Page 120 of Capo

Epilogue

Angela Russo

The Russos are a weird ass family.

I can never tell any of my friends about my brothers Christian, Nathan, Matteo, and Luca, about my mother Bianca, or my uncle Luciano Salvatore. I can’t tell them about the ruthless enforcers Eric Reed, Ivan Sokolov, and all the others. How could I explain that they’re all part of a massive crime syndicate? How could I tell them about the illegal clubs across the country, prostitutes, money laundering, protection business, murder and mayhem? Uncle Luci would probably kill anyone I told anyway, so better to just keep my mouth shut.

I stay far away and I don’t ever go to San Francisco. Ever.

Except today I do.

Christian Russo is getting married. He’s my oldest brother, my protector, my idol, and the closest thing I have to a father. My real father was shot to death the same minute I drew my first breath. Christian is marrying his beautiful Kerry Jackson. She has changed his life. The tiny, timid woman has changed the lives of so many people.

I snuck into church, huddled in the crowd and cower next to Sydney Lewis-Russo. I’m intimidated as all hell by being here and extremely grateful for her presence. She and Nathan are the only ones I hang with regularly. They live in New York like I do. She tried juggling a hotel business in New Orleans, but it didn’t work out and she left it in the hands of her friend, remaining as a passive partner. Nathan traveled too much and then they started popping out tiny little Russos. Well, the one so far, Ava, but I swear there’s a new bun in that oven.

The vast church is filled with people. Some I know, and plenty I don’t know. Most of them are relatives from Sicily. I think Uncle chartered a Boeing and fucking emptied the island because they all seem to be here. I know a little Italian and catch the odd sentence here and there but mostly it’s an excited cacophony of voices that reaches the arched ceiling high above us.

I lean toward Sydney. “Is all this a little weird to you too?”

She laughs and looks around us. “It’s the Russos. Extravagant, dominant, larger than life. And owning the world. What did you expect?”

I roll my eyes and make a non-committal sound. “So how are you liking the Big Apple? Settling in?”

She turns her doe-like green eyes on me. “I finally beat the bachelor pad feeling out of the loft. It’s mine now. I’m notorious. I can’t help decorating. Nathan gave up I think.”

Nathan, standing a few feet away, looks up at hearing his name and I feel like the fifth wheel all of a sudden as their eyes meet. There’s love there. They adore each other. Seeing my model-like player of a brother transform into a doting husband and father has been a blast. He was fun to be around before, but it’s triple the fun now, with cheery, fun-loving Sydney, and the kid. I’m looking forward to babysitting their brood for years to come.

Christian stands a little to the side, in front of the altar. He’s absolutely still, devastatingly handsome in his black tux, his hair pulled back in a tail, enhancing his strong features. He looks a little rough, like someone you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley, but when he turns on his warmth, when he gives you his heart, you know you’re safe and loved and that he won’t let anyone hurt you. I’m so happy Kerry and he made sense of their fucked up beginning and that they found each other again. He almost killed her, the fucker, on orders from Uncle of course. But before that he had flirted with her and somewhere in all this, they made a baby. I guess that can happen when boy meets girl and there’s not only a meeting of souls, but a bumping of pelvises too and everyone is being moronic all around. She fled, like any sane person would do. He chased after her and finally they sorted everything out after him nearly dying. I know it, because I spent all my free time by his side at the hospital. This is his and Kerry’s day, and they both deserve the happiness. I know I’m gonna bawl my eyes out and ruin my makeup.

Next to Christian stand Nathan, Matteo, and Luca, the three dashing groomsmen. They all look expectantly toward the church entrance, caught up in the moment.

Behind me sits David Salvatore with his mom, Carmen. She’s a drop dead gorgeous little Latina in her late twenties. I’m not sure of the story of her and Uncle, but I don’t think they were together, I think she was just one of his never-ending string of playmates. She smiles warmly at me as our eyes meet.

“Angela Russo?”

I nod. “Hi, how did you know?”

Her smile widens. “Chica. Did you look in the mirror? You look just like your brothers, only prettier.”

I blush. Well, fine. She has a point. “Is it just the two of you?” I nod at her and David.

“Oh yes. I don’t think my husband would set foot here even if they paid him billions. He was happy to stay home.”

“Fair enough,” I say, then I freeze and listen. My heart leaps to my throat as the church bells start ringing. The whole congregation goes silent simultaneously. Everybody stands and looks to the heavy oak doors expectantly, necks arching, straining to see the first glimpse of the bride.

Mendelssohn suddenly fills the church, the well-known tune bouncing between the stone walls. It’s time. First come the three bridesmaids, wearing long pale pink dresses in three different designs. I have never seen any of them and I assume they’re Kerry’s friends. Two tall blonde girls and one shorter with black hair. One of the blondes waves to a dark-haired woman in the congregation as she passes her. They all exchange gazes with Christian as they walk up to the altar and position themselves. Then come the mothers, side by side. My mom Bianca, and Kerry’s mom. They stride gracefully, as if they own the church, taking their time before they settle on each side of the aisle. It seems as if our side of the family also fills the bride’s side. Kerry’s relatives are heart-breakingly few. Well, she’ll have a giant family after this.

There’s an awed sound leaping through the crowd, a few claps and a couple of hoots. My heart picks up pace. Little Cecilia, Kerry and Christian’s child, walks much too fast, dressed in dark pink, looking like a princess, her silky brown hair curled and bouncing around her head. She dutifully spreads rose petals all over as she walks up to her father, running the last few feet and throwing herself around his legs. He smiles and lifts her high in the air, carrying her to Bianca. Then he straightens and gasps, looking down the aisle. I turn my head and there’s the bride, led by Uncle. Her dress is simple, creamy white thick silk, flat over her chest, shoulders bare, sleek around her waist and hips and with a long train. There’s nothing nervous about her. She has a shit-eating grin on her face and seems unfazed by walking next to the biggest crime boss on the West Coast. My stomach clenches as I take him in. I haven’t seen him in years. He has threatened to marry me away and force me to be part of the family. It would kill me. I am building a career as a photographer in New York. I just won’t follow his command. Meeting him today scares me to death, but I do it for my brother.

There are more hoots and claps from the Sicilians. Then Uncle delivers Kerry to Christian and the ceremony begins.

Tears stream down my cheeks as they make their promises and say their speeches. They talk of hardships and of love larger than life. They promise each other to never let go, to always honor and protect, that their love will last an eternity. I believe it. These two are made for each other.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Kerry disappears in Christian’s arms. He sweeps her off her feet and turns his back to us. All we see is parts of her dress. The bridesmaids giggle. The rest of us stand, clap and finally begin to shout at them. It’s adorable, crazy, and very Christian.

Kerry blushes profusely as they walk out. Christian winks at me and I give him a thumbs up. Cecilia hops before them and makes little pirouettes, swinging the basket, completely out of petals.

---