Elizabeth found herself again sitting on the edge of her bed
fingering the ivory invitation, still baffled by her own anger. If she was
to follow through with the idea forming in her head, Elizabeth knew there
would be hell to pay but for reasons unknown at the moment that mattered
very little to her. All of the sudden playing by the rules of a game that
she had never expected to be involved in in the first place held little
appeal for her. Her eyes were drawn to the bold script lettering once
more.
"Morgan huh?" Elizabeth said aloud. She had heard that name time and time again. It wasn't a secret in the house how her husband felt about the family that commanded the authority just out of Anthony's reach.
Elizabeth still lacked the knowledge and understanding of the world which she married into to. Most normal people she knew would have steered clear of those that they had such disdain for, yet in her husband's warped one those that hated each other the most were bound together by some code that she just couldn't conceive.
Elizabeth stepped into the silky black evening gown, adjusting the spaghetti straps and smoothing the material. She could hear her heavy breathing in her ears as her nerves began getting the better of her.
"Relax," she said to the image in the mirror. "You are his wife right? The invitation did say 'Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Malucci'." Elizabeth saw the determined face that looked back at her. This whole idea was a natural disaster in the making, but suddenly being a caged animal that Anthony carted around only bringing out when it suited him wasn't a concept that Elizabeth could stand any longer.
Her father's words of doing something with her life rang in her ears. That's exactly what she planned on doing that evening, yet somehow she doubted that's what Jeff Webber had in mind.
She sat down at the dressing table and began adjusting the rhinestone clip that held her massive curls. After a few quick touches, the desired effect had been achieved. Next came the diamond choker, tennis bracelet and earrings. Staring at her reflection, Elizabeth caught the glimpse of tears welling in her eyes. Forcefully she chewed on her lower lip in an effort to put an end to them. Her life had become so bizarre. Here she was making herself beautiful for a man that didn't even know she was alive half the time, to crash an event that he hadn't even wanted her to be present for. How she had sunk this low was beyond all comprehension.
She couldn't let herself think of that now. Slipping the invitation into her beaded bag and her wrap over her shoulders she exited the room.
"Oh you're still here?" she said startled. "I thought you had left," Elizabeth said to her father who was suddenly standing before her.
"Anthony said I should wait. That you would be alone for the evening and we could begin working on the benefit," Jeff's voice sounded perplexed.
"There's been a change in plans," she countered.
"Obviously. What's going on here?" he asked sensing his daughter was up to no good. No matter the distance that had grown between them he could still read her like a book when it came to her mischievous ways. There was no mistaking the lilt in her soft blue eyes when Elizabeth was about to make trouble.
"Nothing. I have a function that I need to attend."
"Elizabeth," Jeff barked back. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Playing the part you sold me into. I am Anthony's wife am I not?" she asked innocently producing the invitation to the Morgan party.
"You can't go to that!"
"The hell I can't. I think it's time that a few of the key players met the real Mrs. Anthony Malucci rather than those tramps that he attempts to pass off as me!" Elizabeth's voice hardened.
"I WON'T LET YOU GO!" Jeff took position in front of the doorway. "I can't let you do this. Do you know what kind of trouble you are going to stir up?"
"That's all you care about isn't it?" she spit. "Your only concern is that I am going to piss off Anthony. Well you know what daddy," her voice dripped with sarcasm at the use of that term. "I not only want to piss him off I hope to embarrass the living shit out of him!"
"Elizabeth – do you have a death wish?" her father gasped.
"Maybe, but all I know is I can't stand to live like this another single second of my life!"
"Your life is NOT as bas as you make it out to be," Jeff countered.
"WHAT?!?!"
"You heard me. You have money to burn, servants to attend to your every need, a massive house......"
"Is that how you look at everything?" she yelled cutting him off. "It's all just things to you isn't it? That's why it was so easy for you to sell not only your soul but mine as well to a man devoid of any morals at all!" Elizabeth struggled against a new wave of tears.
"Baby that's not true."
"The hell it isn't. Get out of my way!" she barked.
"I can't let you do this."
"MOVE!!"
"Elizabeth, please just do what Anthony wants. Just stay here and work on the details of the benefit with me," Jeff pleaded in vain.
"You work on the god damned benefit – MOVE!!!" she yelled pushing him out of the way.
"Elizabeth – Elizabeth wait!" he called after her.
