You're My Peace of Mind

Part 15

Its been a week since the familia meeting and I'm still trying to wrap my head around what exactly being a Don means. For the past week Duffy, Emilio, Sonny and Stephen have been trying to teach me the ins of the business. Stephen is my least favorite and my gut has convinced me not to trust him. He's always saying smart remarks like "This is why it's a man's business" whenever I'm having a hard time understanding the business. Maybe he was right, I had no place being a Don, heck the only violent thing I've ever done was flush my goldfish down the toilet when it died. Emilio was loyal to me I couldn't complain, he was trying his best to teach me but he was different. He looked more stressed and barely joked or smiled, I'm not going to lie he was the back bone this week, making sure people didn't back out of deals and the men were still doing their jobs while rumors spread that Fucci was trying to break off. As a matter of fact, there was a big gala tonight aka the who's who of the Italian mafia.

I was walking up the front steps of a museum to enter the gala. I was dressed in a long sequin rose gold dress with embroider flowers with a deep v cut and a high slit with strappy nude heels. I had my arms linked with my date Emilio, he's the one that actually convinced me to go while asking to be my date since Lo was working tonight. Claudia and Duffy were walking behind me as we walked through the door. Security was tight, with metal detectors and pat downs before entering the gala. Emilio said something to one of the security guard who nodded his head at me and allowed us to enter without being stopped.

"The advantages of being a Don's date " Emilio said with a wink, while opening his tux jacket to show me his gun. "Always got to be packing, never know when a hits coming." He said cautiously as he held the door open. The gala was beautiful with elegant decorations, it was some kind of fundraiser for a Senator. His name was Victor D'Antoni, he served as Senator to the public but was a puppet for the mafia, paid the right price and you were untouchable.

Looking for our table, Emilio and I bumped into none other than Mr. Angelo Fucci, with a familiar looking pale woman with dark hair. Fucci just glared at me, while Emilio cleared his throat. I couldn't help but keep staring at the women he was with, she looked so familiar but couldn't place her, she was voiding making eye contact with me. "The nerve of you to show up after word getting around you are trying to break off." Said Emilio glaring at him. " I don't know what the fuck you are talking about. Don't be putting any ideas in the new Don' s head, I'm loyal just like anyone else." Fucci said pushing pass Emilio and walking away pulling the dark headed beauty behind him. Finding our table, we were seated at Table 2 with Claudia, Duffy, Mario Calatado and his associate Micheal Desquale. Table 1 was reserved for the Senator and his family. Mario stood up immediately pulled out the chair next to him and kissed my hand. I blushed again, remembering the first time he made me blush and how Val flipped over the table. "You look absolutely stunning Mrs. DeLaruso" Mario said pushing my chair and sitting back into his.

The night continued without a hitch, we were laughing, drinking and eating really good food. Duffy made sure to tell Claudia her cooking was better or else we would starve for the next week.  Soon the Senator got up on stage to make a speech a very long speech. I wasn't listening of course because it was the same speech all politicians made, thanking people for voting, donating and promising change that's never going to happen. I was taking a sip of my third glass of wine when Emilio nudged me. I rolled my eyes at him thinking he was trying to signal me to slow down on the wine, so I continued to keep drinking when Claudia slapped my hand in a motherly way and pointed to the stage. The Senator was smiling at me "Mrs. DeLaruso, would you like to say a few words on the behalf of your late Husband?" he asked as I shook my head no but Emilio quickly said yes and escorted me to the stage. " I...I can't, I don't know what to say" I stutter in a whisper to Emilio, " Say anything but don't mention the familia." He quickly whispered back. Great so I have to make speech and not mention the one thing my husband is known for... killing people. "this is going to go great" I said sarcastically to myself as I walked up to the mic.