Pain Lived, Love Found 2

by Thalia Lake

  I closed my eyes at the thought and held my head down. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think of that. I’ll call her.”

  “It’s okay. She’s just so happy that you two are sisters again. She loves it when you come by and misses you when you don’t. If something is wrong, Sarah, I hope you’d tell me. You’re family and you know I’d do anything to help you.”

  Luca’s words were so sweet and heartfelt, but also unexpected. I was touched.

  “Everything is fine, I promise, and thank you for the offer. You treat my sister like a queen and that’s all I could ask for,” I stated sincerely in return. I stood up and gave Luca a strong hug before he headed to his office. I had just lied to two Santorini’s, Leo and Luca, and it was eating me up inside. Later in the morning Leo called me into his office. I had pulled my hair into a ponytail to keep it out of my face while I typed at my computer. Leo was sitting at his comfortable seating area at the back of his office. His suit jacket was off and his black-framed glasses were on his face as he sat at the edge of his seat reading some documents. I walked in and sat across from him.

  “What are you working on?” I asked.

  “This pile to the right is new projects we have coming up. I need new files made up for them and site visits scheduled. This pile to the left are prospective clients and I need files made for them as well. Here are some meetings I need scheduled, and that should do it for now,” Leo answered.

  The entire time that he spoke, he never looked at me. His face was serious and full of concentration, which is typical for Leo when he’s dealing with work. When I reached over to pick up the different piles, Leo took his glasses off. “What in the hell happened to your neck? Who did that to you?”

  I stopped moving in mid reach and looked at Leo who was now pissed and very concerned. I stood up and walked to the mirror that hung on his closet door. What I saw made my heart drop into my stomach.

  “Oh no,” I whispered to myself as I saw the black-and-blue bruises on my neck thanks to the asshole who attacked me the night before.

  I swear those bruises weren’t there this morning when I got ready for work, I thought to myself. But maybe I didn’t notice them because I was in such a rush to get out of the house undetected by Sloane and Luca.

  “Sarah, who did that to you?” Leo was now standing before me.

  I began to panic as I didn’t want to tell Leo the truth when I knew he’d turn around and tell Luca, and then Sloane would find out and everything would be a huge mess.

  “Leo, it’s nothing. I need to go...so I can get this work done,” I stated as I tried to escape his now-angry eyes. I began to walk away, but Leo gently pulled me back. “Not so fast.” He then gently cupped my face and tilted my head to the right as he examined my bruises. I immediately noticed how strong and warm his big hands were.

  “Those are the handprints of a man. Someone hurt you and I want to know who it was - right now. And don’t give me that bullshit about it being a private matter because it’s not. We’re family, and when someone hurts my family, they hurt me too.”

  Leo’s voice was soft but commanding and his eyes were serious. His warm hands were still cupping my face when we both heard someone clear their throat. Leo and I looked towards the doorway at the same time when we saw the receptionist and Roman standing there watching us. Leo gently removed his hands from my face and looked at Lydia and Roman head on.

  Oh god. What is Roman doing here? My day just went from bad to worse in a matter of seconds.

  “Yes, Lydia?” Leo’s impatience at the untimely interruption was evident.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, Leo, but Mr. Mancini is here to meet with you and your brother. Luca wasn’t in his office and I tried to call you but your phone is set on do not disturb so…”

  “Its okay, Lydia. Thank you.” Leo’s tone became gentler as he walked towards them. “Mr. Mancini, I’m Leo Santorini. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is my assistant Sarah Paris.”

  Roman’s eyes were cold and angry despite the warm smile that eased across his face. I knew he was angry at what he walked in on, but I honestly didn’t care and had no intention of explaining anything to him.

  “It’s very nice to meet you as well.”

  The two tall, handsome men shook hands and silently sized each other up.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt you and Miss Paris.” Roman now fixed his stone gaze upon me.

