The doorbell rang. He pulled away from Faith, but she clung to him. It was a strange turn of events. Leo gently took her hands off his shoulders, linked one of his hands with hers, and took her to face the firing squad.
The first person to arrive was his mother. He’d had no doubt it would be her, though she was coming all the way from Vegas. Gina Raspallo was absolutely punctual in everything, as if she had an internal mechanism that forced her body to be at the proper place at the proper time without deviation. Leo’s father had died of a heart attack three years before, and his mother had become more punctual in the intervening time.
“Leo! Oh my baby! I missed you. You never come to see me,” Gina said, bending and dropping the diminutive Yorkie that scrambled to get out of her arms. She pulled Leo into a bear hug.
Max scrambled into the entry way at the sound of the yapping. The golden retriever found the Yorkie fascinating in every way, like a chew toy, though he had never hurt the other dog. The Yorkie began to hop up and down at the sight of Max, his short legs barely making it an inch in the air before he landed again.
“And this must be your girl!” Gina released Leo and turned her attention to Faith, who had stepped behind her son.
Faith squeaked when his mother hugged her. “Let me see that ring!” She squealed in delight at the engagement ring. “Doesn’t our Leo have the best taste ever? I’m Gina, but you can call me Ma.”
“Ma…” Leo said. “Don’t push her so much. You’ve known her thirty seconds.”
“Well, she’s gonna be family isn’t she?” His mother pierced him with the glare he’d been waiting for. The how dare you get yourself engaged without letting me meet her first glare.
She stepped back and appraised Faith, causing the redhead to shrink back. “Well, she’s not Italian, but at least she’s Catholic. I’ll take it. And I expect lots of grandchildren! She’s young enough, at least. I was worried you’d pick somebody older. You know it’s really better for a woman if they have the babies young. Now, what do you need me to do for dinner?”
Leave it to his ma to say the most inappropriate things about the childbearing years. He was surprised she hadn’t mentioned Faith’s great birthing hips.
“Ma, I told you. I’ve got people. We don’t need you to help with dinner tonight. You just got here for God’s sake. Relax. Go for a swim or something.” He’d had the temperature and pH of the pool tested just that morning.
“But it’s Christmas Eve. I don’t know why we don’t come here a few days before and cook all together in the kitchen like we used to. All the Brooklyn family gets to bring covered dishes, and I’m stuck doing nothing. I want to cook something for my boy. Now!”
It was pointless arguing. Once Gina got an idea into her head, woe to the man or woman who tried to stop her. Leo led her to the second kitchen, keeping a tight hold on Faith’s hand.
Most of the time, he used the smaller family-style kitchen, but with his family here, everything had been upgraded to the large kitchen and even larger dining room. The doorbell rang again, and he left Gina with the kitchen staff to go greet the new guests. His mother was their problem now.
***
Faith fought to keep control of herself. If she had a meltdown now, she wasn’t sure what Leo would do. Meeting his mother had been bracing to say the least, but when the woman had mentioned grandchildren, Faith felt the world drift away into some strange oblivion she couldn’t seem to hold onto anymore.
Grandchildren.
She’d been afraid to look into Leo’s eyes after that. But he had to know this couldn’t work now. He’d promised he wouldn’t require sexual intimacy from her. In a big family that expected big families, this would never work. How would he keep them at bay if they were chomping at the bit for mini-Leos?
Did Leo want that? Did he want a marriage and a big family? It hadn’t occurred to her to ask. All she’d wanted was to stay alive and not be violated or locked in a dungeon. The finer logistics hadn’t crossed her mind amidst the other mental noise. How long would he accept this lie before he wanted something real with someone?
He’d said he wouldn’t force her, but he must imagine someday she would willingly give in to him, especially in light of how she’d begun to relish their pretend kisses too much. He must know. What would he say when he found out she might not be able to have children? Would that be the end of everything?
And if she could have children, would she be forced to have them to keep up appearances with his demanding family?
