“Shhhh, geez G, the whole cafe doesn't need to know.” Pausing for a moment I continue, “no one can know, you have to swear on your life not to tell anyone. Seriously no one can know…" I bite the corner of my lip unsure if I should tell her, though already knowing that I will.
"Bitch you already know I won't say anything. Now spit it out!" She exclaims a little quieter. She sits and waits for me to divulge the name of my future betrothed.
After a long moment of silence, I pick up my fork and scrape it along the plate for some background noises and breath out, "Nicoli Black." When I don't hear anything out of her smart mouth I glance up, confusion marring her face.
"Lil, who the hell is that. I have never even heard of a Nicoli in the Nosa Costra. The name does sound familiar though.” She stops concentrating as she thinks about it for a moment. “Wait, isn't that the name of the head of the New York…" Her voice trails off as her eyes widen. "WHAT THE FUCK!" She shrieks. Gathering the attention of everyone around us.
"G! Shut up." I jump up and grab her arm, jerking her out of her seat as I drag her towards the restrooms. Once the door is closed and the fans kick on I lock the door.
"No fucking way you’re being serious right now." Putting her hands on her hips she gives me a pointed look.
"Would I lie about something like this?" I hiss out.
"Why would your father agree to give you to him Lil, we are not allies with them. That doesn't make any sense!"
"I know. My father’s been doing some kind of business with him behind Dante's back. Apparently my father did something to cross him and he offered me up as a consolation to clear his fuck up." Gianna stares at me as if I've grown a second head before her expression softens.
"What did your father do? Lil, Dante will kill him if he finds out he has been making deals with Nicoli behind his back.”
“I know, that is why no one can know of this. Who knows what would happen to us if someone found out about it.”
“But Lil, if you marry him you won't be welcome back here. You'll have to move to New York and you yourself will become an enemy to them. My father won't allow me to see you anymore." She starts to talk in a flurry as her voice rises a few pitches in hysteria.
I grab her and pull her into a hug. "G, I need you to calm down, please. You're not helping me feel any better about this."
She sniffles, "I know I'm sorry. I just don't know how I will live here without you, you're the only one to make this life bearable, the only one who gets me. And what about you? You will have no one to help you, protect you. I have heard stories of that man. None of them are good. He is a monster, a demon! What if he does something to you, hurts you?"
The fears I have worked so hard to push down over these last few months resurface at her words. "I know, G. I feel the same about leaving you, but we will figure something out. As for the rest there isn't anything I can do. The deal has been made, my father would never call it off. We both know Nicoli wouldn’t hesitate to kill him for his betrayal yet again, the fact he is still alive is short of a miracle as it is, given who he is and what my father has done."
"So what, you are just ok with this?" Gianna steps back and straightens herself.
"Well no but I don't think I really have a say in the matter. You know how my father is, what he would do to me if I tried to refuse."
Sympathy shining in her eyes. "Have you even met him or seen him before for that matter? I don't even know what he looks like, how old he is, do you think the rumors of him are true?"
"Well, ya I have met him. He came to our house a while back. That night after he left was when my father told me, and I can assure you I have no doubt all the rumors are true."
"Oh no, what happened?
I shuffle on my feet as I recall the memories of our two encounters. By the time I finish, she is gaping at me.
"Oh my gosh. He shot your father?? And he cut Dario's hand off?" I only nod in response. “As far as your father is concerned, good. That piece of shit deserves it, my only sorrow of that is that he hadn’t just up and killed him.” Anger flashes in her eyes. “But the rest… that's pretty intense. Do you think Dario is going to make good on his threat?” Concern pulling at her brow.
“I don’t know G, I mean I don’t think he is truly willing to cross Nicoli again. You should have seen him, he was almost unrecognizable, plus I think my father is taking extra precaution, not stationing him around me. I haven't even seen him around in quite some time now.”
"I am not convinced, but just be careful, okay? I'd hate to have to get my hands dirty and shoot him for you before Nicoli got a hold of him." Rolling my eyes at her and her inappropriate humor at a time like this. She hasn't even held a gun, let alone shot one, but I know it is her way of coping with the situation. "So when are you seeing the future husband again?"
"I don't know. I have no idea when he is gonna show up." Gianna opens her mouth to say something else when
