Men of Mayhem (56 page)

“There’s a car waiting for you and me downstairs. Your mother is staying behind,” my father said. “I will come with you for this first initial introduction. Don’t take too long. I don’t want to keep them waiting. You won’t need much. Everything you need will be provided.”

I sighed and nodded. This situation was only beginning to get worse. “I…um…just need a few minutes to collect a few personal things.” I felt so defeated. There was no way I wanted my personal things provided for me by strangers. My only hope was that my lust for Fabrizio would make this easier for me.

The sleek, black limousine drove slowly around the sweeping roads and I stared out the window in a trance, my mind churning negatively. My thoughts were on this first formal meeting with Fabrizio.
How am I going to explain this to my friends?
But my mind centred on far more important things, such as pleasing Fabrizio.
What if he doesn’t find me attractive or I can’t please him?
I had no idea how to handle a man of his calibre.

With my future in the mafia’s hands, I was in a state of panic and my self-confidence failed fast. Being Italian, I wasn’t a stereotypical looking Calabrese girl. I was tanned with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. I feared Fabrizio would be expecting a dark Italian girl with a wafer-thin body. He would be sorely disappointed, as I was the complete opposite.

Not that I’m overweight by any means, but I’m filled out in all the right places.
Curvaceous
would be a better word to describe me. Although I’ve never gone all the way with any man, I do know they find me attractive as the last couple of dates I’ve had, they tried to have sex with me, but I never allowed it. It never felt right.

There was no telling what would happen if Fabrizio wasn’t attracted to me.
Would the deal be broken? Or would my family, in particular my father, be in danger?
Thoughts of opening the car door and jumping out onto the road flashed before me. I was agitated. My palms were sweaty, my legs shaky, and my stomach churned like a turbulent storm.

Sighing, I laid my head back and closed my eyes, hoping my nerves would calm down. At some point, I fell asleep. My eyes snapped open and I had a few disturbing seconds of disorientation over this morning’s conversation with my parents. I leaned back, looking at the scenery, as we headed toward the Candetti villa.

We pulled up to the high cast iron electric gates and then drove down the long cobblestone driveway. The car stopped at the front of the house and I waited for my father and the driver to get out, prolonging my agony. With a frustrated sigh, I opened the door and climbed out of the car.

“Allegra, you will meet Don Enrico first. He’s unwell, so try to remain calm and respectful. Hopefully, Fabrizio is already here. He had some business to take care of first.” My father narrowed his eyes at me, warning me to be on my best behaviour.

“I’ll bet,” I murmured to myself. He most probably had to go murder someone or ditch them off a cliff or something. I turned toward the double oak doors of the villa, thinking the worst.

This villa would be my home.
Forever.

Fabrizio

My father was dying. He had many enemies, and a lot of unfinished business to take care of before he died. He wanted me to expand the family business to all of Europe and possibly Australia and the States. The family business involved all sorts of illegal activities, from drug trafficking to casinos, to setting up World Cup Soccer Final and Football matches in all of Europe. We also owned many legal clubs and bars, which all worked as a smokescreen for our illegal activities. And of course, there was murder.

Enrico Candetti was a gangster, mob boss, crime lord. Whatever you wanted to call him, he was all of them. My family had been one of the most notorious crime families for years, stemming from my grandfather and great-grandfather. Although I couldn’t remember much about my grandfather, Bruno, I knew he had been killed by a local drug lord in Rome. In return, my father retaliated by having every member of the drug lord’s family—man, woman, and child—murdered. My father was a ruthless bastard, but he was my
padre
and I loved him. He treated me well, even though he allowed me to indulge in criminal activity. What parent is proud of their child for theft and fighting? When I fought at school, he rewarded me with a clap on the back. I stole a car, and he bought me a brand new one. I got caught smoking, so he gave me a packet of cigarettes.

When I made my first hit, he had never been prouder of me. For years, my father searched for Salvatore, the man responsible for my grandfather’s murder. When he was located, my father authorised his hit, still not having any substantial proof Salvatore actually murdered my grandfather. He didn’t care. He wanted him dead and I was the one being primed to do it. My father had gotten weaker every day from his cancer. It debilitated his body as he primed me to take over the Candetti family syndicate. As his sole heir, he saw it as a way for me to embrace my destiny.

And today he wanted me to meet my future wife. Damn, I was no good at holding down any woman, let alone a
wife
. I had no idea what made him think I could be monogamous with this one, even if it were the daughter of his old friend.

