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A chorus of “Yes Don.” Echo around the room.
Bosco nods his approval before turning back to his ex-wife. “Ravinia. You have caused enough trouble. I tried to do right by you. I gave you companionship when I couldn't give you love. I bought you everything your heart desired and treated you like gold yet still nothing was good enough for you. Never did you stand proudly at my side. Never did you speak up when someone spoke against me. You may have been my wife in name, but you were never my Queen. Violet understood the role as you never did. She would have backed me as a Don's wife should. As I know Elena will do with Luca.”
Ravinia begins to scream again. She’s shouting profanities and lies. “Enough!” Comes a familiar voice from the corner. It’s my mom. She is still pale and recovering from her surgery. She takes two steps into the circle. Guards and Capos parting so she can join us. “Guard.” She speaks calmly though it is dripping with authority.
Two men step up. Massimo and Paolo.
An overwhelming amount of pride is pouring off of Bosco. My mom didn’t need to get out of bed for this. Bosco could have handled it just fine. Being the Queen she is. My mother knew better. She would stand by his side even on her deathbed. Which thanks to the new Kidney, she is no longer laying on.
Bosco leaves his eyes on my mom as he speaks again to Ravinia. “Ravinia, when I learned of Violet's survival I tried to do right by you. I gave you a penthouse, filled a bank account for you, and armed you with a team of guards to keep you safe. I asked nothing of you. And yet you came here today and pissed all over my generosity.”
Massimo and Paolo have Ravinia by the arms. She is tugging against their hold while still trying to slander my family. Massimo clamps his hand over her mouth. I smile at him and I feel Luca chuckle next to me. Massimo looks to us and gives a wink. “Out of respect for your time as my wife and for Milan. I will not excommunicate you.” Ravinia seems to sag in relief. It’s hard to tell since she is being held up. “But you are banished from this city and from this country. You will be sent to Sicily where the families of old will keep watch on you. I suggest you accept your place there quickly. You will have no title and no sway over the Council.”
She screeches as Massimo and Paolo drag her from the room.
Bosco turns away from the door they left through and addresses the room. “Men, I need to speak to my daughters. Please grab a coffee, our meeting will resume shortly.” The men leave and Bosco leads our group into the library.
Bosco pulls Milan into a hug the moment the door closes behind us. “I’m so sorry Milan. I didn’t want to believe she would cause a scene like that.”
“I know.” She nods and replies softly.
“I never wanted you to go through that. I know you love your mother but she is a vile evil woman when she wants to be. And it seems that is happening more and more often.”
Milan nods. “Yeah. I’ve felt it for a while. I thought maybe I was doing something wrong.”
“Never.” Say Bosco and Mario together.
Bosco gives a nod to Mario. Allowing him to take Milan into his arms and speak to her. “You did nothing wrong. Your mother has always pushed you to be someone you aren’t. We should have never let that happen.”
Milan nods. “So what happens now? If mom is going to Sicily.”
“You are staying here. We will fly you to visit your mother whenever you wish.” Bosco says reassuring her.
Now it’s my turn to reassure her. “Your place is here. With us.”
Milan turns to Luca and I with tears in her eyes. “Really?”
“Absolutely.” Luca says in agreement as he gives my hand a squeeze.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Elena
IT IS THEnight before my wedding. It isn't going to be a big glamorous affair. It’s not my style. Thankfully it’s not Luca’s either. I wasn't like other girls growing up. I never imagined my wedding day. Never thought I would settle down long enough to find someone, let alone trust them enough to marry them.
We are at our rehearsal dinner. We rented out one of the Family’s Italian Bistros. There are maybe fifty people here. I would have preferred less. The Council superseded our wishes. Luca convinced me to cave. Saying we would have plenty of battles we would need to pick in the future, and including them in the dinner was a small price to pay.
I hate when he’s right. No I don’t. I love it. Being with him allows me to pass some of my worries to him to deal with. I am learning quickly that I don’t need to be in control of everything. I don’t need to have eyes on everyone.
The dinner is going well. My family is here. All the cousins I’ve never met are slowly warming to me as I am them. They seemed a bit apprehensive about their new found connection to the Mafia. Bosco had to assure them that they’ve been linked this entire time. Ever since his first date with Mom, they were under his protection. Their tune changed after Bosco provided them specific scenarios he had intervened with them in the past.
Everyone from Luca’s side, and by his side, I mean the Mafia men and families, appear to be behaving. There are no grumblings about Mom and I’s sudden appearance, or the parentage of Milan. The last week was spent calming the storm and assuring everyone that the Caruso Family was strong and more powerful than ever.
The Council had me regale them with the tale of my revenge. Bosco was tense throughout it. The Mafia men prided themselves on keeping women and children out of the fighting. With me being in the middle of it, by my own design no less, I had pissed a few of the men off and damaged their egos. Once they learned my reasoning their trepidation eased away. They made me agree to keep out of the fighting in the future and let Luca lead. He had squeezed my hand under the table then. His touch reminding me of the private conversation we had already agreed to the night before as he made love to me.
As long as I wasn’t pregnant or trying to jump in front of bullets. Luca would allow me to come with him on the less dangerous missions outside of the house. As Don they would be less than he was used to. Massimo would be stepping into his role as Underboss and those outings would now fall to him. Any enemy that came back alive was fair game for me to play with if I wanted to, or I could watch. I wasn’t sure I still wanted blood on my hands. I had only done it to keep my mom and I safe. With the threat gone, and my list nearly complete I no longer felt the urge to defend or kill. The final plans to take the last name off was in place. It was time for me to find my peace.
Dad and Mom are seated to my right smiling and laughing. Yep. I’m calling him dad now. Our relationship is shaky at best. Point is, I’m trying. And as Luca likes to remind me. I have all the time in the world now since I’m never running again.