The alternative was a “breakup.” But then what would happen? If he didn’t get rid of her, she’d be in the dungeon every Christmas for as long as he let her live. She couldn’t get the image of spiders and rats crawling over her out of her mind. Her apartment had the occasional rat problem. She’d woken more than once to find a disgusting rodent crawling over her. The memory made her shudder and hold onto Leo’s hand tighter as they made their way through the house, away from his mother but toward new dangers. Faith would rather have his babies—if she could—in a loveless pretend marriage, than spend any time in a dungeon with creepy crawlies.
When they reached the entryway, Demetri had already let the new guests in. This time, it was a larger swell of people. A few children—around eight or nine years old—already running around screaming and playing tag, a couple of women with Brooklyn accents, about forty-two necklaces layered on top of each other, too-painted faces, and big hair. Several men clung to the walls like malevolent gargoyles.
The men had hard, criminal faces. It was impossible for Faith to understand how their women went along with all this, pretending to be oblivious. It was impossible to be oblivious. Those faces said death and broken bones. Those faces said you have forty-eight hours to get me my money or you’re losing your kneecaps.
It made Faith move closer to Leo, hoping he could and would protect her from them. Then the introductions started. The kids waved and went back to playing. The women, Dona and Rachele, appraised her as if they didn’t quite buy Faith and Leo as a love match. “She’s a bit young for your usual taste, isn’t she?” One of them had asked. These two women could end her life with their skepticism.
The men sized her up too, but in a different way, a hungry way. Leo’s hand stayed on her lower back, holding her steady as she tried not to faint from nerves. The men didn’t try to make physical contact. They merely nodded from several feet away as they assessed her, no doubt visualizing her and Leo in intimate activities—or her in intimate activities with each of them. She blushed and watched the playing dogs to distract herself. She didn’t catch the men’s names when they were introduced.
The next few hours continued like this. More children. More women. Covered dishes. More men with that bone-chilling statue demeanor. His grandmother, Alba, and his grandfather, Carmine: called Grammie and Papi. Some cousins, Nicholas and Joseph. Other family members whose relationship to Leo escaped her: Mariella, Dante, Angelica, Fabrizio, Michael, Bernie, Noelle, Nico, Sofia, Aldo, Gabriel, Tony, Lalia.
She’d never remember them all. Maybe not even if they wore name tags. And she was the main event. Everyone wanted to know things about her. Every family member appraised her, trying to determine if she was a suitable mate for their son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew.
Angelo and his boyfriend showed up late. There was a mild flurry of discomfort from several in the family, but they couldn’t be bothered with Angelo’s alternative lifestyle. Faith was fresh meat. Angelo smirked and led his boy toy off to their designated bedroom. The rest of the family followed suit, bringing in their luggage and settling in, then dispersing throughout the house. At least with them all in different areas, Faith had begun to feel less claustrophobic, but there was still dinner to think about, and all the other meals and moments they might all share together during the next week. A part of Faith would have preferred the dungeon if it wasn’t too dank, and if he’d allow her to move freely down there.
The doorbell rang again, and Leo answered it. “Vinny! You big goomb
a, come here!” Leo hugged the man, beating him on the back in the way men did to show affection. He turned back to her with a smile that made his whole face light up. “Faith, this is my best friend, Vinny.” A woman stepped out from behind the new arrival, a predatory look in her eyes. She reached out to touch Leo’s arm and hugged him too long and too close. When she released him, he took a step back and said, “And this is Vinny’s cousin, Caprice. Guys, I want you to meet my fiancée, Faith.”
Each time Leo said it, it sounded believable. He said it with such smooth practice, no one would think to question the farce. Caprice’s eyes darted to meet Faith’s. She didn’t bother to mask her contempt and jealousy. Caprice leaned closer to Leo and left a lingering kiss on his cheek, practically on his neck. Her breasts, which were almost falling out of her dress, pressed provocatively against him.
