Don't You Know

“I am only coming back to bed because I’m tired, and I’m tired of arguing,” she says getting back in bed. She snuggles in next to me. “You’ll love me too, Jimmy.”

“I already do, Giada. I already do.”

“I knew it,” she whispers. I kiss her and watch her until she falls asleep.

This girl is my life now and I’d like to see anyone try to take her from me.

Chapter Four

Giada

I wake up to a loud pounding sound. I groan as soon as my eyes open. Everything hurts, but in a good way. I feel amazing. Well used and well loved. I am momentarily confused by surroundings. Then I remember where I am. I am in mob boss Jimmy DePalmeretti’s bed. He grunts next to me and gets out of bed quickly.

“Stay here, baby. I’ll be right back,” he says, leaning down and kissing me quickly. I watch him pull on a robe, grab his gun, and leave the room. I look around for my clothes, but I can’t find them. Then I remember I stripped in the living room. I grin and roll over.

“Where the fuck is my daughter?” I hear my dad shout. Oh, shit, I think as I scramble out of bed and into his way too big white button up shirt. It looks like a dress, so everything is covered. I rush down the hallway as the yelling intensifies.

“Calm down, Manero,” Jimmy says as I come around the corner.

“How’d you know where I was, dad?” I ask. Both men turn and look at me.

“Rocco told Barry,” he snarls. I see Jimmy clench his fists and I know without a doubt Rocco is a dead man.

“So why are you here, then?” I ask.

“Your mother was worried,” he says.

“Yeah, right,” I say laughing. Bernadette Manero cares about one thing and one thing only, and that thing is cocaine. My dad keeps her in the best blow Peru can provide. She gets all she can handle, which at this point in her life is quite a lot. It’s really sad to watch your mom lie around all day, snort lines and forget the names of your kids.

“That’s not really the point right now. How could you do this, Giada? You know how I feel about this man. Out of the million men in this city, why this one?” he asks, as if Jimmy isn’t standing right there.

“I love him,” I say simply.

“You don’t know him. You don’t know what he’s done,” my dad says.

“Don’t pretend like you care. I’m just a pawn and you know it.”

“Get dressed, let’s go,” Dad says, trying to grab me, but I jerk out of his way before he has a chance to.

“You’ve got to be joking,” I say.

“She’s not going anywhere,” Jimmy says coming over to me. He wraps his arm around my shoulder. I sink into his embrace.

“Think of how this will look, Giada Sophia.”

“Jesus, Dad. That’s Fawn’s middle name,” I say reminding him of my sister. “My middle name is Maria. See, pawn on a cheeseboard.”

“Giada, come on. Don’t do this shit. I don’t have time for it.”

“Fuck this. We’re getting married, Giovanni. Your image will be saved. Families merged.”

“That could work,” he says.

“The only other option is war. Can you survive a war?”

“No. You know I can’t. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about the turmoil. Why do you think I’m marrying Fawn off to the Vitali’s?”

“Because she loves him and you weren’t given a choice,” I say.

“Much like this situation, Giovanni. You should go now,” Jimmy says.

“When are you getting married?”

“A few days. We’ll be in touch.”

“Bye dad,” I say giggling.

“I expect an invitation to the wedding of the century, do you hear me? None of that courthouse shit. A real church wedding.”

“You’ll get it,” Jimmy tells him and my dad leaves, slamming the door behind him.

“Should I be upset that you haven’t really asked me to marry you?” I ask him.

“No and I’m not going to either. Why on Earth would I ask for something that is already mine?”

“It would just be nice, that’s all,” I reply shrugging.

“Nah. You’re already mine,” he says smirking.

“Fine,” I say, smirking right back at him. “Take me back to bed, it’s still early.”

“Whatever you say, baby,” he says, lifting me into arms. I giggle as he all but runs back to bed.

* * *

He didn’t give me a lot of time to prepare for today, but here I am less than two weeks after meeting Jimmy, I’m about to marry him. Standing inside the bride room at St. Ignacio Catholic Church in the Bronx, I adjust my veil. I stare at my reflection and I don’t hate what I see. The dress I am wearing is a recreation of the dress Alana Hamilton wore when she married Rod Stewart back in April. It’s an off the shoulder lace ruffle gown. It’s not really my style, but it looks pretty good with my tan skin. Fawn is the only person I have standing up with me as my maid of honor. She’s wearing a peach off the shoulder dress. She’s the only one helping me because my mom couldn’t put the nose candy down long enough, therefore she’s hanging out with my dad out in the sanctuary. Whatever. I didn’t need her before, and I don’t need her now.