Incriminated, page 4
We had gotten into his SUV and started heading out of Philadelphia, making me incredibly curious. I tried to stay patient, focusing on the cars and buildings we passed. About half an hour into our drive I could easily tell we were heading to NYC, which made me giddy. I didn't visit the city often, but my love for it never waned.
"What are we going to New York for?" I asked softly, looking over at him.
"You'll see when we get there, cara mia. Be patient, eh?" He looked over at me and winked, before focusing back on the road.
"Fine. Then while we're driving, tell me about you. I didn't get to stalk you for a month, so you have the advantage," I playfully mentioned. I don't know why I wasn't more bothered by the fact that he had been watching me for so long, but everything seemed so far away from us at this point. We were doing something so incredibly normal that it was hard to latch onto the idea of all the terrible things that had happened to get us to this point.
"Fair enough. You know I grew up in Philly with my parents; they had the restaurant as far back as I can remember. I'm an only child but I have a lot of cousins. Dad had three brothers and two sisters, mom had four sisters. All of my aunts and uncles are still very much alive—though I haven't seen them since the funeral. They contact me every now and then—it's just been difficult, y'know? I have two degrees—one in business, one in information security. I also have a minor in music theory—Mom always said instruments bring the ladies," he paused to grin at me, before continuing. "I play piano best, but I've had formal training in Violin, upright bass, and the sax. I actually use to play piano in the restaurant when we were busier—Mom would sing." He grew quiet for a moment, a somber expression on his face.
I stared over at him for a moment, blinking slowly at the word vomit that had just escaped him. When did he become so comfortable with talking about himself? Before the silence became awkward I reached over and placed my hand on his thigh, squeezing it affectionately.
"Go on," I urged, offering him a smile.
"I played football and ran track in high school, I went to prom with my cousin, and I played Danny Zuko in our high school production of "Grease". I use to have a cat named Sinatra, but he ran away—"
"WAIT A MINUTE! Don't try to skip over that. You were Danny Zuko in "Grease"!?" I interrupted, my voice growing louder. I couldn't believe all the things I was hearing. Who would've known that Michael Russo: kidnapper, murderer, semi-spy had been so normal prior to his parents death? It made me feel that much worse that all of this had happened to him. The more he told me, the more I realized just how far off of his path he had come.
"Yeah yeah, shut it. I looked awesome in that leather jacket." His voice had taken a playful yet cocky tone, his hand dropping to mine, squeezing it. Instead of answering I began to picture his hair pushed back in a pomp, the leather jacket hugging his perfect frame—it sounded pretty incredible.
"You'll have to show me sometime. Wanna hear something pretty funny? I was Rizzo in my high school production." I had almost forgotten about it—high school seemed like ages ago at this point.
"Rizzo was always my favorite anyway. Never took any shit from anybody!" He smirked a little and the rest of our ride went on much like this, exchanging little facts about our lives before the unfortunate sequence of events.
By the time we reached the city I was positive I could give him another chance. Seeing this side of him had affirmed my initial beliefs; redemption was possible. In the short time that I had known him—I had never seen him this happy.
"Alright, we're here—tell me what's going on!" I yelled, excitement coursing through me as the buildings came into view. It was beautiful in its own way. New York was unlike anything else on the planet, and every time I came it all felt new.
"We're going to visit my family. It's my cousin Alice's 18th birthday—whole family is throwing a big thing in my Uncle's backyard," he said nonchalantly as he drove us towards Brooklyn.
"Uh, WHAT?! You're taking me to meet your WHOLE family!? MICHAEL A WARNING WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE!" I screeched, suddenly smoothing out the invisible wrinkles in my dress. How do you go from kidnapping someone to introducing them to your family in less than a month!? What was I supposed to say to them? "Lovely to meet you, your nephew has been great—you know, now that he's done killing and keeping me locked in a basement?" I leaned back against my seat and closed my eyes for a moment, swallowing hard. The anxiety was pouring in quickly and I had no idea how to subdue it, my grip on his leg tightening.