"Manny have my car brought around," she said ignoring her father's urgent requests.
"Elizabeth..."
"You can let yourself out, I'm sure," she countered indicating their conversation was finished.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jason straightened his suit jacket wishing he could shed the confining material for his worn leather jacket and jeans. As much as his father despised his son's penchant for that wardrobe, Jason wore it anyhow except on occasions like this that warranted business attire. He knew he had stalled long enough and that if he didn't make his appearance soon Joseph would come back looking for him again. It was a performance Jason had no inclination of repeating.
He emerged just in time to see Anthony Malucci enter the grand foyer. Jason eyed the raven haired beauty gently holding him by the arm. He knew Malucci was married yet he had never seen him with the same woman more than once, making it difficult to discern just who the real Mrs. Anthony Malucci was.
"I'm sorry sir this party is by invitation only." Jason heard the family butler, Hector, state.
"Do you not know who I am?" Anthony attempted to hold his tongue. "I have been to this house numerous time..."
"Is there a problem Hector?" Jason came forward to squash the scene he knew that Anthony Malucci was capable of making.
"Yeah," Anthony spoke first. "This idiot is giving me grief for forgetting my invitation."
"It's alright Hector," Jason said turning to the butler. "Mr. Malucci is certainly one of our honored guests for this evening." Jason's words and cold stare were not lost on Anthony.
"I'm sorry sir," Hector said apologetically.
"That's not necessary," Jason corrected his servant as he watched Malucci's face brighten with a wicked smile. A smile that Jason couldn't wait to have the pleasure of personally removing.
Jason strategically placed himself so he could observe all that went on around him. In all the times that his family had had functions of this nature, it still unnerved him to have so many of the men that held the potential of destruction for his family aimlessly walking around unattended.
His father had explained it time and time again but Jason couldn't shake the feeling that Joseph Morgan wasn't truly seeing the world as it was now. The respect, honor and loyalty that once had been scared in the past were not things that the up and coming generations put a great deal of stock in. For men like Anthony Malucci it was the money and the power that were the greatest draw and Jason sensed that if need be Malucci would make his own rules to get what he wanted.
Jason's attention was drawn away from Anthony when he saw Rocco Malucci being wheeled on to the patio. The show was nearly ready to begin. Anthony made his way to where his father sat, kissing both his cheeks out of love and respect. Jason felt his stomach roll end over end still thinking that his father was highly overestimating the frail man he saw before him.
"Could I please have everyone's attention," Joseph's booming voice quieted the crowd. "As you all know, tonight we celebrate the engagement of my beautiful daughter, Emily, to Zander." The statement was met with a round of applause. "I wish to propose a toast," he said as he raised his champagne glass. "To my only daughter, may you be as happy in your marriage as I have been in mine. And to you Zander, may you always show my baby the love and respect she so richly deserves."
Jason smiled and raised his glass knowing the double meaning of his father's words. Joseph Morgan would not tolerate his newest son straying from his marriage as many in the business did. Goomahs were something that Joseph never understood nor something he would stand for. To him, marriage was a sacred institution and it was to be treated as such. Jason was certain that Zander had been instructed in such matters, but the words were a pointed reminder.
"Please everyone eat, drink and enjoy yourselves," Cassandra's voice came from behind her husband.
With that being said the party resumed. Joseph caught his son's eye informing him that it was time for the more private party to begin. He snaked his way through the patio informing all those whose presence was required that it was time to assemble.
Jason stood at the entrance to the room while the ten powerful men took their places around the table.
"Good evening gentlemen and thank you all for coming," Joseph said taking his own seat.
"It's a wonderful party," Pedro Alverez said.
"Thank you. It's not every day your daughter gets engaged now is it?" His words were met with a round of easy laughter.
"Let's get down to business shall we?" Jason said anxious to begin.
"My son is right." Joseph eyed him carefully sending Jason a silent warning to tread lightly on this. Joseph was well aware of just how much animosity his son held for what Anthony Malucci had been doing, but for Joseph that didn't negate the fact that Rocco was still to be afforded the respect he had earned. "It has been brought to my attention that there are a few of you at this table who feel the tribute you pay to my family is too high." Joseph let his eyes come to rest on Anthony Malucci who stood directly behind his father.
"Joseph," Carlos Secchi spoke first. "I hope that you know that my crew has no problems with paying our taxes. On the contrary we feel for what is provided us, it is more than fair."
