Gian (Trassato Crime Family Book 1) Page 21

  -A.T.

  “Is this real?”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “Yes.”

  “How did you get this?”

  “Her brother and I wanted to make this right. We met to discuss our shared interest in helping you two be happy, and this letter showed up at my house a few days later.”

  I stuffed the letter and ticket in my pocket. “Fuck, Carmela, tell me you didn’t meet him alone.”

  She bit the side of her lower lip, and I knew she was lying. She was my twin. I knew her gestures like the back of my hand, and biting on her lower was her tell.

  “I wasn’t alone. We met in public, and I’m fine and in one piece.” She twirled around in a circle. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

  “You’re lying. What happened?”

  “Gian, nothing bad happened. We talked. We came to an understanding, and now you need to go get your girl.”

  I didn’t know if I had it in me to keep chasing her. I loved her, but I needed her to show me she wanted me too. Because every single time we hit a bump, her first instinct was to run away.

  “I can’t keep chasing her. She said I wasn’t worth it. She didn’t want to fight for us. She doesn’t want anything to do with my life.”

  “Then don’t chase her. Go to her show, say hello, and leave. She’ll know the ball is in her court. She may do something about it, or she may not.”

  “Seriously, Carmela? How does that help either of us?”

  “If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”

  I fingered the ticket in my pocket. Regardless of what happened between us, I couldn’t deny I wanted to see her perform on a stage and talk to her one more time. If she wanted more, she needed to tell me because I was done pleading my case. I pushed her to kiss me to make her ex jealous. I pushed her into a fake engagement. I pushed her to try a real relationship. I told her I loved her, and she fled when things got complicated. I gave her what she wanted. I haven’t contacted her, and I’d continue to leave her alone unless she told me otherwise.

  “Fine. I’ll go. I’ll talk to her, but I can’t promise anything other that.”

  She flicked me in the chest. “She won’t let you go again. You’ll see. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be one-half of a sickeningly happy couple again.”

  “I’m not so sure, but thanks for setting this up. I owe you.”

  As she strutted toward the door, she shot me a parting grin over her shoulder. “In case you’re hard up for a way to thank me, you should know I like shoes. Expensive shoes. With red soles. And four-inch heels.”

  “Yeah. Yeah. I get it.”

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-NINE

  Evangeline

  Still on a high from finishing my first live performance in over a year, I scrubbed the stage makeup from my face. I didn’t land a lead role, but I had one solo, which was more than I expected given my yearlong absence.

  Laughter floated into the small dressing room I shared with a couple of other girls, along with the distinct pop of champagne bottles being opened. Friends and family members roamed the halls, congratulating loved ones.

  There was so much to be thankful for tonight. My ankle didn’t hurt. I hadn’t missed a note. The performance went off without a hitch, and I couldn’t wait to read the reviews. Judging by the applause and the electricity humming backstage, everyone expected them to be favorable.

  Underneath all the excitement, I couldn’t deny I felt a thread of sadness that hadn’t gone away in months. I’d moved out of Kon’s apartment as soon as my agent told me I got this role, and I hadn’t exchanged a single word with him since. My mom had stopped reaching out to me over a month ago. Carmela had texted a quick note to say good luck this morning, but other than the time we met for coffee so she could hand deliver my suitcase stuffed with my clothes and personal belongings, I hadn’t seen her. And Gian…well, I hadn’t heard a single word from him.

  Although I had managed to rebuild a couple of friendships and make a few new ones, nothing filled the hole in my heart from the loss of Gian and my best friend. During my late night searches of Carmela’s social media, I never found out anything about him. Not a mention. Not a picture. The thought of never seeing or hearing about him again made me sick to my stomach.

  I quickly brushed away the thought. I couldn’t jump down the what-if rabbit hole tonight, because it led to a shit ton of tears and swollen eyes.

  Someone rapped on the already open door, and I spun around.

