Page 32 of Reign Of Triumph
The city is alive with bright lights. I called ahead to the owner of the restaurant to let him know we’d be dining at his place this evening and requested a quiet table. Reese is the owner of La Luna, a role he took over a couple of years ago from his retired father. Reese is a good man who stays out of people’s business, but is smart enough to know how to maintain relationships. Reese’s father once saved a man associated with La Famiglia, and when asked what he wanted in return, his answer was “peace.” Sam Turner didn’t want to be part of any foul play or have to pay off the mob for protection. All he wanted was to run his restaurant and live a quiet life with his wife and kids. This was his request, and to this day, everyone knows that La Luna is untouchable, and so is Sam’s family. We protect his place, not because he asked, but because a good man saved the life of one of our own. The underboss he saved, Arturo, has since passed away. Sam and his family attended the funeral. At that time, Sam and Arturo had become good friends. Arturo’s death hit Sam hard, and this is part of the reason that Sam decided to let his son take over the restaurant. Now, he spends quality time with his wife traveling the world.
Reese himself leads us to our table and ensures that his best waiter is attending to us. Serafina looks around the room, suddenly growing shy, and whispers, “Why is everyone staring at us?”
“I surmise that the men are captivated by a beautiful woman. Fortunately for me, she belongs to me,” I tease. “And the women are jealous of you because you’re making their men turn their heads.”
“I don’t think that’s it at all. I think all the women are wondering how to get your attention, and all the men are wondering what your workout routine is so they can be more like you,” she returns with a giggle. I love that Serafina is comfortable and we’re able to talk so easily. In reality, people are staring because they know who I am, and they’re intrigued to see my wife for the first time. A private table is quiet, but not completely out of sight.
Danilo and Vincenzo are at the front of the restaurant, keeping watch, while Alessandro and Cassio are at the back. They are positioned between the kitchen and the side emergency door. As a precaution, Danilo had scoped out La Luna earlier to ensure we would be adequately covered.
“Do you see what you’d like?” I ask while she studies the menu.
“Everything sounds so good,” she murmurs.
I catch Reese’s eye, and he comes to us. “What’s the special today, my friend?”
“I have to say that the Risotto Milanese is exquisite. It’s not the special, but most definitely the best I’ve ever tasted. My wife is the chef, and Teresa is a master of this dish,” Reese replies with pride. “I would start with the stuffed zucchini florets, then the risotto, and for dessert, I suggest the homemade zeppole with cherry sauce.”
“That sounds divine,” Serafina responds.
“We’ll take your advice, Reese,” I tell him. He then waves to his waiter and orders a bottle of red wine, insisting that this meal is his gift to the newlyweds.
I won’t argue with the owner, simply because this is a matter of pride. However, I pay my own way. Too many underbosses abuse their power and expect freebies. That’s not the way I want to be thought of. Instead, I will leave a handsome tip for his staff, tallying the cost of the meal and then some.
When our food arrives, I find great pleasure in watching Serafina eat. The way she closes her eyes and enjoys the richness of her meal is exotic enough, but then she makes these sounds of sheer pleasure that nearly unhinge the last of my control. I’m not sure how we get through the entire meal without me dragging her into the bathroom stall and fucking her stupid, but I manage. Anticipation will only make the evening that much sweeter in the end, I remind myself.
When we are back in the car, Serafina notes that we’re not heading home. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a night of fun, gioia mia. The night is young, and I want this to be a surprise,” I tell her. She radiates a smile, and that, in itself, is enough to make the evening worthwhile. She glances out the window at the bright lights of the city, her eyes growing wider when she sees that we’ve arrived at The Vault, the most prestigious nightclub in the city.
“I’ve never been to a club before,” she says, her gaze glued to the black-and-silver double door blocked by two huge bouncers. The wait to get on the list for this club can be a month or two, unless, of course, you belong to La Famiglia. Since we own the club, many men take their women, or in most cases, their mistresses, here. I do need to warn Serafina that what she sees in the club remains between the two of us. In La Famiglia, men run their households as they see fit. If they choose to fuck around on their wives, that’s their business. Discretion is key, and Serafina needs to understand that her place is to enjoy her evening and gossip is not acceptable.
