Page 30 of The Betas: Rene
Chapter Eleven
Don Ferone’s Home
Three in the Afternoon
They arrived at Frankie’s mother’s house promptly at three. The housekeeper, Carmen, opened the door and hissed. “We have a new cook. Now I’m supposed to be your mother’s companion. I suppose that was your doing?”
René’s fiancé regarded her as if she were a bothersome bug. “Yes, it was, and if you’re not an excellent companion, I’ll tell my stepfather to have his bookkeeper go over the household accounts for the last ten years. The last person who stole from him, a Mr. Apuso, wound up with no fingers. You might want to keep yours attached,” Frankie told her in a conversational tone.
“You wouldn’t…” The little, blousy, woman hissed again like The Alpha Mate’s cat when someone stepped on his tail.
His Frankie looked her straight in the eye and said, “Try me.”
Carmen led them to an old-fashioned sitting room. The brownstone was in the same neighborhood as Alpha Clavier’s home, and it appeared to be of similar size. Don Ferone, Junior, and Frankie’s mother waited for them.
They walked into the family’s presence. Don Ferone and Junior stood. Frankie spoke, “Dante, Junior, Mom, this is my fiancé, René DuBois. René this is my umm…father, Dante Ferone…” Don Ferone beamed as soon as he heard the word ‘father.’ “My brother, Dante Junior, and my mother, Brigit Ferone.”
René stepped up and shook first Don Ferone’s and then Junior’s hand. He kissed Frankie’s mother’s cheeks and handed her the chocolates and fudge. “These are for you, Mrs. Ferone.” He took out the small two-cigar case from his pocket and gave it to Don Ferone. “A token of my esteem, sir.”
Dante admired, then opened the case, and removed one of the cigars. He pinched it to check the humidity, rolled it in his fingers and grinned. “Cubans?”
“Yes, sir. Mr. La Marche has many resources.”
“As do I,” Dante replied in a pointed tone.
Seventeen-year-old Junior, asked, “What do I get?” René took out another slim wrapped package out of his inside suit pocket. Junior opened it and found a gift card to iTunes. “I’m going upstairs to download some music. Thank you, you’re an okay guy.” As he climbed the stairs, he mumbled, “For a fag.”
Don Ferone shouted up the stairs, “Dante, you will come down and apologize, now.”
René shuddered. Don Ferone didn’t sound like one of the Alpha’s at their worst, the Alpha’s were legendary in their tempers, but he got damn close. Dante Junior came reluctantly down the stairs and mumbled, “I’m sorry,” then trudged back up.
Don Ferone proceeded as if nothing had happened. “Please, take a seat.” He pointed to an old-fashioned loveseat. “Welcome to my home. So, you also work for Mr. La Marche?”
“Yes, I’m one of his lieutenants. I’m in charge of his personal security. My brother, Martin, is his first lieutenant.”
Don Ferone’s eyes turned speculative. “I believe I’ve met Martin.”
“Martin always stands at Mr. La Marche’s left shoulder. If you’ve seen Mr. La Marche, you’ve seen Martin. However, you wouldn’t have been introduced. Martin will be at the wedding with his husband, Edward Kellerman.”
“It is inherited, just as the articles implied…”
Brigit was oblivious to what her husband said. “Dante, I’ve heard you mention Mr. Kellerman. You said he was a darn good lawyer and that he worked for Garou.” She turned to René. “Dante is very competitive. He wants the best people. He was rather annoyed when Mr. Kellerman wouldn’t leave Mr. La Marche’s employ to come work for him.”
Frankie laughed. “Julien also works for Garou. When I first met Julien, I tried to purloin his cook for you and Dante. I knew it was past time for Carmen to retire. Why didn’t she stay in here?”
“Carmen is in her room. Your father felt that the wedding was family business and she didn’t need to be involved. Speaking of the wedding, when is it taking place?” Mrs. Ferone deftly moved the subject away from the twin minefields of Carmen and his and Frankie’s sexuality.
“The wedding has been moved up to Saturday. We saw no reason to wait.” Frankie grabbed René’s hand.If he doesn’t like it, too bad. I’m not going to hide our love in front of him.Frankie’s lips thinned in defiance.
Frankie’s mother observed their entwined hands. “Those rings are beautiful. May I see? I assume that these are a combination wedding and engagement ring.” Frankie held out his hand. “You have a ruby ring, and René has an emerald ring, and the scrollwork is slightly different.” René gently removed his hand from her fingers before she examined the scrollwork too closely. “Dante, they’re beautiful and at the same time, masculine.” Frankie and René dutifully went over to Dante and extended their left hands so he could see the rings.
Don Ferone gave them a perfunctory examination and rubbed his goatee. “Why the big hurry, no one can be pregnant.”
René politely laughed at Dante’s sally then changed the subject. “Mrs. Ferone, you have a lovely home.”
“Thank you. Please call me Brigit. Since I’ve had arthritis, I haven’t been able to take care of it like I should. Carmen is getting old, too. We hired a new housekeeper yesterday, Frankie. Your father brought her home. She is Lamberto Salvaggi’s sister, Gemma. You know Lamberto. He’s a nice young man.”
Frankie peered at his stepfather from under his eyelashes. His stepfather’s jaw clenched.
