He meant, take over the business so he could scale back and spend more time trying to win his wife back. Anna hated our illegal dealings. She also hated being pregnant and the stretch marks the twins gave her. We had all heard her complaints. I’d never known anyone as vain as Anna. I felt sorry for my brother.His marriage had been arranged, and he’d been miserable ever since the girls were born.
“I need to get home to pay the cleaning service.”
“Don’t they send you an invoice? What kind of service are you using if they can’t invoice you?”
Should have known he would give me shit. “They do but I wanted to give them a cash tip.”
“Jesus, brother. Just add it to the invoice. I needed you.”
“Bullshit. You just don’t want to drink alone.” I shook my head. “And I pay cash, so they don’t have to claim it on their taxes.” The two sisters were barely getting by. The least I could do to help them was give them cash tips so there was no record of the money.
“You’re right. But also, you have responsibilities to the family.”
“So do our other brothers. Why aren’t you up their asses about getting married and having a baby.”
“Because they’re not in my district. You are.”
I sighed. He had a point. “Why do you get like this during the holidays?” It was the same thing every year. I hated Christmas because my brother stole the fun with his complaining and pressure.
“It’s been four years since the last time you had a girlfriend at any of the functions we attend. People talk. Mamma and Papá talk.”
Damn him. He just had to go there and bringherup without mentioning her name.
“I mean, I know she broke your heart but after four years, you should be over it.” And Remo kept going on like the heartless mobster that he was… “Do you plan to stay single forever? You know what the will says. Without a male heir, you get nothing.”
“I’ve made my own fortune. I don’t need Papá’s money. If Anna won’t sleep with you, how will you get a son?” Instantly, I regretted my words.
“You son of a bitch,” he hissed through his teeth. “Get out of my face.”
I stood without hesitation.
“Just be prepared for the family to be after you about settling down. And don’t be late for the girls’ choir concert like you were last year.” My brother sneered, then turned his attention to his phone.
I didn’t reply so not to drag this out. Talking would be pointless given Remo’s mood. The poor guy was probably walking around with blue balls. I shouldn’t smile, but I couldn’t help myself. If my brother had a backbone, he wouldn’t be married to the Italian Ice Queen. It was likely my brother hadn’t slept with his wife since impregnating her almost nine years ago.
Retrieving my phone from my coat pocket, I pushed those thoughts of my brother out of my mind and checked my cameras. Hopefully, Cyndee and her sister were still at my place. I’d feel like shit if they had to wait to get the money until the next time they cleaned my condo.
There she was, Cyndee, the pretty sister. Dancing around my living room like she owned it. She had sassy and sexy curvy body. I liked it when she turned my stereo on and danced. Normally, I’d see it as disrespect but for some reason I didn’t with her.
I rushed home, so I didn’t disappoint her. She was just getting by cleaning for the rich and I was confident she needed my generous tip for Christmas. Regular people depend on things like tips.
There was only one person I could stand disappointing, and that was my father, Pietro Ferrari. Papá had made it known that his sons were failing him. He’d built his empire in Italy the old-fashioned way, with blood, sweat and many tears. He had strictmorals and values. High standards and nearly unachievable expectations for his children.
So far, the only person who had pleased him was my older sister Paoletta, who helped run things in Seattle with my other brother, Hugo.
Lettiehad married a powerful Italian clothing designer, Freddie Farina, which had giving us a strong hold in the Port of Seattle for importing and exporting our products internationally under the guise of his business, Farina’s Italian Couture.
To make matters worse, the happy, successful couple had three sons to carry on the Farina name. Their good fortune had put a spotlight on me and my single brothers’ failures.
I loved my older sister, but her perfectionistic, overachieving attitude pissed me off.
Getting into my G-Wagon, I exhaled a deep breath and drove home. Time was running out. Cyndee and her sister could leave any second and then I’d be forced to go to their home. I really didn’t want to see where they lived. I had an idea, but I hadn’t allowed myself to dig into Cyndee’s life. We ran in different circles and would never be accepted into the Ferrari familia.
Fifteen minutes later, I was exiting the brass elevator on my floor. I pulled myself together, punched in the code to my condo and entered.
“Mr. Ferrari!” she said acting surprised, but I could tell she’d been waiting for me. “I was just about to leave. Everything has been completed per your instructions.”
I shut the door behind me. “You say that each day, Cyndee.” I hiked my brow.
