Single Dad Boss: A Small Town Romance

by Kara Hart

  I climb into my window and fall onto my bed, grabbing around my pillow. His scent is still on it and I feel the knife twist in deeper. This just never ends, does it? I know someday I’ll move on. As for now, I’m just full of sadness.

  There’s nothing I can do and that’s really the worst part about everything. As a girl, you always grow up thinking that love will be easy. I always thought that I’d meet Mr. Right and he’d charm me, take me out to dinner, and then we’d get married and have kids and everything would be perfect. Of course, that’s not how it works.

  It takes effort. It takes strength. It takes pushing through your weaknesses until you come out a new person. I was okay with doing that with Hunter. I knew we were perfect for one another, even if I did reject him a few times. But now, it’s like he’s already gone. I’ll never see him again. Just like that, the flame is blown out and I’m left standing in the darkness.

  181

  Hunter

  I’m losing my damn mind. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Am I really going to turn myself in like this? Who in their right mind would do such a thing? I’m a fucking fool. There’s no doubt about that. The shit a man will do for pussy.

  I can’t stop pretending. I love the damn woman. But this, this is too much. I sit in my corner and hold my pistol. I’m drinking heavily too because there’s nothing else left for me. I just want to feel something, dammit. Anything. Just give me the feeling she gave me. Make me whole again.

  I hold my gun and point it at my face. Of course, I immediately turn away and drop it. “Fuck!” I scream, trying my hardest not to sob. I hit the bottle over and over again, until I’m crawling around on the cold rubble around me. I’m a loser. A fucking loser. I’ve ruined my life and I deserve all I can get.

  Ricky. That motherfucker Ricky Luccioti. How the hell did he ever become the boss? It’s no wonder why this family is so fucked up. They’ve got this guy in charge of everything. The crew is falling apart anyway. Pretty soon, there will be no one left. A new generation of assholes will grow up to run it back into the ground.

  I remember one guy I shot dead. Thirty-two bullets in the back and head. It was Tommy Lacarto and me, back in those golden days, the heyday of our escapades. We used to call him “Tommy the Cart,” on account of his last name. But he was fucking ruthless too. He wouldn’t take any shit from anyone. And when someone mouthed off, boy, you better believe they’d be leaving in a body bag. He could fill a cart of bodies every month. That’s why he was called The Cart.

  Those days always seemed so fun. We were young. We had no idea what we were really doing. We just copied the guys before us. Only, we knew we had to be a little crazier than those guys. Those guys died. Those guys ended up in prison.

  We took over the whole city, of course, and everything changed for the better. Or, so I thought. In reality, we were all digging our own graves.

  So when Tommy and me shot that bastard thirty-two times in the back, we just laughed. We actually thought it was funny. Can anyone believe that? That’s how fucked up in the head we were.

  But, I remember what the guy said before we shot him. I remember how he acted. He wasn’t scared. He didn’t even try to run away or put up a fight. Instead, he just knew his time was up. The bastard just knew it in his bones. I remember him saying “It all ends like this, you know.”

  That confused me so I asked him what the hell he was talking about. Tommy just laughed, drunk off his power. It scared me, though. I wanted to know what he meant by that.

  “It all ends like this. Either you end up in a jail cell, rotting like a corpse. Or you end up dead, betrayed by your own kind,” he said to me. “The thing I don’t get though, does it all turn black?”

  That’s when Tommy blasted him. Shot him right in the spine and watched him bleed out. I grabbed my gun and shot a few times without looking. I didn’t know what else to do. I had to end the guy’s suffering. Not that I was a good guy or anything. I was a piece of shit and that’s why I am where I am today. Still, it sends chills down my spine thinking about it.

  Does it all turn black? Maybe. I sure hope not. I hope it all comes back around. Only, maybe I can make it better next time. Shit, I keep repeating my thoughts over and over in my head. The plight of a prisoner is going crazy. You don’t learn anything. Nothing gets solved. You just lose who you are. You turn into a monster, probably worse than before.

