Made Man Dante Read online

  “Well, I obviously didn’t really want to become a nun. I was at All Saint’s for four years. Most women don’t take that long before taking their vows. If I really wanted to do it, I would have committed myself more.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t,” he said as he winked at me.

  He seemed so relaxed and comfortable. I enjoyed talking to him and hoped he would open up to me. Thinking he wasn’t going to volunteer anything about himself, I took matters into my own hands.

  “You said your tattoos are reminders. What about the one on your back? It’s amazing.”

  “I have some things to take care of,” he said as his eyes grew cold. “I’ll arrange for some deliveries for you later. Don’t even think about going anywhere. You can borrow my clothing if you want to change in the meantime.”

  His face turned hard like it was last night when he saved me. I knew better than to ask any more questions. They’d have to wait for another time.

  ***

  A few hours later, I was startled by a buzzing coming from the elevator. When I got there, I discovered an intercom wall panel with a blue light that flashed in rhythm with the buzzing.

  “Umm, hello?” I said as I pressed the button.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Carlisi. It’s Sonny. Dante arranged for some deliveries. Can I bring them up?”

  “Yes,” I said, feeling odd with how formal Sonny was towards me.

  The soft whir of the elevator began and I tightened my robe. Still feeling jumpy from the night before, my hands were moist and my body shook softly as I waited for the elevator door to open. Sonny stepped into the hall carrying a tall stack of packages. I was glad to see Sonny after meeting him last night. My nerves were so frazzled I didn’t know who I could trust, but Dante said Sonny was safe, so I trusted him.

  “Where do you want these?” he asked. I hadn’t taken the time to look around that much. While I was sure there was another bedroom, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to start opening doors and I didn’t want Sonny stepping into the room I slept in.

  “I guess right here is fine,” I said as I pointed to a nearby credenza.

  He set the packages down and turned towards me. His large eyes scanned the hallway before coming back to me.

  “Dante asked me to tell you that if there’s nothing here you like, you could order whatever you want,” he said, then turned and left.

  As the elevator door closed, I suddenly felt frumpy and plain as I caught my reflection. How could Dante think I was beautiful? I had my good days and bad ones of course, but after spending the past four years in a convent, I had to admit to myself that I didn’t take as good care of myself as I should.

  My skin was dry and my hair, which I always loved, was dull and frizzy. Yet this amazing and gorgeous man used words like beautiful and delicate to describe me. I looked at the boxes and bags Sonny dropped off and wondered what was inside. Picking one up, I shook it and heard the soft swish of fabric slide inside.

  I wanted to open the packages and see what was in them, but it was all too much. I barely knew him yet he let me into his home and bought me things to replace what I had lost. I needed time to think and let everything settle before I could look at what he chose for me.

  I decided to let them sit while I looked for something of Dante’s I could put on. Maybe after a quick shower I’d feel better about opening them. It would be rude to ignore them and leave them sitting there, and I didn’t want to upset him.

  As I convinced myself that it was okay to accept his gifts, I thought about how Dante made me feel that morning while we spoke. I had never felt so wanted and alluring. He made me see for myself that there was more to me than I thought. Dante thought I was smart and beautiful, and I was ready to prove him right.

  ***

  I found a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that belonged to Dante and put them on just to get into some clean clothes. His clothes were huge on me, but I didn’t mind. The shorts were almost long enough to be pants for me and his shirt was nice and roomy. I didn’t like clingy clothing anyway, and wearing his things made me feel close to him even though he wasn’t there.

  As I entered the hallway again, I saw the stack of boxes and bags Sonny brought up earlier. I grabbed what I could and made several trips to bring everything into the living room. Noticing a satellite receiver in the wall unit next to the TV, I turned it on so I could listen to music.

  Music streamed through the built-in speakers, calming me. It was the final thing I needed to feel more at ease in the strange place. I really missed my home, but remembering my conversation with Carlo the day before, I realized he was right. The building itself wasn’t home. I had my memories and could make a home wherever I wanted.