"All of us here feel the same," Dominic Tedesco said looking at the others around the table.
"Not all of us," Anthony now spoke.
"I thought not," Joseph said. "Otherwise there wouldn't have been a need for this meeting of the minds so to speak.
"I think that it's time the Morgan Family distributes the wealth a bit more evenly don't you?" Anthony spoke to Joseph yet never once took his eyes off of Jason. Rocco reached up slapping his son underneath the jaw.
"Your disrespect for Joseph ... it's ...well it's appalling!" The frail man's voice came forth with more force than those in the room expected. "I will not tolerate such a display."
"But you will tolerate them?" Anthony pointed in the direction of the Morgan men. "Picking your pockets clean!"
"We have done nothing of the sort!" Jason shot back. "It's your own stupidity that's forced your organization to lose money! You think by stealing our trucks and withholding money rightfully ours you can somehow make up for your own business shortcomings?"
"ENOUGH Jason!" Joseph growled.
"That's only the beginning...."
"Jason!" His father's coal black eyes shot daggers at him. On instinct Jason retreated to his corner of the room, ire brewing in him still.
"Anthony, I understand that you have issues regarding the way our side of the business is run. But please understand this – I am in no way bound to justify any of my actions to you or anyone in this room for that matter. This meeting was held today as a courtesy and out of the respect I have for your father. Nothing more than that."
Anthony stood silent for the moment his rage growing by leaps and bounds. "You respect my father?" his voice echoed Joseph's words. "Don't make me laugh!"
"Rocco," Joseph said completely ignoring Anthony's comments. "I hope you know that we will not be having another conversation regarding this matter. Should we continue to experience the same troubles – my family will have no other option but to see your family as a threat to ours and handle that accordingly. Are we clear?"
"We are," Rocco Malucci assured. "I will see to it that what is rightfully yours is returned to you and that the tribute paid from this point forward will be doubled.
Those statements had Anthony seeing red. In one fail swoop his father had destroyed all that he was attempting to build. That, coupled with the smug smile plastered on Jason Morgan's face, had Anthony wanting to snap his neck.
"Thank you Rocco. I know I could count on you to settle this."
"It's done. Anthony," he said turning to his son. "I will see any move against the Morgan Family as a move against myself. Don't make yourself a liability for the organization."
What he had just heard was unbelievable to him. Was his own father actually taking sides with the people he saw as the enemy? "Excuse me?" Anthony questioned. "Are you saying what I think you are?"
"Precisely. There is more than enough money for all of us to profit nicely. And it's only right that Joseph and his family receive a larger portion of the pie as they shoulder a great deal more of this life's burdens.
Rocco Malucci had no problem with paying his tribute if it ensured his insulation from the law. Joseph and the extensive arms of his organization protected his crew – all the crews under the Morgan umbrella. Rocco wasn't ready to give up such guardianship for his son's dreams of grandeur.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth handed her keys to her BMW to the valet turning to look at the enormous house before her. It had to be twice the size of her own. Suddenly she felt dwarfed, overwhelmed and in awe of its presence all at the same time.
She swallowed hard around the lump in her throat gathering her fleeting courage. Elizabeth presented the invitation to the man standing at the door. Hector eyed her curiously upon reading the name on its embossed surface. He now knew where Anthony Malucci's elusive invitation had gone.
"I was to meet my husband," Elizabeth said wondering exactly what the stately man before her was thinking.
"May I take your wrap?" Hector asked thinking that the woman before him, if she was indeed Anthony Malucci's wife, was in for a rude awakening. Then again maybe it would be he who would get the shock.
"Yes, thank you. You haven't seen my husband have you?" she questioned as her eyes searched the sea of faces just beyond her.
"No I can't say I have seen him since his arrival."
"Thank you."
Elizabeth reached for a fluted glass of sparkling champagne from a passing waiter. Many of the faces were familiar to her but the one she was looking for in particular evaded her. It was then she spied the woman who she knew to be one of Vincent's many many female friends but her husband still was nowhere to be found.
"Damn!" she cursed under her breath. Another tray of champagne whirled past her. She grabbed as second glass and began milling through the crowd. She felt like a fish out of water that evening. It wasn't as if she didn't know the drill but tonight her mind was filled with more thoughts than just playing the part of Anthony's pristine, doting wife. Maybe that was due to the fact that there was already someone in that role.