  “Hey, Evie,” John, one of my co-workers, said. “Do you need a ride to the after party?”

  “Yeah. Let me finish up a few things, and I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”

  “Take your time. We’re not leaving for a half hour or so.” He took two steps backward then said, “Oh, and there’s someone waiting for you at the end of the hall.”

  “Who?”

  He shrugged. “He didn’t say.”

  “Huh.” I shoved my arms into my jacket. “Okay. Thanks.”

  I hoped it wasn’t Kon or my dad. I wouldn’t put it past Kon to show up tonight and pretend nothing had happened. As for my dad, while I didn’t think he’d come here, he was a wildcard. I had no idea what he would want from me, if anything, going forward.

  “Sure thing, sweetheart.”

  I cringed at his use of that endearment. It reminded me of Gian, and I didn’t want to think about him tonight. I wanted to celebrate a successful opening and the resurrection of my career. I stepped out of the dressing room and saw him.

  “Evangeline.” Gian’s smoky voice raced through me like a shot of morphine.

  “Gian,” his name rolled off my lips with longing, regret, and more than a little hope. “What are you doing here?”

  “I couldn’t miss your opening night.” He handed me a bouquet of stargazer lilies. “These are for you.”

  “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” I brought them to my nose, inhaling their sweetly fragrant scent. “I hope you didn’t fall asleep.”

  “No. I barely blinked.” He chuckled, and then his eyes softened, and they looked like warm honey. He brushed his fingertips along the tip of my nose, and I swayed toward him. It’d been too long since he’d touched me. “You had pollen on your face.”

  “Oh.” I smiled through hollow ache in my chest. “Thanks.”

  We lapsed into silence, and I twirled the bouquet in my hand.

  “You were beautiful out there. I couldn’t take my eyes off you, and I’m pretty sure nobody else could either.”

  My heart squeezed. “Thanks. Does that mean I changed your mind about musicals?”

  His mouth twisted into a lopsided grin. “Only if you’re on the stage.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I better get going. Carmela said the cast is having a big party tonight to celebrate the opening.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Take care, sweetheart, and don’t be a stranger. Carmela misses you. So does my mom. I think they’re planning to catch one of your shows next week.”

  The minute he turned his back to me, my eyes blurred with tears.

  Oh, shit. Why now? Why when I finally had my life together.

  “Wait, Gian.”

  He halted mid-step, glancing at me over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

  “I wanted to let you know you’re worth it. You’re worth everything. I didn’t mean what I said that night at Carmine’s, and I um…” I licked my lips, waiting, hesitating, not knowing if I should continue. Was I too late? He didn’t say he missed me. He said his mom and sister missed me.

  His face was blank.

  “I still love you.”

  “You do?” His hands in his pockets, he turned to face me.

  “I do.” He didn’t respond right away, so I kept rambling. “I didn’t mean what I said that night. It was stupid and hurtful. I mean, I don’t like what you do, that much is true. But I still want you in my life. I know there’s chance you’ve moved on, and you’re
done with me…maybe we could still be friends?”

  He sighed, and his body sagged, drawing attention to the shadows under his eyes. “Is that what you want? To be friends and nothing else?”

  I dropped my arms, and the flowers brushed the side of my pants. “I’ll take whatever you’re offering. It’s up to you. I screwed up and didn’t fight for us when it counted.” I pushed my hair away from my face. “For what it’s worth, I really thought I was doing the right thing.”

  He grabbed my hand and knitted our fingers together. “And what was that?”

  “I was ashamed of my family, and I felt guilty for putting you in a position where you had to choose between your family and me. I refused to let you sacrifice anything for me.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “So you made the choice for me?”

  I dropped my gaze to the floor. “I guess so.”

  “Well, you chose wrong.”

  “I-I did?”

  “I love you, Evie. I would’ve found a way to make things work. Your dad’s demands were just that: demands. There’s always room for negotiation. You walked away without giving us a chance to fix things.”

  “What now?”

