I’d dialed Savio’s number to check up on Savi, and it went straight to voicemail for the third time. I was getting worried. He didn’t seem like a pet type of guy, and if he sent my baby away, he’d feel a cold bed for the rest of the year.
“Oh, these would look so cute on him.” Rena picked up some doggy jackets.
“Savi is not dressing up.”
“You’re no fun.”
I held the phone to my chin in thought.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“Okay, why are you distracted?”
“Savio isn’t answering his phone.”
“Good, the more trouble we can get into.”
“I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime.”
“Have you told him about taking a girls’ trip?”
“I think I will wait on that conversation. Just going to the mall causes a big stir.”
I grabbed a few boxes of doggy treats and threw them in my basket.
“What are we doing after this?”
“I want to go to Fashion Nova and check out a few things before lunch,” Rena explained.
“I’d been meaning to ask you.”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t? I tell you everything,” I said.
“I know what this is about.”
“Well.”
“I like causing trouble.”
“You had two brothers fighting.”
“That was nothing, Renato is actually funny when you get past the killer part.”
I cocked my head to the side.
“And Sante?”
“Jackass. Are you getting anything else?”
“No, let me pay for these.” I went to the front counter, pushed my basket forward, and removed my credit card.
“Anything else for you today, Mrs. Calabresi?” the sales associate asked.
“No, thank you.”
“Forty-two dollars and seventy cents,” she said.
She bagged everything up and passed me the receipt. I thanked her again, walked out behind Rena, and accidentally bumped into someone.
“Ouch!” I said.
She shoved me back.
“Finally, you can’t run behind Savio,” Viviana snapped.
“Bitch! Who do you think you are?” Rena yelled.
“Rena.”
A guard stepped over and pushed Viviana back.
“She thinks we’re scared of her bodyguards, Viviana,” the same girl from the charity event growled. It was four of them to us three.
“We’re in a public place,” I tried to plead.
Viviana smirked.
“So, you’re scared,” she taunted.
“No, unlike you, I don’t want innocent people getting hurt.”
“Viviana, let’s go,” a guy with a scar over his eyer suggested.
“No, I want her to apologize for stealing my man and bumping into me,” Viviana said.
“If you wanted Savio, you would have him,” I remarked, turned to leave, and felt my hair being ripped out of my head.
“Arghh!”
I felt a fist hit the right side of my face and heard screams and shouts all around me.
Pop! Pop!
Everything froze at the sound of a gun going off.
“Rena…” I whispered, slowly moving to get up.
“This isn’t over,” Viviana spat, then kicked me on the side of my waist.
“Savio’s going to take care of her,” Agosto said.
“That bitch is going to wish she was never born,” Rena told me.
I limped after I got up and grabbed my bags. Rena helped to hold me up, wrapped my left arm around her next, and led me to the car.
“Take me home.” I felt the tears form.
I locked the bathroom door of my bedroom, lit some candles, turned my phone off, and soaked in the tub with some Epsom salts for the last hour. Joseph was waiting on the story, Savio was demanding I couldn’t leave, and Viviana was constantly threatening me and getting in the middle of shootouts. This all started because I decided to try to be the one person to break down the world of the mafia from within.
Bang! Bang!
“Go away!”
“Mrs. Calabresi, it’s Marilyn.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Mr. Calabresi is calling.”
“Tell him I’ve gone to bed.”
“He’s ordered that you call him ASAP.”
I waved off her comment, leaned up, and grabbed the wine, and drank straight from the bottle. I blew out a breath, unplugged the water, and let it drain out, while I decided to go out tonight and get over the chaos in my life. I lifted the towel from the cabinet, wrapped it around my body, and came out of the bathroom to Savi standing at the door.
“Marilyn!” I called out and bent down to pick up Savi.
She popped her head back in my room.
“If he calls again, tell him I’m sleeping please.”
“I think you should talk to him.”
“I will. I’m not mad. I just need a little girls’ night out.”
“Is that wise after the day you’ve had?”
