Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) Read online

  “I’m trying. It’s been a hot minute, Bronson. I’m trying to get used to all this.”

  “All what?”

  “You and me. Together. A future. A plan. All of it.”

  I can’t help the smile that graces my face. Those simple words mean the world. I guess she never knew my intentions, so she needs to catch up. “It was always meant to be, but I’ll give you some room to catch up. Just know, this is it, Callie. You and me. Sempre.” Ah, there is my smile. The one reserved just for me, and damn if it doesn’t make my heart skip a beat and my protectiveness come out in full-force. I want to guard this moment, let her live in it, the time and place where I make her so fucking happy she expresses it unguarded. “Movies with my sister today and then our date tonight.” She nods and opens her door. I bristle, that is my job, but she will get used to it. This is a new beginning for us. “Callie, if you open your door again we will have issues.”

  Raising her eyebrows in question, “What? I’ve always opened my own door. It was a skill I mastered about eight years ago.” That sass.

  “Smart ass. You know how it is. I’ll get your door from now on.”

  “You gonna let me walk, or do I need to wait for you sweep me off my feet?”

  “Believe me Callie, when I sweep you off your feet, you’ll know.”

  She laughs at me, “Wise guy, you already did. The day I told your sister I was going to marry you. Do you remember that day?”

  “I think you were six. You didn’t know I was in the room, and when you turned around you started crying and ran in the bathroom.”

  “God, I was so embarrassed.”

  “Do you remember what I did after that?”

  “You took the door off the hinges because I wouldn’t open it.” I remember that day like it was yesterday, even though it’s been almost ten years. “Then you got a washcloth and wiped my face, told me I was going to be the most beautiful bride, and you couldn’t wait to be the man at the end of the aisle waiting on me.”

  “I meant every word of it.”

  “You were eight, Bronson.”

  “Yet, here I am almost ten years later. Still doubt me?”

  “I’ve learned never to doubt you.”

  “Exactly.” Her tears that day made me crazy. Yet, years later they cut me to my core. “You sure were slow on the uptake, not knowing this was going to happen one day. That’s why I’m so sure of us, yet confused that you never expected this. I hate that you doubted me.”

  “I never doubted you. I guess I doubted myself. Still do.”

  “What do you doubt?”

  “This is too heavy of a subject. Let’s go inside.” She takes a few steps from me, and I catch her wrist and twirl her around so she is facing me.

  “Callie, don’t walk away from me.” I grip her chin and tilt her head back, waiting for her to give me her eyes. “I won’t force you to talk, but you won’t just dismiss me, either. One day, you won’t doubt us, yourself, or the path we took to get here. Until then, don’t walk away from me. Ever.” I give her a swift kiss and bring her in close, and when she turns her head, resting her cheek on my heart; I wish she would realize that it beats for her. I pull her away and turn my back to her, bending down and looking over my shoulder at her. We haven’t done this in forever, but when she hops on my back, I piggyback her in the house, and holler for Bianca.

  She comes running down the stairs, “Where’s the fire?”

  “Movie day.” Callie squeezes my waist with her legs, signaling for me to let her down, and I ignore her. “I’m going to deposit this monkey on my back, y’all can pick the first movie, but I’m getting breakfast for us.”

  Bianca just follows us down to the media room. She is as aware as I am about Callie and her issues at home, and I want to give them some time to talk. She reads me loud and clear and shoos me out of the room with her breakfast order. It’s enough to feed an army, and she will subtly transfer some to Callie’s plate, since my girl only requested yogurt.

  I give them plenty of time while I sit and wait on our housekeeper to make breakfast. When I get downstairs they are both singing at the top of their lungs, and it’s not pleasant. I stand back and watch them; sometimes they act like the teenagers they are, yet other times they act much older. Both are mature beyond their years most of the time, but this lifestyle can make you cynical. I hope they never lose their innocence and always have moments like this. Once the song ends, another begins. I set the tray down and clear my throat; they both turn and face me. Bianca starts laughing, more at Callie’s face. Her cheeks are red, and she looks mortified.

