Sing to Me

by V Domino

  Is there a better man on earth? No.

  We have a game we like to play where he’ll start a quote and I have to finish it. If I don’t get it right, I have to keep myself from climaxing until he gives me permission. I’ve messed up once and had to suffer those pleasurable bites to my clit.

  After waking up I found a note from Gavriel saying, “Good morning, tesoro mio. I’ll be home for lunch. Please enjoy your new phone and credit card. Go shopping and buy those lyric books you were telling me about. Anything you want.”

  I reread the note a few more times and then look at the new phone he got me. I knew he’d be buying a new one for me. He said he didn’t trust my old one to be clean enough, so I’m guessing this one has been fixed up by Nico. I guessed correctly because I see the contacts already added and a calendar alter for the day Luca is supposed to go to Medusa’s. I wanted to message Luca back after reading the request Luca left on FB, but I decided I’d let him walk in and meet me.

  What can I say?

  I’m the kind of woman who likes to wing it.

  I’m thankful I was able to get the bastard to tell us what he did to my family, but I feel incredibly sad for Andino. He lost both brothers. It seems I wasn’t the only one who suffered from this betrayal. Three families did.

  I felt a slight satisfaction at making Adriano cry out and bleed, but to be honest, nothing done to that piece of scum will ever soothe me.

  I spent the day and the rest of that week getting to know my cousins and video chatting with the Renzetti sisters. Gavriel and Zio told me that it wasn’t fully safe for us to be out and about quite yet. Not until all the threats have been squashed, but I’ve waited long enough to meet my brother and plus, his life is also in danger. I gave them seven days to make it as safe as possible for me to go to Luca. Once the week is over, I’m going whether anyone agrees with me or not.

  Of course, not all threats could be put out in that short amount of time, but Gavriel agrees we can’t leave Luca exposed to the dangers. So here I am, one week later, setting up the stage at Medusa’s.

  Turns out the comment Luca left on Medusa’s page was a request for me to sing for the birthday of a friend. I definitely do not want to become a birthday singer, but I’ll do anything to get to Luca. So, I’m making sure I have everything ready.

  “Do you think he’ll recognize me?” I ask Gavriel.

  “He might but you’re older now and I’m sure when he thinks of you he sees a little fat baby with drool on her chin.” Gavriel answers as he dodges the olive I throw at his head.

  This guy.

  I have some terrible nerves running through so to help me I press play on my upbeat tracks. “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove begins to play, helping me calm a little but I need something more.

  “Let’s get a drink and calm your jitters, yeah?” Gavriel says as if he read my thoughts.

  God, I love this man.

  As we’re sitting at the bar drinking a little and laughing a lot, the cutest greaser girl I’ve ever seen with silver blond pin-up style hair and makeup, comes in and pulls up short staring straight at Gavriel.

  “We’re not open yet.” I inform her.

  “Mr. Renzetti.” she tensely says at the same time.

  I look between the two of them wondering how they know each other. If she’s one of his past lovers I think I’ll lose my shit but I can’t help checking her out, she’s fine as hell.

  I’m legit stuck checking her out from head to peep-toe and crushing hard when Gavriel speaks up, “Yo Silver Mazzi. What brings you to Medusa’s?”

  She visibly relaxes and gives us a big smile, showing off her double vampire gum piercings. I swear, if I didn’t love Gavriel I’d be chasing this girl.

  “I could ask you the same thing. I’m here to speak with Anastaisa.” She looks over at me and I give her a smile while trying to keep my eyes from wandering past her face.

  “I left a message on Facebook about having you sing for a friend of mine.” I furrow my brows at that because the only request we got was from Luca.

  “Sorry Silver, I got a request from a man named Lucian but that’s it.” I tell her.

  “Oh yes! I completely forgot about that. It was actually me who booked you for Lucian. You see, today is his mother’s birthday, but she passed away years ago. He gets a little withdrawn and blue around this time, so I thought I’d set up a surprise and have you sing for him when I bring him in for drinks later.” She throws me off with that tidbit, but the sweet gesture she’s showing my brother has my chest tightening. The world needs more people like her.

