AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The man I killed, Tony Belucci. He is a member of one of our rival families. We have a truce with them at present, one hard fought for with much blood spilled to gain the peace. Father is angry that I may have ruined the truce over a woman.”
“Over me?”
“Exactly.”
“Tell me more about this rivalry.”
As he talks, he opens up about the nature of his business, about the battles and feuds that have taken place over the years in New York. I sit in silence, listening to the details of a world I knew nothing about. His father fighting Don Belucci for control of New York and the surrounding counties.
Gaining money.
Fighting in the streets.
All that wealth sitting alongside so much death. Fights between families I’ve never heard of. Years and years of it, crisscrossing the country back and forth.
Do I want to enter this world? Is it too late for me to decide to back out?
I want Vincenzo but I don’t want all this. The risk of death seems to be ever present in his life. Any day, he could be killed. The only thing protecting him is his reputation. Is that enough?
Or the FBI could take him down. He talks about moving into legitimate businesses when he takes over but I’m not sure I believe him. He’s been in this illegal world all his life. Why would he have such a sudden change of heart?
When we reach my apartment, my head’s spinning. I know more about the mafia and the Felici family than I ever needed to know. “I have shared a lot,” Vincenzo says as the car comes to a stop. “For one very important reason.”
“Which is?”
“I trust you. I want you to have all the facts before we are married. That way you do not go in with your eyes blinded to the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That I have blood on my hands. I am a violent man. A dangerous man. Marrying me could be a death sentence for you.”
“I thought you said I’d be safe as long as I was around you.”
“Not if my father believes I am lying to him. You must convince him you are in love with me. That is the only way this can work.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“You will have to do better than that. You will commit to this as if your life depended on it for it does. Fail to convince the wedding party and we are both dead. You for lying to the famiglia and me for attempting to pull the wool over my father’s eyes.”
“So no pressure then.”
“Take some time. Talk it over with your roommate. When I next make contact, I will need to know if you are willing to risk your safety for me.”
“You want to know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think this isn’t a test of my courage, but of my resolve and your decision.”
“Meaning?”
I smile. “I think you’re overplaying the risk of what might happen to us and I think I know why.”
“Pray tell.” He sounds amused rather than angry.
“I think you want to know how committed I am to helping you. I think you’re trying to frighten me off because you want to see if I will allow myself to be frightened off. See if you picked the right woman to pull off this escapade. Well, I’ve got some news for you. Despite what you might think after seeing me in that elevator, I’m no coward.”
His smile broadens. “That much is clear. I must bid you goodnight and return to my father. There is now a wedding to plan and I must move fast.”
