Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > Murder, Inc.
Chapter 10
13 ReviewsWill she pass the test?
Chapter 10
Hello lovelies! Thank you so much for your ratings, reviews and support! They mean so much to me! I try to respond to everyone but it’s hard to keep up between reading, writing and reviews! Please keep sending them though as they make my day every time! Thank you!! Now, it’s time to see if Kresley passes the test, and what that test will be.
Kresley and Frankie sat in the back of the car as Brian drove them towards their destination and the moon returned to the blackened sky. “I still don’t understand,” she sighed. “The woman will get me in. But what am I supposed to do there? What was asked can’t be all. What else do I do?”
Frankie looked aimlessly out the window. “Just what you were told. You don’t have to do anything else,” he said turning to her. “I don’t want you to do anything else. You go in like it’s your first day of any job and you do whatever they tell you. Tour the kitchen, serve the food, just do your job like you’re gonna be there every day. Just keep your eye on that clock.”
She nodded. “And at nine exactly I open the patio door.”
“No,” Frankie said seriously. “You unlock the door. Don’t open it. It’s very important you follow directions to the ‘T’. All you have to do is unlock it and walk away like nothin happened. Got it?”
“Yes,” she agreed. “But what happens then?”
“You get out,” he said. “You don’t quit or nothin. You just walk right out the front door and Brian will be waitin for ya. No matter what, ya just get the hell outta there. Promise me, baby,” he pleaded.
Kresley smiled. “I promise. But once I’ve done that-“
He cut her off, “Once you’ve done that, you’re done. You can’t ask any more questions about it though. Well, you can ask,” he shrugged. “But I can’t tell ya any more than that. Once the door’s unlocked, you’ve done what we asked ya to do. You just let us worry about the rest. Okay?”
She nodded, “I got it. I won’t let you down, Frankie.”
He smiled and kissed her cheek. “I know ya won’t. You’re gonna be fine. Just remember what I said.”
Brian pulled up in front of La Cocina Pequeña ristorante where Christmas lights lined the awning and archway in holiday warmth. Frankie was holding onto her hand tightly and she tried not to assume what he was so nervous about. Whatever they were going to do once she unlocked that door had nothing to do with her. They had made that perfectly clear. She even almost believed it herself. But her gut had a different theory. Nothing was that simple in their world and she was about to become a part of it.
“Are you sure you want to be in this family?” he asked her for the fifth and last time.
“I’m sure, Frankie,” she smiled. “I want them all to know that they can trust me. It’s a door, Frankie. Nothing more. And tonight we’ll celebrate and everything will be fine. Everything will be the same. You’ll just be a little richer after tonight,” she laughed.
“Richer?” he asked in confusion. It dawned on him what she was implying. Did she think they were going to rob them? “Kresley,” he said shaking his head. “You shouldn’t make assumptions.”
She nodded, “I know. I guess that’s the same as asking a round-about question. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Frankie said. “Be sure. There’s no comin back from this, Kresley.” Brian stood on the other side of her, waiting with the door open. Frankie held her hands warmly in his own. “This is your last chance to back out. If you go in there, you have to go through with it. It’s not too late to drive away. You don’t have to do this.” He added, “Don’t do this for me.”
Kresley straightened up. With everything she knew and still had to learn, she knew one thing. She was in too deep to back out now. “I’m doing this,” she said firmly. “You can consider it done.”
“You’re all woman, Kresley Cartwright,” he smiled proudly. “I’ll see ya when it’s all said and done. And we will celebrate tonight,” he grinned. “I’m on my way to pick somethin special up for ya. And I think you’re really gonna like it.”
“It’s from you,” she smiled, kissing his cheek. “Of course I’ll like it.” Kresley slid out of the car as Brian helped her to her feet.
Brian assured her, “I’ll be right here at nine-o-two waitin for ya.”
“Back at ya,” she said taking a deep breath. She was even starting to talk like them and it gave her a bit of courage.
Frankie leaned out the window as Brian closed the door behind her. “I’ll see ya on the flipside, Kresley,” he smiled. “Do me proud, suga.”
She looked back and grinned heading for the door. Once inside there was a doorman who ushered her in through a second door as she listened to the car pull away behind her as the first door closed. She was on her own. All she had to do was keep her word. How hard could it be to unlock a door? She was about to find out.
Kresley walked in and searched for the woman who was supposed to vouch for her. Instead she was greeted by a rotund man with a balding head. There were five thick strands of hair combed over his shiny top as though together they may create the illusion of a full head of hair. He was sadly unsuccessful. What hair he lacked on his head seemed to sprout beneath his nose as his mustache was wiry and long. He smiled broadly stretching his arms out to welcome her as though they were old friends.
“Welcome!” he said in a showy manner. “Welcome to La Cocina Pequeña, The Little Kitchen. Buena Sera!”
Kresley saw right through his bravado immediately upon realizing his accent was forced and not at all accurate for any region of Italy. “Hello,” she said, flashing an equally fake smile. “My name is Kresley Cartwright. I’m here to begin work tonight.”
His smile dropped in an instant and he rubbed at his stubbly jowls like it hurt him to smile. “Not he-ya,” he said, shaking his head as his Brooklyn accent suddenly appeared. “Nobody works he-ya wittout my say.”
A tall slip of a woman stepped out from behind the hostess stand and interrupted, her olive skin glowing in the candlelight. “I hired her, Jackie,” she said quietly, her authentic Italian accent intact. “It’s alright. I checked her out. She’s fine,” she said in a hushed voice that seemed to be more naturally timid than concerned with anyone overhearing.
He looked back at Kresley and let his beady eyes rake over her. She felt dirty as he sized her up and she had to look away in order to keep herself together. He threw up his hands without a word and sat down at the first booth lighting a cigar and returning to his papers.
The woman stepped over to her. Her black hair was pulled into a long braid that laced down the back of her elegant dress. She smiled apologetically. “Just stay out of his way, okay? Thank you for coming. You will be sure to tell them thank you, yes?” she whispered.
Kresley nodded. Was it an inside job? Was she setting up her husband to be robbed so she could keep the money for herself? She hardly looked the type to be greedy. This woman came across as frightened of him. Kresley wondered if maybe she needed the money so she could get away from him. By the way he had looked Kresley up and down it wasn’t hard to guess why.
“I’ll be sure to tell them. You’re in good hands,” she smiled, hoping she hadn’t said too much.
The woman cocked her head in confusion and eyed her suspiciously. “You are here from the Cappabianco Family?” she asked, the words so quiet Kresley mostly just read her lips. “The brothers have sent you?”
Kresley nodded, “Yes, maam.”
She returned the nod slowly. “Alright then. I will be leaving in just a few minutes. You are ready, yes?”
“Yes,” Kresley said.