  My mother’s birthday is today. She’s a Scorpio, just like Carla. I love it.

  I stand and reach my hand out to her for a shake. “That’s a very sweet thing you’re doing for your...boyfriend?” I know it’s obvious I’m digging for information and I feel like a jerk when she blushes.

  “Lucian is my fiance. We’ve been together for years now; since he moved here from California about eight years ago. We met on the night of the first Barbaric Night. You remember his fight, no?” That last question was directed to Gavriel.

  “Yes, I do remember that fight quite well. The bloodiest one I’d ever seen there.”

  I’m completely floored. Gavriel has seen Luca, met him and spoken to him?

  “You’ve met him?” I ask Gavriel in shock and anger. I can’t help the accusation lacing my tone.

  “I’ve met him but I never knew you were his sister. I never would have guessed it but looking at you now, I see the resemblance.” I let it go because I can see the honesty in his eyes and it would be stupid to think he’d willingly keep this information to himself if he did know.

  “Wait, wait. You’re Sia, Luca’s baby sister?” Silver covers her mouth with both hands as she takes a step towards me. Her eyes scan my face, seeing the same resemblance Gavriel had seen. She hesitantly puts her hands on the tops of my arms and rocks my world with her next words.

  “We’ve been looking for you, sorella. Since we got to this state he’s been looking for you.” At that I start crying. We hug and let the emotions flow. My brother has never forgotten me. He’s never stopped looking for me.

  Home, my soul whispers as Silver pulls back and kisses my cheeks.

  I open my mouth to bombard her with questions but she puts up her hand and stops me.

  “Nope, I won’t tell you a thing. For eight years now Luca has talked about how it’ll be when he meets you. How he’ll tell you all about himself and how you guys will share your stories with each other. I don’t want to take that chance from him.”

  I completely get it and I respect her more for that. She isn’t selfish and clearly has loyalty for my brother.

  “Would you like a drink? On the house.” I ask her with a chuckle.

  “Yes,please. Where’s your restroom? I need to clean my face.” Silver says while wiping her face with a napkin. I point her to the hall and watch her walk away before turning to Gavi with a huge smile on my face.

  My brother will be in my life in a few short hours!

  “Your mother passed on her talent to you and your father passed on his talents to your brother. That’s amazing, amore. You and Luca have a lot in common too.” Seeing my smile, he says, “You don’t look so nervous now. Is it the fact that Luca has been looking for you or is it the pretty pin-up doll?”

  I snap my head to him, ready to rip his tongue out, but the smirk he has in place makes me realize he saw me eyefucking her.

  Oh well.

  Chuckling, I say, “Yes, I was checking her out but only I can do that. If you ever call any other woman pretty again I’ll slap the taste out of your mouth, got it?”

  He laughs and puts his hands up in mock surrender. “Calmati, amore.”

  Yeah, that’s what I thought.

  “To answer your question, though, I feel like I have an actual plan. Normally I just wing it, like moving here without a plan; going with the flow. But now I’m thinking I need to be delicate with Luca, espec
ially because he’s depressed right now. As much as I want to run straight to him and say ‘Hey, I’m your long-lost sister’ I won’t.”

  Gavriel looks thoughtful for a second. “I agree. I think you should sing for him, as planned, and then speak with him afterward. Feel out the situation and decide whether or not he’s ready to learn the truth.”

  I smile at him and reach up to run my thumb over his bottom lip. He’s always on the same page as me. He’s encouraging and stands by my decisions. Like today, for example. He was supposed to be with his father for a meeting with the capos but instead asked for his father to fill him in on it later. There’s much to discuss with the underboss being held in the cell and I think they’ll be interrogating the bastard now that he’s suffered for a week, but Gavriel asked to be here with me, to be my rock while I tread new waters.

  Plus, there’s still the threat of attacks that Adriano apparently put out on the dark web. Nico is handling that right now, but until it’s been quelled, we have extra guards with us and they’re all outside by all the exits.

  Silver comes back to the bar and starts to dig through her purse.

