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36

MONTE

T wo weeks after my second wedding, the city has begun to cool off with the rapid onset of autumn and I’m about to sign for a delivery of canned tomatoes when a flash of blue catches my eye.

The car comes to a halt behind the delivery truck and my first thought is that it’s weird to see another meticulously maintained four door 1970 Chevy Impala on the streets of the Lower East Side.

This thought doesn’t last for long because a man steps out of the driver’s side door and walks around to lean casually against the hood.

Julian Tempesta looks like he’s playing a part in some Urban Cowboy masquerade with a black cowboy hat sitting on his head. He’s not alone. His brother Getty climbs out of the passenger seat.

“Sign here,” says the driver of the delivery truck.

I scrawl my signature without looking and he starts wheeling the creaky dolly stacked with boxes through the door of Gino’s.

Because I’m working behind the counter this afternoon, there’s no gun on my hip to scare the customers away. This now feels like a bad decision. It’s really no fun to get caught unarmed and essentially naked when confronted with your deranged mafia relations.

At least I’m not facing down the Tempestas alone for long. Within seconds, Nico comes charging through the door to stand at my side. He huffs with anger and crosses his arms, glowering at the new arrivals.

“Hey, Nico.” Julian nods to my brother, and then to me. “Monte.”

Getty remains silent but he moves closer to his brother. There’s no one else in the car. This time it’s two against two, although it makes no sense that they’d drive across the country just to start a war on a crowded New York street. There must be another reason.

I glance at Nico. He’s extremely tense, still openly glaring at our cousins. Behind us, the door to Gino’s swings open once more.

“Monte?” says Sabrina from the doorway. “What’s going on?”

When I see the way Julian and Getty shift their eyes to her, I move my body instinctively to block her from their view. I really wish she would have stayed inside until I figure out what the fuck this is but I can’t fault her for getting nervous. We’re a team. Whatever I’m dealing with, she expects to deal with it beside me.

She stands next to me and I drape my arm protectively around her. I’m not happy but I’m not too worried. Other than showing up with no warning while driving my old car, the Tempestas haven’t done anything to show they’re a threat.

“Did you get lost?” I ask my cousins, which is significantly more polite than the first words that popped into my head.

Julian smirks. “We just thought we’d do you a favor and drive your car out so you wouldn’t need to come back for it.”

“Bullshit. The car’s a debt payment. It’s not mine anymore.”

Julian doesn’t blink. “Don’t know what you mean. My dad understood why you had to leave your car behind since you were in such a hurry to get back to New York. But we don’t have the room for it on the ranch and keeping it around is turning into a real inconvenience. You need to take it back now.”

He tosses the keys and I neatly catch them. My brother looks my way with raised eyebrows, silently asking what to do next. Neither of us know what to make of this unexpected gesture. Frankly, I trust the Tempestas about as much as I’d trust a shark.

However, there’s no immediate danger. And whatever their intentions may be, they are offering an olive branch to start with.

Nico and I look at each other as we come to the same conclusion. My brother nods. “The car can’t stay here on the street. I’ll move it to the parking garage.” He gestures to our cousins. “You two can come with me.”

“Getty will go with you,” Julian says. “I’ll wait here.”

I’m not too keen on being separated from my brother, but Nico can hold his own against Gaetano Tempesta. And since I’m unwilling to leave Sabrina alone for a second, this is the best case scenario for now.

Getty finally decides it’s time to speak up and chooses to be a smug prick. “Maybe Nico needs to ask his big brother’s permission before he drives around the block.”

“Fuck you.” Nico scowls at him and plucks the keys out of my hand. “Now get in the damn car before I run you over.”

Getty cackles and flings open the passenger door. Nico rolls his eyes and grumpily treks around to the driver’s side. I trust that he can handle Getty for a short period of time, especially because we’re on our home turf. Not theirs.

We all watch the Impala pull away. Nico is driving with a pissed off look on his face. Getty is laughing like a madman. My brother doesn’t have a quick temper but he can be pushed too far. Getty ought to keep that in mind.