He looked over at me and sighed, pulling the car over to the side of the road a moment after.
"Gabriella, look at me," he murmured, turning so that he could face me. I opened one eye slowly, peaking at him before opening the other.
"I don't want to half-ass this. I told you I wanted to prove myself to you, and treat you the way I would've had things been normal. My family was a big part of my life before all of this, and had I met you before all of this ugliness—I would've insisted on you meeting them. They're going to love you, bambina. You're perfect, and they'll see that. I just want to show you the real me." He reached up and slid his fingers over my cheek, his eyes locking on mine.
I couldn't really argue with a speech like that, so instead of saying anything I simply nodded and took a deep breath, calming myself down.
"That's my girl." He smirked and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead. Once he was satisfied that I wasn't going to have a panic attack he settled back into his seat and pulled the car back onto the road.
His Uncle Frankie lived in Prospect Park South, a beautiful area that usually got referred to as the "suburb of Brooklyn". Once we turned onto his street, my jaw dropped. The houses were beautiful, Victorian gems—secretly nestled in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. The house was easy to spot; cars filled the driveway and all of the closest spots on the street. People milled around the front yard, children were running around screaming, and music could be heard from the backyard. Once we were out of the SUV Michael took my hand and gave it a small squeeze, smiling down at me. "You'll be fine!"
We walked across the street and started up the driveway, my rigid moment becoming more and more noticeable. Michael looked down at me and slid his hand out of mine, giving my ass a slap moments after.
"Hey!" I jumped, glaring up at him.
"Got you to relax, didn't it?" He winked and slid his hand to the small of my back, pushing me towards the house. Before we could get any closer the front door slammed open and a beautiful, older woman walked onto the porch. Her dark brown hair was wavy and piled on her head, her skin olive toned like Michael's. She had a slim figure, stylishly dressed in a pair of white capris and a coral blouse that looked wonderful against her skin.
"Oh my god! MICHAEL IS THAT YOU?" she yelled, running down the stairs quickly. She through her small body against his frame, wrapping her arms around him as Michael laughed and hugged her.
"Hi Zia Elena. It's been a long time; this is my girlfriend, Gabriella," he said quietly, pulling away so that he could motion towards me.
"Hand to god, she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! Don't tell Alice that. Come come, sweetheart let me look at you," she said, directing her attention at me. I could feel my cheeks burning, the color rushing in quickly. I stepped forward awkwardly and smiled at her, gasping when she pulled me into her unbelievably strong embrace. I hugged her back loosely, a little surprised by the affection and whispered a "thank you" for her compliment.
"You better protect her from your cousins, Micky, they're like a bunch of wolves!" she laughed, letting me go.
"Come eat! I made baked ziti, meatballs, chicken marsala, ravioli, and I got steaks grillin' in the back with ya Zio Frankie!" She grinned, gesturing towards the fence that led to the backyard.
"Nah you don't, El, I'm right here. Michael you son of a bitch bring ya ass over here and hug your Uncle! You ungrateful little shit! Where you been all this time?" a deep voice boomed from ahead of us, causing me to look up. My eyes widened at the handsome older man in front of me. The resemblance between Michael and him was uncanny. Frankie's eyes glowed, his locks perfectly pushed back. He wore a crisp white button up, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A pair of worn looking khakis clung to his legs, a small dish towel hanging out of one the pockets. I had gotten so caught up in staring at him that his vulgarity almost missed me, until it was followed with something even more astounding.
"Who's the bambina, huh? Been too busy knockin' this one up to visit your family?"
I coughed, looking up at Michael only to see a wide grin on his face. This was going to be a very long day.
"Hey Zio Frankie. I haven't been knockin' any one up! This is my girlfriend, Gabriella." He laughed as we approached his uncle. They gave each other a warm embrace, his uncle patting his back affectionately after. They pulled away but Frankie's hand slid up to the back of Michael's neck, holding him there for a moment.