  “Okay, so I know you only sing cover songs, but I was hoping you could sing this.” She holds out a sheet of paper that has been folded over and over again. Taking it delicately in my hand, I can feel its age. But the words written on it have me gasping for air. A phone rings from inside Silver’s purse and she excuses herself to answer it.

  “Sia, what is it? What’s wrong?” Gavriel asks worriedly, but I can’t answer. I can’t look away from the child’s scribbles. It’s a song that has been stuck in my head for as long as I could remember.

  ...Look at me, don’t look away.

  Your eyes shine bright, don’t look away.

  Sing your songs and write your words

  Sing to me

  Sing to me.

  Your poetry is magical and your sweet, sweet voice is a soothing balm.

  Write to me.

  Sing to me.

  Look at me.

  Look at me.

  Gavriel looks up from the page and I see the confusion. I clear my throat and down my shot before speaking.

  “It’s a song I thought I had made up when I was a kid but seeing this, I think Luca might have written it or maybe it’s a song our mother would sing to us and he remembered it.”

  My head is spinning and my heart is racing. Luca has been all alone through his childhood, remembering our parents.

  Remembering me.

  When Silver comes back she looks between us and asks, “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, we’re great, but we were wondering about this song you’d like Sia to sing. Is it a nursery rhyme? Or do you have a backtrack to go with it?” Thank God for Gavi thinking on his feet because I don’t think I would have been able to think of that with the way my thoughts are jumbled.

  “Yes, it’s his childhood nursery rhyme, but he has a track to go with it. It sounds similar to ‘Bravado’ by Lorde. Is there a way to hook up my phone to the system so you can hear the track?”

  “Of course. Sure.” As we listen to the chords of the song play I can’t keep the smile off my face.

  Tonight, I’ll sing to my brother and let him know he’s not alone anymore. I just hope it doesn’t blow up in my face.

  It’s seven o’clock and I’m ready to head out, but Carla is still getting ready. I love the bitch, but if she isn’t ready in five minutes, I’m going to strangle her, leave her body here all dolled up, and go out. Morbid, I know, but I’m pacing back and forth with pent-up energy. I need to see this through and—

  “Fucking chill, Sia! You’re making me feel like I’m about to go to a court hearing or some shit. Chill. The fuck. Out. Chica.” Carla’s amused and frustrated voice calls out from the restroom. I hadn’t realized I was pacing in front of the open door.

  “Well, excuse me! This isn’t a beauty pageant, bitch. Hurry the hell up, I don’t want to be late.”

  Laughing, Carla purposely starts moving even slower. I swear I’m going to throw a shoe at her.

  She must see my thoughts on my face because she walks over to me and grabs my shoulders.

  “Calmati, everything is going to go perfectly. You have the song and you’ve got the track. You have your whole plan down to the tee but, babe, you need to relax, okay? You have your man with you. Me and Marco and your cousins will be there too. You’re not heading into this on your own. Besides, once your brother meets you, he won’t be able to walk away. Trust me. You’re a beautiful, strong, crazy woman who would do anything for her loved ones. I’m so glad you walked into Medusa’s that day. We may not be blood, but you’re my sister through and through.”

  Damn, now I have to repent from all the death threats I was mentally giving her.

  “Me too, C. You’re my favorite woman and I’m sorry I imagined strangling you.”

  She laughs and slaps my arm.

  “Really, though, I am grateful for you. If you hadn’t hired me, I wouldn’t have survived here. Probably would have had to go back to Texas. Now hurry your sexy ass. I want to be there early.”

  “Why do you want to be early? On time is perfectly acceptable.”

  “On time is late and early is on time. At least that’s what I go by.”

  Rolling her eyes and mumbling something about a twat. “Okay, I'm ready, let’s go.”

  I swear I didn’t see her do anything that required another thirty minutes.

  We bicker all the way down the halls and meet Marco and Gavriel speaking with their father. Tommy and Peter are there too; they're heading the security tonight. Gavriel is looking very good. He’s wearing a burgundy dress shirt, untucked, and black jeans that hug his fine ass and muscular thighs. His hair is combed to the side and pushed back, making me want to run my hands through it.