“I will show you around and then I must go,” she said, still keeping her voice low. “Come,” she said, walking down through the main dining room. They passed through a second smaller room of tables and her eyes glanced toward the patio door that led outside. She nodded to Kresley making sure she had seen it and then continued on with the tour. She showed her all around and made sure Kresley had everything she needed as they returned to the smoking section of the restaurant. She leaned down and gave her husband a kiss. “I am leaving for prayer group now. I will be back tonight.”
The man waved his hand absently. “Yeah, sure. Take your time.”
She watched him a moment. “Goodbye.” She turned to face Kresley and after meeting her eyes, looked away and hurried out the door.
Kresley could only assume that the woman was creating an alibi for herself so that when the robbery took place, she could not be held accountable. Everything seemed to be falling into place. She scurried away from the owner, and his wandering eye, returning to the kitchen and trying to blend in with the rushing wait staff.
“You the new girl?” a voice asked from behind her.
Kresley smiled, “Yes.”
The boy was about her age with short dark hair and a thin-lipped smile. “Welcome. I’m Toby. You’re going to be shadowing me this evening. Just follow me and pick up wherever you can. It’s going to take you a while to learn the names of all the dishes and wines but you’ll get it in no time. Shall we get started?”
Kresley looked at the clock on the wall. It read 7:37. “No time like the present,” she nodded. “I’m ready.”
She followed him to each of the tables in his section and stood politely beside him as he took each order and made small talk with the guests. He seemed nice enough and although he rushed through his explanations, she knew she wouldn’t be there long enough to have to really take any of it in. Instead she just nodded and took notes on her pad just like Frankie had told her to so that it appeared she was willing to learn.
While Toby took another order, she followed his lead writing everything down and hoping she was spelling the Italian dishes correctly. A small tug at the hem of her skirt pulled Kresley’s attention downward. There was a young girl, about twelve years old, rubbing her eyes. Her dark matted hair showed the tousle of nightmares. Her large chestnut eyes looked up at Kresley with need.
“My Mama?” she sniffled. “Have you seen her?”
“No,” Kresley said gently. “I’m sorry. She’s gone out. I can get your father for you if you’d like.”
The little girl shook her head, “No. Mama,” she insisted.
Toby rushed over and pulled her from the dining room. “What are you doing out of bed?” he asked her.
“I had a bad dream,” she yawned.
“Mama has gone out, Niccola. You must go back to bed,” he said softly. “Do you want me to tuck you in?”
“No. I’m half asleep already,” she said as she walked dreamily toward a small service stairwell beyond the dining room.
Toby shrugged, “My little sister. We live upstairs. Come, you have so much to learn,” he smiled. Kresley liked him. He was nice to her and didn’t seem to be anything like his father. He led her back to the kitchen and pointed out each dish with its name as it appeared in the window so she could start associating them. She felt a twinge of guilt knowing she wouldn’t be there after that night. Still, she listened all the same. As the hours passed she did her job waiting to complete the job she was really there to do.
Kresley stood back as Toby ran through the wine list for a table of six but her attention wandered to the table in the corner. It was hard not to notice the man bent down on one knee before his girlfriend. Her delicate hands were over her mouth in shocked excitement and her eyes were brimming with tears. He was saying something softly to her as he held out the ring; probably about when they first met and how his life was changed because of her. It didn’t matter. Whatever it was, he was making it the greatest moment of her entire life. Kresley couldn’t help but smile and tear up at the sight.
“Yes!” the girl finally cried out.
The man jumped up and embraced her as the room full of strangers joined in their celebration with applause. Kresley, ever the romantic, clapped the loudest. The couple paid their tab heading off to some unknown location to celebrate more intimately and Kresley began clearing their table.
As she stacked her tray with their wine glasses and dessert plates she wondered if she would ever be on the receiving end of a proposal. She had imagined it a thousand times before, like any other girl. That man before her, holding the smallest box a future could come in, his eyes on hers, nervously praying for her answer to be ‘yes’. She had seen it so many times but she had never seen his face. As she pulled up the top linen off the table to reveal the next clean cloth underneath for the following guests, Kresley began to fill in the blanks of her daydream. She stopped focusing on the ring and the music and let the fuzziness begin to clear. She could see Frankie down on his knee before her, smiling with hopeful, teary eyes.
Was it too early to think such things? Everything had been happening so fast and yet Kresley felt like she had known Frankie forever. He had come out of nowhere, just when she needed him and swept her off her feet. They had been inseparable ever since. The few hours they had spent apart thinking it was over had been agonizing and she couldn’t imagine going through that again. He was so different from anyone she had ever known and Kresley could feel herself not only wanting him, but needing him as well. There was something special about him and each of his friends. Her friends, now. They were becoming her family and she couldn’t be happier about that.
As the clock struck nine Kresley jumped, nearly dropping her neatly stacked tray and remembering that her new family was counting on her just then. She set the tray down on the clean white linen and headed for the back door.
When no one was looking, Kresley slipped away into the darkened dining room. The moonlight was casting its glow across the floor in front of the row of glass doors. She moved slowly to the two doors that opened. Kresley unlocked the latch and spun around as a voice called her name.
“Kresley! Silly girl,” Toby smiled. “What are you doing?”
Kresley, lost for an answer, replied, “I was just going outside for a smoke.” It seemed feasible enough.
“No, no, no,” he said firmly. “That door is never to be opened.” He moved her gently to the side as he locked it. “My father is very important. We keep many measures of security as you will learn. This door does not open without a doorman to stand guard. Is it necessary for me to bring you one?” he asked.
“No,” Kresley said disappointedly. She couldn’t have him bringing a guard to the door. She had one task to complete. And at 9:03, she had failed.
“Come then. We have work to do,” Toby nodded.
Kresley followed him to the kitchen. She needed to do something drastic. She was picturing Frankie outside in the cold with the rest of them, shivering and wondering why the door wouldn’t open. She could feel the knot in the pit of her stomach growing with each passing second. She couldn’t let them down. They were depending on her. She needed to do something, and fast! She needed to create a diversion.
While Toby loaded his tray with the next table’s meal, she eyed one of the other waiter’s trays. It was balanced on the edge of the metal slab table and as he turned to fill his apron pockets with pepper mills, Kresley tipped it over the edge. There was a resounding smash that shook everyone in the room but the one who knew it was coming.
“Ragazza stupida!” the other waiter snapped.
“Easy,” Toby said, helping him to pick up the broken plates as everyone rushed around them trying not to slip on the spilled food.
Kresley backed out of the kitchen and ran to the empty dining room in back. She flew to the door, knowing she was out of time, and unlatched the lock once more. She hoped it was for the last time. She couldn’t see anyone outside at all. Was it too late already?
