by Seth Eden
The other women, a youthful one with light caramel-colored hair, sat in Marco’s lap, and his head fell to her chest and his hand to her belly. He rubbed gently. “How are you feeling?”
“We’re okay, Marco.” She placed a kiss atop his head where blood was drying. “Both of us.”
My heart climbed into my throat. “You’re pregnant?” I couldn’t keep from asking.
The woman smiled. “Yes.”
“Congrats, by the way,” Gabriel’s immediately older brother, Alessandro, said. He’d just finished setting the guns back in the cabinet, closed the doors, and then went and plopped down next to a modelesque brunette on the couch. “Hey, baby.”
She wrapped her hand around Alessandro’s head and petted it gently. “I’d hit you if I weren’t so happy you were okay.”
I backtracked through Gabriel’s stories to put names to faces. Luca’s wife was Molly. That one was easy. He’d talked about them at length because he was so worried about them splitting up. I watched Luca pull Molly against himself and comb his fingers into her hair. He showered her with kisses on the left side of her face while her hands gently stroked up and down Luca’s side. I didn’t share Gabriel’s concern. Rough patches, maybe, but that love was too strong to warp.
I let my gaze drift over to Marco and his wife. I believed Gabriel had said her name was Kelly. She was spritely-looking, and I wondered how old she was compared to Marco. Either he was robbing the cradle a little bit, or she’d found the fountain of youth. The way Marco clung to her was impassioned and protecting. Of the brothers, that relationship stood on the soundest foundation.
I looked at Alessandro and his wife. I’d learned the most about Alessandro, but he hadn’t talked about his wife very much. I knew her name was Willow by process of elimination, but I wondered more about their marriage. Even as they sat together with love curling around them in nearly visible ribbons, I could sense a darkness around them, as well. It was probably too soon to hit them with my holistic mumbo-jumbo, but even though the light shone almost brightest off of them, the shadows they cast were just as significant. They had troubled waters ahead. I just hoped for them and their family’s sakes, they were strong enough to brave the storm.
As if they’d noticed that I was done analyzing them, all of their eyes fell to me. Luca walked over and settled into his desk chair, bringing Molly to sit against the arm to his left, and Gabriel pulled me over to sit on the other couch that Alessandro and Willow weren’t on.
“Well, Stacy,” Luca started. “You make a hell of a first impression.”
I chuckled. “Oh. Yeah.”
“How?” Gabriel asked. “I…how?”
“I panicked when you hung up on me,” I told him. “I respected your wishes when you said not to call the cops, but I couldn’t just abandon you. Knowing you, you were going to be reckless, and given that I found you and your brothers tied to chairs, I would say I was right.”
Gabriel frowned at me. “I had to come in here, baby. I couldn’t just leave them.”
I swatted him against the back of the head. “You almost got them killed. Be smarter.” I felt his aura cloud up, so I kissed him on his cheek and started to pull the invisible clumps of dust away.
“Um,” Marco started, looking around like he was watching a strange TV show. “What the hell is she doing?”
Gabriel held up a hand. “She’s cleaning my aura. Just give her a sec.”
I finished cleaning out what I could, but he’d need a more thorough cleaning later, both physical and spiritual.
“Wait!” Molly screeched. “I knew I recognized you! You’re the yoga instructor.”
Marco and Alessandro burst out laughing, and Luca’s jaw dropped.
“Wait,” Luca started. “How the hell did you meet a yoga instructor?”
Alessandro chuckled darkly. “Go ahead, Gabe, tell him.”
Gabe looked at Luca, an embarrassed smile on his face. “At yoga.”
All of the brothers fell out laughing, and Willow started to, as well. Both Kelly and Molly seemed content to berate their husbands for their mockery, even if they were also chuckling along.
Luca held a hand out towards me. “Okay. Okay. Okay. How was he at yoga?”
“Miserable at first,” I said with a laugh, before looking at him sweetly, “but he got better.”
