by Tiana Laveen
Not too long ago, he looked into his wife’s eyes, and told her, ‘I know you know the truth. I know you know my mother did what she’s been denying all of these years. She’s been lying. All three of us know it.’ Andrea had hung her head, and that was all the answer he needed. He’d been right about his mother, and he’d been right about the death of his precious daughter, Nicole. These were things that couldn’t be proven, but his soul knew the truth, and that was all that mattered. He’d been right about everything, except for himself…
Andrea had been right all along, too. He was more than his past, though his father had also said to him, and it rang true, that ‘once a hitman, always a hitman.’ Tony’s death being avenged was proof of that. It was in his blood, and there was no way to escape it. He didn’t do contracts anymore, he’d left that life behind, but that street code? It was alive and well. He opened up the back door of the shop, dropped his cigarette on the ground and crushed it, then came back inside. Phone in hand, he went back in the store to see about five more patrons inside, his son deeply engrossed in a Winnie the Pooh book he was holding upside down, and Andrea showing a customer a book of Christian prayers. ‘Just When I Needed You Most,’ an old favorite by Randy Van Warmer, was playing on the radio. He picked up his son, kissed him, and spun him around. When Andrea was finished with her customer, he walked up to her and kissed her cheek. She, in turn, kissed his lips, then their baby’s forehead.
“After you get off work, I’m takin’ you two out to eat, all right? No cooking tonight.”
“That sounds awesome.” She showed those gorgeous dimples, and all of her pretty teeth.
“I’ll take ya wherever you wanna go. I’m gonna leave in a little bit, go back to the house and make some calls for work. Gotta go up to the range tomorrow, my weekly check in, but first, I have to take care of some business.” She nodded in understanding. “Do you want me to take Angelo with me?” he offered.
“Absolutely not. Last time, you thought it was a good idea to let him play in the baby powder. I got home and it was all over the living room floor, and he was covered in it from head to toe! He looked like a damn ghost! All I could see were his eyes blinking, and you standin’ there looking silly!” She grimaced. He burst out laughing. What a mess…
“All right, all right. Geesh.” He handed her their son, kissed his cheek, then hers again. “I’ll see ya in a little bit, baby. I love you.”
“We love you, too. Wave bye to Daddy!” Andrea grabbed the boy’s arm and wiggled it. Angelo blew them each a kiss and headed out the door, back towards his car. He paused when he caught a whiff of something that smelled just like the cigars his father used to smoke, and the cologne his father used to wear: Dior Eau Sauvage. He wondered, for just a split second, if in some way, somehow, his father was there right at that moment?
Pop’s rules kept me alive and out of prison. Pop’s rules, though sometimes not practical for my situation, had wisdom that made me a better man. He told me I was the best and worst parts of him. I understand what that means now. I had to break some of those rules along the way, and some I’ve tweaked, so when I teach them to my own son, he’ll know that sometimes we’re not cursed, we just curse ourselves… Make things harder, then make excuses.
Sometimes, there are no enchantments being done to us. We’re spell-binding our own lives. Putting ourselves in a spiderweb and inviting the spider to come and feast on our fears and insecurities. The world is my son’s oyster. He can be any damn thing he wants. A lawyer, a doctor, bank owner, hell, a football star, too – the sky is the limit. He’s a Ferrari, the first son of Angelo Casper Ferrari. There’s no stopping him. One rule he needs to know and never forget is that even when he messes up, even when he does something he shouldn’t, it doesn’t mean all is lost. Even the unlovable can be wanted. And we can be cherished. Sometimes, there really is love for the wicked. He can just ask his mother, the Black Magic Woman who turned my life around. I owe everything to that lady. My beautiful little witch. Andrea loves me. She taught me how to trust again. I’m the luckiest fucking man in the world. Ya know why?
Because she loves me down into the depths of my dark shadows, and my bright soul. She loves me, all of me, my twisted roots and torn petals, too.
She loves and accepts me,
Traveling the warped path of my wicked ways.
My little shining star loves me, Casper the Boogeyman, and Angelo the Angel, completely, as I wrap us both beneath the folds of my black velvet cape…
~La fine~
I vecchi peccati hanno le ombre lunghe.
