CPOV
"God this feels weird" Theo laughed beside me as we walked into the building that held my father's office.
"What being in here or wearing a suit."
"A suit of course."
Suits were not something we normally wear but we couldn't turn up to the Senators office in jeans. My wife can vouch for my lack of suit wearing, especially when she practically jumped me this morning, telling me I had better still be wearing it when I got home this evening so she could undress me. Fine by me as long as she doesn't take the stockings or the dress off that she's wearing to have lunch with my mother today.
"Welcome to Senator Grey's office, what can I do for you."
"We're here to see my father, Senator Grey" I told the new receptionist.
She looked up then, seeing us both staring down on her before she got on her phone.
"Mr Grey" I heard from the side, smiling when I saw Theo's reaction. "Carol, I will take them through."
"Hi Ava, this is my son Theo. Son this is your grandfathers P.A. Ava" I said as we followed her to my dad's office.
They shook hands, Theo holding on for a second longer than necessary before we were at my dad's office door.
"Senator, your son and grandson are here" she said, opening the door for us to enter.
"Thank you, Ava."
"Can I get you gentlemen anything" she asked as I had to stifle a laugh when my son mumble her number.
"Nothing, we're fine."
The door clicked closed, before my Dad pulled some papers out of his drawer. He had wanted to see us, but would be in meetings all day so he couldn't get away. Besides it wouldn't be the first time I have visited him here, so it wouldn't look out of place.
"I have been speaking to Senator Kenzie from Oregon about the gun problem that they're having over there. Do you know that there has been two other instances apart from the arms factory, that weapons have been found."
"Two, none have been reported on or that we have heard of."
"Because they don't want it getting out. It would cause mass hysteria if the public found out as these are small towns. That and the cops think that like Newport, these people will come back. Brainless" he said, shaking his head. "We have always tended to stick to the larger towns and cities unless there is a specific reason for us, needing to be in a smaller area. We're not the cops after all, we don't need to be every where, just every place that matters or makes the most profit for us."
He showed us the places on the map, all on separate sides of Salem.
"Seems like they can't pick a spot. We only need the Washington side of Salem and we could have a diamond. They will be running out of places to hide things soon" Theo said.
"Yes, Newport on the west, Eugene on the south, Mill City on the east and the closest city to Salem on the north is."
"Portland" I said.
"Yes, they could be setting up right under our noses. That is if this is the same group. If not then we may have three problems instead of one" Dad said.
"Maybe they don't like pissing in their own pond or, these smaller places are set up to take our focus away from the real place, Salem" Theo told us.
"Whatever their doing, they have obviously got a bigger set up than we originally planned" I said to Dad. "When is that Italian marble coming in."
He smiled, showing me the docket for this coming weekend.
"Italian marble and also the best kitchen equipment that a bakery would need. That and a few extras mixed in. It's already been cleared for arrival, courtesy of the Governor's office. So, if by a miracle it gets found, Governor Vicks will have some questions to answer. Pompous arse, I almost want it to be found."
"You can answer to my wife then as to why her kitchen for the new bakery has been impounded."
"No thank you. Not after what I have heard about happening in the meeting. How is that man by the way" he laughed.
"Yes, my wife was amazing and as for Cameron, knocked back."
"Oh shit. I think most would chop their right nut off than be knocked back a rank, keep an eye on him."
"Already am Dad."
We left my dad's office with the papers he had given me about Oregon, sending a message to my guy in Portland to keep an extra eye out over there.
"Where to Dad" Theo asked, driving today.
"Club. Lorenzo is due in later, see if he has any info on this Maria whatever the fuck she's called."
"Ok."
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I realised I had a missed call from Lucy. She was in school, probably back in class by now but I'd like to see them stop her answering the call.
"Hey Dad."
"Hey baby girl, what's up. Are you still in class."
"No, just on my way to the next lesson. Can I stay at Nicole's tonight?"
"Have you asked your mother."
"Yes, but I know you sulk if I don't ask you as well or give you time to set a swat team up in case any one unauthorised goes near the house."
"I don't sulk" I protested.
"I'm calling bulls poo. Mum said it was ok, so can I."
"Sure, you stay there though. No impromptu trips to the movies or bowling."
"I know the drill Dad, love you."
"You too, little Princess."
I ended the call, sending Tyler a message about Lucy's plans for this evening. He knows the drill by now and that house will be surrounded before Lucy even gets there. Getting out of the car, I made my way past Ciro and up the stairs, into the club.
"Do you want a dance" one of the women asked until she realised it was me. "My apologies sir."
I don't look that different in a suit. I ignored her and the men who were obviously shocked at my attire as well. Making my way through to the office, I laid the map out onto my desk.
Looking at the locations, maybe Theo was right. It is a diversion to take our focus off Salem.
…
I was looking at the paperwork that Lorenzo had just handed to me.
"Maria Ramirez" I said.
