Chance Encounters

by C L Wesley

  “That is a good thing, right?” I ask.

  “I guess so. My father cut me off financially when I refused to work for him again. My mother, she understands where I am coming from and helps me out despite my father’s wishes.” Cappie patted my knee and stands up, leaving me in his guest bedroom alone, to sulk. I want nothing to do with Luca. It was Luca, with his ever-bad decisions of laundering money for an even bigger part of the mafia that landed my ass in danger. At this point I would have been better off if he would have left me laying in the street until someone else found me. Feeling as if my life was over, I crawled up into the bed hugging one of the pillows for comfort, crying myself to sleep.

  I’m not sure what time it is when I try to open my swollen eyes. The room Cappie brought me into is pitch black. I hear voices in the living room and with no desire to talk to anyone, I close my eyes and drift away again where I have no worries of the mafia, until the nightmare started.

  Cappie

  “I’m fucking exhausted.” I say to myself as most of my company leaves through the foyer and I plop down into the soft cushions of my sofa. The only person left in my condo besides myself and Cameron is Luca, who refuses to be anywhere but next to the bedroom door that I put her in. “You know she is not going to talk to you tonight.” I lean forward grabbing the tv remote and firing up Netflix. “Grab a few beers and have a seat.”

  “You’re right.” Luca stood and made his way to the refrigerator. I decided on Shameless, a completely dysfunctional family that makes mine look somewhat normal. “She got me involved in this stupid fucking show.” Luca splayed down next to me on the couch offering me a coke while he opened his first bottle of Bud Light. Having alcohol in the house with the willpower to ignore its existence reminds me of how far I’ve come.

  Opening my coke, the bubbles tickle my nose as I take a long swig of the sweet caffeinated soda. “She watches Shameless?” I would have never thought she would get involved in a show like this. I thought she would be serious and as intense as Luca, however given the conversation we had at the gala I knew she was light hearted. With no response from my big brother, I hit him with the million-dollar question. “So, what are you going to do?”

  “Apologize my ass off and explain as much as I can to her about why I could not tell her the truth. Obviously, I cannot tell her everything, but I will tell her as much as I can. I know I fucked up by lying but what am I supposed to do? I’ve only known her a couple months.” I watched my asshole of a big brother broken for the first time in a long time.

  “Tell her the truth. That prevented me from taking the beating she gave you.” I replied with a bit of a snarl. Despite the situation, it really was comical to watch my brother get his ass kicked by someone a foot shorter than he.

  “You know the consequences of that Cappie. I didn’t want her involved in this life.” I watched as my intense and always so serious brother played nervously with his beer bottle.

  “What were you going to do, fuck her for the night and send her packing?” I regretted it as soon as I said it.

  “Do not ever talk about Cameron like that. Do you understand me Cappricio?” In that moment, I knew I had struck a nerve because unless you want to dig your own grave in front of me, you do not use my full name.

  “Why don’t you just admit you have fallen in love with her? How can you expect to feel that way about her and not have her involved in our lives? Look what Vinnie had to go through with Stephanie.” I need to get his attention turned elsewhere or he may very well swing at me. The only response I got from Luca was a grunt, indicating that he was done talking about his feelings, again serious and intense. “Are you going to tell her that dear ole Dad sent Willa away?”

  Taking in a deep breath before finally pushing it out, “Fuck man, I don’t know. I’ve already stole her freedom, and most of her life, now I have to tell her my family sent away the only family she has left? How do you tell someone that? Especially since she hates my fucking guts right now.” I watched my brother fight his demons as he took a long drink from his bottle again nearly emptying it in one gulp. “If you could tell her. She doesn’t hate you with the power of the devil.”

  “Okay,” I patted Luca’s shoulder, “but if she beats the shit out of me, I’m coming after you.” I stood up, handing him the remote. “It’s been a long evening. You can crash if you want, but you know she is safe here. My place is a fortress, Momma made sure of that.”

  Placing the remote delicately on the glass sofa table, Luca stood up, “Nah, I better go. Cameron was pretty pissed, maybe if I give her a few minutes she won’t castrate me when I beg for forgiveness.” He turned towards the door, “Did Stephanie react this way?”

  “Vinnie had Stephanie so in love with him that when she did find out after two years, she didn’t care anymore.” I headed back towards my bedroom. “Goodnight.”

  I tossed on a pair of sweatpants and performed my nightly ritual of checking doors, lights, and the stove before getting a glass of water when I heard Cameron sniffling in the guest room. I padded over to the door and tapped lightly before cracking the door open. “Cam, do you need anything before I go to bed?”

  I opened the door further and saw a broken woman curled up with a pillow. I walked over to the bed and took a seat on the edge before she finally spoke. “Put a damn shirt on, your muscles are ugly.” I laughed as she sat up holding the pillow to her abdomen.

  “I see you haven’t lost your charm yet.” Realizing I probably should have a shirt on, I ran into my bedroom and slipped on an old College football t-shirt. Jogging back into her room I asked, “Better?”

  Cam gave a half ass smile, “Yes, my eyes were hurting.” I smiled back at her, figuring this would be the last time she undoubtedly talks to me. “Did you really play college ball?” She was trying to make conversation.