  “You tell me. The ball is in your court.”

  I tilted my head to the side. “It is?”

  “What are you going to do, sweetheart? Are you going to fight for us, or are you going to run away again?”

  I didn’t have to think about it. I knew exactly what I wanted. “I want to be with you. I want to fight for us. I want a second chance, one that starts with truths instead of lies. Life instead of death. Love instead of fear.”

  A huge grin spread across his face. “Thank God,” he murmured. Then, his lips crashed against mine.

  “Just so you know,” he whispered next to my ear, a few minutes later. “I won’t let you go again.”

  “I don’t want you to.”

  I didn’t, because Gian was my present, my future. My everything.

  It was strange how fate worked. When I had left his club that night with him as my fake fiancé, I was sure I’d lost everything. Little did I know, fate had handed me the key to a new life. A better life. Sure, it might not be perfect, but it was perfect for me.

  EPILOGUE

  Gian

  Six Months Later…

  The second I entered the restaurant with my arm around Evie, the air shifted. Without greeting me, the owner barked out orders. The staff shifted into motion. Patrons stirred in their seats. Hushed whispers filled the room. Some people knew of me; others recognized Evie. All eyes were on us.

  Her play was an instant hit, and she’d become a Broadway star. The critics raved about her skill and her grace. Good thing she was so talented because I would have ripped out their tongues if they said anything unflattering.

  The owner dipped his head. “Mr. Trassato, Miss Jeffers, so nice of both of you to visit us tonight.”

  I pulled Evangeline closer to me, loving the way her body fit against mine. “Only the best for my girl.”

  He beamed. “Follow me. I have a special table on the back deck for you where you’ll have all the privacy you need.”

  “Thank you.”

  Evie eyed me with more than a little suspicion. I had told her I wanted to take her out to celebrate six months of being together, which was only half true.

  The minute we settled into our seats, a waiter popped open a bottle of champagne, filled our glasses, and disappeared inside, leaving us alone.

  Lanterns dangled from a trellis over our heads and circled our table on the floor. Red and white rose petals were scattered over the white linen tablecloth. Soft music played in the background.

  Evie leaned forward, and her emerald green dress gaped at the front, drawing my attention downward. “Hey, eyes up here,” she said, snapping her fingers.

  “Sorry.” I chuckled. “I can’t help myself. You look amazing in that dress.” She did. It complimented her hair color and her skin, and I really loved the way it showed off those legs of hers.

  She flung her arm in a swooping motion. “What’s all this, Gian?”

  I grinned, fishing my hand into the pocket of my best black suit. “Well, Evangeline, I wanted to make sure everything was perfect this time.”

  “This time. What do you mean?”

  I pulled the white box from my pocket and dropped down onto one knee. Her hand fluttered to her chest. “Gian…what are you doing?”

  “Evie, the first time we were engaged, it wasn’t real, but everything about it felt right. Since you’ve agreed to be part of my life again, my mom, Carmela, everyone has been asking me when we’re getting engaged for real.” I paused, cocking my head to the side. “By the way, my mom told me you ratted us out about the first engagement not being real.”

  A blush stained her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know what to say. Your mom can be really intimidating.”

  I pried them away. “I don’t care about that now. I only care that I still can’t refer to you as my wife to everyone and anyone who will listen.”

  I opened the tiny box and held the ring between my thumb and index finger. It was several bands woven together with one princess-cut diamond in the center, holding them together.

  “I picked this ring for you because, to me, it symbolized our journey together. It’s been twisted and taken a lot of unexpected detours, yet somehow we still ended up together. You’re my soul mate and my other half, and I can’t imagine anything better than spending the rest of my life with you. Evangeline Jeffers, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”

  “Yes. Of course.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and showered my face and neck with kisses.

  “Wow,” I mumbled against her lips. “You’re really picking a stroll down the aisle with me over a swim in the Hudson with cement boots?”