  Sitting on the floor, I opened the first box, the one I shook earlier. Inside was a soft rose-colored blouse. I checked the size and was surprised Dante chose the right one. Maybe he did know women as well as he said he did.

  I flipped a bag over, and several sets of matching bras and panties in different colors floated onto the floor. They had beautiful embroidery, nothing like I ever wore, but they were so pretty I was excited to try them on.

  Another bag held satiny sleep sets in jewel tones. They looked expensive and felt rich. I couldn’t even imagine how much Dante had spent.

  As I went through the rest of the boxes and bags, I was overwhelmed by so many things. None of the items were things I would have chosen myself, but there were all things I would admire and wish I could wear. I had to work on convincing myself it was okay to dress in such pretty things. When I thought about it, I chose simple, boring clothing most of my life because I wanted people to appreciate me for my head and not my face.

  I always knew I was pretty, but I wanted people to see more than just that. Dante called me beautiful, and it excited me and made me feel so alive. But he also said I was smart and he talked to me that way. Even though I had just met him, I was finding him to be the most amazing man.

  Opening a large box, I found different hair and skin products. He really thought of everything. Leaning back against the couch, I surveyed the piles of clothes. Everything was great, but it didn’t feel like me. I was willing to try different things, but with so many things happening, I really missed my comfortable clothes. I especially missed my sweater.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed another bag that must have gotten dropped during my trips to the living room. I couldn’t imagine what else could be in there. Another dress? A skirt? A lacy top? It didn’t matter, it was all the same.

  Peeking into the bag, I got confused when I saw the familiar navy color of my old sweater. I pulled it out of the bag and although it still had the tags on, it was my exact cardigan. I looked at the size and laughed, seeing he even chose a larger size even though he teased me about my roomy sweater.

  As I took the tags off my sweater, everything just hit me. Tears spilled onto my cheeks as the weight of everything I had been through crashed down upon me. I put the sweater on and wrapped my arms around myself like I always did, hugging myself. While the other things he bought me were beautiful and expensive, that sweater showed me more of who Dante was. He was the sensitive man behind the stone face.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Gia

  The days with Dante sped by. In a blink, a week had passed and while it had been the best week of my life, it was also the most confusing. I kept trying to get him to open up to me, but any time I asked him something, he shut me down or simply walked out of the room.

  I also missed having my freedom. Not that I ever did much at the convent, but I had the ability to go anywhere I pleased. Although with everything going on, I was even afraid to get too close to a window.

  What saved me every night though was Dante. Despite his working during the day, or his avoiding my questions, he held me every night as I slept. Sometimes I’d go to bed before he even made it home, but he’d quietly slip into the room and wrap his arms around me. Those were the moments I cherished.

  Late one
afternoon while I was curled up in the corner of the couch reading, I heard the elevator whoosh. Dante didn’t keep a steady schedule so I never knew when he was going to be home, but I was especially glad that evening because I was lonely.

  I couldn’t stop thinking about my momma and how different my life was than what she expected it to be. I knew in time she would’ve been supportive of my decision to leave All Saint’s, despite how disappointed she might have been. But I wished I had more time with her so I could tell her about Dante.

  I wondered how she would feel about my dating a made man, but she was from the old country where the Mafia was a regular part of life. When I thought about my acceptance of Dante as a hit man, I thanked her for allowing me to be so open-minded. Of course I sometimes wondered if I would be so accepting if he hadn’t saved me.

  Getting up, I decided to wait in the hall for Dante’s arrival. Just looking at him made my day better. He hadn’t said much, but there were little things he did that showed me I meant as much to him as he did to me.

  The elevator door slid open and he smiled when he saw me. He wore a suit whenever he was working, and today was no exception. Wearing a dark taupe suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and tapered waist, he looked dashing. The only time I hadn’t seen him in a suit was the night he rescued me. As he stepped into the hall, I noticed he was carrying something over his shoulder.