  I step towards her and take her in my arms, swaying to ‘All About Us’ by He is We, not a word is spoken between us and when the song ends, I kiss her temple, “Our first dance.” She looks up at me, and in her eyes is everything. Love. Trust. Uncertainty. Forever. Doubts. “You don’t have to serenade me every time,” I joke with her. Relief. That is the last thing I see pass before she kisses my cheek and turns towards Bianca.

  “Coyote Ugly,” they both say at the same time. I groan, and wonder why I gave them the choice of picking the movie. As it plays, it becomes clear. Both of them recite every line, laugh, and cry.

  Chapter 5

  Callie

  Tranquility. That is what he brings to me. Of course, lust, devotion, refuge, and I love him, but the calm that settles over me when he is around is one I’ve never experienced. It’s odd that in one night, after one conversation and a few kisses, everything has changed; yet remained the same. We still have the friendship, easy demeanor, and commitment to one another . . . but now we have so much more. He’s il mio tutto, without taking anything from me. Fortune and destiny seem so cliché, but it’s true. He has been my path for as long as I can remember, and as long as he wants me, I’m his. Only his. I will continue walking along this path he has laid out in front of me by his side.

  Dancing in his arms, hearing him whisper, “Bellissimo,” over and over, I believe him. I believe in us. I know we have many hurdles to overcome, the main one being my father. It’s said if it’s worth it then it won’t always be easy, and I know we have some uphill battles to face, some missteps to be made, but we have so much more propelling us forward. Our friendship wasn’t immediate, but it was never forced. It grew, blossomed, and he has become someone I trust. Without trust you have nothing, and even though our relationship is becoming intimate, moving to a different level, it isn’t changing at the core. If I can’t laugh with him, depend on him, trust him, and cherish him, then there is no reason to continue, but luckily we already have those intimacies and are able to transition so much easier than most. We have history and now we have a future.

  I notice Bianca putting food on my plate, I’m not an idiot, I only had yogurt, so when a mysterious piece of bacon ended up in front of me I knew they were both in on it. Instead of making a big deal of it, I ate it. Then the fruit, then the slice of toast. I know they worry, and I love them for it, but they are both very protective of me and don’t always think I can look out for myself. I’m stronger than they realize. It may not seem like it because I tend to avoid confrontation, blend in . . . but that is my biggest strength in my house. We have identical lifestyles, but diverse upbringings. Their parents are still in love, equal partners, while his mom does defer to his dad; there is a mutual respect. I don’t have that at home, but I do with him.

  Bianca and I are giggling and reciting the movie. Bronson is acting like he is annoyed, but he keeps coming back for more. “Babe, you don’t have to stay here and be a glutton for punishment. Go, enjoy your day.” He doesn’t have to be constantly underfoot. I know he’s worried about what’s going on, but it’s nothing new.

  “I’m good,” he tells me as he pulls me closer to his side, and we settle back to finish the movie.

  “What movie are y’all seeing tonight?” Bianca is hinting at something; she could care less what we are going to see.

  I look at Bronson waiting for his answer. “Haven’t d
ecided yet.” His phone goes off, and he checks the text. “That’s Dakota, he wants to go out tonight, let me go call him.”

  “We could all go,” Bianca is not sly. She may think she has hidden her interest in him since meeting him a secret but anyone with half a brain can see through farce. Dakota is Bronson’s best friend, and his sister is in love with him. Well, not in love just infatuated with him. She isn’t the girl who wants to settle down young, she wants to experience life and different people. He doesn’t show any interest in her, but I think it’s because Bronson would kill him. Double standard in our situation, but Dakota isn’t part of this family. He has no ties to the mob but is trusted in this house. I glance over at Bianca, and she won’t meet my eyes, which makes me more suspicious. I won’t call her out in front of her brother, but I will be getting the whole story out of her.