"Yes, she has quite a little record for herself, mostly in her teens. Even did time for beating a woman to a pulp who she found sleeping with her boyfriend. Address we have is the one in Dalton."
"Ana was right then, that's why her and the mother were estranged. Makes you wonder if that is why Garcia left Salem to begin with. Was it because he was getting heat from our family or did he find out he had a daughter he knew nothing about. Where the fuck does Ramirez picture in this then, he was his underboss, was he screwing the Boss's woman. Did he take on the roll in her father's absence or think she was his all along. Fuck these questions are giving me a headache."
"I don't know the answers, maybe the mother was playing them off against each other. Maybe our new Consigliere could figure it out" he chuckled to himself.
"What, what's so funny."
"If I didn't know you and Ana, I would say be careful as she was after your job. She's definitely Boss material."
I smiled, that is what we want everyone to think. They didn't see the panic and worry that Ana had beforehand, that she would mess up but there is no stronger person I know than my incredible wife.
Thinking of my wife, I had no idea if Ana was home yet so I decided to call.
"Hi delicious husband, I hope you're still wearing that suit."
"Of course, I promised. Despite the looks and offer I got when I arrived at the club."
"Tell them women to keep their fucking hands to themselves."
"Only you Princess, you know that. Where are you?" I asked.
"Just got home from de-stressing your mother. God there are some vapid bitches in this town. I don't think I will be allowed in the Space Needle again."
"Why Ana, what's happened."
"Stow your gun, Mr Grey. I might have accidentally on purpose knocked my red wine over the Governor's wife's dress. She did think she could speak down to me and it wasn't my fault she was wearing cream. I'm very proud of the masterpiece I created."
"God, I love you Ana" I laughed.
"I love you too. We were discussing the Coping Together Ball and some of the women were basically only interested in what they were getting out of it, by helping. It's a charity for god's sake."
"I know Ana."
My mum had taken over the running of the ball when Margreet passed away. Being the Senators wife, brought a lot more publicity to the event. There is no police ball any more, there hasn't been since Coping Together separated from it. They only got the funding in the first place because it was associated with a charity but after the way they treated my wife when she was honoured, the board decided no more.
"I ordered some take out from Palermo so there are burgers keeping warm for you and the boys when you're ready to relinquish that suit."
"I'm on my way."
I quickly finished my meeting with Lorenzo before heading home.
…
"Did we find all the buttons" Ana asked, as I dripped the water from the sponge over her breast.
"Don't know, don't care" I said, sucking on the side of her neck.
"You will care when you stand on one of them in the middle of the night, going for a piss."
"It's your fault, you ripped it Princess. My shirt is in shreds. If I stand on one, I'm sure you will kiss it better."
"If you think I'm kissing your feet Christian then you married the wrong woman" she said, looking to me over her shoulder.
"No, I married the perfect woman. The only one who was right for me."
"Smooth talker. Now what's on the list of topics for today's meeting" she asked me.
"Maria Ramirez."
"Ooo, she likes to keep it in the family then this mother."
I knew what Ana meant, not biological family but mafia family.
"Yes, Ramirez obviously was with Selma at one point. I was trying to figure out earlier, who knew what but I just gave myself a headache. I think my main question should be, who's running the show now."
"Boss" Ana said, looking over her shoulder to me.
"Maybe, if so where does Ricardo fit into this. We have seen her and Ramirez but no sign of Ricardo."
"I don't know" Ana said before giggling.
"What has you laughing Mrs Grey."
"I was just thinking about this harem that Selma Lopez has going on. I wonder if this woman you told me that Jason had spoken to, could identify Ramirez. Maybe he had a place in Dalton too."
"There is only one way of finding out."
"Poor Jason" she laughed.
We made sure we were both clean before we got out. My wife had been none too happy with me, turning the bath into an impromptu jacuzzi but it's better there than in bed.
"You know Ava who works with Dad" I asked, brushed the hair from her forehead where I placed a kiss.
"Yes, Ava's lovely. She comes into the bakery all the time. I'm sure your Dad would have withdrawal if he didn't have his daily dose of Italian delights. Why."
"Just Theo's reaction to her when we went to dad's office today. Gob-smacked would be a good word for it" I laughed.
"I would approve if he brought her home, as long as he was serious that is" Ana said, lifting her head from my chest.
"Yeah, me too and her mother is Italian from what Dad told me, the first time we were introduced."
"Italian bloodlines. I know my sisters only have Italian in them when they're either pregnant or are enjoying time with their husbands."
"How crude Mrs Grey" I laughed, but it was the truth. There is no Italian in the Kavanagh family.
"What I was saying" she laughed. "You're fully Italian as am I, which means that our children are as well. The family business has always been run by full bloodied Italians but what if I wasn't. Theo wouldn't have been next in line."
"Princess do you remember when we met."
"Not a day I ever want to forget. I stitched you up and gave you a lolly pop."
"That day, I had no idea of your heritage or even if there was any Italian in your blood. It didn't matter, I wanted you and that was it. If you had not been Italian, our children would've still led this family business as long as they chose to."