Kresley ran back towards the front and straight into Toby. She was flustered and pushed past him in her hurry to escape. “I’m so sorry. It was an accident!” she called back over her shoulder. “I have to go.”
“Wait!” he said. “It’s alright! Just a mistake!”
“No! I’m not cut out for this,” she said, grabbing her coat. She turned back to him. “I’m so sorry.” And in that moment, she really meant it.
Kresley rushed out the front door and towards the car door Brian was holding open for her. As she fluttered down the stairs in haste, she heard the two shots ring out and screams as they followed behind her. Kresley dove into the car and landed hard on the seat as the door slammed behind her and Brian slid over the hood of the car jumping inside and pulling away. She looked back through the window and saw the people pouring out into the street. She could taste their fear like metal on her tongue and she recalled being one of those fearful souls just the night before. That knot in her stomach had grown to a ball and was forcing its way up to her throat.
“Pull over!” she cried out.
Brian turned his panicked eyes on her in the rearview mirror. “We can’t. We’re still too close.”
“Do it!” Kresley shouted, covering her mouth.
Brian pulled the car to the side of the road and Kresley opened the door letting her sickness spill out onto the frozen roadside. Brian was at her side in a flash, holding her hair back for her. She choked a few times until there was nothing left to feel but the guilt of what she had done. She looked up at Brian and pulled her chin down to her chest. She didn’t want to be seen. Not after what she had helped them to do. She turned away from him and sat sideways on the seat, staring out the window and wishing it all away.
By the time they got back to the house, she had been quiet so long, she couldn’t stand it anymore. Kresley charged inside and threw open the door before Fino could even address her. “Where are they?” she shouted.
Fino and Anna stared at her blankly. “We thought they were with you.”
Kresley’s anger flushed to fear. “What do you mean? That wasn’t the plan!” she said nervously.
“What was the plan?” Anna asked.
Kresley asked fearfully, “You mean you don’t know?”
Anna shook her head. “Need to know basis, darlin. We weren’t involved. We didn’t need to know.”
Kresley sat down and ran her fingers through her long pale hair. “I guess we’re all on that basis. They didn’t say what would happen after I unlocked the door. I was only supposed to unlock the door,” she said, starting to cry. “I thought they were just going to rob the joint.”
Anna looked at her. “Rob it? They’re not thieves, Kresley. They don’t need to steal. They’ve got half this city in their pocket.” She sat down beside her and put her arm around her.
“Why don’t you ask? Don’t you want to know what happened?” she asked, lifting her red eyes to her friend.
Anna looked away. “No. Not really. If they wanted me to know, they’d tell me. I learned to stop asking questions a long time ago, honey. It’s better that way.”
The only question on Kresley’s mind was where were they now? And she wanted an answer right away. It came in the form of loud laughing voices rumbling through the door. The girls jumped to their feet and Kresley was wrapped around Frankie before he could focus on the room.
“Shh,” he whispered. “What’s this?” he asked as though he had no idea.
“How could you do it, Frankie? Why?” she cried, the tears flooding her face. “I don’t care if I’m not supposed to ask! How could you?”
Frankie’s face became solemn and grave. “You know?” he asked.
“I heard it all,” she cried. “How could you do that to them? To me?”
Gerard sat down on the couch and brought Anna down beside him with a kiss to her cheek. “Sit. Everyone,” he said softly.
“Sit?” she hollered. “I can’t sit!” Was he crazy? How could he be so calm?
Mikey pried Kresley’s grip off of Frankie and led her to the couch. He sat her down between himself and Gerard as Frankie knelt in front of her. Mikey kept his arm around her helping to stop her shivers as Frankie placed his hands on hers.
She took a deep breath. “How could you make me a part of that?”
Frankie’s sad eyes stayed on hers while Gerard answered for him. “Because you wanted to be a part of this,” he said gently. “And now you are.”
Kresley turned on him. “I didn’t know that I was letting you in to kill people!”
“Didn’t you?” Gerard asked.
Bob and Ray sat down in opposite chairs while Fino passed out drinks to everyone.
“I don’t want it,” she snapped, pushing the whiskey away. “I’m done with drinks and pills and things that make everything seem okay when they’re not!”
Frankie pushed it towards her again. “Drink, bella. Please. You’re gonna have a heart attack at the rate you’re goin. Drink and then we can talk.”
Kresley had no patience for such frivolous things. She downed the shot and stared at him blankly, waiting for him to fill her in. “There. Now tell me what you couldn’t before. Tell me what I should have known before I helped you.”
“I couldn’t then,” Frank said softly. “How could we tell you when you wouldn’t have done it?”
“How could you ask me to do something you knew I wouldn’t want to?” she asked.
“Because you said you wanted it bad enough,” Bob said, trying to be gentle with his voice, knowing the truth of his words would hurt.
“How many?” she asked, scanning their faces. “How many people did I help you kill tonight?”
Frankie answered, “One. Only one.”
Kresley began to cry again. “Only? How can you put such a word in front of a life?” She shook her head. She needed to know more. Was she going to have to drag it out of them? “Who was it?” Her stomach sunk when she thought of Toby’s concerned eyes when he saw she was quitting.
“The owner,” Frankie answered. His eyes grew dark and cold. “A fat bastard of a man who had no claim to this earth. You did nothing wrong,” he said sincerely. “You just made it right.”
Mikey gave her a squeeze, “Ya did good, Kresley. We’re proud of you.”
Anna held her silence for as long as she could. “Ya shoulda told her,” she said softly. “It wasn’t right.”
Gerard snaked his hand through Anna’s hair. “Is that so? Somethin on your chest ya need to get off?” he asked her with a warning in his voice.
Anna paused for a beat and answered anyway. “Look at her. She’s terrified. She thought ya were gonna rob the place for God’s sake.”
Gerard almost laughed. “Rob it? Hell, we fuckin own the joint. Why the hell would we rob it?”
Kresley was confused. “You said he’s…was…the owner.”
Bob intervened. “He owned it because we let him. He lived because we let him,” he clarified slowly. “He was skimmin off the books and gettin fat off our dough. He had to choke on it.”
“We gave him a second chance,” Ray added. “We called him out and he swore he’d make right. But then his wife came to us. She made us reconsider our good will.”
“She hired you,” Kresley nodded.
“We don’t get hired, suga,” Gerard said. “We’re asked for favors which sometimes we do. If the cause is good enough, we oblige.”
“Fine,” she said, not worried about technicalities. She thought back to the woman’s confusion when she assured her that she was in good hands. The woman must have thought her mad. What kind of killers put you in good hands? She must have looked like a fool. But why had she ordered the hit? Did it even matter? “He was a person,” she said, holding back the tears behind a quivering lip. “His daughter was sleeping right upstairs when you murdered him!” she cried in disbelief.
