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A few days later, we all arrive at our hotel in New York City. The excitement in the air is addicting. Our staff greets us in the private lobby with keys to our rooms. I still yearn for alone time with my wife, but the rest want to go out to eat and explore.
Tony swats my arm with his bag hanging from his other hand behind his back. “I’m outta here. I’ve got some things to do. I’ll check in tomorrow with you.” He walks to my uncle, they exchange some words, and then he is gone. He has a loft in the meat district, close to the family business, where he resides when he’s in town.
I kiss Katarina on the forehead. “Let us check your parents into their room, then we can go relax in ours.”
Angelo steps into the elevator at the last minute looking all distressed. Katarina’s parents are smiling, looking forward to the entertainment he always provides them.
“Angelo, you okay?” asks my beautiful wife. She lets go of my arm and grabs his, trying to console him and to get answers.
He raises his phone in his hand. “Just a big mistake that I’ve made way too many times.” Placing his sunglasses over his anguished eyes, he rubs his hair in frustration. If anyone else would wear sunglasses in an elevator, it would look ridiculous. Angelo somehow makes the look normal. “I’ll join you, your parents, and the girls tonight. Claudette has made reservations for dinner and a show.” He says, rubbing her hand and taking full advantage of her good will.
“Angie, take your grubby hands off my wife. Get your own wife to take pity on you and involve in your antics, or I will tell Vampire Sherry your room number.” I say sternly, totally exhausted with him.
The door opens with a ping to our floor. He walks out with my wife, and both are ignoring me. He glances over his shoulder at me. “I had Uncle Carmine book my room next to yours.” He smiles. “I’m skipping the gym; I have a feeling it will be a late night. I’ll meet you directly in the conference room at tomorrow morning at ten to meet with Benjamin Sabato.” He gives a quick cheek kiss to Katarina and then proceeds to help her parents to their room.
Laughing, Katarina pats my arm softly. “Come on, husband. I need you to rub my swollen feet immediately. You promised to take full advantage in our suite, remember?”
All annoyance toward Angelo fades away, and all I can think of is the sweet sugar taste of my wife.
After a quickie that brought pleasure to both of us in our suite, I take her to Rockefeller Center. I delight her by taking selfies with the famous Christmas tree and ice-skating rink. After that though, I tell her that’s enough touristy stuff because I know she doesn’t want to take a horse ride. She kept commenting how badly she felt for the horses.
During the warmer months, I would just have us walk or take my motorcycle to get around. But, in the winter months, I prefer either drive or have Gus, the hotel chauffeur, drive me.
We greet the black SUV driven by Gus, and I slide her into the back and quickly place her on my lap. “Santos, you need to stop placing me on your lap while we drive. You won’t be able to do this when the baby arrives.” She always reminds me of this every time we are driven somewhere.
“My dear wife, then I wouldn’t know what to do with my hands.” I tease her breasts lightly knowing she’s sensitive. I lower my hands around her still petite belly. It’s not noticeable to the average eye, but she now has a little pouch. “Plus, I like holding my girls while we drive. These arms are more secure than the seatbelt.” I nuzzle her head, and her white wool hat tickles my face.
“So, husband, where are you taking us?” She asks me, while drawing circles on my chest.
“I’m taking you to a hole in the wall that serves the best Italian food in North America. I used to go three times a week as part of my weekly routine after school and work. It only holds four tables, and it’s run by husband and wife. There is never a menu, and the name is actually Hole in the Wall.”
The next day, everyone decides to go to brunch and do some sightseeing. Maria wanted to stay behind with us to meet Benjamin Sabato, but I thought it was in her best interest to stay anonymous. She is still underage, and I want to protect her and her abilities, especially from strangers who aren’t screened by me personally. After the incident with Lia and the shooting with my father, I need to treat each new employee and business deal with a white glove approach.
I walk into the conference room to find Angelo sitting at the conference table. “Good morning, brother. Sleep well?” Angelo is dressed in a black, long-sleeve, button-down dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing his tattoos. His usually tousled hair looks like he made an effort to style it. “How did last night go?” I ask.
“Bianca took Maria out to the club. What a nightmare following them. Can you believe that they called me an old fart who is no fun? They are trouble together.” He leans back, shaking his head. Bianca has a good head on her shoulders, and I know Maria will not jeopardize what she has.
"Why are you so worried all of a sudden about our sister and friend?”
“You act like I never worried before. I did, but you seem more occupied now, so I’m stepping up.”
I sit down and look at my watch. “Well, this is not a good sign. Mr. Sabato is late. You would think he would be early to an appointment.” I state.
“He’s here; I told the receptionist to leave him in the lobby until we were ready.” He looks at me with a smirk. “Are we ready?”
I press the intercom on the table “Yes. Mr. Ferrari?” The secretary asks immediately.
“How long has Mr. Sabato been waiting?” I ask.
“He arrived about an hour and a half ago. I served him coffee in the lobby lounge.
Should I send him in now?”
“Yes, please send him in.”
“Yes, sir!”
I shake my head at Angelo. “Changing roles, are we? You want to be the hard ass cop, and I’ll be the good cop?”
“I can’t let you always have the fun roles now that we are partners.” He grins.