  I grab the gun and put it in my mouth. I do it so fast I don’t have time to think. I pull the trigger, feeling the weight of the barrel scratch against my teeth. Shit. It’s the only word that comes to mind when I pull the trigger. Shit.

  I hear that clicking noise and it’s heavy as, well, shit. There’s no spark though, no loud bang, or the feeling of hot fire racing through my brain. No blood pours out. It’s just me and my broken gun. Figures.

  I toss the gun away and feel the tears falling down from my eyes. “I can’t even die right,” I say to myself, shaking my head. That’s how much of a fucking failure I am. Well, I take another swig of my drink and pick myself up off the ground. I start walking.

  This is the end for me. That much I know. But first, I need to make a pit stop.

  Chapter: 19: Bianca

  Giovanni comes into my room like a thundercloud crashing at dawn. He slams my door and stands against the hallway. He doesn’t say a word. All he does is stare.

  “What do you want?” I ask him. “Come on. I’m trying to sleep.”

  “I don’t care about your sleeping habits,” he says. Finally, he walks toward my old computer desk and sits down. He gives a deep exhale and opens his mouth slightly, choosing his words carefully.

  “Look, there’s something I should tell you,” he says. “It’s about your situation and it involves some members of the family business.”

  “Stop talking in code,” I tell him, sitting up from my comfy bed. My heart starts to pound and I get the feeling that this isn’t going to be one of those nice heart to heart talks other brothers and sisters have together. “Tell me what’s going on. What’s happened to Hunter?”

  He takes another deep breath and tells me everything. “He’s going to Ricky. I shouldn’t even be telling you this. He’s giving himself up,” he says. My body seems to float away from me. My soul is crushed and my heart is currently deflating. “He thought it was about time.”

  “About time?” I repeat my brother’s words. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” My voice goes shrill and I don’t care any longer. I stand up out of bed, wearing my pajamas, and scream at him. “Where is Hunter?”

  “He can’t keep running. It’ll catch up to him eventually,” he says.

  I can’t help but mutter, “Bullshit. He could have stayed the course. He could have been fine. They’d give up searching for him eventually. They’re not the FBI.”

  “No we’re not the FBI. We’re more powerful than them,” he says. “But that doesn’t matter to me. He needed to do this, Bianca. If he didn’t, you could have gotten hurt. Ricky is crazy enough to kill a family member. He doesn’t give two shits if you’re male or female. He barely respects the code as it is.”

  “I don’t know what to say, other than demand you tell me where exactly he’s meeting him,” I say, tears welling up against my eyes. I feel one fall across my cheek, landing onto my bed.

  “I can’t do that,” he says, getting up from my desk. He turns to walk from my room to the hallway. “I just thought… I just thought you should know. Sorry.”

  “Tell me where he is!” I scream, throwing a pillow at the door. It’s too late. It’s already shut and a few seconds later, I can hear the crunching of leaves against his shoes outside.

  It’s over. I fall against my bed and start bawling. I can’t fucking help it. I can’t just bottle these emotions up. An hour later, I think about searching for him, but when I walk outside, the task is daunting. I could go to where he’s been staying, but I have a feeling he’s not there anymore. I could go to Ricky and try my best, but that won
’t work out well for me either.

  So, before I know it, I’m asleep. I give up because everything just seems so… daunting. The whole night I dream of Hunter. I dream of us getting married, us having children and buying a nice simple house on the coast. I dream about it all, but when I wake up, I know everything will be over.

  182

  Hunter

  I do what I have to do and that makes me more of a hero than any of these other motherfuckers on the streets. I’m an outlaw, a wanted man. But in the past, I was made. I was set to become one of the heads of my gang. They should make me a fucking saint for my act of martyrdom. Instead, I’ll most likely just be forgotten.