  “You didn’t interrupt a thing. I noticed something amiss on Miss Paris’ neck that she may want to go to the doctor to have checked out.” Now it was Leo’s turn to give me a pointed stare. I was about to take my leave with the piles of files in my arms when Leo said, “Let me go find my brother and then we can get our meeting started. I’ll be right back, Mr. Mancini.”

  “Please, call me Roman.” Roman was being polite, but there was obvious tension between the two men. Leo smiled in return and took off to find Luca. I began to leave as well, but Roman caught me by the arm. “So, what’s this about your neck, and why were his hands on you? Are you hurt?”

  Roman did nothing to hide his jealousy and anger when he spoke, and it pissed me off. How dare he try to act all possessive and jealous when he’s treated me like I was nothing to him just hours ago!

  “Leo saw the bruises left on my neck from my attacker and he was concerned. He demanded to know what happened before you walked in.”

  “Did you tell him?” Roman barked.

  “No! You showing up stopped me from having to answer him, but I know he’s not going to let this go, and when he does finally find out he’s going to talk to Luca and then Luca is going to tell Sloane and it will all be a huge mess!” My eyes were huge with panic and I felt my head begin to pound with a headache.

  “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.” His tone was gentler and reassuring. I looked at him wondering what alien had just kidnapped his body to have him speaking to me in a kind way.

  “It’ll be fine. Go back to work and act normal before they really start to suspect something,” Roman instructed.

  I looked at him a few seconds longer before I exited Leo’s office. Moments later Luca and Leo entered the office and they closed the door. I sat at my desk for several minutes with my face buried in my hands. I got up and went to the kitchen to get some ice water to try to calm my nerves, when what I really wanted was several shots of Jack.

  Chapter Sixteen - The Mancini’s And Santorini’s Meet (Roman)

  “Roman Mancini, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Luca Santorini. I’m a fan of your work and the redevelopment you want to do for the poor neighborhoods in Detroit.”

  Luca stood just a few inches taller than me, but we had the same broad shoulders and muscular build. Luca had a friendly yet knowing smile on his face, mostly because he knew that Sarah and I were semi-secretly dating.

  “I’m flattered that you know my work. I’ve also followed the success of Santorini Construction. I would like to enlist your services on one of my biggest projects yet once I get through the bullshit red tape that the city is putting me through.”

  Luca motioned for me to have a seat on Leo’s plush couch in the lounge area located at the back of the office. Leo’s office was immaculate, and I made a mental note to myself to make some serious upgrades to my own office and soon. The three of us sat down, each unbuttoning our suit jackets before we did so.

  “Detroit politics haven’t been on the up and up for quite some time. I already know which aldermen are giving you a hard time - Hines and Webber. They have ties to the mob, gangs, and drug dealers, and from what I’ve learned about you, you have firsthand experience with the mob and drug life.” Leo stated.

  “As do the Santorini’s.” I held his gaze with my icy one.

  I watched as Leo’s jaw clinched ever so slightly, but Luca had no reaction at all. He remained calm, as though what I said was common knowledge even though I knew it wasn’t. I wanted them to know that they weren’t the only ones who did their due diligence. The Santorini’s a
re a very reputable family running a very successful business. They are well respected in the business world across the country, but they have a well-hidden secret of having mob ties that go all the way back to the Old Country in Italy. I’m also Italian with immigrant parents and grandparents. When you have ties to the mob, ties that go back to the Old Country, you know who the families are. I knew for a fact that Luca and Leo Santorini were two tough sons of bitches and were feared with good reason. Luca in particular was one of his father’s deadliest soldiers until he had to disappear for a few years. A war had broken out between the Santorini’s and the Zantoro’s over territory, and a lot of blood was shed - mostly by Luca and his men. A hit was put out on Luca and he had to disappear until those who put the hit out on him were all killed. Once that was accomplished, Luca reappeared and began to work for his father before he eventually started his own company.