NO LOVE FOR THE WICKED MUSIC DIRECTORY
The majority of my books have a list of songs mentioned throughout the novel, for various scenes. I always encourage my readers to re-read their favorite passages, with the songs mentioned so that they can add another layer to their reading experience. This book relies heavily on the musical selections because it helps set the mood and brings the reader into a different time in history. This novel is considered a historical romance due it to taking place in the late 1970s, and ending, in the early 1980s. The scenery, clothing, vernacular, and music all help transport the reader to a different decade – and the music becomes part of that time capsule. If there is a song that you particularly like, please support any of the artists/bands mentioned by purchasing legal copies of their music. We’re all in this together. Enjoy.
1. Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
2. Pink Floyd – Shine on You Crazy Diamond
3. Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing
4. Ramsey Lewis and Earth, Wind and Fire – Sun Goddess
5. Cheryl Lynn – Got to be Real
6. A Taste of Honey – Boogie Oogie
7. Yusef Lateef – Like It Is
8. Grover Washington Jr. – Mister Magic
9. George Benson – Breezin’
10. England Dan & John Ford Coley – Love is the Answer
11. Michael Jackson – Can’t Help It
12. Ace – How Long Has This Been Going On
13. Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
14. The Jackson – Show You the Way to Go
15. Todd Rundgren – Hello It’s Me
16. Player – Baby Come Back
17. Bee Gees – Love You Inside Out
18. Steely Dan – Let’s Do it Again
19. Carly Simon – You Belong to Me
20. Alicia Bridges – I Love The Nightlife
21. Diana Ross – Love Hangover
22. The Emotions – Best of My Love
23. Starbuck – Moonlight Feels Right
25. Anita Ward – Ring my Bell
26. Bee Gees – How Deep is Your Love
27. Bee Gees – Night Fever
28. George McCrae – Rock Your Baby
29. Isaac Hayes – The Look of Love
30. GQ – I Do Love You
31. Toto – Georgy Porgy
32. Chuck Mangione – Feels So Good
33. Bee Gees – More Than a Woman
34. Ambrosia – How Much I Feel
35. The Doors – Riding the Storm
36. Al Stewart – Year of the Cat
37. Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way
38. Gino Vannelli – I Just Wanna Stop
39. Classics IV – Stormy
40. Steely Dan – Peg
41. Steve Miller – Fly Like an Eagle
42. Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love
43. The Carpenters – Close to You
44. Gilbert O’Sullivan – Alone Again
45. Van Halen – Jamie’s Crying
46. Jimi Hendrix – Hey Joe
47. War – The World is a Ghetto
48. Billy Joel – My Life
49. The Knack – My Sherona
50. Nick Glider – Hot Child in the City
51. The Rolling Stones – Miss You
52. Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing
53. Peter Frampton – Do You Feel Like We Do
54. Fleetwood Mac – Rhiannon
55
. Stevie Wonder – Don’t You Worry ’Bout A Thing
56. The Brothers Johnson – Strawberry Letter 23
57. The Stylistics – People Make The World Go Round
58. The Doobie Brothers – What a Fool Believes
59. Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s the Way of the World
60. The Fatback Band – Bus Stop
61. Stevie Wonder – Superstition
62. Cheryl Lynn – Got To Be Real
63. Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy
64. Isaac Hayes – Do Your Thing
65. War – Slippin’ into Darkness
66. Bill Withers – Lovely Day
67. Andy Gibb – An Everlasting Love
68. Boz Scaggs – Lowdown
69. The Tramps – Disco Inferno
70. Chic – Good Times
71. KC and the Sunshine Band – I’m Your Boogie Man
72. Prince – I Wanna Be Your lover
73. Prince – Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
74. Prince – Sexy Dancer
75. Michael Jackson – Girlfriend
76. Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It
77. Taste of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie
78. Kenny Rogers – She Believes In Me
79. Bill Withers – Grandma’s Hands
80. Smokey Robinson – Cruisin’
81. John Lennon – Love
82. Hall and Oates – Out of Touch
83. Randy Van Warmer – Just When I Needed You Most
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today bestselling author Tiana Laveen writes resilient yet loving heroines of color and the alpha heroes that fall for them in unlikely happy-ever-afters. An author of over 50 novels to date, Tiana creates characters from all walks of life that leap straight from the pages into your heart.
Married with two children, she enjoys a fulfilling life that includes writing books, drawing, and spending quality time with loved ones.
If you wish to communicate with Tiana Laveen and stay up-to-date with her releases, please follow her on social media platforms as well as visit her website.
Tiana Laveen website: www.tianalaveen.com
