“That’s it?” Diego asked. “That’s all the information you have for me?”
“There is a Sunday lunch this week. Don’t miss it. It’s where your engagement will be announced.”
“And if I don’t attend?” Diego asked.
“You know as well as I do, Diego, you will attend. It’s in your blood to do the right thing.”
With that, his father left the office, and Diego threw his now-empty glass toward the door. It was such a pathetic and childish move, but one he couldn’t take back.
The last thing he wanted was to get married. Running a hand down his face, he was really pissed off now. If his father had pushed this, and he had no doubt in his mind that he had, then it meant Angelo, his fucked-up cousin, was making waves.
His cousin was a strong candidate to take over this city. He wouldn’t make a good capo, and for years now, they had been enemies.
No matter where he was, Angelo wasn’t far.
One of the reasons Diego owned a restaurant was to be a constant taunt to his cousin. Diego owned the very restaurant where Belle worked.
Could it be a coincidence? Was his cousin getting an innocent woman to lure him out of his safety net? Angelo had been wanting to take his place ever since they were kids. Their fathers were brothers, and in the process, they always made them fight for everything.
Being capo, Diego wasn’t used to losing, and he would always beat Angelo at everything. It had set about so many motions as they got older that Diego knew without a doubt if he ever fell, Angelo would be the one to laugh over his corpse, if not be the one to strike him with the killing blow.
He had to check out Belle in Angelo’s. If she posed a threat, he would dispose of her.
Leaving the office, he made his way up to his room. He had an army of servants, and the glass would be cleaned up come morning.
He made his way to his room, going straight for the shower. He never went anywhere without a weapon, and there were many knives laid in the bathroom. Once he stripped out of his clothes, he stared at his reflection in the wide mirror. His chest showed the years of pain and suffering that he’d not only dealt out, but had also been given, each scar a new memory and remembered victory.
Belle had her own scar, right down her cheek. It had faded, which told him the scar had happened years ago.
Stepping beneath the cold water, he embraced the burning pain of the ice. It didn’t take long for the water to heat up and suddenly scald his body. Closing his eyes, he ignored the pain and just enjoyed the spray.
It felt good, or at least it did to him.
Getting married again wasn’t in his plans, but he knew he was going to have to do it eventually.
He needed to have a son to start his training. Most of the capos already had sons, who, even as made men before their fathers stepped down, were ready to take on the role.
His own father had stepped down to make sure the city was constantly strong. By the time Diego took his place as capo, he’d earned the respect of his father’s men, and many of his own.
Turning off the water after he finished washing, he stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist.
He’d marry Charlotte. He was a man who did his duty, and she would give him sons and daughters. For the most part, they would always live separate lives. He would have his women, and she would have their children for consolation.
It wasn’t perfect, but to him it was ideal.
He’d never been a one-woman man anyway.
****
The restaurant was busy tonight. Even as Belle played the music, she heard the hustle and bustle of activity. Conversations blended into one another. She stared down at her piano for a place to stare. When she first started working at Angelo’s, she would often just look straight ahead, but several of the guests had complained it made her look weird.
She was used to the constant judgment, and rather than argue with her boss, she started to stare down. It didn’t really matter to her. She couldn’t see anyway, so where she looked was no different.
Drawing the song to a close, she allowed a few seconds’ pause, waiting for the barman to either tell her a request that had been made or to continue. Most of the time she liked playing at Angelo’s, but tonight, she wasn’t happy.
She couldn’t even explain why she was so unhappy or why it unnerved her to be here. Work was something she enjoyed doing, mainly because she didn’t have to work. Her father came from a line of wealthy businessmen, and he invested in stocks and shares. It’s why she was always able to afford the best growing up and how she had been able to still continue her love of music. He made sure all of her needs were catered to. It’s why she believed her friends stuck around. They were paid to help escort her to events or to hang out with her. She did try to have as close to a normal life as possible, which was why she wanted this job. She didn’t need it, but it helped her get out of her home, and not go completely stir crazy.