  “Here goes nothing,” I laugh, shaking my head, as I walk through the cool summer wind towards Ricky’s place. I’ve done this walk many times before. I’ve cut through these streets. Back when I was part of the gang, I would come to his mansion to discuss business on a weekly basis. Now I’m coming to discuss the terms of my death. Funny how that happens to us mafia guys. We really have it made, don’t we?

  Though it’s kind of a death march of sorts, I don’t feel as heavy as before. A certain weight has been lifted. No, instead, I feel comforted. I’m comforted by the thought that not everything has to go black. Not yet, at least. There’s more to my story.

  I come to the gates of the mansion and I press the button on the black box. A voice comes out of the intercom: “State your business.”

  “Get me Ricky,” I say without, flinching.

  “Who’s speaking?” the man says.

  “You know damn well who’s speaking,” I say, grinding my teeth with anger. “Now, get me Ricky or you just might find your head on a stick.”

  The whole damn time I’m talking, I’m thinking about Bianca. Her smooth legs, those thick lips, her pussy wrapping around my cock perfectly… I need one last fuck. Why didn’t I fuck her twice? That’s the question I’ll be asking myself on the day of my execution. We’re born in this life because of sex and we die dreaming about sex. At least, I will.

  “Very well,” the voice says back. The gates slowly open and I walk steadily on the gravel in front of me. Breathe slowly. Just breathe. I have to tell myself to do the most basic of all tasks because, the truth is, I’m starting to regret this decision of mine. I’m starting to think I should turn right back around and get Bianca. If we’re quick enough, we could make it to Montana. We could start a new life, on a ranch or something. I could wrangle horses and cows and she could tend to the farm. Everything would be perfect and we could raise eight beautiful children.

  That’s just fantasy. That isn’t real life. Real life is the door to this mansion opening and Ricky pointing a silver revolver in my face. But, before I get to the door, I hear a rustling in the bushes to my right. “Who’s there?” I call out.

  To my surprise, Giovanni shows his face and whispers, “Today’s your lucky day. Just keep being normal and everything will work out. I’m saving your ass.”

  I simply nod and knock at Ricky’s door. I guess things might turn out okay. Only, I don’t rely on nice thoughts.

  When Ricky opens the door, he smiles wide and crazy. “Today just gets better and better for me,” he says to me, gnarling his teeth together. “Get inside.”

  I walk in, feeling my boots clack against the marble tile. “Nice place you got yourself here,” I say. It only cost him a bunch of people’s lives. Maybe mine can build a new spa for the outside pool area.

  “Thanks,” he laughs. “I think the last time you came here was when my father was still alive. It’s a shame he had to pass.”

  “Yes, it is,” I sigh. “He was a little more democratic about things.”

  “Come off it,” Ricky motions for me to sit down in the main room, so I do. He continues to stand above me with his gun pointed at my skull. I wish he’d stop aiming that thing at me. I don’t like feeling like my sentences will get cut off with a bullet. If he’s going to kill me, he should let me stand with dignity.

  “You would have died regardless,” he tells me as if I don’t already know that. “My father didn’t put up with traitors.”

  “Right,” I say, hoping he’ll just get on with everything, but I know now that he’s going to make a big production out of this. It’s always been about his ego. Even before he was the Don, he was all about himself. He’s a terrible leader and I’m surprised no one has taken him out already.

  “You know, you’ve made my life quite a bit easier,” he laughs. “You’ve killed all of my competitors!”

  “I guess I didn’t think that through,” I mutter, leaning back against the leather chair. I grab one of the cigars on the table in front of me and light it up without asking. I figure one of them is at least for me.

  “You really didn’t,” he waves his gun at me. “You see, now everyone will be coming to me for business. And your little girlfriend, Bianca—”

  “Your cousin,” I correct him. He simply smiles wide.

  “Right. My cousin,” he nods. “My beautiful cousin. She’ll be with me now. And I’ll have gotten everything I’ve wished for. So I guess, in essence, I just want to say thank you. You’ve really given me a lot, Hunter.”

  “Great,” I say. I’m hoping that’s the end of it. But, of course, it’s not.