  “My freshman and sophomore year before I fucked up my life.” I looked down at the floor in regret, but tonight was not about me and I really wanted to get this conversation out of the way.

  “What position did you play?”

  “Right guard. I stood next to...” I was cut off.

  “Yeah, yeah, next to the center on offense.” She smiled knowing she just overcame the stereotype I put her in. “You are a big guy Cappie, I assumed you were a lineman.” She smiled.

  “Cameron, I have something to tell you.” I sat back down on the edge of the bed as she readjusted herself with her back to the headboard. I nervously looked down, then back at Cameron who was awaiting my next comment. “To protect Willa, my father sent her with her mother to a resort in Barbados. They have full security and have already boarded the plane. Willa’s job at The Nine is protected and she will be paid appropriately.”

  I awaited the thrashing that was bestowed on Luca earlier but it never came. After a few moments she finally spoke, “As long as she is safe.” The silence between us was deafening for the minutes that passed before she spoke again, “She will need a new place to live whenever your dad allows her home.”

  “Done.” I know this is a request I can take care of myself.

  “As simple as that?” Her big blue eyes met mine and I made a promise to myself that I would get this taken care of for her.

  “Yes, as simple as that.”

  “Why did she get to leave and I am stuck here?” She looked annoyed with the situation, hell who could blame her.

  “The Carini’s do not want Willa. Their tactic would be to grab Willa in order to get you to talk to them.” I watch the confusion on her face as she adjusts the pillow again. I wonder if it is me that makes her nervous.

  “Why do they want me?” I see the tears pooling in her eyes and I want to wipe them away but instead I chose to sit on my hands.

  “They want to know what you know about my family.” I answer honestly.

  “I don’t know anything other than what you just told me.” She said, her tone letting me know she was annoyed as fuck.

  “They don’t know that and their
family is very competitive with ours.”

  “Great.” She snaps. “I never asked for this.” I could see the hurt and fear on her face. “And what about me?” She swung her legs to the side and adjusted her top as she sat beside me. “Willa gets a vacation. What happens to me? I don’t want to live at the Manor with Luca under constant surveillance.”

  Knowing what I was about to say was going to be a mistake, I said it anyways, “Stay here with me? You will be safe here.” I turned towards her, hooking my left leg up on the bed. “My mother made sure this place was like Fort Knox when my father refused me at the manor.”

  “Thank you. It will be better than avoiding your douchebag brother.” I threw my head back laughing. I cannot believe she used the word douchebag.

  “That was the funniest thing I’ve heard Luca called in a long time.” I stood up and headed to the door. “Would you like something to sleep in?”

  “Yes please.” I left her in the guestroom while I was wondering what the hell I just did. Luca is going to murder me in my sleep.

  17

  Cameron

  My life just keeps getting better and better. I went from partial freedom to full freedom to no freedom. I’m going to go fucking nuts sitting up in Cappie’s ivory tower. I’m assuming that Luca is no longer here so I walk into the living room and take a good look around because I know I was too pissed off earlier to even see straight. Cappie’s apartment was surprisingly homey. The open concept of the apartment was inviting despite all the black, white, and silver. What sparked my curiosity was the little hints of red here and there. Men normally don’t consider designer trends so who put the red in is a question I shall soon ask, since I now live here. Continuing my self-guided tour, the living room had large black microfiber couches that formed the shape of an L. In the center of the room was a large square glass coffee table, the center full of ice blue rocks that grabbed my attention.

  I walked over and picked up one of the blue rocks. It was more like a decorative gem, gorgeous like a crystal, yet smooth to the touch. “I can show you what that does if you like?” I turn around to see Cappie standing behind the couch watching me suspiciously, tour over.

  “They do something?” I put the gem down and step back as Cappie came over beside me and grabbed the remote sitting on the table. Clicking a button, a small flame came up through the rocks illuminating the table. “That’s so cool.” I could feel just a hint of heat coming from the table.

  “I stole this from a job I did when I first started working for my dad and before you judge me, it is here for two reasons. One, it reminds me of a time in my life, I no longer wish to revisit and two, it is so fucking cool I didn’t want to get rid of it.” I was handed a long-sleeved shirt. “If you want some shorts or something I can get you a pair but I thought they’d be way too big on you.”

  Grabbing the shirt from him, I look around dumbfounded, “Uh, where’s your bathroom?”

  “There is one in your room.” My room? Apparently, I am a permanent fixture. Walking into the bedroom that was now coined mine I took a second to check out my new digs. The walls were a silver/grey striped reminding me of Victoria’s Secret’s trademark stripes. The bed was done over in a fluffy white comforter and tons of pillows that I can attest are just as soft as they look. The lamps and bedroom furniture are a shiny black with silver handles, giving the room a modern yet comfortable feel. I opened the first door and marched on in to a closet large enough to house my entire apartment. The closet was completely empty except for a couple of fancy cocktail dresses hanging in the back and some sparkly stilettos strategically placed on the shoe racks. Along the back wall, a built-in vanity complete with several outlets and extremely bright LED lighting. This is a woman’s dream closet, I thought as I turned off the light in search of the bathroom.