The obvious stares weren't lost on her either. She was sure that her appearance hadn't gone unnoticed. It wouldn't take long for the rumors to be a buzz in the room. That was one thing she found to be the same – Mafia or no Mafia, gossip abounded in all the social circles.
Elizabeth reached for another glass of champagne. She had lost count of how many she had had already. The agony of waiting for Anthony's appearance had her nerves raw. "Congratulations to you both," Elizabeth said almost running into the happy couple as she made her way around the patio for the hundredth time that evening.
"Thank you," Zander said not knowing the person speaking to them.
"You are lucky Emily."
"Lucky?" Emily questioned eyeing Elizabeth cautiously and wondering where this conversation was headed.
"Certainly. You are lucky to have a father who loves you enough not to marry you off for his own personal gain!" Elizabeth was suddenly aware of her words. The effects of the alcohol had loosened her tongue a bit too much.
"Emily, what's she talking about?" Zander asked his future wife.
"I don't know," she lied. Emily Morgan had heard all of the rumors about Anthony Malucci's arranged marriage. As was she aware that he had not escorted the woman standing before them to the party.
"I'm sorry we have never been formally introduced," Elizabeth said in a vain attempt to gain her composure. "I'm Mrs. Anthony Malucci, but please you can call me Elizabeth. Have either of you seen my husband?"
"Sorry we haven't," Emily said.
"Well then I should see if I can find him. Again congratulations to you both. I wish you much happiness."
"Emily, that's not the woman that came in with Malucci," Zander said more than a bit confused.
"I know."
"You know? So who was that?"
"Tony's wife."
"Huh?"
"You don't really want to know," Emily sighed watching the young woman retreat in the opposite direction. Elizabeth was no older than she herself was, but Emily could see she was far older than her years showed. She turned her head to rest her eyes on the man she loved with all of her heart, unable to imagine what a life without love must be like.
From the bar Elizabeth caught sight of her husband as he rejoined his date. The image fueled the fire in the pit of her stomach. If she herself hadn't been so angry, Elizabeth would have taken notice of the fury written all over Anthony's features.
As his goomah excused herself from the group, Elizabeth took that as her cue and crossed the patio to where Anthony stood. "There you are," she sighed. "I have been looking all over for you this evening," she smiled sweetly slipping her arm through his.
"Morgan huh?" Elizabeth said aloud. She had heard that name time and time again. It wasn't a secret in the house how her husband felt about the family that commanded the authority just out of Anthony's reach.
Elizabeth still lacked the knowledge and understanding of the world which she married into to. Most normal people she knew would have steered clear of those that they had such disdain for, yet in her husband's warped one those that hated each other the most were bound together by some code that she just couldn't conceive.
Elizabeth stepped into the silky black evening gown, adjusting the spaghetti straps and smoothing the material. She could hear her heavy breathing in her ears as her nerves began getting the better of her.
"Relax," she said to the image in the mirror. "You are his wife right? The invitation did say 'Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Malucci'." Elizabeth saw the determined face that looked back at her. This whole idea was a natural disaster in the making, but suddenly being a caged animal that Anthony carted around only bringing out when it suited him wasn't a concept that Elizabeth could stand any longer.
Her father's words of doing something with her life rang in her ears. That's exactly what she planned on doing that evening, yet somehow she doubted that's what Jeff Webber had in mind.
She sat down at the dressing table and began adjusting the rhinestone clip that held her massive curls. After a few quick touches, the desired effect had been achieved. Next came the diamond choker, tennis bracelet and earrings. Staring at her reflection, Elizabeth caught the glimpse of tears welling in her eyes. Forcefully she chewed on her lower lip in an effort to put an end to them. Her life had become so bizarre. Here she was making herself beautiful for a man that didn't even know she was alive half the time, to crash an event that he hadn't even wanted her to be present for. How she had sunk this low was beyond all comprehension.
She couldn't let herself think of that now. Slipping the invitation into her beaded bag and her wrap over her shoulders she exited the room.
"Oh you're still here?" she said startled. "I thought you had left," Elizabeth said to her father who was suddenly standing before her.
"Anthony said I should wait. That you would be alone for the evening and we could begin working on the benefit," Jeff's voice sounded perplexed.
"There's been a change in plans," she countered.
