Made in the Mafia

By J.D. Brisek

Twenty-seven-year-old Albertina Tina Romano is a stunning Italian woman who has grown up sheltered, without a mother, and only knowing three men in her life: her father, godfather, and her great-uncle Monte, whom shes only met once. Tinas world is turned upside down when her father gets kidnapped and she discovers a dark family secret and the answer to getting him back resides in her uncle Monte who also has the power to tear her world apart. As her life begins to unravel, she must choose whether or not good will prevail over evil after falling in love with Montes trusted colleague, Dominick, who has a few secrets himself. When it comes to choosing love over loyalty, will Tina have a change-of-heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781491764404

J.D. Brisek

J.D. Brisek has been a creative writer and poet for four years. Having interned at a newspaper company in Pennsylvania, her hometown, she has written articles pertaining to the use of technology in today’s society as well as how Americans define “The American Dream.” Since obtaining her undergraduate degree in English back in 2014, Brisk has been teaching eighth grade English Language Arts. She currently resides in North Carolina with the love of her life and their dog, Ellie.

Book preview

Made in the

Mafia

J.D. BRISEK

47184.png

MADE IN THE MAFIA

Copyright © 2017 J.D. Brisek.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-6439-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-6440-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015905289

iUniverse rev. date: 4/18/2017

Contents

Uno

Due

Tre

Quattro

Cinque

Sei

Sette

Otto

Nove

Dieci

Undici

Dodici

Tredici

Quattordici

Quindici

Sedici

Diciassette

Diciotto

Diciannove

Venti

Ventuno

Ventidue

Ventitré

Venti Quattro

Venticinque

Ventisei

To my loving and supportive family,

especially my Aunt Deb and Uncle Frank,

who’ve inspired me to write this novel;

and to the love of my life,

who always encourages me to do what I love.

I am so grateful to have you all in my life.

UNO

Albertina Belladonna Romano, who prefers to be called Tina for short, is a simple Italian woman who does not live a traditional, customary Italian lifestyle. She is twenty-seven years old and has lived a very sedentary life for as long as she could remember. Her mother died unexpectedly one afternoon when she was in infancy, but for obvious reasons, cannot recall any memories. She visualizes her mother by what she sees in photographs and from hearing the stories her father tells her from time-to-time. Unlike the typical, extremely large Italian family that culture idolizes, it is only her and her father. She doesn’t have any other extended family members except for her two uncles: her great-uncle, Monte, whom she has only met once when she was sixteen; and her uncle Lucas, who is her father’s best friend and her godfather that visits quite often and is not blood related.

Tina has olive skin that never burns when time is spent too long in the sunlight. Her dark brown eyes are as fierce as her facial expressions, which from the outside eye, always appears to have an unfriendliness appeal to it. Her thick, dark brown hair is as full and luxurious as the curves that naturally form her body. Anyone who saw her thought she was a gorgeous Italian woman. Every attempt to ask her out on a date was quickly followed with a somber, yet direct rejection. She never meant to appear or to come off as a rude or mean person, but she had bigger fish to fry. Dating was never a top priority for her, even at twenty-seven, where people in her neighborhood gossiped about why she wasn’t married or had children. She even overheard one of her neighbors, two houses down, go as far as to question whether or not she was a lesbian. Her beauty told one story; her personality told another. Sometimes she resorted to blaming this constant issue on not having any positive, influential women in her life.

In reality, a majority of single Italian men live with their parents well into their thirties, but you never hear of Italian women still living with their parent(s) at such an age. Given the fact that Tina was still living through her twenties, she chose to live with her father not only because they shared a close bond, but because she was saving money of her own. Living on the outskirts of Boston and knowing the risk of buying a cheap apartment somewhere in town was a death threat and a chance no one wanted to take unless you were somehow gang-related. Tina purposefully chose to give herself a slow start after she graduated from high school a decade ago because at random, she suddenly sunk into a mild state of depression coming to terms that she was never going to have a mother. Her father had always protected her and had gotten her involved in sports and clubs and took small trips with her around the country during the summers. She was always just too busy to really notice. Of course she noticed and understood the difference between her and every girl in her school, however, it never dawned on her that at some point in her life, she would want to share her milestones, such as graduating from high school, with two parents instead of one.

Since she could recall, Tina has always been quiet yet opinionated; a kind of girl who kept to herself for the most part, unless she was rejecting a potential suitor. She had friends and excelled rather well academically and athletically, which made her feel like she had a place in this world, but that was the furthest it went. She was often polite and rarely digressed in uncomfortable situations. For the longest time, nothing ever scared her. She didn’t know what to do with herself when all was said and done. After several late nights over cups of her father’s favorite house-blended coffee, sometimes tea, they would discuss for hours what path she wanted to take in life, career-speaking.

