there and asked rudely, “You ready?”

I nodded and smiled at him just to piss him off. “Good morning to you too, father.”

He scoffed, then looked around me. He then paused as he caught sight of my Della in the beautiful blue dress.

With a shy smile, Della did a little curtsy in the dress.

He stared.

“I know, right?” I told him.

Nodding, he murmured, “Così adorabile.”

“Lovely,” I said. “Exactly.” I laughed.

He shook his head and added, “The grandbabies will be excellente.”

I felt a bit surprised by this response as I looked back over at him.

“He looked stern again and growled, “Come on.” He stepped back.

I smiled a bit then went over to Della and took her by the hand to lead her out.

Tito and Rocky joined us in the hall, flanking us as usual.

We all went to the top floor elevator and got in. Good thing it was rather large as my cousins weren’t small men.

Coming out on the roof, we saw the helicopter.

“It’s a big one,” Della said.

My father nodded and glanced over at her. “You’ve flown before?”

Nodding, she replied, “Yes, a few times with Deac—” Her voice was cut off as the copter started up. Then her dress flew up as the powerful air from the blades hit us. “Ohh!” she shouted while trying to pull her hem back down.

Despite loving the sight of her blue lacey panties, I turned and scooped her up to rush her over to the helicopter. I didn’t want her to be embarrassed or for anyone to see her body at all as that was my privilege not theirs. Setting her in the seat, I belted her in and handed her the earphone-mic set.

I sat down, buckled my belt and scooped up another pair of headphones, placing them on my head. “You all right, baby?” I asked her over the mic.

She nodded as her face went pink and spoke into her mic, “Thank you for saving my um…”

“Panties?” I asked to make her laugh.

The joke worked and she nodded with a chuckle. “You are wonderful, Dante.”

I shook my head. “Nah, still a bad boy. I just didn’t want any eyes on your sweet body except for mine.”

Her cheeks reddened as she smiled at me.

My father and cousins got in and belted themselves.

Finally, the copter took off. I knew this wouldn't take too long as the Council building was only a few miles away. I agreed that the copter was safer from attack but it was sort of ridiculous to use for a 3 mile trip.

We were now setting down on another rooftop.

“That was quick,” Della said in the mike.

“Yeah, I know. I was just thinking …” I glanced over at my father as I stopped speaking.

He raised a brow at me.

“Never mind,” I added and turned to gently take her headphones off. He wouldn’t agree with me on that score. To him this was a necessary use of the helicopter. I waited a minute then unbelted her as the copter shut down. I did not intend to take her out until those blades were still.

“That was so sweet, Dante,” Tito teased me “I mean I’m in the business of protection but I can’t hold a candle to what you just did for your girl there.”

I snickered and teased back, “When you get a girl of your own, you will know why I was so sweet as you call it.”

He paused.

“Ha!” Rocky laughed as he heard my response.

“Thanks for flying with me!” Amadeo called from the pilot seat.

We all looked up.

I’d forgotten that Amadeo had been piloting for us.

“Son, you need to stay in the office,” our father chided him.

Amadeo shook his head and replied, “Too boring, Papa.” He gave me a wink.

I nodded at him and felt good that he continued to fly as that was what he loved to do. Pushing papers across a desk as it was called, wasn’t for him.

We all strode across the roof.

I held onto Della’s hand and hoped this inquiry wouldn’t be too harrowing for her. These men could be intimidating. They were mafia heads after all. I didn't want to have to argue with them if they treated her wrong. As even Luca found out. I would protect her from all harm and insult. No one would treat her badly. If they did, I would be right up in their face. Then father would disown me or Testosterone Tony as I called him would have me whacked.

I hoped he wouldn’t be here today. Tony Begatti was a straight up asshole and I always thought they should remove him from the Council. Hotheaded and rude as all fuck, he was the epitome of a real jerkface-arrogant-mafioso.

When we got into the elevator I asked my father “Please tell me Begatti won’t be there?”

My father nodded his head. “As far as I know, he will be. Like always. Please behave yourself, son.”

I grunted. “If he insults or bullies…My woman. I cannot promise that.”

Della looked up at me then over at my father. “Is this man dangerous?”

“I won’t lie to you, mia cara,” my father replied as he looked over at her. “He is quick tempered and very dangerous.”

Della squeezed my hand and peered up at me. “Don’t make him mad, Dante. It doesn’t matter how he acts toward us. If something happened to you because of me?” She gazed into my eyes and said, “I wouldn’t get over it.”

“Si, son,” Stephano agreed. “So be a good boy.”

Despite the seriousness of the moment, both Della and I snickered. We knew I could never be that.