"Obviously. What's going on here?" he asked sensing his daughter was up to no good. No matter the distance that had grown between them he could still read her like a book when it came to her mischievous ways. There was no mistaking the lilt in her soft blue eyes when Elizabeth was about to make trouble.
"Nothing. I have a function that I need to attend."
"Elizabeth," Jeff barked back. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Playing the part you sold me into. I am Anthony's wife am I not?" she asked innocently producing the invitation to the Morgan party.
"You can't go to that!"
"The hell I can't. I think it's time that a few of the key players met the real Mrs. Anthony Malucci rather than those tramps that he attempts to pass off as me!" Elizabeth's voice hardened.
"I WON'T LET YOU GO!" Jeff took position in front of the doorway. "I can't let you do this. Do you know what kind of trouble you are going to stir up?"
"That's all you care about isn't it?" she spit. "Your only concern is that I am going to piss off Anthony. Well you know what daddy," her voice dripped with sarcasm at the use of that term. "I not only want to piss him off I hope to embarrass the living shit out of him!"
"Elizabeth – do you have a death wish?" her father gasped.
"Maybe, but all I know is I can't stand to live like this another single second of my life!"
"Your life is NOT as bas as you make it out to be," Jeff countered.
"WHAT?!?!"
"You heard me. You have money to burn, servants to attend to your every need, a massive house......"
"Is that how you look at everything?" she yelled cutting him off. "It's all just things to you isn't it? That's why it was so easy for you to sell not only your soul but mine as well to a man devoid of any morals at all!" Elizabeth struggled against a new wave of tears.
"Baby that's not true."
"The hell it isn't. Get out of my way!" she barked.
"I can't let you do this."
"MOVE!!"
"Elizabeth, please just do what Anthony wants. Just stay here and work on the details of the benefit with me," Jeff pleaded in vain.
"You work on the god damned benefit – MOVE!!!" she yelled pushing him out of the way.
"Elizabeth – Elizabeth wait!" he called after her.
"Manny have my car brought around," she said ignoring her father's urgent requests.
"Elizabeth..."
"You can let yourself out, I'm sure," she countered indicating their conversation was finished.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jason straightened his suit jacket wishing he could shed the confining material for his worn leather jacket and jeans. As much as his father despised his son's penchant for that wardrobe, Jason wore it anyhow except on occasions like this that warranted business attire. He knew he had stalled long enough and that if he didn't make his appearance soon Joseph would come back looking for him again. It was a performance Jason had no inclination of repeating.
He emerged just in time to see Anthony Malucci enter the grand foyer. Jason eyed the raven haired beauty gently holding him by the arm. He knew Malucci was married yet he had never seen him with the same woman more than once, making it difficult to discern just who the real Mrs. Anthony Malucci was.
"I'm sorry sir this party is by invitation only." Jason heard the family butler, Hector, state.
"Do you not know who I am?" Anthony attempted to hold his tongue. "I have been to this house numerous time..."
"Is there a problem Hector?" Jason came forward to squash the scene he knew that Anthony Malucci was capable of making.
"Yeah," Anthony spoke first. "This idiot is giving me grief for forgetting my invitation."
"It's alright Hector," Jason said turning to the butler. "Mr. Malucci is certainly one of our honored guests for this evening." Jason's words and cold stare were not lost on Anthony.
"I'm sorry sir," Hector said apologetically.
"That's not necessary," Jason corrected his servant as he watched Malucci's face brighten with a wicked smile. A smile that Jason couldn't wait to have the pleasure of personally removing.
Jason strategically placed himself so he could observe all that went on around him. In all the times that his family had had functions of this nature, it still unnerved him to have so many of the men that held the potential of destruction for his family aimlessly walking around unattended.
His father had explained it time and time again but Jason couldn't shake the feeling that Joseph Morgan wasn't truly seeing the world as it was now. The respect, honor and loyalty that once had been scared in the past were not things that the up and coming generations put a great deal of stock in. For men like Anthony Malucci it was the money and the power that were the greatest draw and Jason sensed that if need be Malucci would make his own rules to get what he wanted.
Jason's attention was drawn away from Anthony when he saw Rocco Malucci being wheeled on to the patio. The show was nearly ready to begin. Anthony made his way to where his father sat, kissing both his cheeks out of love and respect. Jason felt his stomach roll end over end still thinking that his father was highly overestimating the frail man he saw before him.
