We left the gym as Donato and Rocco entered. Donato had challenged Rocco to spar, though I knew it was going to end up in battle. We called it “sparring,” but that was a loose interpretation of what it was.
“Are you cooking,bella?” Rocco said before I led her out.
She told him yes, and that she expected both of them in the villa for dinner in an hour—without blood on their clothes. Donato made a noncommittal sound, but I doubted he could refuse her enchiladas even if he was lovesick.
Apparently, Donato and Chiara had not worked things out. She waited in the kitchen with Violet, the latter probably pumping her head with ways to get back at him. No doubt that’s why Donato needed to burn off some steam before he committed a felony.
Eunice tried to talk Scarlett out of cooking. I caught the look on Scarlett’s face when the woman did. My wife was about to lose it again. Taking Eunice by the shoulders, I enticed her to get the movie room ready for later. I had no idea what this even meant, but it seemed to give her a purpose besides worrying about dinner.
Maggie Beautiful and Aberto came in at some point. Maggie Beautiful hugged Scarlett until I thought she would snap her in two. When she found out about movie night, she started to make tubs of popcorn mixed with tons of candy. After Violet’s kids ate her concoction, maybe she would have her hands full for the next ten years with them—wishful fucking thinking.
Standing next to Scarlett as she taught Carmen how to make enchiladas, I shook my head at the entire house—it was filled with tension. Mitch refused to look at Violet. Violet stared at him with enough vehemence that I was surprised he hadn’t shriveled. Collette—who claimed she had stopped by to check on Scarlett, but neither of us believed her—ignored the entire situation, except for Romeo, who kept teasing her.
Valentina declined dinner but reminded Mitch that she’d be back to pick him up the next night for their date. Chiara accepted a glass of wine—going back for the entire bottle after she threw the glass back like a shot—and seemed to be satisfied with drowning her sorrows.
Rosaria came in, sniffing the air, and then took a seat at the table. Not finding anything particularly thrilling, she began to file her nails.
Tito snatched a chip from the counter, muttering under his breath, “We should have stayed in Fiji, nephew.” Lola was already in a room, claiming she had a headache.
Pnina and Scarlett—the two refused to speak to each other. Everett asked about our trip and the conversation sparked some interest, but not much.
Dinner was a silent affair, but I thought this had to do with the satisfaction of eating a delicious meal instead of the awkwardness of company. I kept it together, but I neared my own edge—I didn’t trust myself not to lose my head and run everyone from the villa so I could be alone with my wife in peace.
Eunice had somehow transformed the movie room into something out of a catalogue. Sleeping bags were piled high, cups for popcorn were placed all over, and Maggie Beautiful’s sugar poison was centered on a table, surrounded by bowls and a variety of drinks.
Everyone changed into pajamas, since someone came up with the idea of an all-night movie marathon. Peter, Paul, and Mary thought this was an excellent idea, and all rallied for Disney classics. I rolled the farmhouse doors to the side, revealing shelves and shelves of movies—all different genres.
I looked at Scarlett, who was curled up in the center of the sofa, a warm blanket on her legs, snacking on Maggie Beautiful’s sugar mix. “When did we get all of this?”
She shrugged. “Check the other side.”
I slid the other door over, revealing more—so many classics.Rocky, The Godfather, The Goonies, and Karate Kid.Robin Hood: Prince of Thieveswas there too. That was one of Scarlett’s favorites.
“Your wife is amazing,” Livio said, awe in his voice.
Mary derailed my train of thought with Disney on nonstop begging—that one, BRANDPOW! Wo, that one! Wait! That one!
“Beauty and the Beast?”
“Wes!”
“My favorite,” Scarlett said, patting her side after the movie started to play.
I took my spot, situating Scarlett in front of me so she could still eat and I could get comfortable. I’d watch my wife watch the movies.
“Don’t eat too much of that,” I said, nodding toward the bowl she had. I could see the gummy worms in between the kernels of popcorn, glowing like gems from the light of the television. “You’ll get a stomachache.”
“But it’s so good!”
I grinned at her excitement. She was never allowed to eat things like that growing up.
Chiara came in then, the smell of wine clinging to her clothes. Scarlett’s borrowed pajamas were too short, showing her slim ankles as she teetered across the room, finding a spot next to Guido on the floor. Donato made a growling noise at him. Guido didn’t catch the threat—he had no idea what was going on. Some of Rocco’s men who had the night off decided to join us and Guido was one of them.
Donato, not giving a fuck if Guido understood or not, took him by the shirt and yanked him to his feet. “Find another spot,” he said, voice threatening, though he didn’t raise it.
Guido found another spot. He didn’t so much as look at Chiara again. She huffed at this but said nothing as Donato claimed the free area.
Guido was no pushover and had been rising in ranks since day one. His brother, Vincenzo, was in a different league. He killed people on command. But Guido knew his rank, and that was below Donato. When the men came to the table, Donato ate first after the hunt.