  I respected the Santorini’s for what they had accomplished on the business side. The gangster life is dangerous and therefore can be short lived; nor is it fun living your life looking over your shoulder. I got out of the life for that very reason. I wanted to live as freely as a former gangster could possibly live.

  “Who put those handprints on Sarah’s neck?” Leo pinned me with a steely gaze.

  “What the hell are you talking about, Leo?” Luca looked as his brother with a concerned look on his face.

  “She came in early with her hair down this morning. Sometime during the day she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and while she was in my office I saw the black-and-blue bruises on her neck. When I asked her about it she became very nervous, scared even, and wouldn’t tell me. When Lydia walked in with Mr. Mancini, she became even more nervous, and he looked like he wanted to kill me because I had my hands on her face looking at the bruises. That was a look of jealousy, and I get it. Sarah is a very beautiful woman and highly desirable I don’t know a man that wouldn’t be attracted to her...including myself.”

  I knew Leo was baiting me. He was trying to get a reaction out of me, but I refused to give him one even though I itched to punch him in his smug face.

  “Is there something we need to know, Mr. Mancini? Is my sister-in-law in danger?”

  I didn’t like the way Luca was looking at me, and his tone was almost threatening, but I also couldn’t blame him. He was concerned about his family’s safety, and with good reason. They were bound to find out the truth about what happened to Sarah sooner than later, so I decided to tell them.

  “Sarah and I went to a charity event together recently, and we ran into someone that we both had unfortunate past dealings with. He’s a small-time drug dealer named Carter Williams. He is trying to make a name for himself. I killed his baby brother over ten years ago, but as you both know, those who want revenge never forget. Anyway, his brother was trying to take my family out so that Carter could get more clout and gain more territory. Now this low-life son of a bitch is using his ties to the crooks in City Hall to get in the way of my redeveloping projects, and he’s been harassing Sarah on the phone with threats against her and me. Last night he sent one of his goons to attack Sarah, and that’s where she got the bruises from. I decided to stop by her apartment just to make sure everything was okay when I saw her being attacked and I beat the shit out of the fucker and sent him back to his boss with a message from me.”

  “You didn’t kill him? You let that son of a bitch go?” Leo’s voice rose as he sat on the edge of his seat. I saw the fury in his eyes. It also made me wonder if he really did have feelings for Sarah, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. I really wanted to like this man, but it was becoming harder to do so as the minutes ticked by.

  “I know Carter Williams, and I know how he operates. He reacts first and thinks later, that’s always been his weakness. I have plans in motion as we speak to get rid of him and gut his little small-time cartel all at once. And all those politicians he has in his pockets that are blocking my business dealings will have to answer to me.” My voice was firm as I tried to keep my temper in check.

  “Carter Williams? Never heard of him.” Leo said as he casually shrugged his shoulders.

  “Exactly. He’s a nobody trying to become a somebody. But you’ve also been out of the game for quite some time too.”

  I admit that I was curious to know if the Santorini brothers were truly out of the game, especially Leo. Luca struck me as a legitimate businessman, and now a married family man who was about to have his first child. Marriage and kids can change you, and I was sure it had tamed the vicious lion in Luca, even if just a bit. But Leo...his edge was still raw and barely contained, and I knew I needed to watch him. That edge is what made all of us who we were, and it never left us no matter how hard we tried to live a “normal” life.

  “But what about Sarah’s safety?” Luca asked with a frown on his face.

  I tried not to get offended at his question because after all, Sarah was his family, but his question still rubbed me the wrong way. I know I don’t look my age, but I’m definitely not new to the game, and that’s what Luca was insinuating with that fucked-up question. If only they knew how deeply I feel about Sarah. “Everything I’m doing is about Sarah’s safety. When I found out she had past ties to Carter Williams, my whole world came crashing down, and when he saw us together at the charity event I knew he would use Sarah to get to me. I showed up at Sarah’s apartment because I wanted to be sure that she was ok. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep if I hadn’t.”