Being Italian is important to me and my family but once I had met Ana, there was no letting her go.
APOV
I was flapping. I had so much to do and little time to do it in.
I had two birthday cakes that I need to make for my boys. My Dad, Isabella and grandparents were due to fly in tomorrow so the house needed to be ready for them and the kitchen was due to be installed in the other bakery. That's on top of everything else I needed to do for the birthdays. I needed a bath or more importantly quiet time with my husband.
"Megan can you get the pastry's out of the oven, their due to be finished in two minutes" I said, heading out to the store front, when I heard the bell.
"Hi Ana" Oriella said as she came over to the counter.
"Hi sweetheart, how's work."
"Crazy. We have a new book out at the end of this week and the office is manic, so I escaped for some peace."
Oriella worked for a small publishing company here in Seattle. She loves books, I do too but I couldn't tell you the last time I read a book through without being disturbed.
"What can I get you."
"Ricotta cheesecake and a white coffee please."
I cut a slice of cheesecake and make her coffee as she went to take a seat. With Hannah coming in from lunch then, I made a tea and went to join Oriella.
"What cakes are you making the boys" she asked me after I had taken a long sip, needing that little bit of caffeine.
"If Lucy has her way, Christian's cake will be grey hair with a bald spot on top" I said laughing.
"Christian doesn't have a bald spot."
"I know but our daughter still likes to wind him up. They actually both love chocolate cake. For Theo, his is going to be a copy of the car that Christian and I have gotten him. Christian's is actually going to be a police cake."
"Oh my god, won't he go mad" she laughed.
"No, he will actually think it's funny especially if I put hand cuffs on it and a message from long ago, never to listen to his brother."
"Do I need to ask."
"No" I laughed, thinking about the time that he listened to his brother after Lucy was born.
"Can I ask you something Ana."
"Of course, you can. Is something wrong."
"No, nothing's wrong. You know that the boys are going to the club for Theo's birthday. Does it bother you that Christian goes to a club with naked women around?"
"I trust my husband implicitly Oriella and as far as that place is concerned, it's his job. Are you worried about Luca being there?"
"No, like Christian, he's there for work. One of the woman at work was telling me that she just broke up with her boyfriend as she found out he went to a strip club. She was going on and on and I wanted to tell her that it didn't bother me. Am I weird."
"No sweetheart you're not. Ideally, it's not a place that I would want my husband in but his work is there, I have been there when the girls have been on the stage, albeit not for a while. They're very professional. Trust is the most important thing in this family between couples, whether you're married or not. I know the boys are going to the club, I also know that no woman would come within feet of them unless they're ordering drinks or are asked too. If my son does decide to get a lap-dance for his birthday, although not an image I want in my mind. That's his choice. He is single after all but Luca, you have nothing to worry about there."
"I know Ana."
"Hey mum, skiving" Theo said, coming through from the kitchen.
"I will give you skiving, you can make dinner tonight."
"Ok, what are we ordering in then."
I rolled my eyes, leaving Oriella to her drink who was laughing.
"Paperwork is all finished Ana" Hannah said coming from the office. It's a good job we still don't have Luke in there as them together would never get anything done.
"Thanks Hannah. Theo hands of the biscotti" I said as my son dunked yet another in the coffee.
"Bye Ana, Theo" Oriella called as she headed for the door.
"Bye sweetheart."
Not long after Oriella left, the bell over the door went again. This time I sent my son out to serve, maybe we might have some food left if his hands were busy. I could hear talking and laughter though as I looked out the front, seeing my son casually chatting to Ava.
"Hi Ana" she said, seeing me.
"Hi Ava, sweet run again."
"Yes, I'm surprise Carrick has any teeth left. The amount he consumes."
"We're Italian, there is always space for more, especially when it comes from here. You should try the Cassatini if you haven't had one before" Theo said, trying to impress her.
I left them to it, smiling, not wanting to intrude on their little conversation. It's funny when you see these big tough guys trying to impress the girl they like. They tend to mumble and get flustered very easily when what they want to say doesn't come out right. My husband when we first met was a classic example of that. As I said to Christian though, Ava was lovely and I would approve of him bringing her home. My sons only twenty though, there is no rush for him to settle down. What am I saying, Luca is only 19 and his plans have been set in stone for a long time.
"Mum, do you need any help" Theo asked, coming into the kitchen.
"I'm fine son. You can get off if you want to, now you have eaten half of my food."
"I'm going to walk Ava back to Granddad's office."
"Ok, I will see you at dinner."
"Um, I might stay in the city tonight unless you need me home for something. I have some work to do."
"It's fine son, I'm sure your Dad will call you if he needs you for something."
I watched them leave through the door, her arm through his as they talked animatedly to each other. Maybe my son had grown up and found his one after all, only time will tell if she gets the invite to our table. Fingers crossed.
Thank you for reading
Until next time, take care.
Caroline