“I bet he did,” Marco hissed, and Kelly slapped his back.
“Can we just get back to Stacy running in here like a badass, please?” Gabriel diverted the subject.
Molly raised her hand. “I am also very interested in that.”
“How did you get a gun? I can’t imagine you need that much protection at a yoga studio,” Marco questioned.
I led the Varasso family through the story of my evening. I backtracked all the way to my house when I had to lie to Mira to say I was going to bed because I was tired. I even fed the ruse that I was taking my meds and would be conked, and I waited until I heard her snores from the living room to call Gabriel. I had intended just to confess to him and convince him to come over, but then he told me that he was in trouble. When he hung up on me, dread filled my body. I didn’t know if he would survive whatever encounter awaited him, so I looked up the address Molly had provided when she signed Gabriel up for yoga and came to back him up. Mentioning yoga sent the brothers over the edge with laughter again, while Gabriel made a snide, obviously not serious comment about the invasion of privacy.
I explained that I rummaged through Gabriel’s car, looking for a gun, and found one under his driver’s seat. It was at this time that all the brothers revealed that they had, unbeknownst to each other, inherited the exact same caution from their dad of a gun under the driver’s seat. It’d spared each of their lives now, counting the fact that I used that gun to save Gabriel, and for a moment, they sat silently while the reality washed over them that their father had actually left something behind that they all agreed was good.
I continued on to say that I followed the noise and lights up to the third floor of the Varasso estate and could hear the threats coming from inside. I was terrified at the idea of shooting someone, so I devised a plan to cause as little violence as possible. This earned me a snort from Alessandro, given the night’s outcome, but I pressed on and tried to ignore it.
I told them how I opened a door one down and fired a gunshot to hopefully get the bad guys’ attention. I knew who I was looking for, based on the stories Gabriel had told me and a quick internet search before I left, and Molly had to quiet the beginning of a lecture from Luca. Gabriel wasn’t supposed to share that information with outsiders.
“But it saved our lives,” Molly quipped, and Luca stopped his blanch.
Once Dario came to investigate, I shot him in the leg and kicked the gun from his hand when he fell. I stood against the wall and waited for Dante to come. When he did, I then pressed my gun against his head to force him to lie to coax his father out. When Donovan came out, I rushed him away from the door, which I mentioned felt like slamming my bruise-ridden body against a brick wall, but it was enough to get Donovan aside, and I raced in and locked the door.
Kelly started clapping when I finished my story, and the rest joined.
“And all with a broken arm and shattered eye socket,” Gabriel tacked on proudly.
“We’ve gotta fucking step it up,” Willow grumbled.
“No kidding,” Kelly replied.
I wondered how serious they were. Gabriel had mentioned that neither of them wanted anything to do with the life, but they open-fired on the Binachis the same way I did. Maybe we’d all reached the same conclusion.
“How did you ever muster enough bravery to storm into a house of mobsters and take them on like that?” Luca asked.
I shook my head, searching Gabriel’s face for an answer. Looking into his eyes was answer enough. “I didn’t really think about it. All I cared about was saving Gabriel.” I kept my lips parted to say more, but that felt like enough, so I sewed them shut again.
> Gabriel kissed my forehead, and I noticed the wives around the room all regard their husbands lovingly, as well. It was unspoken in the air between us—for these men, we’d do anything. As we all looked at each other, all of our bruises and scrapes, our resolve got deeper and darker. One Binachi had escaped, which meant one man responsible for all of our collective pain still lived. It was as if an invisible contract appeared, and we all signed our names, one by one.
Finally, Luca stood and cleared his throat to break the tense silence. “Well, Stacy. You are one of us, whether you like it or not. You’ve wracked up a lot of debt here today, so for as long as you live, our family’s name covers you, as well.”
That was a lot of organization mumbo-jumbo that I couldn’t quite decipher through the pain in my head and the settling haze accompanying it, so I looked at Gabriel. He simply gave me another kiss on the forehead and promised to explain later.
