by Anna Widzisz
And there she was.
Savannah.
She sauntered through, proud and confident. She smiled an almost blinding billion dollar smile. Her tousled, dark brown hair was in a high ponytail as she came up to the men. The sun shined through the windows, glowing up her figure. With a warm approach, she started saying something. Probably insisting that they shouldn’t smoke indoors as the men quickly nodded, putting down the lighters. Then she turned. As her floating uniform flapped about rapidly she continued to serve customers. Other waitresses seemed to be in a rush, working gracelessly. Unlike Savannah.
Elio smirked, apparently not getting the memo that he should stay away. Him being here had one simple goal - to talk to the owner. Yet here he was, staring at her like a creep, without any intention to get his job over with and move on. He slowly reached into the pocket of his pants, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Taking one and holding it with his lips, he put the pack back and lit up the end of the cigarette until it flamed a bright reddish color as he inhaled.
He wasn't a heavy smoker, however, he needed some distraction before going into the diner. It was almost ridiculous that he had all those stupid issues with being in the same room as Savannah. Not because he believed that she would freak out, but because he was fucking supposed to keep his distance. She wasn't his type. There was nothing that she could do for him. A quick fuck was the only good way of spending time with girls and hell would freeze over before Savannah reached the same level as the women who’d gladly satisfy him.
Also... the chick was fucking weird.
But so tempting. The way she carried herself, her living situation, was what got Elio interested.
"Pathetic," he murmured to himself. That was a good way to put his current situation into words.
With one final inhale, he dumped the cigarette on the concrete and stepped on it. Breathing out the smoke, he moved towards the doors. He could hardly spend half a day here when he was supposed to meet up with Flavio later for a quick fighting session. It was getting closer to the guy's initiation so he had been spending most of his time in the gym or with his brother, getting to know ins and outs of the Famiglia's business. Soon he would be an Underboss and if that wasn't good enough reason for Elio to focus on getting this shit over with, he didn't know what was.
As the Enforcer stepped inside, silence went through the room, making Savannah's eyes dash to the man. Judging by her shocked expression, she hadn't thought that she would see Elio Conte anytime soon. Possibly ever. Yet, he was standing in the threshold. There was a slight curve to his lips. It seemed as if he was smirking at her.
As she wasn't able to hold his gaze, she focused on the clothes. He was wearing grey pants and a black dress shirt that showed off his broad shoulders, the veins prominent in his forearms.
He walked up to her at the counter, ignoring all the people who apparently didn't know what privacy meant. And it made Elio want to go on a killing spree. But getting in trouble with his Capo for going against his orders, wasn't on his to-do list.
He glared at the customers, suggesting them to get a grip and focus on themselves. No one had to know what he wanted to say to Savannah. And everyone realized their mistake, going back to their previous activities.
Savannah bit her lip, nervous.
"What time are you free?" he asked, surprising her.
What the actual fuck?
Was he actually interested in seeing her after hours? Or was that just a question aimed at unsettling her? And why the hell were her cheeks flushing bright red as if she was some stupid schoolgirl getting attention from the captain of a football team?
Since when could fear could turn into shyness in a matter of words?
But she knew better than to act upon newly found emotions. Or perhaps not. No one really said 'no' to a Made Man, did they?
Savannah shook her head, answering his un-asked yet question. She would most certainly not meet him. Then her words followed the actual question. "I finish work at four."
"I will pick you up then." He completely ignored her unwillingness.
The realization made her heart pick up the pace. Suddenly it felt as if it was too hot in the diner although the temperature was controlled with a thermostat and hadn't been changed.
"I can't. I have other engagements later."
And it wasn't a lie. She wanted to make up to Aiden for the last week that she had been working late nights and take him for some ice creams and a movie. She’d already promised him that and wouldn't go back on her word.
Elio sucked in his breath. "Did you hear a question? Because I'm almost certain I just stated a fact, Savannah."
If there was one thing the girl could take away from the few encounters she had with the mafioso, he had poor social skills. Towards her at least. Too confident and an asshole who couldn't take a hint. He didn't fucking care.
"I'm being serious. I can’t," she tried once more.
The man came up to the counter, leaning against it; their faces were just a couple of inches apart. He scratched his chin, exhibiting his five o'clock shadow that hadn't been there before. Savannah could swear that Elio was clean-shaven. But this look added a few years to his age. Not to mention that he was even more handsome like that.
He was so close that his spicy and minty scent intensified, making the girl dizzy. It suited him so much that she believed the next refusal wouldn't come out of her mouth.
"Then when can you make time? And don't think of turning me down altogether because that's not an option."
Yes, he had never heard someone refuse him.
Savannah thought about it for a second. What could she say? Even if she did make time, she wouldn't want to spend it with someone like Elio. He was dangerous. He was in a mafia for fuck's sake! And if not for her safety, she had to keep her brother away from him.
"Why?"
He frowned. "Because I don't like being told 'no'".
The girl shook her head. "I meant why do you want to hang out with me? You don't know me. I'm not part of your world, and you're definitely not part of mine. So... why?" she asked.