Her father, Lorenzo, was the local electrician. He was the exact opposite of his daughter. Such a friendly and talkative person that knew and ran into everyone throughout town, people would call on him frequently to swing by and fix any electrical problems that may have occurred in their households or place of employment. Besides his eyes and golden skin hues, Tina and her father didn’t look alike. She was a spitting image of her deceased mother. When she was younger and at an age where she didn’t quite understand the magnitude of death, all it took was for her father to stare at her long enough to make him cry because she resembled her mother that much.

Tina decided at the age of twenty-four that she wanted to go to a small college for business despite her high school transcripts that could have promised her a place at any major university in the state of Massachusetts. She wanted to be close to her father, which was the reason she chose to commute. Tina refused to bite off more than she could chew after the last several, troubling years she spent after high school. In the mornings she would attend some classes and in the afternoon she would work in the office at her uncle Lucas’s Italian restaurant called Little Verona, which is actually the place in Italy where William Shakespeare’s tragic characters Romeo and Juliet lived.

Now, finally considered a senior in college, nearing close to graduation, Tina planned to leave Boston after semester ended to pursue her dream of starting her own business, which would gear toward helping teenagers who have lost a parent or parents cope with loss and depression, and to become college-ready. Princeton, New Jersey is a place that Tina hoped to call home sometime soon within the upcoming months. However, to much of her surprise, her father came home with devastating news.

I have cancer, he said blatantly after politely asking Tina to have a seat shortly after arriving home. Tina couldn’t feel anything as she thought for a second that she had hallucinated.

You have cancer? What kind of cancer? Are they sure? All at once a thousand questions rushed to her mind. Her father now reseated himself next to her on their old, hunter-green suede couch. He placed his hand gently on her kneecap. Pancreatic cancer, he answered as if he was not moved whatsoever by the entire ordeal.

Tina could feel her face getting hot quick as her throat was tightening up. Tears were coming but she wouldn’t allow any to run down her face. "What all did the doctors say? Are you going to be okay? Is this something that you can get rid of?

Tina…this isn’t like the flu, I won’t be able to ever get rid of it. The doctors mentioned going through radiation, then chemo, but even then it cannot guarantee remission.

She couldn’t stand the fact that her father was being so extremely calm about this. A part of her was in total denial – another part of her knew that she was going to lose her father sooner than she’d expected. Without hesitation she asked, How long do you have?

I will not answer that question, Albertina. It doesn’t matter. All that matters right now is living a healthy life and doing whatever is required to put myself into remission.

Tears now welled up in her big brown eyes as she felt like a child again. Dad, I am twenty-seven years old. I’m not ten anymore. I need to know if this is something that could take you any day now or something that is giving you more time, she demanded.

The doctor said no longer than six months. Tina’s stomach twisted and turned when she heard those words. She gulped hard. Oh my God, I don’t know what to say. The tears that filled her eyes went away and she now had the look that she had just seen her mother’s ghost smeared across her face. You’re still choosing to proceed with radiation and chemo aren’t you?

Of course, said her father lightly, which there was nothing light about it. My doctor wants me to start right away. He said if we attack it now then I have a better chance of getting into remission, which should set in anywhere between six and eight months if it works. He sounded very hopeful.

"But dad…they are giving you only six months." Tina was slightly confused.

I know. Hopefully I’ll be able to make the cut. He tried cracking a superficial smile. Tina always admired his upbeat attitude and positive outlook on life, but now really was not the time.

Tina stayed up well past midnight that night reconsidering her dream of moving to New Jersey and beginning a career. Regardless of what she knew her father would say, which would be, I’ll be fine; go and live your life the way you’ve always dreamed of, she would not neglect him. It wasn’t the right time. Not now, not ever. She continued biting her nails until there was nothing left to bite. This was a tactic she would resort to whenever she was deep-in-thought or just plain nervous. No one could ever tell which one she was.

She awoke the next morning not feeling the same. All she could think of was how it was another day closer to her father’s death. Tina lay in bed a little longer than usual, staring over at the maroon t-shirt and dark-washed jeans she draped over a chair the night before, which is what she chose to wear to class that morning. Staring at her clothes endlessly, she couldn’t fathom the idea of not having her father in her life anymore. She would be parentless and especially after overcoming what she did a few years ago, she didn’t want to slip back into her old ways. Would she? She’s an adult now. She handles problems differently now, right?