Julian finally steps away from the curb, removing his hat along the way. I tighten my arm around Sabrina, especially when I see how he looks her over with curiosity before shifting his gaze back to me.

“Monte, we won’t stick around for long. I’m glad to have the chance to return your car. And I’d also like to pay my respects to your wife, if that suits you.”

This is by far the most courteous speech I’ve ever heard from any of my cousins.

He meets my hard stare without wavering. Try as I might, I detect no hint of spite or ill will.

“Sabrina,” I say. “This is my cousin, Julian.”

He holds his hat over his heart and turns on some country boy charm. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

“Hmm.” Sabrina regards him with doubt. “I’ve heard a few things about you. But if Monte thinks you’re all right then I guess I can tolerate your presence for a little while.”

He grins at her. “I’m glad to see you’re doing better.”

“Thanks. Nice cowboy hat.”

Julian looks at me again, waiting for my next move. It would be easy enough to wait until Getty returns and tell them both to piss off all the way back to Wyoming. Or maybe I could take this rare opportunity to extend a little grace to men who once meant a lot to me.

“Why don’t you come inside and have some lunch?” I suggest. “My dad is behind the counter. I bet he wouldn’t mind seeing his sister’s boys.”

The brief flicker in Julian’s eyes seems pretty close to relief. He knew there was a high likelihood he’d be chased off with a string of curses and he came here anyway.

“I’d like that too,” he says.

I hold the door to Gino’s open and usher my wife through it first. Sabrina’s eyes lift to mine with a question and I wink at her to let her know all is well. She smiles and walks in.

Julian looks around with interest once we’re inside. He should. After all, Gino was his grandfather too. This place is also in his blood.

My dad has been back in the kitchen so he’s unaware that we have guests. He resumes his place at the counter and does a double take at the sight of his oldest nephew.

“Dad,” I say while pulling Sabrina close to my side. “You remember Julian.”

He removes the dishtowel that’s slung over his shoulder. His throat bobs as he takes in the sight of his sister’s firstborn son. Sal Castelli isn’t one to hide his emotions and he doesn’t hide them now. His voice is heavy when he says, “It’s been a while, Julian.”

Julian Tempesta actually looks bashful when he says, “It’s good to see you, Uncle Sal.”

“Are you staying in town for long?” my dad says.

“Getty and I drove out just to bring Monte his car,” Julian says. “We’re needed back home so we won’t be hanging around for more than a day or two.”

My dad comes out from behind the counter and steps right up to eye Julian more closely. “You’ve still got to eat while you’re here.” He wraps his big arms around his nephew for a brief hug and slaps his back before releasing him. “Take a seat. I’ll work some magic in the kitchen.”

The crowd inside Gino’s is moderate and the back tables are taken. I’ve just finished pushing two small tables together near the front when Nico and Getty return.

They’re arguing. Sort of. Nico wears a disgusted expression while Getty parades inside with a shit-eating grin.

“You fell in that creek,” Getty insists. “I was just trying to help you up.”

“By holding my head underwater?”

Getty shrugs. “I don’t remember it that way.”

“Maybe if I smack your face against the wall a few times your memory will improve.”

Getty clucks his tongue. “You sure grew up to be violent. You ought to pipe down before it gets you in trouble.” He nearly collides with my father, who carries a basket of garlic knots. “Uncle Sal, is that you? Damn, you’ve lost a lot of hair.”

“Gaetano,” my dad says with an eye roll. “Seems as if you’re more like your father than ever.”

Getty takes this as a compliment. “Thanks.” He plucks a garlic knot out of the basket. “You’re serving us lunch? That’s nice of you.”

Nico keeps an annoyed eye on Getty as he plops down into a chair beside his brother.

“I need a fucking beer if I’m going to sit through a meal with this asshole,” Nico grumbles.

“Get me one too,” Getty calls, then throws his hands up at the sight of Nico’s glare. “What’s your problem? You work here, don’t you?”

“Getty,” Julian says. “Say hello to Monte’s wife, Sabrina.” There’s a warning tone in his voice, not that it does a bit of good.

