Legend (Requiem MC #6)

Chapter Eleven Godfather

Legend

I wasn’t sure if their new husbands had told them about my background yet. “I had a reason why I didn’t get together with Glory even though I wanted a future with her.”

Scarlet nodded and said, “Justice told me a little about it.”

“Well, I might as well let you all know.” I looked at the three of them and just stated outright, “I come from a Mafia family.”

Briget and Belle stared back at me in surprise.

“Like a Godfather type family ?” Briget asked while looking amazed.

Belle lightly smacked her arm. “Geeze, Bridge…”

“No, she’s right,” I said as I chuckled a little. My dad could be very much like the Godfather Famiglia, so it was sort of apt. “That’s pretty much it.”

“Justice said that he’d met them and they aren't that bad,” Scarlet told me. “Your dad and brother, I mean.”

I shrugged. “They are what they are. From what they said yesterday, they have mostly gone legit in the last ten years. I have no way to know how true that is. But that was the reason I tried not to get involved with Glory. I didn’t want to bring her or the family into that kind of life. I was looking out for the Walkers.”

“Like you have always done, according to Liberty,” Belle said.

“Yep, Fate has nothing but great things to say about you, Dr. Legend.” Briget nodded at me.

Glory chuckled and repeated, “Dr. Legend.”

I shrugged as I glanced over at her. “You heard my brother yesterday. My full legal name is Giovanni Cassio Descalia.”

“Wow, that’s a mouthful, ain’t it?” Briget joked.

“Around here though, I am simply known as Legend. And have been for ten years now.”

“You've been away from them for ten years?” Scarlet asked.

I nodded at her and explained, “And it would have been for much longer if I had my way. But the point I’m trying to make is, you girls married into the Walker family, but you didn’t know about this. So, I’m sorry that—”

“—don’t you dare apologize, Legend,” Glory cut off my apology.

“I agree,” Belle said. “None of us come from a wholesome family.” She motioned to Scarlet and then herself. “I’m actually positive that your father could never be as awful as ours.”

Scarlet nodded in agreement. “She’s exactly right. At least, your dad tried to keep your family together. And from what Justice told me, he tries to protect everyone.”

I had to pause over this. She made it sound like a compliment and in some ways, it could be. The man was protective, I would give him that. And as far as I knew, I was the only one who’d managed to get out from under his thumb. So he did keep the family together, but they had no say if that was the way they wanted it or not. In true Italian Famiglia fashion, he was a power mogul, who had to control everyone in his life. That was how he had been raised by his father. Same for his father before him. So far, I was the lone dissenter to this traditional way of life.

“Let’s just say he is a true father if that is his priority, Belle said. “Trust me, some have no self respect or respect for their kids.”

“So no apologies for who or what your family is,” Briget added.

“You, being a part of this family is all that matters here,” Scarlet agreed. “I’m afraid none of us are that lucky when it comes to family. As far as I know, the Walkers are as wholesome as it gets.”

“Wholesome?” Glory scoffed. “You are all forgetting something huge here.”

We all turned our heads to look at her.

“Well, three huge things …” Glory corrected herself as she firmly nodded her head. “Deacon, his sister, and Ophelia. O was a crime organization upon herself. The sister? I am not sure but according to Prophet’s girl, Jewel, she is bitter and vengeful. Then as to Deacon, he’s a dangerous crackpot and no one’s fool. They aren’t relatives you would want to meet in a dark alley. They’re as far from good and wholesome as you can get.” She then looked at me and met my gaze. “So, this is the last time I ever want to hear you apologize for your family and where you come from. You have done more for the Walkers and for Requiem than anyone I know.” She grabbed my hand and smiled at me as her eyes sparkled with tears. “We were lucky that my dad met you out on that highway all those years ago.”

The three women looked impressed as they cooed and oohed.

“How freakin’ sweet is that?” Briget teased.

“It is wedding bells sweet,” Belle said.

The women all laughed.

“I wanna volunteer to be the Maid of Honor,” Belle tossed in.

Scarlet shook her head. “Nope, I’ve been a Walker bride longer than you, sis. So it should be me.”

“A Walker bride? You even have a title for it?” Briget exclaimed. “Cut that out. She’s not even engaged yet.” She paused to stare at Glory and then dropped her gaze to search her hand for a possible ring. “Or are you?”

