Mobster's Girl (12 page)

“It’s white gold and the clerk said it means
love, friendship, and loyalty.”

I shake my head agreeing with him, “Yeah, I
know.” I say as I stare at it. “It’s beautiful. Thank you so much.”
I lean in and kiss him. Then I lift my hair and swivel so that he
can put the necklace on me. I immediately feel his breath on my
neck then his lips are moving over my skin. I shudder because it is
amazing. He moves away and says huskily, “It’s on. Lemme see.”

When I face him again, his eyes are lustful
and searching mine. He looks at the necklace and smiles. “Now it’s
beautiful.” He says and I can’t resist kissing him again.

We stop and get breakfast at a little diner
off the highway. Everyone in the restaurant stares at us as we come
in. I’m guessing they saw us get out of the limo. I giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Antonio asks me as we
stand at the front holding hands waiting to be seated.

“Nothing,” I say.

He gives me a look that says,
yeah
right
.

“I was just thinking that all these people
probably thought someone famous was coming to eat here because of
the limo. And I just want to yell out to them.” I pretend to yell
and cup my hand over my mouth, “Nothing to see here, just the mob
boss’s son from New Jersey out for breakfast.”

“Wow,” he deadpans. “No one has ever called
me that to my face.”

I laugh again, “What are you going to do Mr.
Delisi, tie me up and throw me in the river?”

“I wouldn’t throw you in the river, but tying
you up has been on my mind before.” His face is serious and he
squeezes my hand to jerk me closer. The waitress interrupts us and
yanks us out of our reverie.

We order eggs, bacon, and toast. I am still
reeling by what Antonio said. A blush creeps up my face by just
replaying what he said in my mind. He has an unbelievable ability
to make me want and fear him at the same time. I am so out of my
league. I’ve never had a steady boyfriend. In fact, these feelings
of passion and lust are new to me. But regardless of how confused
and new this is, I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone else.

We arrive in New York City and Antonio takes
me to the Empire State Building. We have lunch at the Ritz.
Everywhere we went Antonio paid with one hundred dollar bills. It
made me uncomfortable. I was starting to question where he got all
this money-the limo, the necklace, and our two hundred dollar
lunch. Did his parents just give it to him? I was trying not to let
my thoughts sour this awesome day.

My phone buzzes with a text message,

Enjoying your day in NY? Did he get in ur pants
yet?

It’s from Troy. I don’t respond-I’m too mad.
So this is how it’s going to be between us.
I shove my phone
back in my pocket. I refuse to let Troy ruin this perfect day.

Antonio takes my hand and tells the driver to
meet us at Central Park. We walk slowly taking in the sights and
sounds of the city. We pass shop after shop, window after window of
everything from clothes to tools. The streets aren’t too busy
because it’s a Saturday.

Every couple of blocks Tonio tugs on my hand
and we stand close to the buildings away from the foot traffic. And
every time he scrunches his hand in my hair and kisses me. The
first few times they were sweet and slow kisses. The closer to
Central Park we got the more heated and wanting they became. The
more heated the kisses became the more dazed and drugged I
felt.

At the entrance to Central Park, a man with a
weathered cardboard sign sits huddled on the ground. His clothes
are tattered and dirty with what seemed like years of filth.

Antonio’s pace slows as we get closer to the
gates of the park. He releases my hand. We stand a few feet from
the man who appears homeless. Antonio reaches into his left front
pocket and takes out a crumpled hundred dollar bill. Less than two
weeks ago, I was afraid of Antonio. Now I think he’s the sweetest
guy I know. He hands it to the guy, picks up my hand again, and
leads me into the park.

Antonio:

I know that the text she got is from her
“friend” Troy; the chooch that Alessandra thinks is so wonderful.
But I’m not going to let it bother me because she’s here with
me
-all bouncing red curls, luscious lips, and smiles.

The park is crowded. People on roller blades,
bicycles, and wearing fancy jogging suits litter one of the slices
of green grass and trees in New York City.

We walk for a little while. The sun makes
shadows on the sidewalk through the tree limbs.