Faith was relieved when Leo looked more annoyed than turned on. It wasn’t that she was jealous of the other woman, more that if someone came in and swept Leo off his feet, what would it mean for Faith and her safety? At this point she’d beg to have the man’s babies if it would keep her above ground. It was at that moment, Faith realized how potentially precarious her situation could be. She had to win the family over. Especially his mother. Gina was the linchpin to everything.
“I need to go handle some… business, if you’ll all excuse me,” Leo said. Wherever he was going, he wasn’t taking Faith with him.
No. No. No. Don’t leave me alone with these people. Especially not this woman. Caprice looked like she’d just as soon eat Faith alive than have a pleasant conversation with her. But all Faith could manage was an agreeable nod, too afraid to embarrass him or herself in front of his friends and family.
When he kissed her, she gave more of herself this time, melting against him, opening her mouth to him. She felt the change in his body, the surprise at her reaction, but he masked it for their audience. When he pulled away and went down the hallway, she chanced a look at Caprice to find the other woman glaring darts into her.
“I-I have to g-go do something, too,” Faith said, needing to get away and go somewhere where she could be alone, away from the endless cacophony.
***
Leo fought to keep control of himself as he made his way to the industrial kitchen. He’d hoped Vinny wouldn’t bring his cousin. Caprice was an old lover. She’d never stop being hung up on him, despite how brief their relationship had been. Leo was always uncomfortable when she was around. She was the most manipulative, conniving, and aggressive female he’d ever encountered.
She was the kind of raging psychotic that a smart man didn’t fall asleep beside. The odds he’d wake up with his balls in a jar were not slim. Leo didn’t like leaving Faith alone with the viper, but he also didn’t want her around for what he wanted to say and who he wanted to say it to.
Traveling down the hallway, he found himself distracted by the kiss. It only made him want Faith, more. If she kept kissing him like that, he’d enslave her the moment his family was out the door. What could have gotten into her? He’d think it was the presence of a rival, except he was quite sure Faith wanted to remain in her wing unmolested, not duel for his affections.
When he reached the kitchen, his mother was making sauce for the spaghetti, her small dog yapping around her feet for attention. Good luck when there was cooking involved.
“I managed to get in here before they started the gravy. Taste this, Leo,” she said, holding her hand under the wooden spoon.
Leo dutifully opened his mouth to taste the sauce.
“Is it too much olive oil?”
“You know it’s perfect, Ma.”
She beamed. “Yes. I know. I just like to hear it.”
He didn’t beat around the bush. “Vinny brought Caprice. He didn’t mention he was bringing her. I could kill him.” Leo didn’t get to see his friend much since he’d moved to Vegas. He hadn’t considered that he should make it clear he didn’t want Caprice there. Besides, she was Vinny’s cousin. It was hard to see how that conversation could go well.
Gina’s face turned sour. “At least you’re not marrying her. You could spring a million engagements on me and I’d forgive you, as long as it wasn’t Caprice.”
“She never recovered after I wounded her pride and ended it two years ago,” Leo said. “I think landing me again is still on her agenda.”
His mother frowned. “Over my dead body.”
“I thought you’d feel that way. Try to make friends with Faith. I don’t want her to feel like she doesn’t have an ally here. This is a bit overwhelming for her. We both know how Caprice can be, and I can’t run interference all the time.” It hadn’t occurred to Leo how out of her element Faith would be, even if their engagement were real. With no family and few friends, she wasn’t used to so many people. Add to that all the days she’d been isolated in his house, and flinging forty people at her at once was sounding less than brilliant.
“Leave it to me. That bitch doesn’t have a prayer. She’s way too aggressive for you. When I saw the way Faith clung to you, I knew she was the right one. You always were drawn to the softer types. Not the tough-talking Brooklyn girls like Caprice.”
“Thanks, Ma. I knew you’d understand.” He kissed her on the cheek and went back to get Faith, promising himself he wouldn’t leave her alone to deal with his family again.
