My alarm went off and my body shot strait up, I looked at my two giant dogs one a husky and one a German Sheppard hogging most of the bed asleep. "Vinnie, Lucca mossa! (move) I need to pee" I said shooing them off the bed. Both dogs lazily moved off my bed and into theirs. I hopped off the bed and ran to the bathroom. After the essentials I made my way to the kitchen, the pitter patter of paws behind me. I picked up their bowls off the floor and scooped food into each before placing them to be emptied moments later. I cocked my head as they devoured the food like I never fed them. Shrugging it off I walked back into the bedroom and grabbed out a pair of black skinny jeans and tossed them on the bed. I couldn't seem to decide what shirt to wear so I just grabbed a white cami and white button up shirt, put on my combat boots to finish the look. When I heard a knock at the door I quickly turned on my heel as the dogs howled waiting to pounce on anyone who came through the door. "Silenzioso" (silence) I said peeking out to see who it was and smiled. "Hey Tobi, thanks again for doing this" I said as he smiled greeting my dogs. "No problem Kinzie, I love your dogs they are so good for cuddling" He said standing to give me a quick hug. "If I didn't have to catering to the event today I would be doing just that" I said gathering my things to leave and we both giggled. "Are you sure I can't pay you for this?" I asked handing him some cash he just shoved it away.
"Okay well you know where everything is, If you can't reach me just call the shop" I said making my way out the door before he stopped me. "If maybe you think of me while your cooking I wouldn't mind dinner" He said with a big smile and I nodded "Dinner it is" I said walking out. Making my way downstairs and haling a cab I stepped in "Songbird's Cafe please" I said handing him a fifty, It was only a few minute drive but I wasn't hard for cash and had to finish getting ready. I pulled out my makeup bag out of my messenger bag and used the seat to hold my mirror. I pulled my wine red shoulder length hair into a tight bun, showing my blonde streak along the right side of my head. I put on light makeup, a little eyeliner and mascara and pinching my cheeks for some color. I packed up my things and we were pulling up to the Cafe. I stepped out and smiled, I had built this cafe from the ground up it was my child. Going in a couple of the workers were already prepping for today's events and opening of shop. "Boss!" They yelled as I hopped over the counter and hung up my bag in the back. "Hows it looking for the event today Leon?" I asked washing my hands and grabbing my apron. "Good, everything is on track and Mr. Yakavetta called to make sure we would be there on time and asked if you would call back" Leon said making a face as if he was going to get yelled at. I just rolled my eyes "Go make sure that Chris, Spence and Jill are all on track Ill be out to help in a couple. He nodded and I made my way to my office to call Mr. Yakavetta.
It only took a couple rings for him to pick up "Mac! How is everything coming along?" He asked sarcastically I rolled my eyes and went to close my door putting it onto speaker. "Concezio, Cut the crap are you harassing my employees cause I have had too let go to many qualified women for this shop" I snarled leaning onto my desk hands flat on the surface. "Relax everything is fine, I was really just calling to check on the order. I assume its all well" He asked and I nodded. "Yes, we will be there at eleven to set up, no seafood, lots of chocolates correct" I asked tying my apron on leaning closer to the phone. "Perfect, you have the keys to the doors no worrying about sneaking in" He said with a giggle and I smiled "perfect see you then" I said hanging up and heading to the front of the store. "Jill come give me a hand with these chocolates" I asked and she hurried over. Time rushed pretty quickly, between the customers in store and prepping for the lunch order for my cousin I was in a rush. I was in a hurry to put the final touches on everything before loading in the van. As Leon my very close friend and assistant at the shop put the last boxes in the van I took off my apron "Chris are you sure you have this? I could leave Leon here and take Jill with me instead?" I asked as he started to push me out the door he laughed "Mackenzie we have this, The shop wont burn down and we all get one sweet bonus" it was my turn to laugh but getting paid was enough for me to trust them.
We got in the van with Leon driving, "I have to change, Why didn't you remind me before we left shop?" I asked crawling in the back to dress up to serve people. "Cause your brother-" He was cut off quickly by correction "Cousin!" He just rolled his eyes "Cousin, wont care what you are in and I highly doubt that anyone cares if he dosnt" Leon was making a point. I was close to my cousin like a brother but when his father was killed he changed drastically. Becoming more paranoid but with good reason, we stayed close but not like we used too. "Con means good but since his dad was murdered the family kinda distanced themselves from him. Not a lot but yeah. We still have Sunday dinner though" I said rambling off the thoughts, some of my funnest times was with our family at the dinner table. "Must be an Italian thing, My family never gets together anymore" Leon shrugged and I giggled "That's cause its you and what your dad and sister? You guys cant even be in the room for two minutes alone" I said sliding into the front of the truck again in a deep violet dress and black heels. It was tight and zipped up in the back but I was working and dealing with family business today so I had to play the part. I let my hair down and combed through it when Leon shot me a look. "Don't look at me like that" I said putting on finishing touches then turning to glare at him. "It still blows my mind how well you clean up" He said with a giggle pulling up to my cousins building, Hopping out he walked around the van and helped me finish zipping the dress the rest of the way. "Are you saying when I'm not doing business I'm ugly?" He laughs and shook his head "Never, one your my boss and that's stupid. Two your my best friend and I remember your braces" he rattled off and I smacked him in the back of the head. "Okay do you remember how to do this?" I asked opening the back doors to the van. "No eye contact, smile, and if they tip just keep my mouth shut" He used his fingers to count "Anything I am missing?" I nodded "Yes in here I am part of this business so as long as its work related its fine but otherwise just keep your eyes and ears down" I said giving him a stern look and he just smiled starting to unload.
