20. Keeping a Promise

TWENTY

Keeping a Promise

IVO

T he meeting with Julian was a great success, and working with Il Destino is working out well. I thought Raffaele was losing his mind when he said he wanted to form an alliance with the other families, seeing that this war had been in existence since before I was born. It started back in the days of our great-grandfathers, and I don't even think anyone even knows why it started, but through the years, the hate has grown, and it has become increasingly violent between us all.

When Raffaele took over, he decided to focus on building the empire that started in Italy and slowly gravitated to the United States. He purposely chose Philadelphia as his home base to maintain his distance from the other families to show his respect for their territories. When the time was right, Raffaele made his move, and here we are today.

I never thought I'd see the day when Alessio Cassini, Marco Moretti, Reno Viale, and Raffaele Di Morte would be sitting at the same table, and yet it happened, just as Raffaele vowed he would do. Raffaele is my best friend and has been for the last ten years, coming up on eleven. It's a relationship built from the only fight I ever lost in an underground fighting match. Raffaele beat me, but barely. I was having an off day and coming off a flu bug, not that I would ever tell Raffaele that because it doesn't matter. He's our capo, and I'm dedicated to him. A mutual respect was founded that night and I've been by his side ever since. I've always been an Ultimo Morte soldier, just like my father. Where we differ is that I wanted to be more than a soldier. I wanted to earn a position of respect. I've had to prove myself over and over, but I'm fine with that because, in the end, I have Raffaele, the only man I trust and consider my brother.

I was there when Raffaele's own brother betrayed him. Claudio instigated a coup to kill his brother and take on the role of capo. It nearly broke Raffaele, and I remember carrying Claudio's body from the building and the look in Raffaele's eyes. He shut down completely. That is until Evangeline came along. She's the best thing to happen to him, and I'm happy that Raffaele finally feels the love of a good woman.

I had that once, and now she's gone. My beautiful Maria. I miss her every day. The pain in my chest is gone, but I still feel the loneliness, and when I look at the beautiful daughter we made together, I still hurt. Everyone says it's time to find a new wife and a proper mother for Adriana, and perhaps they're right, but to find a woman who would love my daughter as much as I do is an impossible task.

I hope to find Adriana greeting me as I come into our home, and instead find Raffaele, Evangeline, and Adriana. Adriana is sitting on Uncle Rafe's lap, giggling as he tickles her, and Evangeline is laughing at them both.

"This is a wonderful surprise," I say. "All my favorite people in the same room." My daughter scrambles off Uncle Rafe's lap and leaps into my arms. "Hello, sunshine." I kiss my little girl's cheek. "Have you been good for Mrs. Withers today?"

"I'm always good," Adriana replies with a pout that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Oh, really. Like the time you hid in the closet and refused to come out even though you had everyone looking for you. Or when you snuck over to Evangeline's place without telling anyone where you were going?—"

The little minx covers my mouth with a tiny hand. "Stop, Daddy. I'm good now," she says with conviction. God only knows how long that will last. Adriana's a great kid, but she gets bored quickly and goes off in search of adventure. Unfortunately, Mrs. Withers is nearing sixty and can't keep up with Adriana. She's heading to school in September, and I'm hoping that structure and learning will wear her out when she comes home.

I gaze at Raffaele and Evangeline. "I love having you guys over, but to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Raffaele gives me a look that says business is going to take up part of my evening. "Evangeline asked for special girl time with Adriana, and I thought we could go for a drive." Total lie! Translation: We got business to take care of and Evangeline is hanging out here so Adriana doesn't miss you.

"Is that all right with you, sunshine?" I know it will be. She loves Evangeline, and when she's over, the girls have all kinds of fun.

"Sure, Daddy, but come home soon. I want you to tuck me in tonight," Adriana says. I look at Raffaele before I answer. I don't like lying to my daughter, and if I can't be here, I would rather tell her now.

Raffaele nods, and I respond, "I'll be here. Have fun with your aunt." I give her another kiss and follow Raffaele out the door. I wait until we're on the road before I ask, "Where are you going?"

"Guido called," Raffaele states tersely.

"Shit," I groan. Guido was a great soldier who gave his all to the family, only to be caught in the line of fire in a gunfight, resulting in being confined to a wheelchair. At the time, Guido was engaged to be married and wanted to call it off. Elisa wouldn't hear of it. They were married, and Elisa's been by his side every single day.

Raffaele has made sure that Guido is well taken care of. At first, Guido held out hope that he would walk again, but as time wore on and it was apparent this was never going to happen, he became a recluse. He never goes out and rarely has visitors. Even his own family is turned away at the door. He's gotten increasingly worse with time, and his body is failing because he refuses to do any of the exercises to help himself.

The only person he cares about is Elisa, and she seems to be the only one he responds to. Elisa's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. Just as lovely as my Maria was. Elisa's long, dark curls cascade over her shoulders and down her back. Her face is angelic and sweet, with bow lips, a cute nose, and rosy cheeks. But her eyes are magnificent. I've never seen such a color, an indigo blue as brilliant as the stars. She's petite and curvy with an hourglass figure, and I remember that many men were competing for her hand.

I only had eyes for Maria, but I'm not blind and can see the beauty that Guido is so lucky to have by his side. Elisa is more than that, though. She's loving and caring. When it all went down, it was Elisa who insisted on getting married. At the wedding, when the first dance for the bride and groom was to happen, she sat on her husband's lap, and he wheeled around the dance floor. She laughed and smiled the entire time. Guido did too. I think that was one of the few times I've seen him laugh since that dreadful day.

"What do you think he wants?" I ask. Guido's grown continually darker and more despondent lately. This can't be good.

"I made him a promise. I must keep it," Raffaele says, never taking his eyes off the road, his hands gripping the wheel more tightly.

"What promise?"

Raffaele glances over, then turns back to the road.