It's been three months!
She’d caught waitresses talking about the Las Vegas Famiglia from time to time. And from what she'd heard, they weren't big on making friends with outsiders. They married within their social circles and only really made business with others because it brought them money. Savannah had nothing to do with any of that. They'd met because her boss was a coward. And a dick. That was all.
Elio's eyes flickered with amusement. "Isn't that the whole point of meeting up with someone? To get to know them?"
Now he was simply fooling around with her abashment. She gave him a once-over, backed out a few steps, and quickly went back to fulfilling the orders. "I'm free the day after tomorrow. Same time," she added but didn't pay any more attention.
She was already regretting her decision but if there was any way he would give up, it was only by actually being given a chance. She would do whatever possible for that day to be the last time she ever saw Elio. Even though her last wish to never encounter the man again had just went up in flames.
Thankfully, the Made Man didn't press her more. He accepted this piece of information and left the main area, going in search of the owner. He still had a job to do.
Chapter Ten
The Las Vegas Famiglia had their own gyms for all the soldiers to train. There were several of them around the city, however, the one downtown was the most frequently used. Thankfully, it wasn't packed today as it wasn't evening yet. Two soldiers were working out with weights and another one with the punching bag. Other than that it was empty. Both the cage and ring were atElio and Flavio's full disposal. That was why once they were done with their usual warm-up drills, they decided on diving the time between the two. The cage heightened emotions as the space was closed without any possibility of escape. Whilst the ring felt more like an actual clean fight, even though it really wasn't. No Made Man fought honorably, bound by rules. The
y simply didn't give a fuck about that as long as they got the desired results.
Both men were on the same level as far as their fighting skills were concerned. Elio was more unhinged while Flavio seethed with a calm approach, yet they were able to find a balance to have a satisfying workout. They had a lot to prove. As an Enforcer for the Capodecina, Elio couldn't let himself slump, always showing off so that people would respect his position and not fuck around with him. On the other hand, Flavio was supposed to take such an important role in the Famiglia that surely many soldiers were doubting the righteousness of their Capo's decision. That was because they didn't know how suited the younger Falcone was for this job. With the rumors about his unwillingness to be a part of the organization, he had a lot to lose if he didn't show what he was capable of. The initiation was coming closer each day and as Noah himself had too much on his plate with the Bratva at the moment, Elio was more than willing to take over the training.
So for the next two hours, they fought, gaining many cuts and bruises. With completely different fighting ethics, they weren't holding back. However, they tried not to do any real damage as their jobs were out in the world, not in the gym.
"Have you addressed the owners yet?" asked Flavio as they were sitting on the bench, trying to catch their breath after the most tiring session thus far.
Elio nodded. "I have. I was left in charge of Hunter Gordon's diner."
"The one you told me didn't pay on time?"
"Yes. Gastone believes that since I have dealt with him before, he would remember it enough to stay clear of the Russians."
Flavio's eyebrow rose. "If only people were that rational. The Bratva fuckers can be really persuasive when they want to be. Sometimes threatening is the least desirable method."
The Enforcer agreed with him. He believed so, too. That is why he didn't use what had happened three months ago against Hunter. Even though he could. Even though he wanted to. It was his forte to play mind games, yet once in a while, he had flashes of common sense which helped him evade bad decisions. Not always. Rarely, actually. But they were there.
Flavio got up, pulling a shirt over his torso. "Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to talk to the Flamingo owner. Then there is a big race at Midnight Mayhem. Are you in?"
Midnight Mayhem was a motor speedway that the Famiglia had taken over recently. It was still operating on the old premises, however, they were working on developing a new plan. Something that included illegal possibilities covering half of their life plan for the place. Flavio was supposed to get involved in this business as soon as his initiation would take place so he had spent countless hours there; during races and otherwise. Sometimes, Elio joined him and even took part in the races as a way of boosting his adrenaline levels. He was basically addicted to the thrill.
"Not this time. I'm actually going out with one of the waitresses from the diner," he answered.
The expression on Flavio's face quickly changed into one that showed he took the words as a joke. After all, Elio barely ever paid attention to girls outside of sex. And even then his attention was limited. He had never even let them kiss him. It was pure fucking. Nothing more, nothing less. So to hear him saying that he was actually meeting someone outside of a bedroom, simply couldn't be anything more than a joke.
"I'm being serious," Elio snarled.
It was ridiculous to consider but it wasn’t like he didn't want to fuck the girl. That's most likely what their meeting was going to turn into. Savannah might be a little weird and not his usual type, but even she wouldn't refuse him. And he liked the challenge.
Flavio's lips curved in an almost-smile. "If you have to try hard enough to actually see her, good-fucking-luck with getting her into your bed," he warned.
"Fuck you. It's not as hard as it may seem."
The boy shrugged, completely unmoved by the defensive tone of Elio's voice. He rarely cared about things or at least he didn't show it. Sometimes the questions he asked made people think otherwise. Elio included.