  After taking a few moments to wash my face and change into the ridiculously large shirt Cappie gave me, I walked back out into the living room to see Shameless on the tv. “You watch Shameless?” I walk over and sit on the couch.

  “Yeah, Luca said you do too, so I figured I’d put it on.” Cappie stood up stretching revealing his taut abdomen and a little strip of dark hair disappearing just below his waistband. “Do you want a Coke?” I was so busted checking him out.

  Turning my attention back to Frank on the television I mumble, “Sure”, as I focus on the television and not the awkward moment of checking out my sort of boyfriend’s brother who was walking to the kitchen with a smirk on his face. I watched five episodes of Shameless and covered sleeping beauty with a blanket from the back of a chair after the second episode. Cappie looked like a boy when he slept, young, peaceful, not a care in the world and exceptionally handsome. If he were not Luca’s brother, he’d go into my fantasy files.

  I checked the time, 6:20 AM, dawn was just starting to break over the city skyline. I carefully opened the sliding door and stepped out onto the balcony deciding to curl up into the patio chair and watch the sun come up.

  I woke up to loud mumbling. I walked through the door to hear Cappie screaming into the phone, “I don’t know where the fuck she is! It’s not my job to babysit your girlfriend, Luca!” I watched a frantic Cappie pacing the kitchen. Before I had a chance to make a sound, Cappie threw his phone. “Fuck you!” Is throwing cell phones a genetic trait of the Morano’s? Damn things are too expensive for me to throw.

  “Nice! Are you always so chipper in the morning?” I walk over to the island and take a seat on the bar stool.

  “Where the fuck were you?” He growled at me while picking up pieces of his phone.

  “I must have fell asleep on your balcony for a few minutes. I’m sorry.”

  “A few fucking minutes? I’ve been all over this apartment and Luca has been calling for hours.” I felt like I was being scolded.

  “Jesus, so I stepped out onto your balcony to watch the sun come up. I’m not a fucking child, Cappie! Let me remind you and your fucking family, I did not ask for any of this!” I stormed into the room I was staying in, locking the door behind me, not that a simple door lock would keep that brute out if he really wanted in.

  Luca

  This just keeps getting more and more fucked up by the day. I learned that Cameron was still safe at Cappie’s and that he had royally pissed her off on my behalf. She ignored him, he was ignoring me, apart from a text once a night to tell me she was okay. The only person she would speak with was my mother who paid her a visit today while Cappie was in class. I was impatiently waiting her return to the manor while killing a bottle of Jack Daniels.

  “That will not help anything.” Lou came through the home office and replaced throw blankets she must have laundered.

  Holding up the bottle, I saluted, “If I can’t feel, it doesn’t hurt.” She did not bother with a response, just that telling look that I was fucking up. “Great, now I fucking feel guilty.” I feel guilty for a lot of things. I treat women like shit, I am not honest to anyone including myself, I ran Cameron over with my car when a deal with the Carini’s went bad, I can’t even stay sober long enough to talk to my mother about Cam. I just want her to forgive me and come back to the Manor. I put my head back on the chair passing out into a drunken sleep.

  “What the fuck!” I woke up to a pitcher of iced water being dumped over my head.

  “Luca Morano, get your shit together! Your mother just pulled in. You have exactly two minutes to get your ass upstairs and in the shower. I will make you some coffee and bring you Advil and iced water.”

  I barely moved while Lou scolded me. Rolling my eyes at her she produced another pitcher of iced water that made it over my head. “God dammit Lou, I’m going!” I hurried my ass upstairs to avoid my mother seeing me stumble.

  By dinnertime I was somewhat sober enough to hold a decent conversation with my mother but I’d wait until after our meal. My father on the other hand let me know I was on a destructive path and to get my head back in the game as we had a meeting tomorrow with the Carini’s. The more I
listened to him talk about how important our family was, the more I wanted to be like Cappie and get out. I had a reason to be out, Cameron, if she will have me.

  Later that evening, I finally found my mother alone sitting on the back patio. “Ciao, Momma.” I leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, taking the rocking chair next to hers.

  She reached out, taking my hand in hers, “You and I have always had a special bond, Luca. Vinnie is my oldest, Capriccio is my baby, but you, you and I are one in the same. Intense. Calm under pressure. Bold. Serious.” I continued listening, “We both have the same faults too. We are so forceful about everything that sometimes we do not stop to realize how far we have taken something.”

  “What are you saying Momma?”

  “It’s time to tell her the truth. I spoke with her today about our family, about living with Cappie” she looked at me, “about you.” My mother has decades of practice remaining calm.

  “I’m sure that went well considering the last time I spoke with her she all but strangled me.”

  “I explained to her the role you play in this family. I left out details of course, but I was truthful about what you do other than the legitimate side of things. She knows why you couldn’t tell her and what your repercussions would be if you did. She knows that Cappie was not supposed to let her in on anything and that your father is furious with him. If he would have kept his mouth shut, she could be on a beach with Willa, but now we have to watch over her, protect her.”

  “Do you think she will talk to me Momma?” I took in a deep breath, “I haven’t heard from her in four days.”