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Matteo stood and asked, "Will you be my best man?"
"I'd be honored."
They hugged in a brotherly embrace, patting each other on the backs. Then, Matteo sat back down in the chair, and Salvo returned to his desk.
He pulled out two cigarettes and handed Matteo one, then lit them with a gold-plated zippo lighter with the head of a lion engraved on both sides. It once belonged to his father. Uncle Enrico gave it to Salvo when he turned fifteen.
Matteo took a long drag off the cigarette and exhaled. "The wedding is on May. Tessa, her mother, and, well everyone is excited. It's pandemonium."
The cousins talked and laughed, discussing the planning of the big event and which of his family and friends he was going to ask to be groomsmen. It wasn't only the marriage that weighed heavily on Matteo's shoulders. It was becoming the next in line to be head of the Andolini family business, and that's what Salvo envied most deep down inside ever since the day he said goodbye to his father, Leonardo Andolini.
Salvo started working for the Andolini family business when he was only 18. At age 21, he was the capo of his crew of soldiers and a few associates who swore loyalty to him.
Three powerful men reigned over the 5 Boroughs in New York City: Frank Zucco ran his business and controlled the Bronx, whereas Rocco Mancini controlled Queens. Both men envied Enrico Andolini because he dominated the most power and influence, reigning over Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The nation's economy was good, businesses were booming, and Manhattan was the epicenter of constructing new buildings and skyscrapers. This brought in money from unions, contractors, and the city government.
Salvo swore an oath to Uncle Nico to help guide Matteo when the time came. This troubled him, too, because if anyone learned about Matteo's secret, it could cost him his life and start a war among the other powerful families in New York City.
"How did the New Year's Eve date go with Bianca Capello?" Matteo asked, remembering Roman's silent approval of Salvo's request in his father's office on Christmas Eve.
Salvo's dark eyes gleamed, and he smiled. "It was perfect."
He replayed that moment in his head every day — that soft kiss on Bianca's lips at midnight as they stood on his balcony in each other's arms. Salvo's feelings for Bianca were more profound than he'd ever felt for any woman. She was still a virgin, and he wanted to marry Bianca and claim her virginity someday. It was fate.
When the telephone on Salvo's desk rang, he picked up the receiver and answered it.
"Hi, Salvo. Are you busy?" Bianca asked, her voice trembling.
"What's wrong, Bianca?"
Matteo saw the expression on Salvo's face change to a menacing look as he crushed the cigarette out in the ashtray and stood from his office chair.
"I'm just a little shaken up. I didn't want to call my father or Lucian."
"Are you at the Plaza Hotel?"
"Yes."
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
When Salvo hung up the phone, he grabbed his keys from the desk and put on his leather jacket.
"Everything okay?" Matteo asked
"I'm heading over to see Bianca." He said, walking toward the office door. "Can you stay here while I'm gone?"
"Sure."
Salvo entered the nightclub's parking garage and climbed into his red Ferrari Testarossa parked in his reserved spot. Maneuvering through city traffic, Salvo gripped his steering wheel as cars honked and cab drivers pulled over to pick up riders. By the time he parked in front of the Plaza Hotel and handed his keys to a valet attendant, his clenched jaw ached as he walked in.
The hotel was one of a kind and luxurious, with marbled floors, Venetian décor with gold and silver colors, green foliage, and palm trees.
Salvo found Bianca smiling as she stood in the large atrium and talked to an older couple. But when they thanked her and walked away, Bianca's fake smile disappeared as Salvo approached and folded her arms.
She looked frightened.
Salvo cupped her face and swiped a thumb across her cheek. "What happened?"
She took his hand, led him down a long hallway to a private office, and shut the door, leaning her back against it. "I went to lunch with some of my friends earlier today and got creeped out by that guy, Geno Nicoletti."