Getty, being an incurable dick, leans forward and looks Sabrina over with arrogant nerve. “Just think,” he says, “you could have had one of us instead of this clown.”

Sabrina stares at him with obvious dislike. She hugs my arm possessively. “I have no doubt I made the best choice. But don’t give up. If you keep paging through the mafia bride catalog, sooner or later you might find a desperate taker.”

He blinks and then howls with laughter. “Okay,” he says. “The girl is all right.”

Nico brings a pile of beers to the table, along with Sabrina’s favorite soda drink.

“Thank you, Nico,” she says.

“Anything for my brother’s wife,” Nico replies and sits down on her other side, sending a clear message that any hint of disrespect toward Sabrina will not end well for the Tempestas.

Though the mood at the table is initially awkward, the more food my dad brings over, the more we all manage to loosen up. Sabrina is a big reason for that. She asks a lot of eager questions about Storm’s Eye Ranch and her enthusiasm is infectious. The Tempesta boys are quickly charmed by her and I even catch Getty gazing at her a little wistfully.

Naturally, his admiration for my wife makes me pull her chair even closer because she’s MINE and she always will be.

It’s Sabrina who suggests that there’s an empty apartment upstairs on the third floor and invites my cousins to stay there while they’re in the city.

Julian looks at me to gauge whether there’s an objection. Honestly, I don’t have one. He tells Sabrina they’ll be flying out tomorrow but he accepts her invitation to stay overnight.

When Nico excuses himself and walks toward the restroom, Getty decides it’s a fine time to bust his balls.

“Don’t fall in!” he shouts. “I don’t feel like being accused of trying to drown you again.”

Nico ignores him but Getty has now earned a glare from me.

“You’re fucking deranged, you know that?” I say.

He grins, not insulted at all. “So what? I’m still family.”

“Whatever,” I mutter.

He laughs.

Since I still don’t trust my cousins enough to leave Sabrina alone with them for even a minute, I wait until Nico returns before heading behind the counter to grab drink refills. For some reason, Getty trails after me.

“What do you want?” I ask as I bend down to grab more beers from the fridge behind the counter. But when I straighten up, I notice he’s not paying attention to me at all.

He’s staring at the Memory Wall. The photos of our grandparents might be of some interest to him but there’s only one photo he’s here to get a closer look at. As Getty stares into the eyes of Teresa Castelli Tempesta, I think about how it must have been for him to grow up without her and know that he witnessed her murder. I’ve always assumed he didn’t remember that day. He wasn’t even three years old. But there’s no way to tell what goes on inside his head.

My dad happens to exit the kitchen and immediately sees what Getty is staring at. The shadow of sorrow on his face says that my father sees exactly what I’m seeing.

Right now, Gaetano Tempesta doesn’t look at all like an unpredictable and dangerous man. He’s just a heartbroken son who has never stopped mourning his beloved mother.

My dad clears his throat as he steps up. “I’ve got some old pictures at the house. Your mother is in a lot of them. Your grandparents too. I’ll give them to you before you leave. You can bring them home and show your brothers. Would you like that, Getty?”

My cousin slowly nods and finally tears his eyes away from the photo. “Yeah. Thanks, Uncle Sal.”

It’s a small miracle when Getty decides to pitch in and help me carry the drinks back to the table. Julian and Nico are laughing at something Sabrina said.

My wife gives me a smile when I place her soda refill in front of her. “ Grazie , Mr. Castelli.”

She keeps her face tilted up, expecting a kiss.

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Castelli.” I wait until I’m back in my seat and then I pull her into my lap.

As always, witnesses mean nothing to me. I move my hand to the back of her neck and dive in to claim her lips. My tongue gets a full minute workout and she responds with eagerness.

“Are they always like this?” Getty complains to Nico.

“Par for the course,” he admits.

Sabrina breaks away. “No lies detected,” she says. She plants a final kiss on my lips.

But she doesn’t get to leave my lap. I’m keeping her right here with me and she’s happy to stay.

She should be. This is exactly where she belongs.