Deception (Infidelity #3)(30)

I turned to talk to Lennox, to remind him to behave, but he was already gone. He’d run off to the area of the yard where the other children were playing. He was with Luca, Vincent’s boy, who was the same age as Lennox. The way Luca stood holding court over his siblings and cousins reminded me more of his grandfather than of his father.

“Oren,” Vinny said as he patted my shoulder. “Good to have you here. I heard Angel speaking to Rose. That gift, man, you didn’t need to do that.”

The gift was a silver jewelry box engraved with Luisa’s name and a white gold cross necklace. It was expensive, but nothing but the best for Carmine Costello’s family.

“You know how it is,” I said, watching the ease in which Angelina intermingled with the other wives. “Your cousin was the one who picked it out.”

Vinny laughed. “Glad to hear that jewelry box shopping isn’t your thing.”

“No, but jewelry…” I left the innuendo floating in the wind as a young girl brought us each a beer.

I’d recently inquired about a few upper-end jewelry stores. They were ripe for the picking. The recent housing boom had taken the lion’s share of disposable income, leaving the high-end jewelry market in the affluent suburbs strapped for cash. It was a great investment that I was sure would pay off in merchandise, revenue, and real estate. The buildings themselves were in prime locations. Demetri Enterprises would broaden its umbrella, including more reputable businesses.

I had the investors and the backing, and had worked out most of the kinks.

The problem was that only one of the buildings was in the Costello family neighborhood. I couldn’t buy just one. The deal was for three and two were in a neighborhood watched over by another family. Personally, I didn’t have a problem. I knew the rules. I’d either be paying family for the pleasure of doing business or someone else.

That would’ve worked if I weren’t married to a Costello, but I was. The deal wouldn’t nor could it be finalized without Carmine’s approval.

“Not today,” Vinny said as he tilted his head toward his father. “He knows. He’s considering. That’s all I’ve got right now.”

I nodded as I brought the brown bottle to my lips and took a swallow.

“This legit thing,” he asked, “you really want to make it work?”

“I do, as much as I can.” I lowered my voice. “I know it’ll never be one hundred percent. I’ll take what I can… for her.” I looked up to see Angelina looking my way, her blue eyes smiling as our gazes met.

“Yeah, I get it. Things aren’t the way they were, but we’re family. We look out for one another. And there are rules,” he added, as if I needed to be reminded.

My chest expanded with my intake of air, though it suddenly felt tight. Although Vinny had just told me that his daughter’s party wasn’t the place to talk business, he’d essentially laid it on the line. My quest for legitimate business would always be at the grace of family. They’d decide what I could and couldn’t do. As long as I stayed in their good graces, I had options. That meant not only seeking approval, but also allowing anything under the Demetri Enterprises umbrella to be available to the family whenever they wanted it.

“Oren,” Carmine’s booming voice interrupted our private conversation.

“Sir, nice party.”

“Yes, Luisa is a vision. As you know, I never had a daughter of my own.” He patted Vinny on the shoulder. “Sons… a man needs his sons, but a girl, a beautiful girl… my Vincent here’s been blessed with both. Look at Luisa. I’m sorry you, Angelina, and Lennox didn’t make the church service. Her white dress…” He shook his head. “…a princess. She looked like a princess.”

“The sparkling tiara added to the effect,” Vinny offered with a grin.

“Nothing but the best,” Carmine said, tilting his head toward his son, excusing him from the conversation.

I found myself standing taller, wondering if this was my thirty-second elevator pitch. I’d just been told not to bring up the stores here at the party. It was, after all, Luisa’s day, but how often did I have a one-on-one with Carmine Costello?

“Daughters, you know what I mean,” Carmine asked, “with only a son?”

I nodded. “I do. Our son means everything.”

“But Angelina, she’d like a daughter?”

I shrugged. “We’ve both decided one child is what we want.”

With his lips together, he moved his head—actually his entire upper body—up and down, whether in agreement or concentration, I wasn’t sure.

“Angelina, she’s like my daughter.”

This time I agreed. I’d known that since before I got up the nerve to ask her on our first date.

“That’s why she means so much to me. She’s happy. Tell me she’s happy,” Carmine implored.

“Sir, I believe she is.”

“You believe? A man must be sure. That woman over there is either your world or she’s not. There’s no in between.”

“She is.” I meant every word as I followed her with my eyes. We’d had our share of fights. She had her uncle’s temper, like a loose cannon, and yet she was also the most loving mother and wife.

The move had been the hardest thing on our marriage. She’d been happy in Brooklyn, but she deserved more. Even though she didn’t see it, I wanted to show not only her, but also Carmine and the rest of the Costellos that I could take care of their pride and joy. I could give her more than she’d had. The house in Rye was everything she’d ever said she wanted.