  She shoved me in the shoulder. “Why do you have to bring up the dumb crap I said at a time like this?”

  “Because I love you, and I love our story. It’s one of a kind. Exactly like you.”

  Her eyes softened. “I love you too. Always.”

  “Forever.”

  ***Sneak Peek***

  CARMELA

  THE TRASSATO CRIME FAMILY,

  Book #2

  By Lisa Cardiff

  Chapter One

  Konstantin

  “I need a fiancée like a need a fucking bullet in my head.” I slammed the shot glass onto the burled walnut countertop.

  A toxic combination of loud music and vodka swam through my veins like a drug. Instead of mellowing me out, it only made me angrier. God knew, I should drag my pathetic ass home before I did something to piss off my dad even more, yet I couldn’t bring myself to move. So many things were wrong with my life, I didn’t know where to start. So I engaged in my favorite pastime as of late—drinking.

  No matter how much I drank tonight, I couldn’t forget my sister was getting married right now, and she didn’t invite one family member. Not me, not Mom, not Dad. Not even an estranged aunt or uncle.

  I couldn’t blame her. We’d meddled in her life behind the scenes for years. I threatened every boy in our high school who even looked in her direction. Once she moved to New York, things weren’t as simple. Her career took off, and we both had our own shit to deal with. Somehow she’d ended up engaged to a cheating, mealy-mouthed loser.

  Granted, we could have handled things differently. We didn’t have to set him up to fail; he would have managed that all on his own. However, I didn’t regret it for a second. Better I sacrificed our relationship than have Evie waste the rest of her life on her piece of shit ex. But damn, I missed my sister. Although we hadn’t spent much time together over the past few years, she’d always been in my thoughts and my heart.

  I loved her. She was the one person I could always count on, and she never had a hidden agenda when we spent time together. I couldn’t say that about anyone else in my life.

  “We’ve already had this dis
cussion. I’m done talking about it. Take the Trassato chick out a few times. Get to know her.” Anatoyli shrugged. “If it works out, then great. If not, tell your dad to go fuck himself. You know he won’t make you marry her. I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who despises the concept as much as your dad. He’ll come around.”

  “Then you don’t know my dad very well. He’s set on this dumbass plan, and nothing’s going to change his mind.” I lifted my shot glass and pinned the bartender with a glare. I should have asked for the bottle when I walked in an hour ago so I didn’t waste his time or mine. “Making money is the Holy Grail to my dad, and he’s got it in his head that if I marry Carmela Trassato, it’ll solve all of his problems.”

  “Fine. Roll over like a dog, and do what your dad wants. You let him win every damn time, all because you’re too big of a pussy to challenge him.” He rubbed a hand down the side of his face, bringing attention to the scar that ran from his temple to his eyebrow. It made him look scary as fuck, but for some reason chicks dug it.

  I pulled an envelope from my back pocket and slapped it on the counter. “I should shoot your ass for talking to me like that.”

  “Yeah, except you won’t, because without me, you’d be in the gutter somewhere licking your wounds.” He twirled his drink. “I’ve saved your ass more times than I can count in the past few months.”

  “Yeah, whatever man.” The bartender refilled my glass, and I chugged the clear liquid the minute he turned his back. “I haven’t been that bad,” I grumbled—although, my denial lacked conviction. Over the last two months, I’d started more bar fights than I could count, fucked more chicks than I could remember, and only my dad’s money and connections had kept the police from throwing the book at me.

  He threw his hands in the air. “You’re fucking self-destructing.”

  “Yeah, well, that shit’s behind me now.” I slid the envelope toward him. “I need a favor. I need you to find Carmela Trassato and—”

  His eyes narrowed. “I gotta be real honest with you. As much as I love you, I won’t trade places with you if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m way too young to acquire a ball and chain. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve seen some pictures of her, and she’s not half bad, but I don’t have a death wish. Between your dad and Dominick Trassato, I’d be a dead man walking the minute I touched her.”