“I’ll have a bodyguard, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“If you’re hungry, I left some food in the microwave.”
“Okay, thank you. Are you leaving for the night?”
“Yes, Savi was walked already, and the food stocked. Be good.”
“Always.”
I placed Savi on the floor, went to the closet to pick out the best dress I had, and paired it with the highest heels I could manage.
An hour later, I was dancing with Rena in a club outside the city that Agosto recommended, that was under Calabresi control. In case Savio had a problem with me going out, he’d at least be okay with me being surrounding by his people. The bass of the music thumped through my chest as we twisted and turned, tossed our hair around, danced with some random guys, and had a good time. The vibe was great, and I didn’t feel like I was someone’s wife, or the daughter of a doctor, or a journalist reporting on the bad stuff in the world. Just McKayla, twenty-three and free. I laughed at Rena slow dancing with some guy. He whispered in her ear, and she ignored every word he said. It was going on midnight, and I had work to finish. eWe’d been gone most of the day. The club lights flashed from green to red for final calls for drinks.
I tapped Rena on the shoulder, leaned over, and whispered in her ear, “One more shot before we go!” I yelled out, and she nodded, telling the guy she was going to the bar.
“My feet are killing me.” Rena fanned herself.
“Me too, this was fun though.”
“Yes, it was. We needed this.”
“What can I get you ladies?” the bartender asked.
“Two Patron shots,” Rena said.
“We have work tomorrow.” I giggled.
“I’ll drink a double espresso in the morning.” Rena shrugged her shoulders.
“Here you go.” He placed them on the counter, and I pulled a hundred-dollar bill out of my purse.
“To living life on our rules.” Rena held the shot glass up in the air, and I clinked my glass with hers and took the shot straight back.
“Yess!”
“One more dance for the road.” Rena grabbed my hand and escorted me through the crowd. I pulled my hair up, swayed my hips to the beat of the music, and let my stress go away.
“Shit!” I tripped and almost fell over in laughter when I stepped in the condo. It was supposed to be one more dance, and it ended up being three more and more drinks.
“Do you know what time it is?”
“Savio? Is that you?” I giggled.
The lights in the living room came on.
“Have you any idea what’s going on?”
I pushed my dress down, swished over to him sitting on the chair, and stood between his legs.
“No, what’s going on?” I chortled.
“You think I want my wife out in public drunk?”
“Please, it was just a few drinks.” I removed my jacket and tossed it on the couch.
“Where did this dress come from?” He pulled at the bottom seam.
“I’ve had this for years.” I went to remove the dress from my body and dropped it on the floor. I wore just a thong, no bra, and black heels.
“You’re not allowed to wear that again.”
He slid his hand across my stomach down to my inner thigh.
“You don’t boss me around.”
“Why didn’t you answer my call?” he probed.
“I was busy, something you know about very well.”
“You think I’m playing games with you?”
“I think you have me mistaken with Viviana.”
I slid down to my knees, rubbing my hands on his legs up to his thick member.
“What did you say?”
“I know what this is about”
“You don’t know anything.”
“Where were you when I called you?” I stopped undoing his pants and peered at him.
“I had something to do.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t speak on my business.”
“Did you know Viviana tried to jump me at the mall?”
“I heard, and I was in a shootout.”
“What!” My mouth gaped open in shock.
“Come up here.”
“No, tell me what happened.”
“The threats are real, and I need you to follow my orders.”
“I need to feel that she doesn’t get to have a step ahead of me.”
“She’s not a thought in my mind.” He caressed my cheek.
“Where’s Savi?”
“Locked in your room.”
“Why did you lock him up?” I tried to get up but stumbled and fell in his lap.
“Savi is not your concern right now.”
“What is my priority?”
“Fucking your husband to make it up for ignoring his calls.”
“Can you make another meeting with your father happen?”
“I don’t want to talk about my father right now.”
“I promise to suck your dick so good you’ll forget about every other woman you’ve had sex with.”
“Prove it.” He rested his hands on the chair and dared me in a challenge.