I took a deep breath as we stepped off the elevator. “Here we go,” I said a bit nervously.

“Behave,” my father repeated.

We all went down the huge hall. This one was all mahogany wood, not glass. Full of old oil paintings. Yes, of the old Italian gangsters. Salvatore ‘Toto D'Aquila, Alphonse ‘Al’ Capone, Vincent Mangano, Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, and Carlo Gambino among many more. It was considered safe to hang them as they were all long gone now.

“Whoa,” Della whispered in awe as she tried to look at them while we moved along the hall.

“Sala delle Leggende,” my father stated in reverence.

“Hall of Legends,” I translated for her.

My father shot his gaze over at me.

I grinned at him.

He was learning that I knew Italian well, after pretending for years not to understand the language. “Ooh, moccioso,” he swore at me.

Tito and Rocky both stayed within their tough bodyguard act with their stoic expressions, but amusement danced in their eyes.

Waiting for us at the double doors to the chambers was Luca. He gave us a nod. “They just convened and are still taking roll call.”

The doors opened and a thin bald headed man known as Del Golfo peeked out to say, “It’s time.” He then ducked back in.

“You ready, brother?” Luca asked me.

“Sure, but Tony best be polite to my girl.” I went to step in.

He placed his hand on my chest, stopping me. “Wait up. You will not be telling anyone off in here, baby bro. No way.”

“I told him the same,” our father cut in, then he motioned to Della. “Even she wants him to stay chill.”

I shook my head. “And I will unless Begatti acts nasty towards her, then—”

“—you will stay quiet,” Della cut me off. “I love you very much, Dante. So, I beg of you. Do as they ask.” She then stepped forward into the Mafioso lair.

“She is perfect,” my father stated proudly as he followed her.

I hurried behind them as I missed a step.

Luca steadied me by grasping my arm.

I yanked it away and rushed behind my girl. She had slowed down, probably not knowing where to be. I grasped her arm and manuvered her to the chairs along the wall. We sat together and waited.

The Council spoke in Italian in low tones. Finally, the room went quiet.

The skinny man, Del Golfo stood from the end of the table and said, “Dante Valino Descalia and His Fiancée Della Granger.”

I pause. Fiancée? I grasped Della’s hand and whispered to her, “Stay steady, speak clearly and have no fear, babe.”

“Easy for an Italian to say,” she whispered back.

We stepped forward.

“We asked you here to have you tell us what transpired yesterday in the Descalia Corporation parking garage,” Joseph Perocchi stated.

I gave him a nod and we both stepped forward.

“Go ahead.” Joseph nodded at me.

“We were heading to our limo and my fiancée Della got in but before I could get in, an SUV rammed the back of it and there were guns firing at us. My two cousins and I fired back. The attacking SUV crashed as one of us had killed the driver with a bullet I assume. Then I got into the limo as Della had bumped her head in the ramming. I leaned over to get some ice for her head and that was when a man grabbed her arm to drag her out of the car. I shot him in the face.”

“Did you know who he was?” Marco Lazzar asked me.

“Not at that time, no. I had no idea who any of the attackers were or why they were there.”

“Miss Granger,” Tony Begatti spoke now. “Did you know any of the men?”

Shaking her head, Della gave him a one word answer, “No.”

He stared at her. “Are you sure?”

Nodding, she again one worded it, “Yes.”

From our records, you were employed by Deacon Walker before this, is that correct?”

“Yes,” she replied.

He smirked at her. “Yet, you did not know why you were attacked.”

She stared blankly at him and replied, “I had no idea why we were attacked.”

“Did you know about the meeting that day between Deacon Walker and Paulie Grazzi?”

“I was aware because someone else told us about it.”

“But you claim to not know why?”

“I suppose I do? I have no idea even now why they were meeting. I was an accountant for his mother’s companies and that is all. I knew nothing about what Deacon Walker was doing or not doing. I was informed by his mother and him that he worked for the FBI.” She shrugged. “That is the extent of my knowledge.”

“Are you sure?” Tony questioned.

“Yes,” she stated firmly.

“So, you did not conspire with Deacon Walker to take down the Descalia family?”

Della gasped as her face went a bit pale and she stated loudly, “NO! I did not.”

“How can we know that you do not lie?” Tony asked.

She opened her mouth to speak.

“Because she just told you the truth,” I spoke up. Hell no, I wasn’t going to let this continue.

Tony swung his dark gaze over to me.

I glared at him and said, “If there is a person here who knows the very least about this, it would be Della. Now, do you have any questions for me?”

The room fell deathly silent as everyone waited for hell to break loose.