Mikey rubbed her shoulder slowly. “And she’ll sleep well. The deep sleep of a little girl who won’t have to worry about her father coming into her room tonight.”
Kresley turned her shocked eyes to Mikey. “You mean he…he…” She couldn’t bring herself to even say it out loud.
Mikey nodded. He became firm about his words. “Don’t you cry for her, Kresley. And don’t you dare cry for him. He got what he deserved.” He brushed her hair softly. “Ya get one shot in this life, Kresley. And if ya blow it, ya get two to the back of the head.”
Ray leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. “We don’t go after innocent people. There’s only so much room in this world and sometimes ya gotta make space for the ones who need to grow in it. Like that little girl. She’s gonna be better now. She’s gonna get help. To save one, we sacrificed one. That’s all it was. A fair trade.”
Kresley didn’t know what to think anymore. If she hadn’t already been sick once that night she would have gone again. She remembered how that disgusting man watched her, eyeing her. She could picture those eyes on that little girl and it made her want to pull the trigger herself. Was she capable of that? Was she more like them than she knew? Kresley looked down at Frankie for the answers.
“Listen to me, Dollface. I’m so sorry. You have to believe that. Believe us,” he said. “We all thought you’d be long gone by the time we got inside. Nine sharp, remember? You were supposed to be in the car and on your way back to the house. What happened?”
Kresley sighed. “Toby saw me and he locked the door. I didn’t mean to mess up,” she insisted, looking to each of them hoping they would believe her. “So I had to make a scene. And I slipped away and unlocked it before leaving. But I was late. And I didn’t want to let you down,” she said softly as Gerard nodded.
“Ya did good, kid.” Gerard said. “Ya ran into a hole and ya pulled yourself out. That’s more then we could have hoped for. And everybody’s alright. It worked.”
“But why me?” she asked. “Why did you need me?”
Mikey tilted his head. “For a couple reasons. One of which is, we couldn’t get in any other way. He’d have seen us comin if we walked through the front door. We’re not front door workers, Kresley. We’re dark people who do some shady things. We’re the shadows of shadows that can’t find the light. But we make things betta because we can. That’s what we do.”
“What’s the other reason?” she asked.
Gerard fielded that one. “Because of you, Kresley. Ya wanted to be in the Family. And now ya are. You’ve earned your spot.”
“By opening a door?” she asked.
“By becoming a key,” he answered. Gerard leaned into her across Mikey. “You’re a part of this now, suga. You’re never gonna say a thing against us cause now ya got somethin to lose. You’re gonna keep us safe and we’re gonna keep you safe,” he smiled. “You’re not goin anywhere. And now we know it for sure.”
Kresley looked at Frankie with heavy eyes. “You knew this?” she asked softly. “You wanted this?”
Frankie nodded. “Not this way. But yeah. It’s the way it has to be. Anna’s been through it.” He looked to her and she confirmed it with a nod. “To keep a secret, ya have to be part of a secret. It’s the only way this Family can ever know you’re for real. And you’re real, Kresley,” he said. “I know ya got our back and I hope ya know we got yours. This is the last time we’ll ask a favor of ya though. You’re in the Family and you’re outta the business. Do ya understand?”
Kresley wanted to understand. Everything was such a mess though. Nothing was black and white. She was drowning in a sea of grey and she didn’t know if she wanted to take the hands that were reaching out to her. But she knew she wanted Frankie’s hand. He had been a part of this, yes. But he did it because he wanted her safe and to be one of them. It wasn’t like that man was worth saving. She was more like them than she wanted to believe.
“I understand,” she nodded.
“Oh thank, God,” Frankie sighed. “Are ya okay?”
Kresley bit her lip. “I think so. Yes.”
Frankie smiled, “Okay then. I have somethin for ya. And I hope you’re gonna like it.”
Kresley couldn’t help but smile. Frankie always did that to her. She couldn’t resist his grin. It was contagious.
Mikey smiled, “I helped him pick it out.”
Frankie frowned. “But it was my idea,” he clarified.
“I never said it wasn’t,” Mikey shrugged.
Frankie wrinkled his nose. “But ya made it sound like ya helped a lot.”
Mikey laughed, “Okay, okay. I only helped a little but it was all Frankie’s idea. Yeah?” he asked, smoothing things over.
“Yeah,” Frankie nodded. He held out a jewelry box to her.
It was long and covered in soft blue velvet. She smiled and took it from his hands. Everyone leaned in as she opened it. It glistened as the light caught its shine. It was a pure white gold necklace with a word scripted in the center. It was the most expensive thing she had ever touched. As she read it though, she tried not to frown.
“Oh,” she said, attempting to smile. “Potato.” She swallowed, hoping she was faking it well enough not to hurt his feelings. “I love it, Frankie. Thank you.”
Frankie furrowed his brow. “No. Not potato. Portato,” he said, dripping with Italian pronunciation. He smiled sweetly. “It means ‘taken’, cara mia.” She glowed as he watched her. “But I want ya know I’m askin. Not tellin. Do ya want to be taken? By me?”
Kresley giggled, “Yes of course, Frankie. I’m yours,” she smiled.
He smiled back and kissed her lips softly, tasting and savoring her. Mikey helped her put it on. Frankie laughed, “Potato.” They all laughed. “And you pretended you liked it too!” he smiled.
Kresley giggled and said, “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. It was so thoughtful of you to do something for me. It didn’t matter what it was. You thought of me. That was enough.”
“Enough to make you wear a necklace around that said potato?” he smirked.
She laughed. “Yes. That’s how much I care for you.”
Frankie kissed her again while the others laughed. “I don’t care,” he said to them. “That right there means somethin. You put me first,” he said to her. “And I’ll do the same for you from here on out.” Frankie faked a yawn. “Boy I’m bushed. I think we should head to bed,” he smiled.
Mikey grinned. “Was that her need you just put first or yours?”
Frankie slapped Mikey’s knee. “Shut up. Are you comin, darlin?”
“Not yet,” Gerard smirked. “But I bet she will be soon.”
Kresley gave him a playful glare. “Yes, yes. Let’s all make fun of the virgin,” she sighed.
“You’re a virgin?” Brian shouted from the doorway.
Everyone had a good laugh. Gerard stood up, taking Anna’s hand. He turned to Brian. “You best watch yourself, boy. She’s taken now,” he smiled.
Kresley nodded a thanks to him and followed Frankie upstairs. Gerard and Anna were soon behind them.
Mikey frowned. “Gigi’s at home tonight.” He grinned at Bob and Ray. “Wanna play cards?”
Ray and Bob smiled back and answered in unison. “Yes.”
Yum, yum, yum. I thought a little humor at the end might lighten things up a bit. What is our girl getting herself into? Would you have made the same choice? I’m curious. Curiouser and curiouser. Do tell. I think this is going to open up some very interesting discussions. And you all know where I stand. Where do you?
