“Call me Izzy.”
“Fine, Izzy, what’s your plan?”
“Like I said, Luciano thought a friend might help.”
I snap back, “I have friends.”
“Not one who gets this world,” she counters.
“I have the brothers.”
She sits up on her daybed to look at me seriously. “Charlie…”
I scoff. “You really think you can help me understand this world?”
“Yes.” She pulls out her phone and dials fast. “I need you by the pool.”
Within minutes, one of her soldiers arrives and stands in front of her silently, patiently waiting for her orders. She says coolly, “As the leader, you need respect from all of your men.”
She steps in front of the guard and unties her bikini top, letting it fall to the ground to display her perfectly round tits. Next goes her thong, which she slides down slowly on purpose.
“Izzy!” I hiss, shock slamming through me as I catch an eyeful of her well-manicured vagina. But her soldier’s eyes never waver, staring ahead into the distance, unmoved.
“In this world, you’ll be caught naked sometimes. Not always by your choice. If they respect you, they won’t look. No matter how tempting it is. What would your soldiers do in this situation?” She strokes his cheek gently, but he still doesn’t react. “You can go,” she orders, and her soldier obeys, turning and walking back out towards the front of the house.
She smiles at me mischievously and dives into the pool, stark naked. “You’re crazy,” I say, shaking my head.
“You need to be crazy to survive in this male-dominant world.” She grins, swimming carelessly. “What’s the craziest thing you’ve done?”
I think for a moment. “Luciano took me on a date and we tortured and killed someone.”
“That’s a start, but not really crazy in this world.” She moves to float on her back, her nakedness available for anyone to see. “Join me?”
“Clothed or naked?” I laugh sarcastically at her.
“Naked, of course.”
“I need alcohol for this,” I mutter. I waltz over to the bar and grab the tequila. I take a few shots, feeling it burn down my throat, and bring the bottle back with me. I glance around to make sure no one’s watching before I take off my bikini under the watchful gaze of Izzy, my body starting to tingle. I jump in the deep end.
“So, how’d you meet Luciano?” I ask, swimming towards the ledge.
“Ten years ago. My family, the Maranzanos, made a truce with Caterina, so I could live in New York.”
“Why would Caterina let you live on her turf?”
“My granddad wanted to sell me to another family, the Gambinos. My mum made a deal with Caterina to stop that from happening.”
“And then what happened?” I push.
“Luciano and the brothers rescued me, hid me here until it was safe to live a semi normal life again.”
“How’d you become the leader?”
“The Gambinos killed my family in revenge, tried to take over our territory in New Jersey. Caterina and the brothers helped me fight back. I owe them everything.”
“What was she like?” I ask hesitantly.
She swims up next to me. “I don’t think there’s enough words to describe her. She was ruthless but caring, she was a leader but also a mother to everyone.”