The door opens, and a man with his dark hair styled short, of medium height, and dressed in a full suit walks in.
I stand up and reach out my hand. “Santos Ferrari. Thank you for taking the time to meet my brother Angelo and myself.”
“It’s my pleasure to meet you both.” He gives me a solid handshake and does the same to Angelo.
I point to a chair. “Please have a seat.”
Angelo takes the initiative and starts the interview. “Ben, I’ll be direct and make this short. We like your credentials and think you could be a good fit in our organization. You will be based here in the States and in Italy. I believe you are by the book, but you also need to have an imagination to ensure our entities will be legally protected. You will be on probation, of course, to make sure you are for sure a good fit.” Sabato gives nothing away except a swell in his throat from swallowing. “Do you have any questions for us, Benny?” Angelo asks. He’s trying to get a rise out of him.
Sabato doesn’t seem to mind. “No, I’ve done my due diligence on you both as well. Your organization seems straight forward with minimal lapses from your father’s organization. Nothing that I can’t handle.” He says confidently.
Angelo pats the table, catching his attention. “We have also done our due diligence on you. We will provide you immense tools in order to focus on your investigation on your parents’ accident. That will be included in your employment package.”
Benjamin’s neck turns red, and he fidgets a bit. He swallows, looking at both of us before answering, “I think we will all benefit from each other. I look forward to a long, prosperous relationship.”
It’s my turn to wrap the meeting up. “Benjamin, we will email you the final contract along with an itinerary. We will see you in Italy starting in two weeks. That should provide enough notice to your current employer.”
Angelo stands up, and Sabato does the same. “I look forward receiving it and working for you both.” We shake and say our goodbyes.
“Well, that went rather well. I didn’t think he was handsome.” Angelo gets up and starts walking towards the door. “I have some business that I need to handle. I’ll see you at the airport.” He leaves before I can say anything. Luckily, I agree that the meeting went rather well.
For the Las Vegas visit, my mother insisted that all of us stay at the family home as it was large enough. Having all of us home immediately put a smile on her enchanted face. She didn’t seem to be high on meds; however, she did just get released from rehab spa. New Year’s Eve will be the night of our reception, and that is when all of us will move to the family hotel and casino. For that time, everyone enjoyed my mother’s hospitality and generosity. It was odd sleeping in my childhood bedroom with my pregnant wife. It definitely put things in perspective.
My father and Tony were noticeably absent most of the time, which was not unusual while in Las Vegas. In the past, days would go by without me seeing my brothers or father. I would accompany my mother and sister when I wasn’t busy with my hobbies.
The girls occupied my wife most of the days leading up to our reception. Angelo arranged for the guys to go dirt bike riding, to play paintball, and even go on some hikes. He took his duties as best man very seriously. There was no teasing of strippers or clubbing.
We checked into the penthouse at the hotel where Katarina and I will be spending our night. Angelo made sure to have sunflowers adding to the hints of white calla lilies throughout the suite.
I’m clipping my black bow tie when Angelo walks in. It’s just the two of us getting ready in the suite.
“God damn this monkey suit. Worst invention for menswear ever.” He says coming next to me while attempting to clip on his own bow tie. He has a fresh hair cut that mirrors mine, and his beard is more like a one-day growth.
“Angie, you clean up well. You’re almost as handsome as me.” I joke, looking at him as he raises his eyebrows in disbelief.
“Well, I’m dressing up for Mother and Kat, not for you. Note it in the book it will not happen again.” He gives himself a once over and leaves the bathroom. “I need a drink. Want one?” He asks.
A few hours later, I can’t help thinking it’s funny how only half a year has gone by, and here I am, the guest of honor once again. With one foot propped against the wall in the corner of the hotel ball room and sipping Lion Whiskey, I glance around noticing all the usual overeager, superficial guests still trying to attract my parents’ attention. All are decked to the nines to celebrate my wife and I and the New Year. I check the entrance every few minutes in the hopes that time will speed up for my wife to make her grand entrance. Once whiskey gave me calming effects, but now she has replaced the liquid effect.
Commotion at the entrance brings my attention back to reality. In walks the ladies with Claudette leading the pack. Krista, Maria, and Josephine follow behind. All of them are wearing black dresses with sequins varying in lengths. Maria has noticeable blue tints in her hair.
Bianca follows and reaches for a microphone that a man is giving to her. “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce my new sister-in-law, Mrs. Katarina Ferrari.”
A murmur rises over the crowd, and this is followed by their clapping. In walks my wife draped in a sapphire satin dress with a plunging neckline. The material drapes down her body to the floor. When she walks, I immediately notice the slit in the skirt that goes almost straight up to her lady bits. Her golden hair is in loose curls with one side gathered up with a large diamond comb. Her cheeks betray her nervousness, showing a pinch of red with all the attention.
Holy moly! My smoking hot wife is a goddess. I place my drink down and try to unnoticeably rearrange my bulge that is growing. I automatically walk towards my queen, not wanting to be apart any longer. She stops when she sees me coming and gives me the same contagious smile she gives me every time she sees me. I reach for her and give her a feather kiss on her cheek. “You are exquisite, my wife.”