Page 17 of Under the Influence

“Well, seeing as you’re going to be married to her future husband’s sister, I very much doubt it. Even you aren’t that stupid to make that move.” She smiles victoriously, for the first time reading me like the blank slate I am.

I look at myself in the mirror, we are drawing closer and closer to the wedding, and this is my final fitting for the wedding suit. Armani, nothing less, with my men wearing the same except in another color.

“What do you think? A little more….” The tailor tugs on the bottom of the sleeve, fastening the cuff links before nodding. “Perfecto!” He smiles, and I nod at his assessment, giving him the wad of hundreds for which he gives me a deep bow.

“Looking good, boss.” Dominic nods as I walk out of the changing room. This Armani suit is more expensive than most people’s monthly earnings, so it better have looked good.

The wedding is definitely going to leave a significant dent in my wallet, but it will be worth it for all the future action I will be getting cut into. Drugs, money-laundering, casinos, not to mention the vast networks of informants, police captains, and Feds that Di Rossi and Falcone have in their grasp. I am going to have to swallow all of it whether I like Angela or not.Likeis such an obtuse word to use. I don’t outrightly dislike her, but she is so monotone every time we speak, that it is hardly worth pursuing a conversation.

She isn’t unattractive or hideous, but she just doesn’t seem to have a spark about her. If she were a color, she would be a beige or off-white; if she were an ice cream, she would definitely be vanilla. As much as I debate it, it’s all irrelevant because soon enough she will have my name. This woman will be forever associated with me; timid is a lot better than loose-lipped, at least I hope. Talking of loose-lipped, I haven’t spoken to Lucia since Long Beach. In turn, I have taken my bike apart and put it together six more times in frustration.

I live by the adage that every problem has a solution, but Sophia Falcone is the one problem I can’t find the answer to. In fact, Sophia only seems to emit a hundred million different questions that flare up in my head. I have always prided myself on having an iron will, but even the saintliest of saints would have trouble keeping themselves in check with Sophia Falcone.

In less than twenty-four hours, I am going to be saying my vows to Angela and tonight is the rehearsal dinner. Everything seems to be moving swiftly, my days of being a bachelor are slowly coming to an end as a new cycle awaits. I signed off on a small penthouse apartment in the upper East side for Angela, it was lavishly furnished and located on the top floor. Carmela Rossi sent over all her clothes and belongings, and I told her that Angela could decorate it as she saw fit. I have no interest in making it my own. I am going to be staying in Long Beach most of the time and spending time with her whenever I am in the city. The honeymoon has been booked to Capri, and in less than a month, we will be flying to Italy as man and wife.

“It’s almost time, Don,” Dominic calls from outside.

“I’m ready,” I say, giving myself one last look in the mirror. When I walk out, my reflection stares back at me, nonchalant as always.

“Iliked you the first time I laid eyes on you. I said, ”She’s a tiger. “She’ll belong to me.”

—Tony Montana

THE EVENING SEEMS TO CRAWL SLOWLY ON, DESPITE THE GUESTS APPEARING TO BE ENTERTAINED.

Angela’s bridesmaids all give anecdotes about her growing up and funny little stories that elicited laughter from the guests.

I had probably learned more from them about her than I had from the woman in question. I look at her from the side, and her face is drawn with dark shadows under her eyes. She shoots me a small smile before lowering her gaze again.

Vincenzo stands up to deliver his speech. My lip curls slightly when he refers to me as a ‘man of honor’ considering it isn’t that long ago that he held me with little to no regard. Vincenzo’s behavior is indicative of how much a certain amount of money and influence can sway things. Now that I have been greasing the old Don’s pockets, he is my biggest fan. He raises his glass, and the other guests follow. Sophia is seated at one of the tables, and our gazes lock as she puts her glass up in a toast. She’s wearing a thick bangle bracelet around her wrist to conceal her tattoo.

At least she listened to what I said last time.

As Vincenzo carries on blowing smoke up my ass, Angela stands up shakily. I stare up at her in surprise, as we aren’t due to make any toasts ourselves. Her father shoots me a quizzical look before her mother rises to sit her back down, but she ignores her.

“Thank you all for coming,” Angela says in a low, breathy voice.

“Angela, sit down,” her mother says in a warning tone, almost wrestling her.

“Although I regret to inform you this has been a waste of time, I can’t marry you, Don Rocco. In fact, I won’t be marrying you because I’m in love with someone else,” she says, turning towards me.

The room goes absolutely silent as everybody turns forward to look at me. I don’t say anything, but my eyes swivel towards her parents who look furious. The old Don has turned white in anger compared to his rosy jovial manner a couple of minutes ago.

“Sit down,” her mother scolds crossly.

“No, I really am sorry,” she says giving me a deeply apologetic look before leaving the table.

Her mother and sister run after her while Don Rossi whispers into the ear of his consigliere, seemingly aggrieved and sour faced before disappearing off after his wife. “It looks like the bride has a touch of cold feet. It happens to the best of us.” The consigliere says smiling sheepishly as if this were just a minor inconvenience. “I think it would be in the best interests of everybody if we wrap this up for tonight until her nerves settle down.” he says in a firmer voice as Don Rossi’s men start to ask people to leave.

I turn to Dominic and Damon who look equally as bewildered as I am, Angela’s surprise revelation reflected on both of their faces.

“Basically, he’s saying, you don’t need to go, but you need to get the fuck out of here,” Dominic says still stunned.

Slowly a din starts to break out as people begin to leave. Everybody is visibly taken aback, shock imprinted on their faces as they whisper to one another and shrug. Nothing has ever happened like this.

Ever.

This wedding would be remembered all right, but for all the wrong reasons.Vincenzo returns, indicating he wants to speak to me alone. I can see he has the good sense to look beside himself.

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