  I’m mentally wiping the drool when Carla says, “Doesn’t Marco look as delicious as he is?”

  “Oh my God, C. I do not need to know the details, but I knew it! I knew you two were fucking.” I laugh because she likes to act like she’s got her nose turned up to Marco’s charm. She’s not fooling me, though.

  Just then the men start our way, with a predatory gleam and the way Carla softly squeals in her throat makes my own butterflies swarm. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of how Gavi looks at me.

  “Sei bellissima come una luna piena, amore mio. You’re as beautiful as the full moon my love.” Gavriel says as he wraps me in his strong arms for a kiss. Good thing I’m wearing my smear proof matte lipstick because this man can kiss! He sucks my bottom lip in his perfect mouth, biting lightly, making me groan. He knows how he affects me and he doesn’t care who’s around to see it. To be honest, I don’t either.

  “All right, you two, go and get your brother back, hmm?” Zio says as Gavriel sets me back on my feet.

  I kiss Andino on his cheek and promise I will.

  That’s a promise I plan on keeping.

  Luca is coming home soon.

  After getting to Medusa’s Lounge and making sure all the security was in place, we head to the bar. It’s packed in here, but when people see Marco and me they move out of our way fast. No matter where we go, the Renzettis are known and feared. I pull a stool out for my woman when two patrons kindly scramble after Marco practically growls at them. Silver, the short pin-up Barbaric Queen is here and I see Sia sit up straight and check this girl out, making me chuckle. At least she’s not as obvious about it as earlier and Silver comes over and greets us.

  “Hey, guys! All of my people were able to make it tonight! Luca isn’t going to be here for another hour or so, but I would love to hear you sing some songs!”

  She pulls out stacks of small notes and each one has a song request. “These are some requests from my guests.”

  It makes me smile at Sia when she sees how much her voice touches people. Everyone wants to hear her voice singing a song that means something to them. I can’t wait to hear her sing her own songs. Recentl
y she’s been working on lyrics and melodies, but what she doesn’t know is that I’ve got a recording studio booked for her. It’s a surprise I plan to give her during the welcome home party my mother and father have planned for her and hopefully Luca.

  “Oh my God, babe. Look at these requests! Most are Two Feet, SYML, and even some Khalid. I’m vibing it. Let’s get some drinks so I can get set up and entertain these people.”

  I order drinks for us and Marco orders for him and Carla, but my mind is on Sia. It’s her day off but she loves singing. It amazes me how much she blooms under the pressures of entertainment. She bends but doesn’t break. She's vibrant and full of life and despite the shit she’s been through she has held on strong, screamed ‘fuck you’ to the universe, and pushed through the struggles. I love her and I’ll kill any motherfucker who thinks they can take her from me.

  After about twenty minutes of drinking and laughing one of the patrons finally notices Anastasia sitting here. “Hey, it’s the Manhattan Queen! Sing for us!” The guy’s friends start chanting, Sing! Sing! Sing!

  And soon the whole damn place is chanting.

  Gotta love a crowd that knows what it wants.

  She looks at me in question, so I lean down and kiss her and run my hand over her luscious ass.

  “Go sing, bella, but start with ‘Maria’ by Two Feet, and sing to me.”

  She gives me a breathy moan and kisses me again.

  “Anything for you, my demanding man,” she says with sass only she can pull off. I slap her ass and watch her walk through the parted crowd, which is now cheering and whistling. I see a few people looking at me and her with curiosity, but that’s fine. I made sure all the men here saw me mark my territory.

  Is that barbaric behavior? Maybe. Do I give a fuck? Absolutely not.

  “Did you make sure to pee all over her?” Carla asks with a laugh.

  “About as much as Marco has been on you all night,” I tell her with a smirk to my brother.

  Marco laughs and pulls Carla into his arms. “Sei un fratello cazzo. You’re a dick brother, I’m just making sure people know she’s mine. Nothing’s wrong with that.”