***
As soon as Faith excused herself from Vinny and Caprice, she made her way to the smaller kitchen. It sat tucked away to one side of the house, far from everyone else. She poured a glass of tea from the refrigerator; the cool liquid was soothing as it went down. She tried to breathe and stared out the window at the setting sun and the herb garden.
It was too many people. Her fears had gone from Leo killing her or hurting her for messing up, to the blind terror of being surrounded by so many people—most of them criminals. A throat cleared behind her and she jumped and dropped the glass in the sink, causing it to shatter.
Faith spun around, at first thinking it was Leo, but the man’s eyes were dead, and he didn’t have a scar. Angelo. It was impossible to explain how Angelo could look more frightening when he was so perfect, and Leo could seem safer with the wicked scar slicing down his cheek. She gripped one of the larger glass shards, ignoring the pain as the jagged edge bit into her palm. She’d give Angelo a scar to match his brother’s if he forced her hand.
His arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the door frame. “Tell me why you aren’t being an obedient whore for my brother. If it’s lack of instruction, I know guys in prison who could teach you a thing or two about sucking cock.” His voice was lethal, and she was reminded of how scary Angelo could be. In the time she’d been with Leo, she’d been scared and uncertain, which had caused her to forget how much her situation had improved. Now the reminder was large and looming in front of her.
He unfolded his arms and pushed off the door frame, stalking her like prey.
“I asked you a question. What pathetic, sniveling thing did you do to soften my brother toward you? I know him. I know you aren’t satisfying his needs. So why are you still alive? You were meant as a gift, not a burden. Maybe I should take you back with me and find someone who’ll put better use to your charms. I’m sure one of my guys would like to take you home. I can’t believe I spared you. I should have shot you in that dumpster.”
“Leo!” she shouted. But as soon as the word exited her mouth, Angelo backhanded her. She stumbled and lashed out at him with the glass, missing his face and slicing his arm instead.
He gripped her wrist, bending it back to force the makeshift weapon from her hand. It fell to the floor, shattering into more pieces.
“You stupid cunt,” he growled. “You’ll pay for that.” He pressed her against the sink, his hand wrapped around her throat, squeezing while she gagged and choked and struggled for breath, convinced these were her last moments. She scratched and clawed at Angelo’s hands, trying to get him off her.
“Br
eaking my Christmas present?”
The pressure released from her throat, and she could breathe again. She’d never been so relieved to hear Leo’s voice. He stood in the middle of the kitchen, watching his brother, his face unperturbed by a single recognizable expression.
Angelo grabbed her by the back of the neck and threw her on the ground in front of Leo. “That is where a slave belongs—at her Master’s feet. You stupid whore.”
Faith flinched and crawled closer to Leo. She couldn’t make any sudden moves with Angelo in this state. She was unsure Leo would come to her aid. He hadn’t ripped his brother off her, or yelled at him, or made any big display of gallantry. Surely he didn’t care one way or the other what happened to her. Why would he? Angelo was right in a way, she was his brother’s burden, and rescuing her from every little threat added to the annoyance. Drawing more attention to herself now by standing and riling Angelo further was a recipe for death.
“Why aren’t you using her?”
“Is she mine?” Leo asked, rhetorically.
“Of course,” Angelo conceded.
“Then she’s not your concern. What I do or don’t do with her or when isn’t your business. Did you think I’d start training her before the new year? With the family coming in?”
“I hadn’t thought of it,” he said. “I was pissed she wasn’t giving you what she was meant to give you. She’s acting all entitled, like she’s special.”
“And whose fault is that? You’re the one who told our mother we were engaged. It’s because of you that we’re acting out this drama.”
Angelo sighed. “You know how Ma gets when she’s around Davide. I wanted her focus somewhere else for a change. She’s gotta give her harping a rest.”
“Then all this… with Faith… is your fault. Don’t interfere. I’ll train her when I’m good and damn ready.”
As their words flowed over her, Faith wondered if he’d been lying to her before or if he was lying to his brother now. Did he intend to violate and beat her and treat her like a slave once everyone was gone and he had more uninterrupted time?