Hello lovelies! Thank you so much for your ratings, reviews and support! They mean so much to me! I try to respond to everyone but it’s hard to keep up between reading, writing and reviews! Please keep sending them though as they make my day every time! Thank you!! Now, it’s time to see if Kresley passes the test, and what that test will be.
Kresley and Frankie sat in the back of the car as Brian drove them towards their destination and the moon returned to the blackened sky. “I still don’t understand,” she sighed. “The woman will get me in. But what am I supposed to do there? What was asked can’t be all. What else do I do?”
Frankie looked aimlessly out the window. “Just what you were told. You don’t have to do anything else,” he said turning to her. “I don’t want you to do anything else. You go in like it’s your first day of any job and you do whatever they tell you. Tour the kitchen, serve the food, just do your job like you’re gonna be there every day. Just keep your eye on that clock.”
She nodded. “And at nine exactly I open the patio door.”
“No,” Frankie said seriously. “You unlock the door. Don’t open it. It’s very important you follow directions to the ‘T’. All you have to do is unlock it and walk away like nothin happened. Got it?”
“Yes,” she agreed. “But what happens then?”
“You get out,” he said. “You don’t quit or nothin. You just walk right out the front door and Brian will be waitin for ya. No matter what, ya just get the hell outta there. Promise me, baby,” he pleaded.
Kresley smiled. “I promise. But once I’ve done that-“
He cut her off, “Once you’ve done that, you’re done. You can’t ask any more questions about it though. Well, you can ask,” he shrugged. “But I can’t tell ya any more than that. Once the door’s unlocked, you’ve done what we asked ya to do. You just let us worry about the rest. Okay?”
She nodded, “I got it. I won’t let you down, Frankie.”
He smiled and kissed her cheek. “I know ya won’t. You’re gonna be fine. Just remember what I said.”
Brian pulled up in front of La Cocina Pequeña ristorante where Christmas lights lined the awning and archway in holiday warmth. Frankie was holding onto her hand tightly and she tried not to assume what he was so nervous about. Whatever they were going to do once she unlocked that door had nothing to do with her. They had made that perfectly clear. She even almost believed it herself. But her gut had a different theory. Nothing was that simple in their world and she was about to become a part of it.
“Are you sure you want to be in this family?” he asked her for the fifth and last time.
“I’m sure, Frankie,” she smiled. “I want them all to know that they can trust me. It’s a door, Frankie. Nothing more. And tonight we’ll celebrate and everything will be fine. Everything will be the same. You’ll just be a little richer after tonight,” she laughed.
“Richer?” he asked in confusion. It dawned on him what she was implying. Did she think they were going to rob them? “Kresley,” he said shaking his head. “You shouldn’t make assumptions.”
She nodded, “I know. I guess that’s the same as asking a round-about question. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Frankie said. “Be sure. There’s no comin back from this, Kresley.” Brian stood on the other side of her, waiting with the door open. Frankie held her hands warmly in his own. “This is your last chance to back out. If you go in there, you have to go through with it. It’s not too late to drive away. You don’t have to do this.” He added, “Don’t do this for me.”
Kresley straightened up. With everything she knew and still had to learn, she knew one thing. She was in too deep to back out now. “I’m doing this,” she said firmly. “You can consider it done.”
“You’re all woman, Kresley Cartwright,” he smiled proudly. “I’ll see ya when it’s all said and done. And we will celebrate tonight,” he grinned. “I’m on my way to pick somethin special up for ya. And I think you’re really gonna like it.”
“It’s from you,” she smiled, kissing his cheek. “Of course I’ll like it.” Kresley slid out of the car as Brian helped her to her feet.
Brian assured her, “I’ll be right here at nine-o-two waitin for ya.”
“Back at ya,” she said taking a deep breath. She was even starting to talk like them and it gave her a bit of courage.
Frankie leaned out the window as Brian closed the door behind her. “I’ll see ya on the flipside, Kresley,” he smiled. “Do me proud, suga.”
She looked back and grinned heading for the door. Once inside there was a doorman who ushered her in through a second door as she listened to the car pull away behind her as the first door closed. She was on her own. All she had to do was keep her word. How hard could it be to unlock a door? She was about to find out.
Kresley walked in and searched for the woman who was supposed to vouch for her. Instead she was greeted by a rotund man with a balding head. There were five thick strands of hair combed over his shiny top as though together they may create the illusion of a full head of hair. He was sadly unsuccessful. What hair he lacked on his head seemed to sprout beneath his nose as his mustache was wiry and long. He smiled broadly stretching his arms out to welcome her as though they were old friends.
“Welcome!” he said in a showy manner. “Welcome to La Cocina Pequeña, The Little Kitchen. Buena Sera!”
Kresley saw right through his bravado immediately upon realizing his accent was forced and not at all accurate for any region of Italy. “Hello,” she said, flashing an equally fake smile. “My name is Kresley Cartwright. I’m here to begin work tonight.”
His smile dropped in an instant and he rubbed at his stubbly jowls like it hurt him to smile. “Not he-ya,” he said, shaking his head as his Brooklyn accent suddenly appeared. “Nobody works he-ya wittout my say.”
A tall slip of a woman stepped out from behind the hostess stand and interrupted, her olive skin glowing in the candlelight. “I hired her, Jackie,” she said quietly, her authentic Italian accent intact. “It’s alright. I checked her out. She’s fine,” she said in a hushed voice that seemed to be more naturally timid than concerned with anyone overhearing.
He looked back at Kresley and let his beady eyes rake over her. She felt dirty as he sized her up and she had to look away in order to keep herself together. He threw up his hands without a word and sat down at the first booth lighting a cigar and returning to his papers.
The woman stepped over to her. Her black hair was pulled into a long braid that laced down the back of her elegant dress. She smiled apologetically. “Just stay out of his way, okay? Thank you for coming. You will be sure to tell them thank you, yes?” she whispered.
Kresley nodded. Was it an inside job? Was she setting up her husband to be robbed so she could keep the money for herself? She hardly looked the type to be greedy. This woman came across as frightened of him. Kresley wondered if maybe she needed the money so she could get away from him. By the way he had looked Kresley up and down it wasn’t hard to guess why.
“I’ll be sure to tell them. You’re in good hands,” she smiled, hoping she hadn’t said too much.
The woman cocked her head in confusion and eyed her suspiciously. “You are here from the Cappabianco Family?” she asked, the words so quiet Kresley mostly just read her lips. “The brothers have sent you?”
Kresley nodded, “Yes, maam.”
She returned the nod slowly. “Alright then. I will be leaving in just a few minutes. You are ready, yes?”
“Yes,” Kresley said.