  I raise my eyebrows letting her know I’m on to her plan. “That sounds great. We can go for pizza or something beforehand. Just have Dakota meet up with us.” I see Bianca’s grin and have no idea how Bronson can be so clueless.

  “I wanted some time with just you,” he says pointedly.

  Leaning in I whisper, “If he meets us, we can sneak out of the movie, and he can bring Bianca home.” I kiss his cheek and notice I have his attention.

  “Does six work for you? I can go shoot some hoops with him first and then we can head out.”

  “Perfect,” I smile at him and shoot a look at Bianca letting her know it will be confession time in about three minutes. He drags me off the couch and pulls me behind the door, bends down, and grazes his lips over mine. When I think he is about to pull away, his tongue sweeps against my lips seeking entrance. I immediately open, lost in sensation, and after a few sweeps of his tongue against mine, he pulls back, kissing my temple. That wasn’t enough, but he’s still keeping things in that department light. It’s a new world for me, and the respect he shows is admirable, a true testament to the man he is becoming.

  “Had to kiss my girl good-bye,” he says as he caresses my cheek down to the back of my neck where his hand rests. He brings me into his strong chest and holds me. Releasing me, he sends me back to Bianca while he goes to meet Dakota.

  Practically skipping back into the room, I plop down next to Bianca, “Spill it, Binks.” She hates that nickname, and I hate she is keeping something from me.

  “What?”

  The innocent act doesn’t work for her. “Drop it. You can’t play me. How did Dakota all of a sudden text right after you asked our plans?”

  “I have no idea.” Lying little twit.

  “What time is it?” She looks at me like I have lost my mind, but she pulls her cell phone out from under the covers to look.

  I grab it from her and rejoice that my plan of attack worked. Opening it and seeing the last message was to Dakota, I shriek at her, “Bianca Rose Agosto, when did you start keeping things from me?”

  The look of guilt on her face hurts me. “You know Bronson would lose his shit about this, and you guys are just starting out. I don’t want this to be something you have to keep from him.”

  “You’re my best friend, Bianca. He’ll have to understand those boundaries.” I need her to know I’m still the same girl . . . still her best friend.

  She snorts at me, “As if. That boy has no boundaries when it comes to you.” I scrunch up my nose, not liking where this conversation is going. “No, Callie, don’t be upset. This is what it’s all about. Growing up, love, relationships . . . all our late night conversations are becoming a reality. I want to experience it, too. With Dakota.”

  “I get that, Bianca, but you don’t have to cut me out of it. You’re my sister, and you don’t keep stuff from me.” This wasn’t an obstacle I saw coming, and it upsets me. For so long she has been my rock. Yes, Bronson has been my heart, but this girl has been my other half, and I don’t like the shift happening.

  “Hey, turn that frown upside down. Let’s go get you ready.”

  “I mean it, Bianca. I don’t want things to change.”

  “Callie, things always change. It doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing, but you have to let it change.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Of what?”

  “Losing you. Then if I lose him, I won’t have anything.”

  “When I said things changed I didn’t mean you would lose me. Never. But you have to know, as we grow up and situations change, each relationship will evolve and shift. It’s life, Callie. Nothing stays the same.”

  “Well, I want it to.”

  “Liar. If you wished that then we would never move forward from yesterday afternoon. You wouldn’t have had your first kiss, you wouldn’t be Bronson’s girl, you wouldn’t get to experience all life is going to give you, but most of all you wouldn’t feel love. Sure, you can have unrequited love, but real love is a two-way street, to fully understand it you both have to be in it.”

  “I hate when you are right.” I pout at her.

  “You should be used to it by now. Get your tiny ass up and let’s go get pretty.” I follow behind her without as much enthusiasm as she is showing, mulling over all these changes in my mind. I allow her to curl my hair. It takes forever because it’s halfway down my back. She does my make-up, and I draw the line at letting her pick out my outfit. She has the worst fashion sense and the motto ‘less is more’ fits her perfectly. The shirt she is wearing could pass for my bathing suit top.