“I gotta go assess the damage and see where we went wrong in security,” Luca said.
It didn’t seem like anyone missed the look of disappointment on Molly’s face when Luca started to pull away, but before his hand fell entirely out of hers, Marco stood up, holding tightly onto Kelly. “Nope. We’ll take care of that. You and Molly go get some rest. You’ve had a long night.”
“So have you,” Luca retorted.
“What? I can’t hear you. You’re breaking up,” Marco said back.
Luca shook his head. “You’re five feet from me.”
Alessandro stood up and slapped a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “Looking into cameras is more my jam, anyway. You’re just going to be in the way. Go to bed.”
Luca seemed to be catching on what his brothers were up to but glared at them regardless. With a final sigh, he grabbed Molly’s hand and kissed the back of it, and they walked from the room.
“I’ll do security,” Alessandro said. “You call Ricky and check on the kids.”
Marco nodded. “Fine.”
A moment later, they were all gone from the room, leaving just Gabriel and myself.
Gabriel leaned back, taking me with him. I buried myself against his chest, knowing I could never sleep in that room, but laying there was easing some of the pain, so it was okay for the moment.
“Are you sure you want to be involved in all of this?” Gabriel asked. “I’m not saying this is our every day, but it can happen at any time. We beheaded the Binachis. That retaliation is going to be fierce.”
“I think I proved that I can handle myself,” I said.
Gabriel scoffed. “Damn straight, you did.” He craned his head to look down at me. “But I’m serious. This doesn’t have to be your world.”
“It’s your world, and you’re my world,” I replied. “So, it’s my world.”
Gabriel didn’t argue. “You were amazing today.”
“You told me about your sisters-in-law. I didn’t want to embarrass myself,” I responded sheepishly.
Gabriel’s head went from side to side slowly. “You’re impossible.”
“So you’ve said.”
“I love you.”
My heart soared. “I love you, too.”
“Then, if you’re willing, I won’t ever let you leave my side again.”
“Good.”
He pulled against me so tight it hurt, but I didn’t care. “I will protect you for the rest of my life.”
I hugged even closer to him. “And I will protect you.”
The rest of our lives. That had a nice ring to it.
Epilogue
Gabriel
Luca was going to get an earful from me. I’d already explained to him that he needed to change his drop. Today was supposed to be one of the happiest nights of my life, and it was cut short by his incessant calling. It made two times my hotel, candles, roses, and lingerie plans had been foiled. He owed me big time. It had been six months since the incident, and if I didn’t walk in and see him tied up again, I was going to rage.
I didn’t knock on his door, just entered instead. Marco and Alessandro were already inside, sitting in their chairs, so I found a place on the couch. “I was busy,” I barked.
“Congrats on your engagement,” Luca replied with a nonchalant smile.
Marco and Alessandro both lit up.
“Wait, really?” Alessandro asked.
I grinned. “Maybe.”
Marco leaned clear out of his chair for a high-five. “That’s what I’m talking about.” He looked back at Luca. “Dragging him here when you knew he was proposing was a low blow. This could have waited.”
“Maybe you forgot what happened in this room six months ago, but I didn’t,” Alessandro retorted on Luca’s behalf. “There’s still a Binachi out there, and I want to feed him to his underlings.”
It was darker than I liked hearing Alessandro talk, but I also couldn’t deny that I felt the same way. All of us did. All of the brothers and all of the wives. For once, we were totally united.
“Still,” Marco moaned, and I appreciated the defense.
“I told her I’m making it up to her tomorrow night, so you all better put in overtime to make sure I don’t get interrupted again,” I grumbled.
Alessandro clutched a hand over his chest. “Little Gabe. Gets his first kill, gets engaged, and suddenly, he’s telling us what we’d better do.” He looked at Luca. “How’s that, bro?”
Luca shook his head. “Gabriel knows I wouldn’t hesitate to knock his block off. I’m letting him run his mouth because it's his engagement night, and I cock-blocked.”