“I will show you around and then I must go,” she said, still keeping her voice low. “Come,” she said, walking down through the main dining room. They passed through a second smaller room of tables and her eyes glanced toward the patio door that led outside. She nodded to Kresley making sure she had seen it and then continued on with the tour. She showed her all around and made sure Kresley had everything she needed as they returned to the smoking section of the restaurant. She leaned down and gave her husband a kiss. “I am leaving for prayer group now. I will be back tonight.”
The man waved his hand absently. “Yeah, sure. Take your time.”
She watched him a moment. “Goodbye.” She turned to face Kresley and after meeting her eyes, looked away and hurried out the door.
Kresley could only assume that the woman was creating an alibi for herself so that when the robbery took place, she could not be held accountable. Everything seemed to be falling into place. She scurried away from the owner, and his wandering eye, returning to the kitchen and trying to blend in with the rushing wait staff.
“You the new girl?” a voice asked from behind her.
Kresley smiled, “Yes.”
The boy was about her age with short dark hair and a thin-lipped smile. “Welcome. I’m Toby. You’re going to be shadowing me this evening. Just follow me and pick up wherever you can. It’s going to take you a while to learn the names of all the dishes and wines but you’ll get it in no time. Shall we get started?”
Kresley looked at the clock on the wall. It read 7:37. “No time like the present,” she nodded. “I’m ready.”
She followed him to each of the tables in his section and stood politely beside him as he took each order and made small talk with the guests. He seemed nice enough and although he rushed through his explanations, she knew she wouldn’t be there long enough to have to really take any of it in. Instead she just nodded and took notes on her pad just like Frankie had told her to so that it appeared she was willing to learn.
While Toby took another order, she followed his lead writing everything down and hoping she was spelling the Italian dishes correctly. A small tug at the hem of her skirt pulled Kresley’s attention downward. There was a young girl, about twelve years old, rubbing her eyes. Her dark matted hair showed the tousle of nightmares. Her large chestnut eyes looked up at Kresley with need.
“My Mama?” she sniffled. “Have you seen her?”
“No,” Kresley said gently. “I’m sorry. She’s gone out. I can get your father for you if you’d like.”
The little girl shook her head, “No. Mama,” she insisted.
Toby rushed over and pulled her from the dining room. “What are you doing out of bed?” he asked her.
“I had a bad dream,” she yawned.
“Mama has gone out, Niccola. You must go back to bed,” he said softly. “Do you want me to tuck you in?”
“No. I’m half asleep already,” she said as she walked dreamily toward a small service stairwell beyond the dining room.
Toby shrugged, “My little sister. We live upstairs. Come, you have so much to learn,” he smiled. Kresley liked him. He was nice to her and didn’t seem to be anything like his father. He led her back to the kitchen and pointed out each dish with its name as it appeared in the window so she could start associating them. She felt a twinge of guilt knowing she wouldn’t be there after that night. Still, she listened all the same. As the hours passed she did her job waiting to complete the job she was really there to do.
Kresley stood back as Toby ran through the wine list for a table of six but her attention wandered to the table in the corner. It was hard not to notice the man bent down on one knee before his girlfriend. Her delicate hands were over her mouth in shocked excitement and her eyes were brimming with tears. He was saying something softly to her as he held out the ring; probably about when they first met and how his life was changed because of her. It didn’t matter. Whatever it was, he was making it the greatest moment of her entire life. Kresley couldn’t help but smile and tear up at the sight.
“Yes!” the girl finally cried out.
The man jumped up and embraced her as the room full of strangers joined in their celebration with applause. Kresley, ever the romantic, clapped the loudest. The couple paid their tab heading off to some unknown location to celebrate more intimately and Kresley began clearing their table.
As she stacked her tray with their wine glasses and dessert plates she wondered if she would ever be on the receiving end of a proposal. She had imagined it a thousand times before, like any other girl. That man before her, holding the smallest box a future could come in, his eyes on hers, nervously praying for her answer to be ‘yes’. She had seen it so many times but she had never seen his face. As she pulled up the top linen off the table to reveal the next clean cloth underneath for the following guests, Kresley began to fill in the blanks of her daydream. She stopped focusing on the ring and the music and let the fuzziness begin to clear. She could see Frankie down on his knee before her, smiling with hopeful, teary eyes.
Was it too early to think such things? Everything had been happening so fast and yet Kresley felt like she had known Frankie forever. He had come out of nowhere, just when she needed him and swept her off her feet. They had been inseparable ever since. The few hours they had spent apart thinking it was over had been agonizing and she couldn’t imagine going through that again. He was so different from anyone she had ever known and Kresley could feel herself not only wanting him, but needing him as well. There was something special about him and each of his friends. Her friends, now. They were becoming her family and she couldn’t be happier about that.
As the clock struck nine Kresley jumped, nearly dropping her neatly stacked tray and remembering that her new family was counting on her just then. She set the tray down on the clean white linen and headed for the back door.
When no one was looking, Kresley slipped away into the darkened dining room. The moonlight was casting its glow across the floor in front of the row of glass doors. She moved slowly to the two doors that opened. Kresley unlocked the latch and spun around as a voice called her name.
“Kresley! Silly girl,” Toby smiled. “What are you doing?”
Kresley, lost for an answer, replied, “I was just going outside for a smoke.” It seemed feasible enough.
“No, no, no,” he said firmly. “That door is never to be opened.” He moved her gently to the side as he locked it. “My father is very important. We keep many measures of security as you will learn. This door does not open without a doorman to stand guard. Is it necessary for me to bring you one?” he asked.
“No,” Kresley said disappointedly. She couldn’t have him bringing a guard to the door. She had one task to complete. And at 9:03, she had failed.
“Come then. We have work to do,” Toby nodded.
Kresley followed him to the kitchen. She needed to do something drastic. She was picturing Frankie outside in the cold with the rest of them, shivering and wondering why the door wouldn’t open. She could feel the knot in the pit of her stomach growing with each passing second. She couldn’t let them down. They were depending on her. She needed to do something, and fast! She needed to create a diversion.
While Toby loaded his tray with the next table’s meal, she eyed one of the other waiter’s trays. It was balanced on the edge of the metal slab table and as he turned to fill his apron pockets with pepper mills, Kresley tipped it over the edge. There was a resounding smash that shook everyone in the room but the one who knew it was coming.
“Ragazza stupida!” the other waiter snapped.
“Easy,” Toby said, helping him to pick up the broken plates as everyone rushed around them trying not to slip on the spilled food.
Kresley backed out of the kitchen and ran to the empty dining room in back. She flew to the door, knowing she was out of time, and unlatched the lock once more. She hoped it was for the last time. She couldn’t see anyone outside at all. Was it too late already?
Kresley ran back towards the front and straight into Toby. She was flustered and pushed past him in her hurry to escape. “I’m so sorry. It was an accident!” she called back over her shoulder. “I have to go.”