  “Put this on. We’re going out,” he said before kissing my forehead, then handed me a black zippered garment bag.

  My brow wrinkled as I looked at the bag. “What is this?”

  “A dress. An associate of mine has a restaurant where they play live music. I think you’ll like it there.”

  I felt giddy hearing we were going out. Dante must have read my mind. I stretched to reach up and kiss his cheek before heading into the bedroom to change. After everything he had delivered for me the week before, I had no doubt the dress would be amazing.

  As I unzipped the garment bag, the dark red material softly fluttered. It was an A-line cap sleeve dress that reminded me of the dresses I saw my mother wear in photographs from the 1950s. The dress wasn’t old fashioned though, it was the perfect blend of modern and classic.

  I slipped on the dress, loving the feel of the delicate material against my skin. The bodice pushed my breasts up and gave me amazing cleavage. If it wasn’t for the thin mesh fabric that covered the entire dress, I would’ve felt too exposed. I wasn’t used to dressing like this, but after one look in the mirror, I couldn’t wait to see Dante’s reaction.

  The dress reached just below my knee and the skirt swayed hypnotically as I walked. The longer I wore the dress, the more I loved it. Looking into the bag, I noticed a tag and read it.

  Deborah Hansen Designs, Canyon Cove

  The dress fit perfectly, hugging my every curve and making me feel beautiful. Designers never meant much to me, but next time I went shopping, I was going to look for more by Deborah Hansen.

  As soon as I entered the living room, Dante stopped what he was doing and stood. He walked over to me slowly, like an animal on the prowl and once I was within arm’s reach, he pulled me close against him and smiled.

  “I saw that dress in a store window as we drove past. I knew you’d look beautiful in it, but I wasn’t ready for you to take my breath away.”

  Placing his hand on the small of my back, we entered the elevator in silence. I couldn’t speak if I wanted to, I was too busy smiling as Dante kept looking at me. Once we reached the car, Sonny opened the door for us.

  “Luigi’s,” Dante said before climbing in.

  Luigi’s was one of the oldest and most famous Italian restaurants in the area. They were known for their traditional Southern Italian cuisine, as well as for their catering to the Mafia. Some of the kids I went to school with had their confirmation or graduation parties there, but I had never been there before.

  The restaurant was on the corner of a small street in a quiet residential neighborhood. Sonny pulled the car as close to the busy entrance as possible, blocking several cars in the process.

  Dante helped me out of the car and as we approached the restaurant, the small crowd waiting for tables parted to let us through. A balding man in a black pinstriped suit stepped forward with his hands outstretched towards us.

  “Ahh Dante, come stai? È passato molto tempo,” he said before kissing Dante’s cheeks.

  “Yes, it’s been a while,” Dante said. “Let me introduce you to Gia Carlisi. Gia, this is Enzo Liguori.”

  Enzo took my hand and held it between his hands. “Carlisi? Are you related to Francesca Carlisi?”

  “Yes, she’s my mother,” I said, surprised.

  “I see her beauty in you, cara mia. I’m sorry for your loss. She was an amazing woman.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered, feeling overwhelmed.

  Momma was well known in our neighborhood, because she was so kind and liked to help everyone. I had no idea how far her reputation extended. As I wondered if there was more to my mother than I knew, Enzo snapped his fingers and a busboy looked up, noticed Dante, and nodded at Enzo.

  “I trust you want your old table?” Enzo asked.

  “Of course,” Dante said.

  The restaurant was broken up into two sections, one section by the bar and a larger section where the band was set up. The room had high ceilings and white walls with crown molding. The windows extended from the floor almost up to the ceiling, making the room look even taller. Several sparkling crystal chandeliers lit the rooms.

  We followed Enzo through the crowded restaurant towards a table the busboy was setting up in a quiet corner of the restaurant with a perfect view of the band. He smoothed the white linen tablecloth and set wine glasses down. As he turned to leave, Dante slipped some cash into his shirt pocket.