“Hey, Fabrizio, wait up. What’s the rush?” Luigi, my friend and one of my father’s hit men, caught me by the arm, as I was about to step outside into the gardens to spend some time with my father. His disease was aggressive and things started to crash in on me. I wished I had more time, or better yet, a choice.

“Today is the day I meet my wife.” I could tell Luigi anything. I trusted him with my life.

“I hear Gio Firone’s daughter is quite intelligent and incredibly beautiful,” Luigi said, his eyes wide with mirth.

“And where the hell have you seen Gio’s daughter?” I asked him.

“Around. She’s been at a few clubs we’ve been to together, but you were always too busy fighting the enemy or hooking up with some
putana
to notice her.” Luigi laughed.

“I’m not laughing. You of all people know I don’t do relationships.” I let out a frustrated breath. Arguing with my father on this was useless. My father had great respect for Gio and this marriage was set in concrete. No way out. No escape.

“Fabrizio!” my father called out to me from outside. “
Sbrigati e veni fuori.”

I stepped outside and my father opened his arms wide, signalling for me to hug him.

“Don’t look so worried. You will thank me in years to come. Allegra is a vision. You will not regret this marriage. With both your good looks, I can only just imagine what your children will look like.”

“I don’t know,” I told him, leaning back on the lounger. “I’ve never been good with children. Let me get used to the idea of marriage first before we discuss children.”

“Wait until you meet Allegra. You’ll be eating your words and all your bachelor days will be behind you.”

As I was about to answer him, there was a tap at the café doors. Luigi gave me a smirk when our housemaid announced, “Don Enrico, the guests have arrived.”

I cleared my throat and returned Luigi’s smile as my father signalled for the housemaid to let them in. I’d never met Gio’s daughter, my future wife, yet I felt this rush inside of me, knowing that I would meet her now.

She entered the garden trailing behind her father. Her dark blonde hair was long and wavy, her blue eyes enhanced by the longest and thickest lashes I’d ever seen. I vaguely remember seeing her at one of the clubs Luigi spoke about, but seeing her in the flesh I was immediately attracted to her. This woman was beautiful, and from her body language, I could tell she was feisty. That was even more enticing. She looked nervous, too nervous to look up and notice me standing there.

Our fathers hugged and clapped each other on the backs like old friends do. We still hadn’t been introduced and she still hadn’t given me eye contact. Perhaps she thought I was one of my father’s men instead of his son.

“Are you going to introduce me,
Papa
?” she questioned her father, with a touch of sarcasm.

“She makes a good point, Gio,” I added, standing from my chair. “I believe an introduction is in order under the circumstances.”

She turned her head toward me when I spoke. I felt a particular freeze in the room. Her face stilled when she gazed upon me. Her fear bothered me. I didn’t want her to be scared of me. Matter of fact, for the first time in my life, I wanted someone to like me and see me as something other than a criminal.

“Of course. Fabrizio…” Gio shook and kissed my hand as a sign of respect to the family. “This is my daughter, Allegra Firone.” I held out my hand and she reluctantly shook it. The feeling of her hand in mine sent a spark through me.

“I’m Fabrizio Candetti.”

“I know who you are,” she stated, stiffly, trying to make it sound like I didn’t hold any interest to her, given who I was.

Still holding her gaze, I flashed her my most charming grin, hoping to get a rise out of her. It worked because she looked taken aback. Letting go of my hand she turned to her father and remained silent. I noticed her wrenching her hands together, a sign of nervousness.

“Fabrizio, why don’t the two of you get to know one another while I stay and keep your father company for a while?” Gio suggested, raising his eyebrows at me.

“A wonderful idea, Gio.” My father approved, with an enormous smile on his face.

I nodded, then without thinking, suggested another option. “We can go out. Perhaps for an early dinner. It’s late afternoon and I missed lunch due to some business that needed attending to.”

“I bet,” she mumbled under her breath.

She was going to be a handful, but one that I would welcome.

I stared at her. “Are you scared, Allegra? I promise I won’t bite. Yet,” I whispered the last word so only she could hear me and I heard her sudden intake of breath.

She eyed me warily. “Fine. Let’s go.”

“
Brava
. Luigi, can you go tell the housemaid to organise Allegra’s things upstairs?”

“Of course. No trouble at all.” Luigi smiled from ear to ear, knowing full well I was attracted to Allegra. I had no idea what plans my father had for the wedding, but I wanted her and I wanted her soon.

Allegra