Chapter 38
2412words
'I guess they didn't have anything bigger?" Sapphire muses, her gaze sweeping up the grandeur of the Vitalo estate. She's wearing a straight face, but there's humor dancing in her eyes.
I give a light-hearted shrug, 'We make do."
Her laughter peals out, clear and bright. There's no hoarseness left in her voice, and the bruising around her neck is gone now too. It's higher-pitched than usual, though. She's nervous—not an affliction Sapphire seems to suffer from often.
The front door opens, and Damon steps outside. He waits for us at the top of the wide stone porch as we climb the steps.
As we reach him, he greets me with claps to my back and then pulls Sapphire into a too-long embrace.
'Nervous?" he inquires with a hint of mischief, releasing Sapphire just before the urge to slug him becomes overwhelming.
'A little," Sapphire admits, then looks back at me. 'Zade, are you sure they won't mind me dropping by like this?"
'It's their wedding anniversary, amore mio, you're a surprise gift they'll absolutely adore. Besides, we've been through way more awkward family introductions before haven't we?"
Sapphire's smile widens, no doubt recalling my first visit to Harmony. 'I'm sure this one will go a lot smoother than that."
'We can certainly hope," Damon looks skeptical. 'Now, Sapphire, I wouldn't look Father straight in the eye, though. It triggers him when women do that."
'Really?" Sapphire's smile disappears, her anxious gaze swinging to me. 'Zade, you didn't think to tell me that?"
'Damon is an ass. Ignore him."
Then, unable to resist getting back at him, I say, 'Speaking of, Damon, you should brace yourself for the dinner talk to shift to your bride-to-be and upcoming wedding. I just wonder what you're going to do with all that red wine you're hoarding."
A shadow crosses Damon's face before he masks it with a chuckle. 'All disposed of, fratello. I can't stand the taste anymore. The cellar's now empty, and I'm planning to open up my palate to different options and blends."
'That's an interesting thought," Sapphire joins in, though the wine-centric humor is lost on her. 'I should explore something other than my current wine preference."
'Err, no, cara, you're perfect just the way you are," I give her a warm smile while shooting daggers at a darkly chuckling Damon. There won't be any ‘exploring' for Sapphire beyond my body or mind.
Damon presses on, knowing he's struck a nerve. 'Surely, Zade, how harmless could a vineyard in the south of France be? I'm sure that would change your palate significantly. What do you say, Sapphire? We can even bring Zade along."
'Oh, I'd love that. Zade, we should do it," Sapphire says with enthusiasm, still seemingly unaware of the subtext. The idea of a holiday in the south of France doesn't sound half bad, actually.
Damon gives her a look that's both playful and a bit serious. 'If you can find me a twin of yours, we'll make it a double date, bella," he smirks, then heads back inside, his shoulders tense.
Stronzo.
'Is it just me, or did Damon look like he was about to either smash something or shoot someone? You, maybe?"
I can't help but chuckle, appreciating how quickly Sapphire has come to read Damon's true emotions behind his practiced smiles. 'It was something I mentioned, cara. ‘Red wine' is actually a euphemism for Adele."
'Who's Adelly?" she asks, her pronunciation slightly off.
'Adele," I correct gently, with an Italian accent. 'She's a woman from Damon's past."
'Really? What happened?"
'Let's just say it was a bad breakup a couple of years back. A very sore spot for Damon. The only sore spot he has, it seems."
Sapphire takes a moment, absorbing the information. 'Oh, wow."
I quickly add, 'And before you get any ideas, don't try to psychoanalyze Damon. He's fucked six ways to Sunday."
'But I'd simply be offering the tools," she protests lightly. 'It's up to him to use them."
'Sapphire Vitalo—" Damn. 'Sapphire Kellan." I quickly correct myself. I admit I might have been trying it out too often in my head.
Her raised eyebrows and slightly hesitant smile tell me she caught that. 'Zade, what was that?"
'Just a slip of the tongue, baby. You know English isn't exactly my strong suit—"
'That is such bullshit, Zade." She interjects with a vigorous shake of her head
'What? So, I jumble the languages occasionally. Sue me." My grin is teasing.
Her reluctant smile and the rosy flush on her cheeks hint that perhaps she liked my slip more than she cares to admit.