“Wait!” he said. “It’s alright! Just a mistake!”
“No! I’m not cut out for this,” she said, grabbing her coat. She turned back to him. “I’m so sorry.” And in that moment, she really meant it.
Kresley rushed out the front door and towards the car door Brian was holding open for her. As she fluttered down the stairs in haste, she heard the two shots ring out and screams as they followed behind her. Kresley dove into the car and landed hard on the seat as the door slammed behind her and Brian slid over the hood of the car jumping inside and pulling away. She looked back through the window and saw the people pouring out into the street. She could taste their fear like metal on her tongue and she recalled being one of those fearful souls just the night before. That knot in her stomach had grown to a ball and was forcing its way up to her throat.
“Pull over!” she cried out.
Brian turned his panicked eyes on her in the rearview mirror. “We can’t. We’re still too close.”
“Do it!” Kresley shouted, covering her mouth.
Brian pulled the car to the side of the road and Kresley opened the door letting her sickness spill out onto the frozen roadside. Brian was at her side in a flash, holding her hair back for her. She choked a few times until there was nothing left to feel but the guilt of what she had done. She looked up at Brian and pulled her chin down to her chest. She didn’t want to be seen. Not after what she had helped them to do. She turned away from him and sat sideways on the seat, staring out the window and wishing it all away.
By the time they got back to the house, she had been quiet so long, she couldn’t stand it anymore. Kresley charged inside and threw open the door before Fino could even address her. “Where are they?” she shouted.
Fino and Anna stared at her blankly. “We thought they were with you.”
Kresley’s anger flushed to fear. “What do you mean? That wasn’t the plan!” she said nervously.
“What was the plan?” Anna asked.
Kresley asked fearfully, “You mean you don’t know?”
Anna shook her head. “Need to know basis, darlin. We weren’t involved. We didn’t need to know.”
Kresley sat down and ran her fingers through her long pale hair. “I guess we’re all on that basis. They didn’t say what would happen after I unlocked the door. I was only supposed to unlock the door,” she said, starting to cry. “I thought they were just going to rob the joint.”
Anna looked at her. “Rob it? They’re not thieves, Kresley. They don’t need to steal. They’ve got half this city in their pocket.” She sat down beside her and put her arm around her.
“Why don’t you ask? Don’t you want to know what happened?” she asked, lifting her red eyes to her friend.
Anna looked away. “No. Not really. If they wanted me to know, they’d tell me. I learned to stop asking questions a long time ago, honey. It’s better that way.”
The only question on Kresley’s mind was where were they now? And she wanted an answer right away. It came in the form of loud laughing voices rumbling through the door. The girls jumped to their feet and Kresley was wrapped around Frankie before he could focus on the room.
“Shh,” he whispered. “What’s this?” he asked as though he had no idea.
“How could you do it, Frankie? Why?” she cried, the tears flooding her face. “I don’t care if I’m not supposed to ask! How could you?”
Frankie’s face became solemn and grave. “You know?” he asked.
“I heard it all,” she cried. “How could you do that to them? To me?”
Gerard sat down on the couch and brought Anna down beside him with a kiss to her cheek. “Sit. Everyone,” he said softly.
“Sit?” she hollered. “I can’t sit!” Was he crazy? How could he be so calm?
Mikey pried Kresley’s grip off of Frankie and led her to the couch. He sat her down between himself and Gerard as Frankie knelt in front of her. Mikey kept his arm around her helping to stop her shivers as Frankie placed his hands on hers.
She took a deep breath. “How could you make me a part of that?”
Frankie’s sad eyes stayed on hers while Gerard answered for him. “Because you wanted to be a part of this,” he said gently. “And now you are.”
Kresley turned on him. “I didn’t know that I was letting you in to kill people!”
“Didn’t you?” Gerard asked.
Bob and Ray sat down in opposite chairs while Fino passed out drinks to everyone.
“I don’t want it,” she snapped, pushing the whiskey away. “I’m done with drinks and pills and things that make everything seem okay when they’re not!”
Frankie pushed it towards her again. “Drink, bella. Please. You’re gonna have a heart attack at the rate you’re goin. Drink and then we can talk.”
Kresley had no patience for such frivolous things. She downed the shot and stared at him blankly, waiting for him to fill her in. “There. Now tell me what you couldn’t before. Tell me what I should have known before I helped you.”
“I couldn’t then,” Frank said softly. “How could we tell you when you wouldn’t have done it?”
“How could you ask me to do something you knew I wouldn’t want to?” she asked.
“Because you said you wanted it bad enough,” Bob said, trying to be gentle with his voice, knowing the truth of his words would hurt.
“How many?” she asked, scanning their faces. “How many people did I help you kill tonight?”
Frankie answered, “One. Only one.”
Kresley began to cry again. “Only? How can you put such a word in front of a life?” She shook her head. She needed to know more. Was she going to have to drag it out of them? “Who was it?” Her stomach sunk when she thought of Toby’s concerned eyes when he saw she was quitting.
“The owner,” Frankie answered. His eyes grew dark and cold. “A fat bastard of a man who had no claim to this earth. You did nothing wrong,” he said sincerely. “You just made it right.”
Mikey gave her a squeeze, “Ya did good, Kresley. We’re proud of you.”
Anna held her silence for as long as she could. “Ya shoulda told her,” she said softly. “It wasn’t right.”
Gerard snaked his hand through Anna’s hair. “Is that so? Somethin on your chest ya need to get off?” he asked her with a warning in his voice.
Anna paused for a beat and answered anyway. “Look at her. She’s terrified. She thought ya were gonna rob the place for God’s sake.”
Gerard almost laughed. “Rob it? Hell, we fuckin own the joint. Why the hell would we rob it?”
Kresley was confused. “You said he’s…was…the owner.”
Bob intervened. “He owned it because we let him. He lived because we let him,” he clarified slowly. “He was skimmin off the books and gettin fat off our dough. He had to choke on it.”
“We gave him a second chance,” Ray added. “We called him out and he swore he’d make right. But then his wife came to us. She made us reconsider our good will.”
“She hired you,” Kresley nodded.
“We don’t get hired, suga,” Gerard said. “We’re asked for favors which sometimes we do. If the cause is good enough, we oblige.”
“Fine,” she said, not worried about technicalities. She thought back to the woman’s confusion when she assured her that she was in good hands. The woman must have thought her mad. What kind of killers put you in good hands? She must have looked like a fool. But why had she ordered the hit? Did it even matter? “He was a person,” she said, holding back the tears behind a quivering lip. “His daughter was sleeping right upstairs when you murdered him!” she cried in disbelief.
Mikey rubbed her shoulder slowly. “And she’ll sleep well. The deep sleep of a little girl who won’t have to worry about her father coming into her room tonight.”
