Page 1 of Tammaro DeLuca

TAMMARO

Ileaned back in my chair and lit my spinello. The haze entered my body on a cloud of smoke and spread throughout my lungs. It alerted every organ, vein, vessel, bone, etc. that this smoke session was beginning. I sat across from Donald Chambers, senior equity partner and the face of Chambers, Robertson, & Klein. They were the biggest law firm in Miami and the bite behind the shark that was coming after my business–Puff Real Estate and Investments.

Puff was looking to expand to Italy, and two of my properties caught their attention. They were obsessed. They were making me a killing but weren’t for sale. Puff didn’t understand “no” or choose to be persistent as a hobby. They were after my gold mine and thought that I was going to leave the issue unchecked. There were too many people paying attention, so getting rid of them wasn’t an option. This wasn’t our first run in though, however I was going to make it our last.

Years ago, my father tried to enter a deal with Chambers, and it backfired. Chambers fucked him over at the same moment that I was balls deep inside his daughter. My job was to keep Yolanda out of the way, gain information about her father, and stay out of trouble. I’d done the first two things, but the third … I’m positive that falling in love with her was the definition of trouble, especially when she and her father were sworn enemies of my father.

When Chambers found out that my father was dead, he pressed down heavily on his client to purchase the property. Now, I was here to do the same to him.

“Your wife doesn’t need to know about the sweet little thing that you have in Italy or that you’re fucking your secretary. She also doesn’t have to go bankrupt if I report you for accepting bribes. I’ll have your entire life flipped over into the nearest dumpster and set ablaze in seconds.” I took another hit and exhaled the smoke in small puffs.

“What do you want, Tammaro?” Donald loosens the neck of his gray button down as if it was going to get him out of the hot seat.

“We’re not friends, Chambers. You can call me Mr. DeLuca or sir. Either way, you’re going to agree to the terms of our agreement, like it or not.”

“What agreement?” He waited for me to answer, but I showed him I wasn’t fucking joking.

I leaned my body across his prestigious desk, wrapped my hand in the tie that was hanging around his neck, and pulled his body roughly towards mine. Making sure that when he was close, the grip on the tie got tighter. The smile on my face showed my intent before I slammed his head against the pretentious desk. His eyes blinked until he gained control. I snapped in his face to bring him back to our conversation. “Mr. DeLuca … or… sir.” I reminded him.

Chambers was in his late fifties or early sixties–old enough to be my father. I gave zero fucks about that insignificant fact. He’d address me with the respect I was due. He was the coward in this room, not me.

“Mr. DeLuca, how can I help you?” He asked without sarcasm in his voice. Instead, fear gripped every letter as he spoke the words. His hands that he had placed on the desk had a tremor in them.

“You have exactly one week to draw up the paperwork confirming your daughter and I are husband and wife. I want it official as fuck and she needs to understand that there’s no way out unless you want to die. It’ll be my collateral to ensure that your firm won’t be helping Puff Real Estate anymore.”

“They’re my client! And I can’t force her to marry you!” Chambers shouted. The fear still eminent in the way his voice shook.

“You can and you will.” I took a long draw from my spinello and then put out the burning end on his desk, inches from his right hand, that was now clenched in a fist. “One week or I’ll start sending your wife pictures.”

“What am I supposed to tell her?” He asked in total shock.

“Truthfully, I don’t really give a shit what you need to tell her. You fucked with the wrong family, and she now belongs to one of the men in it.” I took a piece of the chocolate candy from the jar and dropped the gold wrapper on the floor as I popped it into my mouth. “I’ll be back for my wife. Make sure she signs before I get it in my hands.”

I exited the office and strolled down the quiet hall with ease, since there was nobody else here. When I got to the parking lot, I looked up into the sky to see a full moon shining brightly. I knew I was asking for trouble by going after Yolanda again. I had to know if it was child’s play all those years ago or if there was something real between us. Besides, she was better off with me than her sorry ass excuse of a father. At least I could protect her. He didn’t know what was coming, so how could he prevent the biggest downfall of his career?

But before Yolanda could find out what was going on, I was going to celebrate my upcoming nuptials by bedding a different bridesmaid of my future sister-in-law.

Cara.

I couldn’t wait to see her tomorrow during my brother’s wedding so I could scratch that itch before I was a married man as well. I climbed into my rental car to go to my brother–Beni’s bachelor party. Then, I lit another spinello and drove easily through the streets thanks to the GPS.

My business arrangement faded into the background of my mind as the effects settled in. Because I smoked so frequently, it usually took me to the second spinello before I felt the effects. My plan would go without a hitch and by this time next week, I’d be a happily married man and one step closer to getting what I wanted.

Fifteen years ago…

TAMMARO

She’s the one.

Laying here breathless and filled with the adrenaline that pounded through my chest, I knew Yolanda was the perfect fit for me. The way she clung to my side felt like she should never leave it. Being with her today was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday. The fireworks outside weren't about it being a holiday, but because the entire world was celebrating this moment.

Okay, that was a lie, but still…

“Mar,” Yolanda began, “will it always be this good?” She asked. We’d both been virgins before tonight.

“It can only get better, cara angelo.” I exhaled before kissing her forehead. “Ti amo.”

“You love me?” She asked.

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