'Anyway, now that you know my thoughts on the matter, what are you going to do about it? Run back to Harmony?"
She snorts, 'I don't think they'd take me back, Zade. The brothers are somehow convinced you walk on water or something."
It seems Grease and I get along even better than Phoenix, whose jury is still out on me, depending on how I'm treating his daughter. 'You're right. The only person who'd eagerly rescue you from me is Cade."
She rolls her eyes but doesn't argue. 'Good thing he's too busy wiping perps off the streets. Looks like I'm well and truly stuck with you, Zade."
'I love the sound of that. So, come on, let's go shock my parents." I take Sapphire's hand and lead her through the marble foyer to the large living room where Vito and Antonella Vitalo are lounging on the sofa.
They form a striking pair, both with dark hair. Father's is more heavily streaked with gray, while Mother's dark bob looks like it's been dusted or sprinkled with silver at her temples. Damon has joined them, and they are all laughing over something.
'Mother. Father." I step in, pulling Sapphire in behind me. 'There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Both glance up, their expressions freezing in a mix of surprise and curiosity. Neither of them saw this coming. First, Sapphire isn't Alina De Luca, whom they thought I'd be marrying. Second, Sapphire isn't Italian.
Slowly Father stands, then he extends a courteous hand to help Mother to her feet.
I stand protectively behind Sapphire, my hands gently encircling her upper arms. 'This is Sapphire Kellan, the love of my life."
A hush falls over the room, their reactions unfolding in slow motion—their mouths drop open in unison while a tender gleam lights up in Mother's eyes, her hand fluttering to her mouth.
Father regains his composure first, his eyes sharpening. 'Kellan?" he asks, probably hoping if there's an iota of Sicilian heritage.
Before I can open my mouth, Sapphire steps forward, a determined poise to her stance. 'Yes, Kellan, from San Diego County. Signor and Signora Vitalo, it's a pleasure to meet you," she says, her voice slightly rushed but clear, erasing all doubts, and fruitless hopes, about her roots. 'There," she murmurs to me, 'the awkward part's done."
Father's expression toggles back to astonishment, mirroring his initial reaction.
'It's truly an honor," Mother interjects, gracefully breaking the brief stalemate. She moves towards us, her voice warm. 'Amata figlia mia," she says, embracing Sapphire in a genuine, welcoming hug.
My beloved daughter. Wow. I expected Mother to be nice, but this? It's clear she already loves Sapphire. Father remains momentarily shell-shocked, but I'm confident he'll come around. Because it might be written in the stars somewhere: a pact that makes it impossible for any Vitalo not to fall for Sapphire Kellan at first sight.
Dinner winds down with my mother openly charmed by Sapphire, and Damon seemingly unsettled. Despite his outward calm, I sense he hasn't fully shaken off my earlier comment about the ensuing dinner conversation. Catching his eye, I silently tell him to relax. 'Lighten up, fratellino," I mouth.
His silent reply is a terse, 'Fuck off."
I stifle a laugh behind my wine glass.
'Zade?" Sapphire's voice, slightly breathless, pulls my attention her way.
'Sì, amore," I lean toward her.
'Where's the bathroom?" She whispers.
I cock my eyebrow, sending her a heated look. 'Now?" My hand is under her dress, high on her thighs. My fingers were absently tracing the edges of her knife holster and just about stroking higher toward her crotch.
'Zade, don't even get any ideas. I'm serious. I just need to go."
'Sure baby," I murmur, not believing her. 'Down the hall, take a right, first door left. Hurry back."
Sapphire excuses herself with grace, leaving the dining room with a swift, purposeful stride.
As the door closes behind her, my mother breaks the brief silence. 'She's quite the catch, Zade," she nods approvingly.
'I couldn't agree more, Mother," I reply, my heart swelling with pride and something deeper, a profound sense of connection to Sapphire that goes beyond words.
Damon grunts in agreement, but my father is silent. There's something troubling him. He was too quiet all through dinner, a deep groove between his brows.
'What is it, Father?" I ask. Neither of us likes to beat around the bush.
'Kellan, was it?" he echoes with a cautious tone, and I nod in affirmation. 'She seems like a good girl, DomeZade." It's not a compliment. It's a concern, weighing on him heavily—probably because she's American.