Kresley turned her shocked eyes to Mikey. “You mean he…he…” She couldn’t bring herself to even say it out loud.
Mikey nodded. He became firm about his words. “Don’t you cry for her, Kresley. And don’t you dare cry for him. He got what he deserved.” He brushed her hair softly. “Ya get one shot in this life, Kresley. And if ya blow it, ya get two to the back of the head.”
Ray leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. “We don’t go after innocent people. There’s only so much room in this world and sometimes ya gotta make space for the ones who need to grow in it. Like that little girl. She’s gonna be better now. She’s gonna get help. To save one, we sacrificed one. That’s all it was. A fair trade.”
Kresley didn’t know what to think anymore. If she hadn’t already been sick once that night she would have gone again. She remembered how that disgusting man watched her, eyeing her. She could picture those eyes on that little girl and it made her want to pull the trigger herself. Was she capable of that? Was she more like them than she knew? Kresley looked down at Frankie for the answers.
“Listen to me, Dollface. I’m so sorry. You have to believe that. Believe us,” he said. “We all thought you’d be long gone by the time we got inside. Nine sharp, remember? You were supposed to be in the car and on your way back to the house. What happened?”
Kresley sighed. “Toby saw me and he locked the door. I didn’t mean to mess up,” she insisted, looking to each of them hoping they would believe her. “So I had to make a scene. And I slipped away and unlocked it before leaving. But I was late. And I didn’t want to let you down,” she said softly as Gerard nodded.
“Ya did good, kid.” Gerard said. “Ya ran into a hole and ya pulled yourself out. That’s more then we could have hoped for. And everybody’s alright. It worked.”
“But why me?” she asked. “Why did you need me?”
Mikey tilted his head. “For a couple reasons. One of which is, we couldn’t get in any other way. He’d have seen us comin if we walked through the front door. We’re not front door workers, Kresley. We’re dark people who do some shady things. We’re the shadows of shadows that can’t find the light. But we make things betta because we can. That’s what we do.”
“What’s the other reason?” she asked.
Gerard fielded that one. “Because of you, Kresley. Ya wanted to be in the Family. And now ya are. You’ve earned your spot.”
“By opening a door?” she asked.
“By becoming a key,” he answered. Gerard leaned into her across Mikey. “You’re a part of this now, suga. You’re never gonna say a thing against us cause now ya got somethin to lose. You’re gonna keep us safe and we’re gonna keep you safe,” he smiled. “You’re not goin anywhere. And now we know it for sure.”
Kresley looked at Frankie with heavy eyes. “You knew this?” she asked softly. “You wanted this?”
Frankie nodded. “Not this way. But yeah. It’s the way it has to be. Anna’s been through it.” He looked to her and she confirmed it with a nod. “To keep a secret, ya have to be part of a secret. It’s the only way this Family can ever know you’re for real. And you’re real, Kresley,” he said. “I know ya got our back and I hope ya know we got yours. This is the last time we’ll ask a favor of ya though. You’re in the Family and you’re outta the business. Do ya understand?”
Kresley wanted to understand. Everything was such a mess though. Nothing was black and white. She was drowning in a sea of grey and she didn’t know if she wanted to take the hands that were reaching out to her. But she knew she wanted Frankie’s hand. He had been a part of this, yes. But he did it because he wanted her safe and to be one of them. It wasn’t like that man was worth saving. She was more like them than she wanted to believe.
“I understand,” she nodded.
“Oh thank, God,” Frankie sighed. “Are ya okay?”
Kresley bit her lip. “I think so. Yes.”
Frankie smiled, “Okay then. I have somethin for ya. And I hope you’re gonna like it.”
Kresley couldn’t help but smile. Frankie always did that to her. She couldn’t resist his grin. It was contagious.
Mikey smiled, “I helped him pick it out.”
Frankie frowned. “But it was my idea,” he clarified.
“I never said it wasn’t,” Mikey shrugged.
Frankie wrinkled his nose. “But ya made it sound like ya helped a lot.”
Mikey laughed, “Okay, okay. I only helped a little but it was all Frankie’s idea. Yeah?” he asked, smoothing things over.
“Yeah,” Frankie nodded. He held out a jewelry box to her.
It was long and covered in soft blue velvet. She smiled and took it from his hands. Everyone leaned in as she opened it. It glistened as the light caught its shine. It was a pure white gold necklace with a word scripted in the center. It was the most expensive thing she had ever touched. As she read it though, she tried not to frown.
“Oh,” she said, attempting to smile. “Potato.” She swallowed, hoping she was faking it well enough not to hurt his feelings. “I love it, Frankie. Thank you.”
Frankie furrowed his brow. “No. Not potato. Portato,” he said, dripping with Italian pronunciation. He smiled sweetly. “It means ‘taken’, cara mia.” She glowed as he watched her. “But I want ya know I’m askin. Not tellin. Do ya want to be taken? By me?”
Kresley giggled, “Yes of course, Frankie. I’m yours,” she smiled.
He smiled back and kissed her lips softly, tasting and savoring her. Mikey helped her put it on. Frankie laughed, “Potato.” They all laughed. “And you pretended you liked it too!” he smiled.
Kresley giggled and said, “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. It was so thoughtful of you to do something for me. It didn’t matter what it was. You thought of me. That was enough.”
“Enough to make you wear a necklace around that said potato?” he smirked.
She laughed. “Yes. That’s how much I care for you.”
Frankie kissed her again while the others laughed. “I don’t care,” he said to them. “That right there means somethin. You put me first,” he said to her. “And I’ll do the same for you from here on out.” Frankie faked a yawn. “Boy I’m bushed. I think we should head to bed,” he smiled.
Mikey grinned. “Was that her need you just put first or yours?”
Frankie slapped Mikey’s knee. “Shut up. Are you comin, darlin?”
“Not yet,” Gerard smirked. “But I bet she will be soon.”
Kresley gave him a playful glare. “Yes, yes. Let’s all make fun of the virgin,” she sighed.
“You’re a virgin?” Brian shouted from the doorway.
Everyone had a good laugh. Gerard stood up, taking Anna’s hand. He turned to Brian. “You best watch yourself, boy. She’s taken now,” he smiled.
Kresley nodded a thanks to him and followed Frankie upstairs. Gerard and Anna were soon behind them.
Mikey frowned. “Gigi’s at home tonight.” He grinned at Bob and Ray. “Wanna play cards?”
Ray and Bob smiled back and answered in unison. “Yes.”
Yum, yum, yum. I thought a little humor at the end might lighten things up a bit. What is our girl getting herself into? Would you have made the same choice? I’m curious. Curiouser and curiouser. Do tell. I think this is going to open up some very interesting discussions. And you all know where I stand. Where do you?
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