Sempre (Forever Series #1)(103)

He returned the greeting. “Carmine.”

Carmine could feel Haven trembling, every exhale coming out as a shudder. Sighing, he leaned toward her and frantically searched for the right words to say. What could destroy the fear built up from being tortured for so many years and having the man in front of them refuse to help?

“He’s a decent guy,” Carmine said. “Minus the whole murdering thing.”

Yeah, that wasn’t it.

Haven gripped Carmine’s arm that was around her, her nails digging into his skin.

“This is my girlfriend, Haven,” Carmine said. “I don’t know if you’ve actually met her before.”

Everyone stared at him, but Carmine felt Haven relax in his arms. Her grip on him loosened as Corrado turned to her. “No, I haven’t had the pleasure.”

Haven remained silent for a moment before she spoke, her voice restrained. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

She held out her hand to Corrado. Carmine stared at it, stunned, as she extended her hand to the man she knew had never considered extending his to her.

Corrado looked just as surprised as he shook it lightly. “As it is you. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to settle in.”

He headed upstairs, and Carmine smirked as Haven turned to look at him. There was curiosity in her eyes. “Your girlfriend? It’s not like he doesn’t know what I am.”

He shook his head. “What you are, Haven, is my girlfriend.”

“But—”

“No buts. Quit thinking about yourself that way. They’re just technicalities.” She cracked a smile as he used the word. “They’re titles other people give us. They don’t make us who we are. If you’re a slave, than I’m nothing more than Principe. Is that all I am? A Mafia prince?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s what I thought,” he said. “Just because some people see us that way doesn’t mean it’s what we are. We’ll overcome our labels together. They don’t matter; they don’t make us who we are. We make us who we are. Fuck those motherf*ckers.”

She laughed. “When did you get so smart?”

“Baby, I’ve always been smart,” he said playfully. “I’m just lazy as hell and rarely show it.”

* * *

The atmosphere was awkward at the dinner table that night. Haven didn’t appear comfortable, so Carmine placed his hand in her lap and soothingly rubbed her thigh.

Everyone disbursed after dinner, and Haven headed into the kitchen to clean up. Celia followed her, and Carmine lingered in the doorway for a bit, trying to stay out of the way. He was leaning against the doorframe while she loaded the dishwasher when a voice cleared behind him in the foyer.

“I need to see you in my office,” Vincent said.

Carmine scanned his head to make sure he hadn’t done anything his father clearly had said “don’t f**king do,” but he came up blank for once. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

After making sure Haven was fine, he went upstairs and stepped into the office the second he reached it. He hesitated in the doorway, noticing his uncle standing off to the side.

“Does he ever knock?” Corrado asked.

“He’s getting better at it,” Vincent said.

Carmine groaned as he sat down. “Did you call me here for a lesson on manners?”

“No, but they’re important to have,” Corrado said. “Reminds me of how my mother used to ask if we were raised in a barn when we forgot our place.”

“Yeah, well, your mom’s a bitch.” The words flew out before Carmine even registered them. “Shit, I mean, some people are raised in barns, so that’s not nice manners in itself, you know?”

Corrado stared at him, his gaze so severe Carmine started sweating. Vincent simply smirked, amused about the situation. Carmine wanted to tell him there was nothing funny about this, but he didn’t dare open his mouth. It was clear he was capable of saying things he shouldn’t say.

“I believe that’s the point I was trying to make before you interrupted with commentary on my mother,” Corrado said. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but your girlfriend’s one of those people, and she has a lot better manners than you do.”

“You learn to fake respect for people when they threaten your life, whether you want to be polite or not,” Carmine said. “I’d venture to guess half the time Haven says, ‘yes, sir,’ she’s really screaming inside, ‘f*ck you, a**hole.’”

“Do you want to initiate someday, Carmine?” Corrado asked.

The sudden shift in topic caught him off guard. “Excuse me?”

“Stalling is unnecessary. You react impulsively, so just answer. Do you want to be initiated?”

“I don’t think—”

Corrado cut him off, his voice sharp. “That’s right, you don’t think. And you’re in for a rude awakening if you intend to join the life, because all that you said about respecting those you’d rather not because of the hold they have on your life? That applies to all of us. If we forget our place, we get a bullet. So if the answer to my question is yes, I advise you to take a few pointers from that girl who was raised in the barn and learn to at least act respectfully toward those you may not respect.”