Glory chuckled. “No, we just recently…” Her face went pink as she stammered. “I-I mean… it’s too soon.”

“Too soon?” Belle asked as she placed her hands onto her hips. “Tell your brothers that.”

“Yeah,” Scarlet agreed. “I mean, I wanted to marry Justice but I really thought it would be like in six months, not in less than a month.”

“Right?” Belle spoke up. “Same for me. The Walker men waste no time.”

Briget snickered. “Well, I’m not complaining. After I realized I could trust Fate, it went really quick from there. But think about it. Life is too short and we all know this. Besides, I got more than lucky. My Daisy got the best human daddy I could’ve ever hoped for.” She beamed at us.

“That little dog is a total queen,” Belle quipped. “Especially to Fate. I mean Briget spoiled her all this time. But with Fate, it goes even further than that. Briget and I will tell her no, at least. It is crazy how close they are.”

“I know,” Briget said. “They are out in the yard now. And knowing how obedient Fate is to her, he will stay out there until she’s ready to come in. I tease him and call them Driving Miss Daisy .”

“Booo…” Belle laughed. “How original, Bridge.”

More chuckles.

I studied these three women who’d married the Walker brothers as they all chatted and laughed. Rosy cheeks and bright, radiant looks in their eyes. Happiness brushed them all with a beauty that couldn’t be mistaken for anything but being loved and loved well. I wanted to make Glory feel like this. I hoped I already had. Turning my head, I now looked at my Glory. That sounded so right. My Glory , then I whispered, “Solo mio. Ora e per sempre.”

Upon hearing the whispered words, Glory’s mouth popped open as her eyes were huge in her face.

Chuckling, I pressed my finger under her chin to close her jaw.

“That was sooo…” Belle exclaimed as she slowly shook her head.

“Yeah, it was,” Scarlet agreed.

Briget jumped in with her opinion, “I mean we don’t know what you said, but who the hell cares?” She laughed. “You got it goin’ on with that sexy Italian bit.”

The three women all stared at me then they broke into giggles. Glory joined them as she too thought it was hilarious.

“Like I said, Maid of Honor…” Belle pointed at her chest then motioned at Glory.

“Come on Walker brides, let’s get going,” Scarlet said. “Our Walker husbands will be waiting for us.”

“Congratulations, Glory,” Belle added as she leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You scaled that wall, girl.”

Briget agreed with her best friend, “You deserve every bit of happiness this Italian hottie can give you.” She now motioned to me.

Again, they burst into naughty laughter.

“For shame, Bridge! What would Fate say?” Belle asked her.

“Heck, he knows I say crazy shit all the time.” Briget shrugged as the group of women moved away.

Glory was chuckling as she told me, “I like them all. My brothers got the best of the best.”

I stood and tugged her up with me. “No, I got the best.”

“Yeah, right.” Glory rolled her eyes. “You are only saying that cause you’re afraid I’ll kick your ass.”

I laughed. The woman was so sassy. One of the many things I loved about her.

“Ok, so tell me what that meant?” she asked as she stared up at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Don’t be a smart ass…What you said in Italian!”

I shrugged then slowly shook my head. “No, you’re being rude again, so I don’t think—”

She stepped close and brushed her breasts up against my chest. “Come on, tell me!”

I smiled at her. “Well, if you’re going to be seducing me, I’ll tell you.” I met her lips with mine as I whispered the translation, “Only mine. Now and forever.”

Glory looked stunned again as she whispered back, “I never…” Tears filled her beautiful eyes. “...thought I would hear that from you.”

I thumbed her tears away from her cheeks. “Don’t cry, my Glory. We have lots of years left and I promise to not waste any more time. Non ti lascerò mai andare.”

She shivered. “I am so glad you never spoke Italian to me back when.”

I stared at her and asked, “Why?”

“Because it gets to me,” she admitted as she trembled. “I mean damn, it is so fucking hot.”

I smirked. “Good to know for future reference.” I lowered my head and kissed her.

We were wrapped up in each other for I don’t know how long. Time seemed to get away from me whenever I kissed Glory. I knew she was my whole world. I’d always known that but now it was real. The women had been right. I wanted to marry her ASAP. I now understood the Walker men rushing their brides to the altar.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I almost didn’t register it as my mind was immersed in everything Glory and my body was hard as a rock.