“So,” I ask her, “are you looking forward to
college next year?”

“Yeah, I’m glad I got into my first choice.
What are you planning to do next year?” She asks squeezing my
hand.

“Don’t know yet. I’ve been busy.” I say not
wanting to meet her gaze.

“You must want to go somewhere?” I get a
sickening feeling when I think of her going off to college without
me. My question had been meant to be light and conversational but
now I’m sorry I brought up her going away.

We approached a large group of people
standing huddled together in a circle. Loud music began to ring
out. A bunch of guys start dancing. Megan obviously wanted to watch
because she led me over to the crowd.

“Wow they’re good,” she said. I position her
in front of me and rest my hands across her middle while we watched
the show. It is awesome just to hold her.

The driver picked us up at the entrance and
we drove down the congested streets.

It’s getting late. I need to bring back
something for my mom. I spot Godiva Chocolates store on
40
^th
street. The driver steers the limo to the curb.

“I’m gonna grab something for my mom. You
want anything?”

“No, I’m all set,” she smiles at me and I
notice her playing with the necklace I gave her.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” And I smile
at her too.

The smell of melted chocolate drifts over me
like a warm blanket. I walk around looking for Mom’s favorite. I
pick a large box of them. I should get something for Megan’s mom
too. Then I second guess myself and get another large box of
assorted chocolates for her sister. Then I grab one for Megan
too.

I stand at the register as the clerk rings it
up when my phone buzzes with a text from Vito,

Ronnie’s been jumped, your Pop is calling a meeting
tonight, what time will u be back?

Shit!
Figures.

“That’ll be 195 dollars please.” The cashier
jars me from my thoughts of having to rush back home. I snatch a
couple of hundreds from my pocket and hand them over while texting
Vito.

7:30 if no traffic

I take the huge bag off the counter and get
back in the limo.

“Did you buy out the whole store?” she says
giggling at me. Megan holds the bag under her nose. “Wow, it smells
awesome! Did you mug Willy Wonka or something?” My anxiety melts
away at her teasing. I lean over and kiss her. She laughs again.
“YOU even smell like chocolate.” She rubs her nose over my neck and
hair like a cat. I hit the button for the privacy screen between us
and the driver while I pin her beneath me.

The magic that is Megan ensnares me. For the
next two hours we kissed, talked, and laughed. She is the most
amazing person. I can’t imagine how I lived so long having her at
an arm’s reach. I didn’t know how I was going to let her go when it
was time to drop her off at home. I wanted to tell the driver to
head for Canada.
My stalker is back!
And I told her
that.

With my face nuzzling her neck and my hand
cupping her hip I said, “I don’t want to let you go. I want you all
to myself.”

“What are you gonna do-kidnap me?” she says
joking.

She stiffened under me when I said, “I have
resources you know.”

“I bet you do.” The joking tone was gone.

I looked up at her, “Don’t be afraid of me...
I can see it in your eyes sometimes.”

Megan straightened forcing me to sit up.
“Well, I am afraid.” She wouldn’t look at me.

I tipped her chin forcing her back to me. She
tears welled up in her eyes again. “No, honey, don’t cry.” I felt
sick to my stomach. “I know I get angry at times, but I won’t hurt
you.” My own words stun me. I can’t recall ever calling someone
honey in my life.

Her eyes still glistening, tears threatening
to fall she says, “That’s not why I’m scared.”

“What is it then?”

She was really killing me with those tears.
When girls I didn’t even like cried, it bothered me. This is
torture watching her try to stop her tears from falling.

“Ugh, I don’t even think I could explain it
all.”

“All!” I choked, “All’s not good.”

She waited then said, “You’re gonna hurt me
when you get tired of me.” It seemed like it took a lot for her to
say that.

“Tired of you!” My voice went up, “I just
told you I didn’t want to let you go.”

“Yeah, well, guys like you can be very
charming.”

“I just threatened to kidnap you! That’s
charming!” That made her laugh. “I’m afraid too, Megan.” And I
am.