  “Follow me,” he says, turning his back towards me, walking out to the backyard. In the corner of my eyes, I can see men in each section of the room, wielding fully automatic weapons. He’s protected well and I guess that puts him at ease. How the hell is Giovanni going to finish him off?

  His backyard is at least five acres. He throws his arms up and shouts, “How do you like it?”

  “It’s fine,” I say, shrugging.

  “Good,” he nods in approval. “Because this is where you’ll die. You won’t be buried here, however. We’ve got a special place for you. Under the freeway bridge. Down south, near the water.

  “Sounds perfect,” I cross my arms. Does he really think I give a shit about where he buries me? Why is he dragging this out so long? Where the fuck is Giovanni?

  “You’re no fun,” he sighs. “You know that? You’re like a wet blanket. You killed the chase.”

  “The chase?” I ask him, starting to feel annoyed. I have half a mind to end this right here. I could grab his gun and all the guards could blow my body to smithereens. That honestly is starting to sound better than listening to him talk.

  “It’s always been my favorite part,” he smiles. “The whole killing thing is pretty boring when you think about it. I like a good hunt. You were okay for a while, until you went and turned yourself in. Tell me, why’d you do it? I have to know.”

  “I did it to get Bianca out of danger,” I tell him.

  “Well then,” he starts, laughing loudly, “you should have killed me first.”

  “It’s funny how you’re always assuming things,” I chuckle, looking at the perimeter of the building. It’s dark and muggy outside. The guards patrol silently, as if they’re ghosts. Something tells me that maybe they aren’t as loyal as they seem.

  “Assuming? Me?” he asks me. “After you’re gone, she will become my wife. And then she’ll have my children. Three boys who will eventually take over this whole business. And after I’ve used her up like a dog, she’ll be there solely to raise the children, clean, and cook me my fucking dinners.”

  “You dumb motherfucker,” I smile. “You didn’t even think when you let me in those gates. Did you?” His smile turns south. He’s suddenly looking around himself and slowly backing away from me. I’m walking forward and I continue to speak clear so he can understand what I’m about to tell him.

  “You didn’t just let me in,” I say to him. “You let in all your enemies.”

  “What the hell are you talking about? Guards! What the fuck are you talking about?” he hisses. “Guards!” he screams again. Only, the guards slowly walk up behind me, aiming their rifles at Ricky.

  He swiftly checks his pants for his gun, but he’s without a we
apon. “Looking for this?” Giovanni comes up behind him, aiming Ricky’s own gun at his skull.

  “Giovanni? What the fuck?” he spits out, unable to believe what has just happened to him. “I gave you everything, dammit! You can’t betray me like this! You can’t.”

  Giovanni simply moves forward. He places the barrel of the gun directly onto Ricky’s cheek. “When you took me on that ride the other day, you showed me what it’s like to be the boss of the family. Five star restaurants, all the women you can handle, and man those flashy cars seemed fucking nice,” he laughs and continues. “But then I saw how much you paid your men. And I saw how much you paid me and I thought to myself, why am I here taking orders from this guy when I could set up my own thing? I could do better for my men and my family. And my sister could live in peace with the man she loves.”

  “Giovanni,” he starts laughing as if everything is alright. It’s a last ditch effort to get out of this alive. “You’re right. We can make a whole lot of money together. Think about all the possibilities. With my connections, we could run all of New York, Chicago, Detroit… You name the city and it’s ours.”

  Giovanni smiles when I step forward. “The only thing you’ll ever own again,” I tell him, “is that suit you’re wearing.”

  Giovanni backs me up. “You’re lucky you’re family,” he sighs, pulling his gun off him. “Otherwise, I’d kill you right now. You sick bastard. Do you think you’d really get away with touching my sister like that? You’re her fucking cousin. Don’t you have any decency?”

  Ricky falls to his knees and starts pleading. “I’m sorry,” he cries. “I guess I got a lot of things wrong. I can change though. I can be better. I’ll serve under you. I’ll do anything you ask.”