Quite frankly it was laugh-worthy that those two became friends. They were completely different, yet they found common ground. For some reason, they forged a fraternal bond and it grew the stronger with each passing day. Something that Elio had never had with Fabro. Twins or not, they were people who partied together from time to time and sat through family dinners that Mother insisted would happen on Sundays. None of them was religious the way she was. Not even close. Yet, they agreed at her begging. With Elio moving out and Fabro looking for his own place too, she was probably mortified to be left with Father alone more than usual.
"We will see," Flavio regarded him. "Just remember she is an outsider."
Not like Elio would ever forget that. Outsiders were good for fun and business at times. Since he had to stay away from the girls in their social circles, knowing how their pureness reflected upon their future, he kept himself busy with those who weren't out of his reach. This whole tradition shit was bizarre to him, however, staying true to the rules that were set from the start, he'd never play with them. Having his heart handed to him on a silver platter wasn't his final goal.
One day he would probably marry one of the girls. If Father as much as thought it convening to his cause. The same with Fabro. Neither of them had any warm feelings towards it but it was what it was. He hadn't felt any appeal in fucking a virgin. No experience, no fun. If it were up to him, he'd gladly spend the rest of his life proving his worth by working as much and as well as possible in the name of their Capo dei Capi. Not forming a fucking family and fathering kids.
"Believe me, forgetting that won't be my problem," he murmured.
He gripped his training bag, seeing that it was already past the time. He was still supposed to collect the money from one of their pubs. Later he decided to stay home as he felt drenched after the day he'd already had. He could probably visit Father's club for a quick fuck with one of the dancers. Sporting a boner wouldn't be a problem. But as tomorrow would mark fucking Savannah, he could handle one day off. Having her would be a completely new experience, anyway.
"If you're done tomorrow earlier, call me. It's probably going to take a while for me anyway," Flavio said, giving him a handshake. Then they parted ways.
Chapter Eleven
The heat of the day ebbed to a comforting warmth. The sunshine lost its brightness and the colors of the sky smoothly mixed with the sun setting down. As it was mid-July, the weather was unbearable most days. Temperatures were unbelievably high, making it hard for people to do close to anything. However, there was usually a cold breeze in the evenings which was a blessing for Savannah as she strolled down the pavement with her little brother hand in hand after an afternoon full of attractions.
She managed to pick him up from kindergarten and first took him for ice cream to his favorite place. Then they rushed to the cinema for a movie that took way too long for Savannah's liking. And here they were at nine in the evening walking back home when they should have been back way before that. Aiden should have been in bed by now as tomorrow was Friday. Thankfully, they had a summer program that allowed Savannah to keep working without worrying about the boy. She couldn't pester her babysitter Kate each day. As a teenager, she still had her own life to take care of and since it was summer she most likely preferred to spend it with her friends, having the time of her life before going to college.
Looking down at the boy he was half-asleep, barely moving his legs. Savannah could feel the same tiredness envelop her. Being up from the early morning, working a long shift and then enjoying her time with her brother was a good way to finish the day, yet extremely exhausting.
"Buddy, there is still a little bit to walk home. Don't fall asleep on me now." She shook the boy's hand as his eyes opened wide, showing that he was nowhere near sleeping. It made Savannah laugh.
It was funny how someone who rarely ever talked could make her smile and laugh so easily. Those moments were so precious that they only reassured her about her decision not to give up on rais
ing Aiden. Even without using many words, he was a smart little human who was bound to grow up to be an amazing person. That's what Savannah wanted for him.
She regretted nothing. Of course, she’d been forced to grow up way too fast, not experiencing many things before diving into parenthood. The struggle to keep up with being a parent figure for a young boy and working was real. And sometimes it was overwhelming to the point where she cried herself to sleep. But she wouldn't change it for the world.
Their parents didn't know what they were losing by leaving them. Wherever they were, Savannah and Aiden were better off without them. Especially Aiden. He was still young and barely remembered his mother. So he couldn't take up many of her less than desirable behavior of going out each night to party, fucking random men and fighting with father afterwards. She barely cared about any of them, not to mention that she was a far cry from being a role model. Savannah suffered through eighteen years of her life taking care of both her parents and as bad as it sounds - by abandoning them they’d given her a way out. Starting fresh with Aiden and teaching him everything, hoping that he could grow into a much better person than any of their family members kept her going.
Fifteen minutes later they were back home and Aiden went straight to bed without another glance. Shoving his shoes off his feet was the only thing he managed to achieve.
Savannah smiled as the boy's body crashed on the mattress fully clothed. She didn't have the heart to make him go take a bath and wear his PJs. Silently, she only took off his jacket so that he could be somewhat comfortable and covered him with a blanket.
She was tired as well but decided to first take a shower after many hours of sweating in her work uniform. Because of the material, it was almost impossible for her to feel comfortable wearing that dress. Not to mention that the sun kept on shining through the windows for most of the day, adding to it.
Then she sat down on the couch with an ice tea in hand and played a movie on the laptop. However, she barely acknowledged what was happening in it. Her eyes kept on closing every other minute.