"Don't you ever try to pull that shit ever again. Your father would be rollin' in his grave if he knew you had been so distant from your family. You're here now and I expect that you'll be around a lot more often. Especially with this little birdy here." His gaze turned to me and he offered me a dazzling smile, causing me to blush.
"Hand to god, she's almost as beautiful as my fucking wife!" He let Michael go and took my hand, kissing the back of it softly.
"T-thank you," I murmured, offering him a tentative smile.
"And shy to boot? You better watch her back there. Ya know how Danny and Angelo can be, bless their fucking hearts. They're dogs, ya hear me? Fuckin' savages, always got another comare around here!" Frankie released my hand and pushed the fence open, ushering us inside.
The second we entered the fence it was like entering another world. The backyard was full of people. There was a small dancing area where couples held each other close, rocking to the sweet sounds of Tony Bennett. There was a stone raised patio that held a stainless steel grill on it, as well as a lovely patio set with a glass table and cushioned beige seats. A large red patio umbrella hung above everything, shading the area generously. The rest of the yard was beautifully landscaped, with a perfectly kept garden framing the edges of it. There were large picnic tables set up along the farthest area that were covered in food, plates, cups, silverware and a small makeshift bar. On the ground sat three different coolers with beer, soda and water. Smaller tables were set up sporadically around the backyard allowing people to sit and chat or eat. The second the fence closed all eyes were on us, the silence palpable for all of ten seconds.
"Michael!"
"MICHAEL FUCKIN' RUSSO!"
"OMG IS THAT MICKY?"
"WHO’S THE DAME? SHE YOURS?"
Multiple people rushed over to us, pulling Michael into embrace after embrace while I backed up, watching carefully from the sidelines. He laughed and smiled at them all, apologizing repeatedly for not being around. Once the initial shock of his appearance began to calm down, the attention was refocused on me.
"Who's this beautiful girl?" The voice was deep and playful, similar to Frankie's. When I skimmed the faces trying to figure out who was speaking my eyes found the spitting image of Frankie if he had been twenty years younger.
"Danny, this is my girlfriend Gabriella. Brie, this is Frankie's son—and my cousin, Danny." I smiled and reached my hand out tentatively, squeaking a bit as Danny took it and pulled me into his arms. He smelled like body wash and honey, his embrace warm and inviting. He was handsome like the rest of the guys in their family, and just as charming. He wore a tight gray t-shirt and pair of fitted jeans, his dark brown locks pushed back just like his father's.
"Gabriella Gabriella." He cooed in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. Michael quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me away from him, reaching up to slap the back of Danny's head.
"Where are ya fuckin' manners, cuzzo? Stop breathin' on her like that," he scolded, causing Danny to laugh.
"It's nice to meet you, Danny." I smiled, leaning against Michael's protective frame.
"Likewise, tesoro. You get bored; you come find me, eh?" He winked and grinned at Michael before walking off towards another group. Michael shook his head and laughed, kissing the top of my head.
"He's only the beginning," he whispered before a young, bouncy girl ran up to us. Her eyes were doe-like, her body small and curvy. Her hair was cut short into a pixie cut that framed her delicate face—she was unbelievably pretty.
"Hi! I'm Alice, the only normal cousin Michael has." She grinned and pulled me into her arms, giving me a hug that could rival her mother's strong embrace.
"Oh! Happy birthday!" I coughed out, pulling myself away so that I could catch my breath.
"Thank you! That's so sweet of you. I'm sure we'll be great friends if this jackass stops avoiding his family." Her gaze turned to Michael and instantly narrowed, her arms crossing over her chest.
"What gives? You don't like us or what?" She arched a brow, her small foot tapping against the ground expectantly.
"Eh, you know it's not like that, Alice. Why you gotta bust my balls?" Michael groaned, running his fingers through his hair.
"Bust your balls?! I ain't bustin’ your balls, it's the truth! You got some makin' up to do." She walked away before he could get another word in; effectively proving that she would have the last word in the conversation.