  “Let me know if you need anything, Dante,” Enzo said. “You know this is your home.”

  Dante patted Enzo on the back as they shook hands. I couldn’t help but wonder if Dante slipped Enzo some cash too, but I didn’t see anything. Sitting down, I couldn’t believe I was in such a beautiful place having my first date with a gorgeous man.

  The way the crowd parted for him, the way Enzo and everyone treated him simply made him sexier to me. He could be there with any woman he wanted, but he chose me, and I had a feeling he was showing me off. I had never felt so alive and happy in my life.

  Shortly after we sat down, a short stocky man in a grey suit came over with the real life equivalent of a Barbie doll dangling from his arm. His cologne almost knocked me off my chair. He grinned stupidly before putting his hand on Dante’s shoulder.

  “This guy,” he said. “This guy right here. The stories this guy could tell you.”

  Dante shook his head as he laughed. “Gia, this is Marty Mannino. We grew up together. Marty, Gia Carlisi.”

  “Carlisi? You’re not related to that douche Terry Carlisi, are you?”

  Marty was so brash, so Brooklyn, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, he’s my brother.”

  “Oh man, it’s a shame what happened to him. No wonder he went on the skids.”

  “Marty, this isn’t the time,” Dante said.

  “No, tell me. What do you mean it’s no wonder?” I asked.

  “You didn’t hear this from me, but that wife of his, maron! He came home and found her in bed with another man. She might as well have cut his balls off! No wonder that did him in. She was too hot for him anyway.”

  “Gabby? She did that? Wow,” I said.

  I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know Gabby that well when she and Terry got married, but she always rubbed me the wrong way. I felt bad for Terry and hoped he’d be able to straighten himself out soon. Most of all, I hoped he was okay. I hadn’t heard from him since he disappeared after the funeral.

  Marty looked around and made hand motions at the busboy from earlier. He rushed over with another table and lined it up next to ours, then set the table. Marty shoved a folded wad of cash into the busboy
’s pocket and then he and his Barbie sat down.

  Dante reached across the table and stroked my fingers. Our eyes met and I could tell he wasn’t expecting for us to have company, so I smiled and shrugged slightly to let him know it was okay. I would’ve preferred having time alone with him, but I hoped with an old friend like Marty there I’d be able to find out more about my mysterious man.

  As Marty made himself comfortable, another couple entered the room, and Marty stood up and waved them over.

  “What do you know? It’s like a reunion here tonight,” Marty said as he pushed his chair closer to Dante to make room for the new couple.

  “I should’ve known better than to come here,” Dante said.

  “Lighten up!” Marty said. “That’s what happens in the Army, they suck all the fun outta you. This guy was the biggest cut up. And cocky as hell. Remember when we used to run errands for this place?”

  Dante nodded. “We don’t have to go into that, do we?”

  Marty laughed. I was over the moon and soaking in any bit I could learn. The other couple joined us, a man around Dante and Marty’s age but with dirty blond hair and his date a dark-haired girl with big hair.

  “Well lookie here! The prodigal son has come home!” He patted Dante on the back then pulled the chair out for his date to sit. “And of course you’re here, Marty. This guy never misses a meal. And who is this lovely lady? Pardon my manners, miss. I’m Salvatore Rossi.”

  He put his hand out and I thought he wanted to shake hands so I extended my hand. Bowing slightly, he kissed the top of my hand.

  “That’s enough, Sally,” Dante growled from across the table.

  Salvatore let go of my hand and put his hands up. “Oh you don’t have to go there, do you, Dante? I’ve never known you to act so jealous before,” he said, grinning.

  “Gia,” Marty said, “you have to excuse Sal, but he likes to think he’s Romeo. That mutt mind of his never seems to learn.”

  “Learn what?” Sal asked. “To not mess with the boss? But it’s so much fun to do.” He grinned at Dante, who shot him a look that made Sal quickly sit down in the seat next to me.