His glare, which was identical to my father’s, fell to me, saying loud and clear, “but don’t push it.” I immediately felt inclined to retreat and apologize like I would have done seven months ago but abstained. I’d gained some ground, and I didn’t instantly want to lose it. When I didn’t fight back, Luca moved on.
“Molly made it to Maine, and things at the border are totally stopped.”
Alessandro nodded. “Willow and I caved it in on Tuesday. It’s dirt and bodies now.”
“Marco?” Luca asked.
Marco immediately fell into rank. “I’ve got the entire security operation shifted and overseeing the new estate. The girls and the kids are safe. I’m getting hourly reports.”
Luca nodded, satisfied. “Gabe?”
“Ricky and I have been digging out everything we can,” I reported. “Dario’s been recovering from the hits to his family and is probably thinking about retaliation.”
“We should have done it already,” Alessandro droned.
Marco shook his head. “I hate to agree, but Kelly’s due in six weeks. We don’t have that much time.”
“We won’t need that much,” I cut back in. “Dario’s sloppy. I’ve kept a close watch on him, and his sister is still attending Stacy’s yoga classes every day. He’s not being careful. He’s going to slip, and it’s going to happen soon.”
“Are you sure Stacy is good with that?” Marco asked. “Is it safe?”
“It was her idea. Once she found an in, she wasn’t about to waste it.” I raised an eyebrow. “She’s got a knack for this shit. It’s a good thing we’re getting out, but if we weren’t, I’d have a pretty good mafia wife.”
“Good thing we are getting out, then,” Luca said, and Alessandro turned in his seat. “Something you wanna say?”
Alessandro sat in silence for a minute before saying, “I don’t know that shutting down is the way to go.”
“We’ve got enough in savings to last a lifetime,” I replied. “Ricky’s been putting shit in CDs and stocks and bonds. Our money is making more money now than we ever have slinging dope.”
“We’re not nine to five people. Have you forgotten who our father is? He’s turning over right now, I bet.” He sighed. “When this is behind us, we’re going to regret it. This is our world.”
He set his eyes on Luca. “You’re supposed to be running this.”
Luca glared back. “Don’t tell me what I’m supposed to do. Don’t forget who t
he head of this family is.”
Alessandro rolled his eyes. “I wonder if that’s how it should be.”
It had been a while since the last few years had stuck their bony hands out of their graves to clasp around my throat. The sudden unity the Binachi attack brought us was enough to keep Alessandro at bay, and once Luca gave him the operations near the border while Molly relocated to Maine to take care of the kids and get our new lives set up, he calmed down. Now that we were ticking boxes off our list and getting closer to hanging up the life for good, he was getting restless again.
“You want to see Willow tied up while you’re helpless again?” I asked. “Because that’s what will happen. Your hot head will make you more enemies than you can handle. You’re putting your whole family in jeopardy. You couldn’t even handle Willow walking away once. What’s going to happen when she takes Alexis and leaves you?”
Alessandro shrugged. “Then maybe that’s what’s supposed to happen.”
“Bullshit,” Marco growled at him. “You’d level half the country.”
Alessandro didn’t reply to that because he knew it was true. Instead, he settled for turning his gaze back to Luca. “You have to admit you haven’t run this business the way Dad did. If you had, none of this would have happened.”
“Dad’s in a body bag because he skimped off the Binachis, and now we’re all running around trying to clean up his mess. Are you dumb?” Luca asked. “I’ve heard enough from you.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not done talking.”
Luca raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not.” Alessandro stabbed a finger in Luca’s direction. “Just because you’re the oldest, doesn’t mean you were the best suited to his job. I’d do it better if it were me.”
“Guys, knock it off,” I begged. “This is exactly what landed us in hot water in the first place.” I remembered the Binachis explaining that Alessandro had not merely spoken with Anthony Carducci but attempted to threaten him. “If we’re going to deal with the Binachis, we’re going to need to do it together.”