  “Do you want your brother to have a heart attack before he takes my virginity?”

  “No! Just no. You did not just say that to me.”

  “He will freak out when he sees you dressed like that, and you won’t get any time alone with Dakota. In fact, you won’t be leaving this house.” My eyes are about to bug out of my head, as her tits are about to pop out. “Nip slips aren’t attractive, Bianca. And we aren’t in the business to have wardrobe malfunctions overlooked.”

  Rolling her eyes, she grabs a cropped jacket and places it over top. “We’re almost seventeen, you have to dress like it. Besides, see, problem fixed. Bronson will never know, and Dakota won’t know what hit him.” I’m slightly scared by her conniving plan and in awe of her confidence.

  “Bianca, how are we best friends?”

  “You need me. It’s that simple.” I hear Bronson holler for us, and I feel self-conscious next to her in my plain shorts and top. All that fades away when I see the look of appreciation on his face.

  “You look beautiful, Callie.” He pulls me against his side, not even a sheet of paper could fit between us. He winks at his sister, studying her outfit, and he deems it acceptable and leads us out to his car. If he only knew what she was sporting under that coat . . .

  We all squeeze into the only booth left at the deli around the corner. Dakota and Bronson talk about guy things, droning on about sports and cars. When Bianca gets up to go to the bathroom, Dakota follows her a few minutes later.

  The quiet that surrounds us is uncomfortable. For as well as we know each other, we really don’t. I know his favorite color is green, but not his favorite sports team. I know his favorite meal, but not what he is doing when he graduates after his senior year, which starts just a few short months from now.

  “Bronson, are you going away to school?” The other two join us, and Bianca scoffs at my question.

  “What?’

  “Callie, you know what he is doing . . . what he will be groomed to do.” I’m taken aback. I know he doesn’t want to be part of our fathers’ world, and I know it won’t be forced on him.

  Dakota interjects, “No way. He isn’t doing that shit. We have our plans already mapped out. College, parties, apartments, and then DEA force.”

  Bianca just laughs, Bronson looks uncomfortable, and I’m still processing. “Dakota, some things may have to change.” I see him cock his head towards me, and immediately I squash that.

  “No way. You aren’t giving up your dream to be here with me.”

  “Excuse us,” Bronson tells them a
nd pulls me out of the booth.

  “We will just meet y’all here after the movie,” Bianca calls. She caught Bronson distracted, so he just nodded. I see the smile cross her face before she sets her sights on Dakota.

  He pulls me towards the car and once he opens the door and gets me settled in, he walks around the front and gets in the driver’s side. “Bronson, I’m serious. I won’t be the cause of you giving up your dreams.”

  “You’re not the sole reason. We’ll talk when we get to the dock.”

  The dock. No-man’s land. The warehouse district where it all goes down. I’ve never been allowed to go there, but he’s been many times. Females in our world are more seen and not heard in business matters, and it affords all of us some sort of safeguards. If we don’t know we can’t talk, and believe me there are many woman scorned that would love to rat . . . they don’t have the chance because they don’t know and if they did, they wouldn’t live to tell.

  He greets the guard at the warehouse and is allowed access. It is eerie being here; quiet and I thought it would be a lot busier. “Do you come here often?”

  “When I need to think. It’s quiet here.”

  “It’s creepy here. I figured there would be a lot of activity.”

  “Nah, if they’re getting ready for a shipment or meeting, I’m not allowed here. I wouldn’t put you in danger, Callie.”

  “I know that.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why do you wonder why I’m rethinking my dreams?”

  “Not a clue. I just don’t want to be the cause of it.”

  “There are so many reasons. You being one of them.”

  “Bronson, it seemed like it was set in stone until tonight.”

  “It was in Dakota’s mind. I’ve struggled with it for a while.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Callie, look at our father’s business. Being a DEA agent is a direct contradiction to that. I don’t want to hurt my dad; no matter what he does for a living, he’s my hero. He’s a good father, always been there, always supported my dreams.”