I know she married that bastard Gifoli when she was twenty-three. It’s tradition formafiosowives to be virgins upon marriage, so I’m guessing her only sexual experience was with her husband. I can’t imagine he was gentle with her or cared enough to attend to her needs. If Rena is anxious when any male gets close, I can only imagine how closed off she would be to intimate contact. Even if she seemed to enjoy our make out session that one time, the last thing she needs is me hitting on her and making her uncomfortable. “Besides, I like her for way more than her looks and the obvious chemistry we share. A guy can like a woman without wanting to get her into bed.”
Brando bursts out laughing. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
Checking the kids aren’t looking, I flip him off again. “I like spending time with her. We are getting to know one another slowly, and I’m fine with that. If it develops into more over time, I wouldn’t say no, but I have no expectations either.”
Finally, he loses the grin, angling his head as he stares at me. “You really like her.”
I drill him with a look, spotting something out of the corner of my eye before I respond. I shake my head at Rowan as he lowers himself onto the top of the slide on his stomach. Frank is halfway up the ladder to stop the little daredevil. The last time he slid on his stomach, he flew off the end and bumped the side of his head on the edge of the climbing frame. He had a goose egg the size of a golf ball for days after. Frank and I take our bodyguard roles seriously, and anyone getting hurt on our watch is an epic fail. Ben’s little guy isnotgetting injured again.
I return my gaze to Brando when Frank reaches Rowan, forcing him to sit up on the slide. “I do. I like her.”
“Good for you, man.” He thumps me in the arm. “I never thought I’d see the day you gave up your one-night-stands for a hot, older woman, but if she makes you happy, I say go for it.”
“She’s not that much older,” I grumble. “Six years is nothing.”
He holds up his palms. “I meant that sincerely, and there’s no judgment here.”
“This is a pointless conversation. We’refriends. Stop stirring shit.” Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Ben and Leo exiting the side of the house. “What are you doing here, anyway?” I ask. Brando isn’t on the security detail at the house or on the bodyguard team, so it’s unusual to see him at the house.
A proud smile lights up his face. “Ben asked me to drop by. He just made me capo.”
“No shit?” I clamp a hand on his shoulder. “Congrats, man. That is amazing news. You deserve it.” Brando has been a loyalsoldatosince he turned eighteen. He was close with Mateo, the half-brother Ben never met because Mateo was gunned down when he was twenty-two. He is also close with Leo, Ben’s underboss, so I’m surprised his promotion has taken this long.
Brando had to take a couple of years off a few years back, and I imagine that delayed his promotion. I have no idea why Brando needed the time off, and while we are friends, we don’t have that kind of relationship. He didn’t volunteer the information, and I didn’t pry. Anyway, it wouldn’t have looked good for Ben to make him a capo before letting him take some personal time, something that is not usually done withinla famiglia.
But Ben is shaping a new world order. Determined to do things differently. Angelo Mazzone passed recently, and Ben is now the official Mazzone don. He’s held the role for years in an unofficial capacity because Angelo was ill with cancer, something we kept quiet to keep enemy threats at bay. But Ben has been in charge the entire time in everything but name. The men respect him, and the official transition has been smooth.
Our soldiers no longer sell product on the streets or extort money the old-fashioned way. Through Caltimore Holdings—the business enterprise Ben spearheads—he has legitimized a lot of the operation. The sleazy clubs have been replaced with high-end sex clubs boasting VIP clientele. We still deal in drugs, but they are only supplied to VIP clients through the club network, and we no longer have bodies selling to kids on the streets. Ben’s acquisition of key tech companies has enabled him to digitize a lot of the business. Now security is provided through online support services, protecting local businesses from hacking and online fraud, and he created an internal team to develop tools to aid us in the field.
All made men within the Mazzonefamigliahave a locator chip in their arms, and Ben runs a strict no-drugs policy with random drug testing. His clubs, casinos, and construction sites wash money from the illegal operations, while a lot of hissoldatiare hired through one of his private security firms and not of Italian American descent, like me.
“Thanks. The timing couldn’t be more perfect,” Brando says.
I arch a brow, and he grins again. “I’m going to propose to Marlena.”
My brows climb to my hairline. “Didn’t see that coming, but congrats. And good luck.” I don’t know the full story on his relationship, because Brando is as guarded as me when it comes to women, but they always seemed to be more off than on, and I just assumed they’d break up for good one day.
“I’d better head back. I have a few things to sort out in the city.” He rubs at his prickly jawline. “Do you miss it? Being in the middle of all the action?”
I shrug. “Sometimes, yeah. But it’s an honor to guard the boss’s wife. And I’ll go wherever Ben needs me to.” That’s no lie, and I have the added bonus of spending time with Serena and her kids. This is a difficult time for all of them, and I like that I’m here to watch over them, even if Serena keeps me at arm’s length much of the time.
“If things ever change, and Ben wants you back in the city, let me know. I’d welcome you on my crew any time.”
“I appreciate that, man.” Brando will make a great capo, and any made man working under him is lucky. “I would be honored to work with you.”
“Later.” He thumps my arm, spinning around to leave before turning back around. “A word of advice from someone who hasn’t always made the smartest choices when it comes to women. If you really like her, fight for her. Make her see it could work.”
“I’ll consider it,” I say before he walks away, heading toward the front of the property where his car is parked.
Truth is, this is new for me.
I don’t get attached to women.
I have never bought into relationships or marriage. Casual one-night stands have been my go-to stress reliever for years, and I’ve been content with that.
Until Serena stepped into my life, and intense attraction sprang up immediately between us. I can honestly say I have never felt the same draw to any other woman at any time in my life. But Serena has a ton of baggage, and I’m not sure it would work. I have no experience with relationships, and it looks like her only experience has most likely damaged her for life. The last thing I want to do is add to that. While I’m attracted to her, I enjoy her company, and I want to ease her burden, I’m not sure I’d be good for her.
So, keeping our distance is probably a wise choice.
