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"My heart is happy tonight because you're here, Salvo," Bianca said, as butterflies fluttered in her stomach standing so close to him. She remembered Enrico's nephew as a very quiet boy years ago. He seemed to be on the outside looking in as he watched the other kids play as he stood alone and kept to himself.
"I'm happy too, sweetheart," Salvo replied, reaching up to curl a thick strand of Bianca's hair behind her ear. Feel-good tingles ran down her spine from his soft touch. It was so endearing.
"You're going to be twenty-eight next year. Why aren't you married by now?" Bianca asked.
Salvo chuckled, "You're very direct."
"Come on, Salvo. Guys your age are already married. Do you have a woman you will slide an engagement ring on soon? Or have you not found her yet?"
Salvo had no problem finding women with his tall, dark, and handsome looks. He was charming and had many girlfriends since he lost his virginity at 15 to an older Italian widowed woman. Salvatore Falco may have been the illegitimate son of the late mob boss, Leonardo Andolini but he made a name for himself and was both clever and ruthless on the streets of New York City as 'Salvo, the Sly Bastard.' He learned much over the years from his Uncle Enrico, whom he loved and admired.
"Just haven't found the right woman yet. What about you? Doesn't women your age have a built-in expiration date for marriage?"
Bianca laughed. "Well, the few men my father found for me were total losers. One even turned out to be a goddamn pimp! Can you believe it?"
"Whoa! You shouldn't cuss like that, Bianca." Salvo said but glad she wasn't married off to some fucking scum-bag.
"Oh, please. I cussed as all the other girls did in my Catholic school."
He finished his glass and set it down on the kitchen counter. "I gotta go and find Matteo. You wanna do something together for New Year's Eve?"
"You're going to have to ask my father first."
"I'll do that tonight. Be ready at 7:00 pm, and I'll have Tony drive to pick you up at your father's house. Good?"
Bianca's green eyes lit up, "Yes, Salvo."
When he walked through the house, he found his cousin, Uncle Enrico's only son, Matteo Andolini. He was a handsome young man with soft jet-black hair, doe-like eyes, and lashes that women would kill for. Salvo grew up with him, and they felt more like brothers to each other than cousins.
Salvo and Matteo hugged as the shy Tessa Demonte, Matteo's girlfriend, stood by, quiet as a mouse.
Matteo said as he draped his arm around Salvo's shoulders, leaned in, and said, "My father wants to speak to both of us in his office."
Salvo saw the same look of nervousness in Matteo's eyes as he always did whenever he had to speak with his father, especially in private.
"Sure," Salvo said.
Matteo nodded and smiled with relief. He told Tessa to sit with Bianca and Gemma until he returned and followed Salvo toward his father's office.
Other family members were in the house that night, and Salvo wanted to see everyone. Still, he led Matteo to the heavy mahogany door to the office and knocked. "Uncle Nico, it's Salvo and Matteo."
Henry Costa, the quiet man and one of Uncle Rico's most trusted for as long as Salvo could remember, opened the door, allowing them to enter.
Bianca's father, Roman Capello, sat in a black leather wingback chair with a leather-bound book and pen in his lap. Roman was slender, tall, and in his mid-fifties. He had jet-black hair and started to lose it on top when he was in his late forties. There was more of a resemblance between Roman in his son and older brother to Bianca, Lucian. Bianca resembled her mother, Anita Capello.
Enrico Andolini sat in a chair behind his large desk. He was dressed casually in a burgundy sweater and slacks instead of a suit and tie since it was the Christmas season and he was at home with his family. Enrico was a handsome Italian man with jet-black hair and dark eyes that gleamed with solid purpose and wisdom.
He was charming and well-educated. As soon as his older brother, Leonardo, was killed twenty-one years ago, Enrico stepped in and took over as the head of the Andolini family business empire. Being a wealthy and powerful man in New York City brought danger to Enrico's life, his family, and those that work or are affiliated in some way.
Over the years, there had been a few attempts to kill Enrico, one time in particular, Salvo remembered when he was eighteen. Jimmy Esposito, a contracted hitman, shot at Enrico's car, killing his driver. Enrico was lucky when one of Jimmy's bullets whizzed by his temple and grazed his earlobe, shattering the car's back window.
Rage began to build inside Salvo and numb him to other emotions since he lost his father without knowing who killed him, and he lost his mother to cancer at thirteen. Enrico treated and loved him like a son, and Salvo wanted to help avenge his uncle's botched assassination. Even though a few years older than Salvo, Enrico's son, Matteo, was timid and afraid of his own shadow. Matteo was insecure, whereas Salvo showed confidence even as a teenager.
Jimmy missed his flight out of LaGuardia the night after the attempted hit and would be interrogated by Enrico's man, Henry Costa. Enrico allowed Salvo to witness the violence and brutality of a man screaming in pain while Henry tortured him. Even after he suffered hours of agonizing pain, Jimmy died without giving up the name of the person who hired him to kill Enrico.
Salvo and Matteo stood beside each other, hands clasped in front of them as Enrico rose from his chair and walked around the desk to hug his son.
Enrico patted Matteo's cheek, "My son, looks like you've not eaten in weeks. You need to put on some pounds before your wedding."