“Huh? What can the great Antonio Delisi be
afraid of?” I could feel the bite of her sarcasm.

“If this is confession time, here it is. I am
so see through about my feelings for you that even my Grandmother
knew. Alessandra told me to stop moping around and do something
about it. I never even told San how I felt about you. She said she
had always known from when we were kids. San really likes you.

“I like her too.”

“And Vito… the asshole laughed so hard when
he figured it out, I wasn’t sure he could pull himself together
enough to drive.”

“Why was he laughing?”

“Because he’s an ass and he knew how bad I
wanted you. But I had to convince my father to allow it.”

“Hmmm, my father warned me away from you,”
she said quietly.

“If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t want them
hanging with me either.” She smiled again but I knew that wasn’t
everything. “That’s not it though is it?”

“No,” Megan sucked in a breath, “I’m also
scared something will happen to you… you won’t tell me what you do
all day…. And what happened the other night-you’re keeping things
from me.”

She was right I was. But it isn’t because I
don’t want to tell her but because I want to protect her.

“I can’t tell you.” I kiss her, “and I don’t
want you in that part of my life. That scares me.” I kiss her
again. I reach my arm around her slim waist and slip my hand under
the hem of her shirt. I graze my fingers over the soft warm skin of
her belly.

A barely audible groan sounds in the back of
her throat. Her need and want excite me. I brush my hands higher up
her sides. Megan’s kisses become hungrier and I’m finding hard to
stop myself. I want her.

The stopping of the limo pulls us from our
passion filled daze. We are right in front of her house. I didn’t
want this to end. I don’t think she did either.

“This is your stop.” I say. Megan’s hair is
wilder looking than usual. It probably didn’t help that I kept
running my fingers through it.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” she sounds
disappointed. “When will I see you again?”

“I need to check out the schedule for the
week,” I say, “I’ll text you.” I kiss her again and walk her to the
door.

After I dropped Megan off, I had the limo
driver take me right to the docks at the warehouse where the
meeting was being held. There are so many of us when Pop calls a
meeting like this that we wouldn’t all fit at the restaurant.
Regardless of the fact that right now it is boarded up.

Dino’s outside with some of his younger
cousins. They all watch me get out and pay the driver. The limo
pulls away and I light a cigarette. I didn’t need one all day with
Megan-until now.

Dino calls out to me, “What’s the matter? You
have to fuckin’ wine and dine her with limos to get any from her?”
I was calm all day then Dino has to go and fuck with it.

I didn’t even hesitate. I took two strides
and blasted him in the face with my fist. He was ready for it this
time-unlike in church. He tried to hit me back but I ducked and
smashed him again. A cut formed over his eye and his jaw lumped up.
Like a stupid fuck he tried to hit me again but I danced back and
swung my leg out. He went crashing to the ground. No one, not one
of his cousins or any bystanders interfered.

Uncle Tutti must have heard the commotion. He
came outside and saw Dino lying on the ground.

“Aww, Tonio.” He said sounding disappointed,
“Will you stop beatin’ that kid up?”

I lit a new cigarette since I tossed the
other one on my way to pummel Dino. I took two drags and flicked it
at him.

“Stay the fuck away from me and Megan.”

I mumbled as I blew smoke out of my lungs,
“Sorry Uncle,” and I passed him to go into the meeting.

I step into my father’s arms as he pats me on
the back. “How was your day?” he asks.

“Good, real good.” I say. Donny’s already
seated with his crutches leaning against the table. He looks decent
for being shot the other day. I give him a tap on the back.

The place is packed; even sons as young as 14
are here. This brewing fight with Sommmersville has all the
families of Palmetto coming together.

My father stands at the front table and
everyone sits down in a folded chair. The tables are plastic party
tables set up in a huge square on the cement floor. Dino sits all
the way on the other side of the room with his Dad. He is sitting
there seething. He baited me on purpose because he thought he could
take me.
He’s a fuckin’ stunad!

Vito sits at my right with Louie and Ronnie
who is sporting a black eye on my left. Normally they’re not here.
They sit with me to show their loyalty.