Page 25 of Bite Marks

Tears prickled the rim of her eyes. She cursed her father for pulling her into this world of criminals and conflict. He was dead because of his poor choices. Should she make the same ones?

“Wow,” Maria’s voice cut through Vanessa’s combating thoughts. Vanessa jumped and turned to look at her assistant. “You sure look like you’ve had a good roll around.” Maria shook her head and realized what she had said. “You do! Oh my God! It was with Nunzio, wasn’t it?”

Maria plopped down into the seat next to Vanessa.

“Tell me everything. Do it. Do it now.”

Vanessa couldn’t help but smile at Maria. But then she realized she was smiling because of Nunzio. Anger made her grind down on her teeth. She slumped herself back and closed her eyes. But images of what happened on the bathroom counter this morning betrayed her. They danced in her mind like a cruel joke of a tragic comedy.

When she opened her eyes, Maria was still staring at her expectantly.

“Well?” Maria asked.

Vanessa set her lips in a straight line. “We did. It was incredible. It was the best sex and night I have ever spent with a person.” Vanessa threw her hands up in the air. “Hell, it was the best night I’ve ever had. Period.”

Maria cocked her head. “Then why are you so dramatic?”

Vanessa crossed her arms and legs. She looked away from one of her best friends and confidants. “Because. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It was supposed to be a one-off.”

“Obviously not. You obviously wanted it, or you would not have let it happen. You don’t let anything happen that you don’t want.”

Vanessa let that statement sink in. She did not respond, so Maria kept going.

“Yes. He’s in a life that you want to stay away from. But was it really so bad?” Maria held her hands up. “Listen to me. It’s awful that your father died. It’s awful that these family members are criminals … but tell me that it isn’t like going home.”

“That’s the problem,” Vanessa snapped. “What does that say about me if I am attracted to a criminal kind of life? I don’t want to be a criminal. I don’t want to associate with them. I don’t want to have this kind of family.” Tears threatened to spill over her cheeks.

“I think it says that life is complicated, and maybe you should talk to Nunzio.”

“Or, maybe I should leave it just as it is. I can break it off, and we don’t have to pretend. We don’t have to see each other again.”

“Or maybe you should ride that man until you figure things out.”

Laughter burst from Vanessa. She placed her fingertips on her head and rubbed at her temples. “My God, he smelled so good. He did everything right. He touched every button I had, even ones I didn’t know were there.”

Maria leaned forward in her seat. “I bet he did.” Then, she shifted back. Vanessa could tell she had an insane thought … she could read her assistant very well.

“What did you just come up with, lady?” Vanessa asked.

“What if, and hear me out, you just let things happen? You’re young. You should have fun and give yourself a chance to be a little happy without torment. You have a chance to just be instead of making it a plan. It doesn’t have to be serious if you don’t want it to be.”

Vanessa chewed on her bottom lip. “That’s true,” she said. “I might be able to do that.”

The phone rang, and Maria stood to answer it like a good assistant. “Vanessa Ciampa’s office. Oh, hello, Mrs. Ciampa.” Maria’s smile widened. “Yes, she is in. I’ll let her know you’d like to speak with her.” Maria pushed the hold button. “Your mom would like to speak with you. She sounds … cranky.”

Maria laughed and placed the phone in Vanessa’s hand.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “What else is new?”

“Hmmm … I wonder who you take after then?” Maria quipped as she slunk out of the room.

Vanessa balked. She had never thought about it that way before. She shook her head and tried to steady herself. She clicked the button and placed the receiver up to her ear. “Hi, Mom. How’s it going?”

“Your aunt called me last night. She says that she saw you the other day. On Nunzio Sarducci’s arm.”

Vanessa’s mind went blank, she literally hadn’t taken into account that her mom would hear about her dating life, but she should have known better. The old Italians love to talk, especially about romance within the ranks of their ethnicity.

Her mother went on. “Nessa! You know better than that. He is only going to leave you in the end. It is going to be heartache and heartbreak. The moment any man steps into that association is when they sign their death warrant.”

---