  “So that’s why she showed up at our door last night asking to spend a night? Not because her apartment was being fumigated, but because you sent her there. Don’t you know you’ve now put my pregnant wife in danger too?”

  Luca was angry and his eyes were dark with a controlled rage, but if I weren’t careful I know he’d snap at any given moment.

  I didn’t come here for a fight, I came here for business, I thought to myself. Unfortunately, business and personal matters have now intertwined.

  “You and your family were never in danger. I have my men stationed all around your house and Sarah’s apartment and all the blocks in between. They’ve been in place since last night, and they will stay there until this entire mess is over with. I would have never sent Sarah to you without the best protection, Luca, I give you my word.”

  My tone was authoritative as I looked both men in the eyes as I spoke. I didn’t like being questioned as though I was some snot-nosed prick that was new to the game, and my patience was wearing thin.

  “Regardless of the protection you’ve provided, Sarah cannot stay alone in her apartment. It’s too dangerous,” Leo countered.

  “Carter expects me to move Sarah into my home, which I’m sure is where he’d like to attack me next. She needs to stay put. My men won’t let anyone who doesn’t live in her building anywhere near her. He needs to know that he doesn’t control me or Sarah and how we live our lives. Before his slow-thinking brain realizes what’s going on, he’ll already be dealt with... by me personally. Questa e una promessa. (That is a promise). Sarah will always be looked after by me - there’s no need for you to worry about that.”

  Leo and I had a stare down for a few moments before he spoke again. “We have unlimited resources at our disposal, and this Carter person can become a distant memory with one phone call by myself or my brother.”

  “I have resources at my disposal as well, Mr. Santorini, but I will deal with Carter Williams my way. Thank you for your offer all the same.” This time I didn’t hide my irritation.

  “I hope this is all resolved sooner rather than later, Roman. I think what my brother was trying to say is if you need our help with anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Now if we can talk business, which is the purpose of this meeting...” Luca said as he picked up a file off of the coffee table and put on his stylish reading glasses.

  I like Luca. He’s to the point and doesn’t beat around the bush. Right now I don’t care for Leo and his condescending attitude towards me, whi
ch has everything to do with his crush on Sarah.

  The rest of the meeting with the Santorini’s was successful and productive. I retained their services for my building projects, and we discussed design ideas. Leo and Luca proved to be very knowledgeable and helpful, and when the meeting wrapped up, I felt really good about my plans. Cutting through bureaucratic red tape was no longer something I worried about because I knew that thorn in my side would be removed soon.

  It was lunch time when the three of us walked out of Leo’s office, and directly across from his office was Sarah, sitting at her desk stacking some files into a neat pile. I shook hands with Luca and Leo and we exchanged business cards. Afterwards I walked to Sarah’s desk. Her back was to me when I approached her.

  “May I take you to lunch so we can discuss some things?” My voice was low as I didn’t want her workmates hearing our business.

  Sarah slowly turned around and looked at me. Her weary eyes took me in, looking me directly in my face. I could feel her hesitancy, and honestly I couldn’t blame her. I hadn’t exactly been kind to her lately. Instead of answering me she rolled her eyes and picked up the files from her desk and walked into Leo’s office with them.

  “Here are the new files you requested. If that is all I’m going to go to lunch now,” Sarah said as she stood in front of Leo’s massive desk where he was now sitting.

  “Take the day off, Sarah. Matter of fact, take whatever time off you need. Michelle or Ingrid can cover for you while you’re out.”

  “I don’t need to...where is this coming from?” Sarah stammered.

  “Just take a few days off, Sarah, and I don’t want any more arguments from you. Now go.” Leo dismissed her as he continued to read over a document on his computer.

  Sarah stormed out of his office towards me with fire in her eyes. “What did you tell them?” she hissed.

  “The truth.”

  “Why? Are you crazy? Now more people are involved and lives are in danger!”