"Could I please have everyone's attention," Joseph's booming voice quieted the crowd. "As you all know, tonight we celebrate the engagement of my beautiful daughter, Emily, to Zander." The statement was met with a round of applause. "I wish to propose a toast," he said as he raised his champagne glass. "To my only daughter, may you be as happy in your marriage as I have been in mine. And to you Zander, may you always show my baby the love and respect she so richly deserves."
Jason smiled and raised his glass knowing the double meaning of his father's words. Joseph Morgan would not tolerate his newest son straying from his marriage as many in the business did. Goomahs were something that Joseph never understood nor something he would stand for. To him, marriage was a sacred institution and it was to be treated as such. Jason was certain that Zander had been instructed in such matters, but the words were a pointed reminder.
"Please everyone eat, drink and enjoy yourselves," Cassandra's voice came from behind her husband.
With that being said the party resumed. Joseph caught his son's eye informing him that it was time for the more private party to begin. He snaked his way through the patio informing all those whose presence was required that it was time to assemble.
Jason stood at the entrance to the room while the ten powerful men took their places around the table.
"Good evening gentlemen and thank you all for coming," Joseph said taking his own seat.
"It's a wonderful party," Pedro Alverez said.
"Thank you. It's not every day your daughter gets engaged now is it?" His words were met with a round of easy laughter.
"Let's get down to business shall we?" Jason said anxious to begin.
"My son is right." Joseph eyed him carefully sending Jason a silent warning to tread lightly on this. Joseph was well aware of just how much animosity his son held for what Anthony Malucci had been doing, but for Joseph that didn't negate the fact that Rocco was still to be afforded the respect he had earned. "It has been brought to my attention that there are a few of you at this table who feel the tribute you pay to my family is too high." Joseph let his eyes come to rest on Anthony Malucci who stood directly behind his father.
"Joseph," Carlos Secchi spoke first. "I hope that you know that my crew has no problems with paying our taxes. On the contrary we feel for what is provided us, it is more than fair."
"All of us here feel the same," Dominic Tedesco said looking at the others around the table.
"Not all of us," Anthony now spoke.
"I thought not," Joseph said. "Otherwise there wouldn't have been a need for this meeting of the minds so to speak.
"I think that it's time the Morgan Family distributes the wealth a bit more evenly don't you?" Anthony spoke to Joseph yet never once took his eyes off of Jason. Rocco reached up slapping his son underneath the jaw.
"Your disrespect for Joseph ... it's ...well it's appalling!" The frail man's voice came forth with more force than those in the room expected. "I will not tolerate such a display."
"But you will tolerate them?" Anthony pointed in the direction of the Morgan men. "Picking your pockets clean!"
"We have done nothing of the sort!" Jason shot back. "It's your own stupidity that's forced your organization to lose money! You think by stealing our trucks and withholding money rightfully ours you can somehow make up for your own business shortcomings?"
"ENOUGH Jason!" Joseph growled.
"That's only the beginning...."
"Jason!" His father's coal black eyes shot daggers at him. On instinct Jason retreated to his corner of the room, ire brewing in him still.
"Anthony, I understand that you have issues regarding the way our side of the business is run. But please understand this – I am in no way bound to justify any of my actions to you or anyone in this room for that matter. This meeting was held today as a courtesy and out of the respect I have for your father. Nothing more than that."
Anthony stood silent for the moment his rage growing by leaps and bounds. "You respect my father?" his voice echoed Joseph's words. "Don't make me laugh!"
"Rocco," Joseph said completely ignoring Anthony's comments. "I hope you know that we will not be having another conversation regarding this matter. Should we continue to experience the same troubles – my family will have no other option but to see your family as a threat to ours and handle that accordingly. Are we clear?"
"We are," Rocco Malucci assured. "I will see to it that what is rightfully yours is returned to you and that the tribute paid from this point forward will be doubled.
Those statements had Anthony seeing red. In one fail swoop his father had destroyed all that he was attempting to build. That, coupled with the smug smile plastered on Jason Morgan's face, had Anthony wanting to snap his neck.
"Thank you Rocco. I know I could count on you to settle this."
"It's done. Anthony," he said turning to his son. "I will see any move against the Morgan Family as a move against myself. Don't make yourself a liability for the organization."