“Many of our soldiers come to The Vault. I feel it prudent to remind you?—”
“I won’t say a word. I don’t care what other couples do or don’t do together,” she cuts in. She sidles closer, cupping my jaw and looking me directly in my eyes. “I know I have no right to ask, but I hope that I am enough for you, Eros. I want to be enough for you.” Then, in a whisper, she adds, “Because I’m in love with you.”
My heart lurches, and I search her face, filled with hope. She tries to turn away when I’m too choked up to speak, but I hold her chin steady, bend my head, and murmur, “I didn’t think I would ever be capable of caring for someone as I do you. It’s not something you can expect me to profess, and never in the company of others, but this one time, I will tell you: I love you. I never expected it, and God knows I tried to resist my feelings, because loving someone puts them in danger, but I do love you.” A tiny gasp escapes her lips. I place my fingers over them. “Only when we are alone.”
She nods, then presses her lips to mine in a chaste, sweet kiss. Then, with her lips still touching mine, she says, “Only alone.”
I get out of the car, come around to open her door, and help her out. “Never leave my side,” I say. I hold her hand tightly in mine as we move through the main doors and into the club.
The music is blaring, the bar is full of patrons, and the dance floor is alive with people gyrating to the beat of the music. The place is packed, and everyone seems to be having a great time. I scan the area, looking for the couple of friends who are supposed to meet me.
There’s a part of my life that only a select few are aware of. The stories of me becoming a mercenary and leaving La Famiglia behind are something I really don’t care about. But there is more to my past. Nero, Luciano, and Alessio Cassini, don of Il Destino, are the three men who slowly brought me back home. After Marco and Alessio agreed to a truce, Nero approached Alessio to consider having me work under Il Destino, while he worked on his father to call me back to La Famiglia.
Both Nero and Luciano were sick of me disappearing for months at a time without a word, never knowing if I was dead or alive. When they approached me about working for Alessio, I thought they’d lost their minds, but after meeting Alessio and hearing him out, I agreed, at least temporarily. Everyone in Il Destino thought I was a distant relative who had come to get experience from the master himself. I have to say, Alessio taught me plenty, as did Niccolo, his consigliere.
I mainly kept to myself, but during my time with Alessio’s crew, I formed some solid friendships. With Alessio’s approval, I shared with them who I truly was and why I was there. When Marco finally called me home, Alessio was sorry to see me go.
I often wondered if Marco was in on the plan from the start. We never speak about it, but my gut tells me that Alessio and Marco had plenty of discussions before I moved to Las Vegas. To maintain the truce between families, Alessio would never keep this from Marco. I still don’t know why Marco allowed this, and I don’t much care because, in the end, I made solid connections and good friends in Il Destino.
There he is, sitting across the room: my friend Julian, along with Fern and a couple of others from Il Destino. Every so often, they come for a visit, or I go to them. These guys know how to have fun, and since Julian is recently married, I wanted Serafina to get to know his wife, Milana. It’s rare that Milana comes with him when he drops into town, but tonight, they made a special trip.
Alessandro takes a position at the bar. He’s all business tonight. It doesn’t matter how many women are eye-fucking him and trying to get his attention, Alessandro has a job to do, and he won’t be deterred. Cassio is scoping out the rest of the room, just as Alessandro taught him. One day, Cassio is going to make a formidable soldier. I can see a vast improvement in him already. Alessandro has recruited several other men to work with him too. Vincenzo and Danilo are checking out the back of the club.
I lead Serafina to where Julian and the others are sitting at a private table in the VIP area. Seeing us approach, Julian and the other men come to their feet. Julian steps from behind the table and embraces me in a manly hug, with a solid slap on my back.
“Damn, you look good, Eros. Marriage agrees with you,” Julian says with a grin. Fernando is next to greet me, along with Joe and Nick. The only woman with them is Milana, but that’s because the others have not yet taken a bride. I still can’t believe that Julian is married. When I heard that Milana saved his life at great risk to her own, I was stunned. Their story has a happy ending, but the road to happiness had its perils.
