Until Her - Ami Van Page 0,4
tell him that Derrick and Stella are on their honeymoon?” he asks.
Mason nods and brings the phone over to him anyway.
Chapter Two
“Let’s get this over with,” Derrick says as the two of them walk side by side down the steps of their private jet.
“Sorry to cut the honeymoon short,” he tells his brother.
“I’ll make it up to her,” Derrick replies. “This whole thing is stressing her out. She thinks it’s her price to pay and doesn’t understand why we’re called to the carpet without the Don speaking to her first.”
“Which means—” he begins to say.
“That she’s probably not going to like what this is about. It’s probably going to affect us directly and I don’t like that either,” Derrick says his thoughts aloud. “This is the other fucking shoe dropping.”
He’s relieved the call finally came. At least now, they can handle whatever the fuck this is and get past it. Because for the past few months since Stella’s hit on one of The Five, making way for Dominic Mazzilli to become the new Don of the East Coast famiglias, they’ve all been worried about this.
He and Derrick stand tall when they make it to the squad of blacked-out SUVs. Don Mazzilli must have sent them to transport everyone. Rory, Chase, and Stella haven’t made a peep from behind them.
“Kings,” Crazy Lou greets them. “Welcome back.”
Frankie and Silvio, two more of Dom’s men, step up and open car doors for them to step into the vehicles.
“No,” Stella says, stopping everyone from getting into any of the cars.
“Boss? Something wrong?” Silvio questions her.
“I’ll drive my Kings. Lou, you can lead the way. Silvio, you go ride with Frankie,” she orders.
He takes a chance and glances at Derrick only to see the clenching of his twin’s jaw. Stella’s being extra careful and she’s right to be. They should all be. Being separated is the last thing they should all be doing.
Stella doesn’t wait for anyone to say anything but walks up to the driver's side of the SUV and Silvio steps out of the way for her without further question.
“Stell, you think someone might pull a fast one?” Rory asks from the back seat while they follow Crazy Lou’s car out of the hangar.
“Better safe than sorry,” Stella says. “Right now, I don’t know what Dom has in mind. I don’t like it. I don’t like not knowing especially since this is my doing.”
“Stellina, whatever it is, we’ll deal with it,” Derrick tells his wife.
Derrick is sitting in the seat next to him, right behind Stella, with Chase sitting in the front passenger seat.
This silent seating arrangement was made as if they all worked on auto-pilot. Normally, Carter and Chase would be up in the front. One of the two would be driving. They are the family’s enforcers. He and Derrick are always in the middle because they lead the family and are to be protected. Rory and whichever of their lieutenants with them would bring up the rear.
But Carter’s in Moscow. And Stella is driving. So, this is as close as they are going to get.
Why would it matter?
Because this is how the Italian famiglias work.
Every position, every movement, every formation has a significant meaning. You wanna show them that you’re a functioning and successful crime family? Then you better learn how to keep up appearances.
To him, it’s merely a dog and pony show. He can care less where who stands or sits so long his family comes out on top. All this other stuff is old fashion and the young ones coming up or trying to make a come-up nowadays can give two shits about formalities.
“Looks like we’re going straight into the lion’s den,” he tells everyone when they approach the gates of Dominic Mazzilli’s private estate.
The guards don’t stop them with Crazy Lou’s vehicle leading. They cruise down the driveway that parts the immaculate lush green lawn just as the sun is setting in the backdrop.
Leo greets them at the end of the driveway, personally opening the door for Derrick first and then Stella’s driver's side door.
Silvio opens the door for him and he steps out, buttoning his suit jacket before making his way to stand next to Derrick.
They all follow Lou and Leo inside the small castle. It’s fit for a Don. Everything is perfectly in place but the décor is nothing like the Godfather movies. It’s the complete opposite with expensive marble and contemporary modern furniture in every room and hallway they encounter. It’s light and airy. Not