What he had just heard was unbelievable to him. Was his own father actually taking sides with the people he saw as the enemy? "Excuse me?" Anthony questioned. "Are you saying what I think you are?"
"Precisely. There is more than enough money for all of us to profit nicely. And it's only right that Joseph and his family receive a larger portion of the pie as they shoulder a great deal more of this life's burdens.
Rocco Malucci had no problem with paying his tribute if it ensured his insulation from the law. Joseph and the extensive arms of his organization protected his crew – all the crews under the Morgan umbrella. Rocco wasn't ready to give up such guardianship for his son's dreams of grandeur.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth handed her keys to her BMW to the valet turning to look at the enormous house before her. It had to be twice the size of her own. Suddenly she felt dwarfed, overwhelmed and in awe of its presence all at the same time.
She swallowed hard around the lump in her throat gathering her fleeting courage. Elizabeth presented the invitation to the man standing at the door. Hector eyed her curiously upon reading the name on its embossed surface. He now knew where Anthony Malucci's elusive invitation had gone.
"I was to meet my husband," Elizabeth said wondering exactly what the stately man before her was thinking.
"May I take your wrap?" Hector asked thinking that the woman before him, if she was indeed Anthony Malucci's wife, was in for a rude awakening. Then again maybe it would be he who would get the shock.
"Yes, thank you. You haven't seen my husband have you?" she questioned as her eyes searched the sea of faces just beyond her.
"No I can't say I have seen him since his arrival."
"Thank you."
Elizabeth reached for a fluted glass of sparkling champagne from a passing waiter. Many of the faces were familiar to her but the one she was looking for in particular evaded her. It was then she spied the woman who she knew to be one of Vincent's many many female friends but her husband still was nowhere to be found.
"Damn!" she cursed under her breath. Another tray of champagne whirled past her. She grabbed as second glass and began milling through the crowd. She felt like a fish out of water that evening. It wasn't as if she didn't know the drill but tonight her mind was filled with more thoughts than just playing the part of Anthony's pristine, doting wife. Maybe that was due to the fact that there was already someone in that role.
The obvious stares weren't lost on her either. She was sure that her appearance hadn't gone unnoticed. It wouldn't take long for the rumors to be a buzz in the room. That was one thing she found to be the same – Mafia or no Mafia, gossip abounded in all the social circles.
Elizabeth reached for another glass of champagne. She had lost count of how many she had had already. The agony of waiting for Anthony's appearance had her nerves raw. "Congratulations to you both," Elizabeth said almost running into the happy couple as she made her way around the patio for the hundredth time that evening.
"Thank you," Zander said not knowing the person speaking to them.
"You are lucky Emily."
"Lucky?" Emily questioned eyeing Elizabeth cautiously and wondering where this conversation was headed.
"Certainly. You are lucky to have a father who loves you enough not to marry you off for his own personal gain!" Elizabeth was suddenly aware of her words. The effects of the alcohol had loosened her tongue a bit too much.
"Emily, what's she talking about?" Zander asked his future wife.
"I don't know," she lied. Emily Morgan had heard all of the rumors about Anthony Malucci's arranged marriage. As was she aware that he had not escorted the woman standing before them to the party.
"I'm sorry we have never been formally introduced," Elizabeth said in a vain attempt to gain her composure. "I'm Mrs. Anthony Malucci, but please you can call me Elizabeth. Have either of you seen my husband?"
"Sorry we haven't," Emily said.
"Well then I should see if I can find him. Again congratulations to you both. I wish you much happiness."
"Emily, that's not the woman that came in with Malucci," Zander said more than a bit confused.
"I know."
"You know? So who was that?"
"Tony's wife."
"Huh?"
"You don't really want to know," Emily sighed watching the young woman retreat in the opposite direction. Elizabeth was no older than she herself was, but Emily could see she was far older than her years showed. She turned her head to rest her eyes on the man she loved with all of her heart, unable to imagine what a life without love must be like.
From the bar Elizabeth caught sight of her husband as he rejoined his date. The image fueled the fire in the pit of her stomach. If she herself hadn't been so angry, Elizabeth would have taken notice of the fury written all over Anthony's features.
As his goomah excused herself from the group, Elizabeth took that as her cue and crossed the patio to where Anthony stood. "There you are," she sighed. "I have been looking all over for you this evening," she smiled sweetly slipping her arm through his.