Other than a few minor realizations and epiphanies she made throughout the morning, it was a normal day for her. She ate breakfast, showered, changed and straightened her hair and drove to class. After class, she went directly to the restaurant. She was a little early, but that gave her time to get a fast lunch in before she had to tackle a pile of paperwork on the desk in the back office. Her father went to work at 6 a.m. before she could see him or ask him what his plans for the day were after work. He left a little note on the kitchen counter near the refrigerator that read:

Tina,

Going to doctors after work. Uncle Lucas is coming with me, so don’t expect to see him at the restaurant. Don’t know how long it will take. I’ll see you at home later. Have a great day!

Love you,

Dad

P.S. Relax, everything will be okay.

After Tina faxed, filed, copied, and sent almost every piece of paperwork that needed mailed, she clocked out around 7 p.m. just as the sun was starting to go down. Uncle Lucas was still absent while the night manager, Maureen, handled business until closing. She hurried into her white Chevy Malibu and rushed home, feeling very anxious in regards to how her father’s doctor’s appointment went earlier. When the car finally reached the driveway and she turned off the engine, it seemed as if Tina couldn’t get to the front door fast enough. Turning the doorknob that already appeared to be unlocked; she was very shocked to see her father standing in the middle of the kitchen entryway – talking to uncle Monte.

Albertina Belladonna Romano! Now, if that’s not a strong Italian name, I don’t know what is, came her great-uncle’s voice that was deep, masculine, and extremely raspy from the several Cuban cigars that he puffed weekly. Besides that small, irrelevant fact, Tina didn’t know anything about uncle Monte. They were practically strangers. Even when she met him for the first time ever on her sixteenth birthday, he always spoke as if he knew more about her than she did him.

Guess who came by for a quick visit, questioned her father, who had a fake grin on his face; the kind of grin where you have unexpected company swing by the house when you really weren’t in the mood for company at all. He looked tired and ready for bed at such an early hour.

Smiling politely because that was the only thing she knew to do, Tina flashed him a superficial, toothy smile while still in the process of fully entering the house. Uncle Monte…how long has it been?

Too damn long, I’ll tell ya that. Last time I seen you…youz was still in high school. His Italian accent was so strong and rugged. He got up from the recliner and slowly walked his thin, in-rather-decent-shape-for-being-sixty-eight body over to Tina, arms outstretched, wanting to exchange a hug. Tina felt strong arms wrap around her as she barely had any room to give him a few friendly pats on the back. Monte released her and grabbed her shoulders to admire her beauty.

Lorenzo you can’t let her outta da house lookin’ like dis – you’ll have every man in the neighborhood knockin’ down ya door. He grinned at her as she tried to look into his eyes, which were hidden behind every day glasses that naturally had a tint to them.

Well I promise you that that is not the case, she gently wiggled herself from his grip. It’s been about eleven years since I saw you last and you look the exact same, she said as she walked over to a waist-high table near the dining room and tossed her car keys into the light blue glass bowl that sat atop it. Gliding past the television she walked up to her father, gave him a loving peck on his cheek and disappeared into the kitchen to raid the pantry. She was still able to hear and participate in the conversation.

Thank you, young lady. I take that as a compliment, replied Monte. Again, Tina smiled at her great-uncle and turned to her dad while munching on a few Oreos.

So how did it go today, she whispered rudely – not knowing if he had told Monte the news already.

It went okay, he said a tone louder than hers, indicating that he had indeed told Monte what was going on. The doctor wants me to start radiation on Monday.

Are you alright? Genuinely, she was deeply concerned about his feelings despite him hiding them behind a loving smile that would make anyone flash a smirk in return.

Yeah, I’m alright sweetheart. He appreciated the support and love he was receiving from his baby girl. Why don’t you head upstairs and shower. I’ll make you a sandwich when you’re done.

She looked at him and then at Monte whom both beamed at her once more. Okay. Thanks dad, she said before trotting upstairs. Lorenzo then turned his attention back to Monte. Go on…

Ya know…women are supposed to be da ones making the sandwiches for da men, Enzo, Monte cracked wisely.

Not finding it funny, Lorenzo walked over to the couch and sat beside Monte who had made himself comfortable again in the same spot as before. It’s not like that here. She’s my baby girl; my only kid; and I don’t tell her that those chores are part of a woman’s role.

It was a joke Lorenzo! Where did ya humor go?

Remaining fixated on Monte, he continued, Why are you here? Why did you decide to come to my house all the way from New York? I haven’t seen you in years. Monte was silent. Every time I tried contacting you, you never returned my phone calls. You need a favor now or something?

I couldn’t return ya calls, you know that. After Adrian died – bless her sweet soul – I had to cut ties wit you. You didn’t want any part of this life anymore. I was lucky I didn’t get whacked for checking on youz eleven years ago. Lorenzo gave Monte a look that read Keep your voice down.

"Look Monte, I don’t ever want my daughter to find out how her mother really died. Just like her (indicating Tina), I never asked for this life. I was born into it. The only difference is