I stopped him and put the box down for a minute turning him to face me "I'm not kidding Leon this isn't just any customer and if he isnt happy with you I get the backlash. What you do effects me and we just got back onto good terms" He braced me in a hug and I hugged him back, It was his way of reassuring me that he knew what he was doing. That's why I brought him, I couldn't bring a female employee cause she would get so harassed she would quit and Jill was the last girl at shop not me so I wanted to keep her around.
When we pulled away from the hug not another word was said as we unloaded and made our way in and up. Getting to the top floor I walked in and was greeted instantly "MAC!" I smiled as my cousin made his way up to me and pulled me into a death hug, quickly he stepped back "I am so glad we could come to terms. Please tell me you brought a test tray?" He asked and I smiled pulling Leon forward "Concezio, You remember my best friend Leon? He will be helping me today and he has the platter your looking for" I said motioning to the nearest table. Leon opened the box and stepped behind me quietly and left to go finish unloading. I nudged my cousin "Give him a hand?" He nodded "Jack, Bobby go help the man unload the food van" he said waving his hand and the two men left leaving us the room for a moment. "So what is this about? Has to be something big with the size order you placed?" He nodded sucking the chocolate off his figures "It is indeed. But you know I cant tell you that information" I nodded slightly setting up the table. "You wont be able to stay on this one either" Concezio said looking at me over his glasses my eyes shooting up to meet his. "What do you mean? I am part of the family Con, better than half your men" I said waving my arms about, I was being a little childish but so was he! "Mac, I cant keep getting you involved like this. I made my decision and you can still help but only on really big missions none of this little business anymore. I want to make this official." He said coming to stand before me and continued "I want you as part of my group. We can work out the details later but you have always been close with me like a sister. I want you around." He said putting his hands on my shoulders. I was in shock my mouth hanging open. This was by far the kindest thing he had ever said to me. I started wiping at my face furiously and hugged him crying a little on his suit but he paid it no mind.
"Thank you" I said as I smiled and picked back up setting the table out. When we finished unloading the van and the foods were all set up I took Leon out by his arm closing the door tightly behind me. "You sir get a half day" I said placing cash in his hand "and that is your bonus" I said with a smile walking to the elevator. He looked over it "Kinzie this is about five-hundred too much" He went to hand me the excess money and I shook my head. "Nope, your my right hand man Leon, conciser it a birthday present" He smiled and hugged me tight. "Well I know something else we could do for that" I looked at him he had a mischievous smile on his face. "Is this another blind date?" I asked and his smile only grew "Leon quit trying to set me up really?!" I punched his arm and he laughed "Settle for beer and lunch, my treat?" He asked rubbing his arm and pulling me closer. I nodded "Sounds good, get to cook all the time you would think that Id eat more" We both laughed and made our way into the van and he was driving. "So where we going?" He smiled "There is this bar, not fancy by any meaning of the word but makes some killer fries" I nodded, I could always go for fries and a beer "Sounds perfect" I stated and we drove the rest of the way in silence him driving and me micro managing the cafe from my phone.
Pulling up to McGintys bar I looked at it, "I am so over dressed for this" I said moving to the back of the van to change when Leon grabbed my arm "Its fine, its just lunch. Besides let me show you off you look killer" He said giving me a pleading smile. I sighed, I didn't want to but I could wait to change till we got back to the cafe. I shrugged and we made our way in, There was not tons of people but for who was there they seemed to know Leon. We sat at the bar and a very much older than us gentleman came up "Hey Doc, Can I get two in the bottle and some fries?" Leon asked with a smile I only usually saw when his parents were around. "S s sure thing l-lad Fuck Ass!" He said making his way to the back I just looked at Leon with shock written all over my face. "Relax Kin, he has tourrettes." I sighed relaxing a bit "I just thought he was calling you a Fuck ass" I said as we giggled. Doc brought over the beers and turned away again. "Hey Doc where is everyone today?" Leon asked in between sips, "Oh, O-on their w-w-w-. Early shhift at the plant, Fuck!" Leon nodded and I just sat there with raised brows and a smile. This afternoon was going to be fun, Leon looked over at me smile still firmly planted on his face. "Come back with me tonight, we can go to your place you can dress how you want. Come back and meet some of the guys I used to work with at the meat factory? Drinks and smokes are on me and you have no reason to say no." He glared at me wickedly, anything I would say he would counter... "Fine but don't blame me when I smoke and drink you out of your bonus." We cheered to it and after a bit headed back to Songbird's Cafe.
Ello, Ok so this one feels kinda boring to me but I feel the next is gonna be way better! Already have it written just have to go over it to double check it. I just wanna say I love the twins! I have had this story bouncing in my head for a bit so I thought I would give it a shot I would love it if you could let me know what you think!? So next chapter you get to know a little more about Kinzie and how the boys and Romeo fit into her life and I am personally stoked! The twins say hi! Oh and to let me know what you think :)
~KM