Finally, a breathless Glory broke our kiss and said, “You got a call.”

“I don't care,” I replied and tugged her close.

“Come on, Legend. It might be important.”

I sighed and dug the phone from my pocket. Looking at the number, I shook my head.

“What?” She stared at me, then tipped the phone her way so she could read it. “Is it your dad?”

“I don’t think so.” I swiped the screen.

“Gio?”

Halting, I instantly knew this voice as I replied, “Romeo?”

“Yeah! Holy smokes, it’s been so long.”

I couldn’t help it…I smiled. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

“You're not sorry about that,” he quipped. “You told me you were gonna leave, remember? So I wasn't surprised when you disappeared and I knew why. But I just never thought you’d be gone so long.”

I bit at my lip as I felt a little guilt over leaving my brothers like that. “How are ya, kid?”

He chuckled. “For one thing, I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I teased him. “Someone told me you finally got your law degree.”

“Finally?” he asked. “I got that as soon as I could.”

“What specialty?” I asked while hoping it wasn’t criminal defense. Like our father would push for. If it were up to him, Romeo would be useful to defend people in the greater Famiglia that needed legal counsel.

“Corporate law, man. It’s about the business, stupid.” He laughed.

“Dad still says that?” I asked in surprise.

“Of course!” Romeo chuckled. “So I wanted to call you, especially because Dad and Luca said you will be coming home. Well, Dad said that.”

I wondered how my father knew this. Maybe he just planned it and intended to force it to happen. “I am but just for a visit.”

“Man, it would be great to see you.”

“I missed you too, baby brother.”

“Baby hell,” he quipped. “I’m grown now. Come and visit so I can kick your ass in basketball.”

I laughed as I remembered us always competing. Football, basketball and even golf. “I will call before we come. That way, you can get ready to lose.”

Romeo laughed with me as he asked, “We? You’re bringing someone?”

“Yes, her name is Glory,” I stated as I met her gaze. “My fiancée.”

Romeo got quiet then he exclaimed, “Hell man. Congrats!”

“Thank you,” I said as my eyes never left Glory’s face.

Glory leaned in close and gently kissed my cheek.

“We all missed you, Gio. Tito and Rocky came home so damned excited. Telling us how you looked and that you had become a doctor. Course, I knew you would. But you gotta know something here… No matter how long it’s been or how far away you are, you're our brother. Nothing will ever change that.”

“Man, too much,” I stated quietly. “è troppo…It’s too much.”

“The hell it is. Come home for a few days, bene? I think ten years is long enough.”

“Yeah, it is,” I replied as I locked eyes with Glory. “I’ll call when we are ready to go.”

“Dad said he had people watching the place where you’re at. So you will have a security escort when you come.”

“Yeah, whether I like it or not,” I snapped.

“Of course,” Romeo said and snickered. “The more things change, the more they stay the same. Ci vediamo presto, fratello.” I’ll see you soon, brother.

“Si, ci vediamo presto, Romeo.” I swiped my cell screen then looked up at Glory.

She giggled. “Ok, so I know that wasn’t anything sexy but I think I’m going to forbid you from speaking your native language.”

I chuckled. “I admit, I stopped speaking it almost as soon as your dad brought me here. But over the years, your brothers caught me cursing in Italian a few times.”

“They did?”

I nodded. “Was usually when we were sparring in the gym and one of them would land a solid hit on me. Then one time, I was helping them move furniture and the couch landed on my toe. I swore like a drunken Italian. They all stared at me and I know they wondered but only Liberty asked if I was Italian. Fate had said, no shit, Sherlock .”

Glory laughed and rolled her eyes. “My brothers are morons. We all know that.”

I shook my head and admitted, “Hearing Romeo’s voice, I realized that I missed them.”

“Of course you did, Legend. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. Not seeing my family for ten years. I mean yes, my brothers can often get on my last nerve, but I would hate not seeing them all the time.” She slowly shook her head then added, “But if you hadn’t left them and come home with my dad all those years ago, I wouldn’t be able to kiss my Italian hottie like this.” Leaning in, she grasped my cheeks and smothered my mouth with hers.