"Seems like you're the real family favorite." I laughed, looking up at him. He rolled his eyes and moved his hand to the small of my back, ushering me further into the party. We spent the next half an hour greeting his aunts, other uncles, and a few of his cousins. Elena came by and pulled me towards the food, making me a plate of everything she could get her hands on. I stared at the mountain with wide eyes, wondering how I would be able to eat all of it. Michael turned met up with me a few moments later and laughed at the site, smiling sympathetically at me.
"Wait until you see the plate she makes me." He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and turned to Elena, kissing her cheek.
"Thanks for feedin' her."
"Don't thank me yet, look at you! No meat on your bones! Your mother, god rest her soul, would cringe at the sight!" With that she was off like a whirlwind, piling food onto two plates this time. When she finished she ushered us towards the nearest table and put the two plates in front of a chair, shoving Michael into the seat.
"Mangia!" she scolded before walking off towards her husband to see how the grill was going.
"You better start coming around here more often, they don't seem too happy with you," I said between food induced moans. Elena was by far a better cook than Michael and I combined. Her food melted in your mouth, and sent you into a small flavor induced coma with each bite.
"Only if you promise to come with me. You're a nice buffer; they aren't nearly as mean as they would be if you weren't here." He winked in my direction before shoveling a large bite into his mouth. We finished our food in a comfortable silence. Moments after we finished Frankie appeared back at the table, a wide smile on his face.
"Hey, where are your manners ya inconsiderate little prick. I feed you, I welcome you into my home, and you don't ask your aunt to dance?" Frankie clapped his hand on Michael's shoulder, his little speech earning a chuckle from me. Michael nodded and got up, making his way over to Elena. Before long they were in the makeshift dance area, swaying together and laughing.
Frankie took a seat across from me and stared at me for a moment, a small smile on his face.
"You seem like a good girl. Take care of my nephew, he's got a tough outside but the kid's gone through a lot. Don't let him be a schmuck to you though, just give him a good slap if he gets outta line, okay?" He winked at me and reached over, patting my hand affectionately.
"Of course, Frankie. I won't let you down." I smiled back, watching Michael and Elena dance out of the corner of my eye. Their family was so warm, so welcoming. They were loud; but what Italian family wasn't?
"Now come dance with me, piccolina. Do an old man some good." He stood up and reached for my hand. I took his and let him lead me to the floor, laughing as he spun me around and pulled me into his arms.
"Eh, look at me Michael! Good enough for your lil' lady ain't I?" Frankie grinned down at me and spun me again, holding me as a father would hold his daughter.
"Can I cut in?" Danny's voice sounded beside me, my eyes widening.
"Keep your dick in your pants, son. Go find another girl to dance with," Frankie muttered, earning a chuckle from Elena and Michael.
"Ya just gotta be tough, piccolina. Don't let the dogs get ya, alright?" He smiled and released me, Michael's arms wrapping around me moments after. He buried his face in my hair and rocked me slowly, his arms tight around my frame.
"I told you it wouldn't be so bad," he whispered, his lips a mere inch from my ear.
"They're wonderful, Michael. All of them." The words were out of my mouth before I had to think about it. His family was fun, affectionate, and a little crazy. They instantly welcomed me as if they had known me all along, and I found myself craving their approval. We danced and ate for hours. When we finally parted ways the sun had retired, letting the moon illuminate the sky. I had exchanged numbers with Alice and Elena, and had promised we would visit soon. Michael had told them that he was opening the new restaurant and everyone had promised to come to the opening. We hugged everyone goodbye and made our way to the SUV.
I fell asleep moments after my head touched the passenger seat, only stirring when Michael shook me gently.
"You're home," he said softly. I raised my head a little but found that my energy was lacking. He chuckled and got out of the vehicle, opening my door from the outside moments later. He unbuckled my seatbelt and scooped me into his arms, shutting the door with his foot. He carried me with ease to the door, bending me a little so that I could slide my security card against the entry. When we reached my loft he set me down gently and let me unlock the door.