Damon scoffs, but he covers it with a cough and looks away. I narrow my eyes at him until he once again keeps a straight face.
'Father, Sapphire understands who I am and what I do," I reassure him. 'And did I mention she's a therapist?
'She is?" He's still bearing the look of slight confusion, no doubt wondering about its relevance is, until I add, 'You were right Father. Self-awareness is indeed a virtue."
My father's eyes widen the moment he gets my meaning and I incline my head to confirm his suspicions. Suddenly his mouth quirks up in a small smile.
'Why the fuck is it that no one tells me anything anymore?" Father throws his hands up in exasperation, but his accusation is leveled at Damon.
Damon shrugs. 'Don't look at me. All intel goes to Don Vitalo here. I don't make the rules, Father."
My mother interrupts before my father can respond. 'DomeZade has brought home his girlfriend, carissimo, and I think it is quite generous of him to do that at this point. It's way more than you told your family about us way back then."
Mother was the only daughter of Tito Abruzzi, one of the prominent Dons of New York families and a bitter enemy of the Outfit. They'd been secretly seeing each other for months and by the time all hell broke loose, my mother was already pregnant with me.
I say to Father, 'In any case, you've got nothing to worry about. Her background makes her uniquely suited to me… And most importantly, I trust her," It comes out as easy as breathing now. 'You should, too."
'Her background?" Father asks, his expression caught between caution and curiosity.
I nod. 'Sapphire's father is the president of the Reaper Druids—a motorcycle club in San Diego County."
He looks at me, his expression blank like Damon's had been outside earlier. It's priceless, really. There aren't many things that could catch my father off-guard.
And then, to my surprise, my mother laughs.
'What is it, Mother?" I ask.
She looks at my father, and he nods.
'The Reaper Druids approached your father last night, son," she says.
'Scusa?" What the hell is Phoenix up to now?
My father clears his throat. 'The club's vice president delivered a package—one his president thought would be of particular interest to us. I wasn't sure what to make of it at the time, but now, it all makes sense."
'A package?" I have a feeling that ‘a package' from the Reaper Druids could be anything from spare motorcycle parts to body parts.
'In the person of Raul Delgado," my father says.
The head of the Mexican cartel that was supporting Romario in hopes of gaining some access to American turf. The Cartel that Mariana, Victoria, and Sapphire were promised to.
I fucking knew it. That twitch Phoenix got in his eye as Sapphire relayed recent events to him when we went visiting last week meant something.
'How the hell did they find the man?" Damon sits forward in curiosity
'As I understand, a friend of the club caught Delgado and dragged him from Mexico into the States and right to the club's doorstep. The president then all but gift-wrapped Delgado and delivered him here last night.
I laugh, shaking my head. Cade must be the club's ‘friend.' He, too, saw red when he heard that his adopted sister nearly got trafficked. I knew Cade was as gray as they come, but that was fucked up in the most admirable way.
Apparently, you can take the man out of the MC but you can't take the outlaw out. A bit like my Sapphire too.
'Sapphire's father is right about us wanting the Mexican," I say to my father. 'Delgado is a peace offering. Among other things…" This gift is the kind that only men in our world can appreciate.
'It would seem so," my father nods slowly, a satisfied expression on his face. Phoenix has just managed to put any concerns my father and uncles might ever have about Sapphire to rest—and have some sort of understanding between us. A man looking out for his daughter. An astute businessman. And a stamp of approval if I ever saw one.
I'm suddenly hungry for dessert. After being away for the past two days on business, I've spent the entire dinner thinking that Sapphire would look so much better on the table than the food. And speaking of, she's been gone for ages.
I push back from the table and stand, 'Scusatemi, per favore," I drop my napkin and then follow the path Sapphire had taken to the nearest bathroom on the main floor, ignoring the glint in my mother's eyes.
'Sapphire?" I knock on the oak bathroom door.
'On my way out." The moment she opens the door, I step in, pushing her back inside.
'What are you—" she tries to say.
'Get naked. Now." I'm already taking my jacket off.
'We're in your parents' home, Zade!" she protests with a particular lack of conviction in her tone.
I shrug. 'Why did you take so long if you didn't want me to come looking for you?"
