Page 5 of Veil of the Past
“It’s not my fault you got so scared the other night that you had to sleep with the lights on.” I hide my smile behind my glass of wine. Lucio used to be scared of the dark when we were younger, but it seems he hasn’t outgrown the fear.
Val comes back in and places four bowls of popcorn, and Lucio lunges forward and grabs a bowl, quickly shoving a bunch into his mouth. “Horror movies are shit and use CGI to make people scared; you can’t convince me otherwise,” Lucio says to Mara, throwing a kernel of popcorn after each word.
Mara picks up a handful of kernels and says, “Fuck off, Lucio,” before throwing them back at him.
Aunt Mariana walks in with two jugs of the Rhubarb Spritz, and once she spots those two pulling that shit at their age, she says, “Quit it, the both of you.” Mara scowls and she’s about to argue, but when Aunt Mari narrows her eyes at both of them, Mara just rolls her lips together. After careful deliberation, I settle on the movie,Father of the Bride.
“We’re watchingFather of the Bride,” I tell everyone, and as the lights dim, everyone settles into their usual spots. Eli pulls Val into his lap in the large armchair in the corner. Lucio and Mara continue their bickering—in whispers—earning them a glare from Aunt Mariana every time they raise their voices. The only person who doesn’t join us is Dom; he stays seated far away, nursing his Negroni.
2
ALESSIA
Istep out of my apartment building, and the July heat hits me. The air feels thick, almost sticky, clinging to my skin as I weave through the crowded streets of Manhattan. The sun beats down relentlessly, causing the pavement to shimmer with a heat that seems to rise from below. Sweat gathers at my temples and trickles down my face, a constant reminder of the humidity. I speed up, trying to get through the sea of people faster, hoping to escape the heat. This is why I hate the summer.
A gust of wind drifts by. Even the breeze, when it comes, is warm, offering little relief. It's the kind of day that makes the city feel both alive and overwhelming, the kind of day where every step is a reminder of the sweltering summer.
I’m on my way to meet Valentina, Mara, and Aunt Mariana for brunch at the Velvet Bloom Caféand thankfully it doesn’t take me long to get there. When I do, I immediately spot the three bodyguards standing outside the cafe doors, which means that another three are stationed at the back entrance of the café. The guards out front are smoking, cigarettes dangling from their lips as they talk among themselves.
I push open the door, and a cool breeze washes over me as I step inside the cute, family-owned café just off Fifth. The rich aroma of freshly baked pastries mingles with the scent of brewed coffee, instantly soothing me. I glance around, taking in the rustic charm—the exposed brick wall lined with shelves, each cubby filled with quaint jars and mugs. A soft glow from the pendant light above casts a warm hue, making the space feel even more inviting. My eyes catch sight of Valentina, Mara, and Aunt Mariana at a table by the window, and I make my way through the bustling space, passing displays of golden croissants and tempting treats, eager to join the girls.
After giving each of them a hug, I settle into the rustic booth. “So, what have you guys been chatting about? Did I miss anything?” I ask.
Val says, “Not much. We were talking about the wedding. Remember when I told you about deciding which month Eli and I want to get married?”
“That’s amazing! You’ve decided on having the wedding in November?” I ask Valentina, and Aunt Mariana’s eyes widen.
“November? If you mean November as in this upcoming November, then that’s too soon to actually plan anything. Unless…” Aunt Mariana trails off.
“Unless what, Mariana?” Val asks her.
“Unless you’re pregnant,” Aunt Mariana finishes.
“Ma!” Mara chastises from beside Valentina.
Val shakes her head and says, “It’s fine, Mara. But no, I’m not pregnant. That wouldn’t be a reason to rush our wedding.”
“You shouldn’t get pregnant before you guys get married. The Camorra is still traditional regardless of how much Emiliano is trying to reform it,” I tell her.
Val gives me a nod and says, “I’m not trying to make a statement by getting pregnant before Eli and I get married, but what I mean is, if it happens. I’m not going to rush the wedding just to fit the expectations of others. That’s something I had to fight with on my own—” She stops, blinking away the tears in her eyes.
I reach out and place my hand over hers. “Has anyone reached back out?” I ask her.
She inhales deeply before shaking her head. “No. It’s been two years. Two years, and I know nothing. No one has…” She clears her throat. “No one has been able to get any information to Emiliano. My sisters, my mom, and my brother have been out of the public eye for the past two years. They hadn’t even been in the Chicago Outfit’s inner circle. The Mafia in Chicago loves large, extravagant gatherings. It’s like—” She pauses before she says, “It’s like they’ve disappeared.” Valentina quickly composes herself, as if she’s suddenly remembered that we’re outside and not within the safe walls of her penthouse.
Then Mara asks Val the one dreaded question no one has dared ask for the past two years, “Do you regret leaving the Chicago Outfit?”
Val’s reply comes quick and strong. “No. Never. I miss my family, but I don’t regret choosing love. If I had stayed, I would have just ended up like all the women in my family.” Before anyone can ask anything else, Valentina says, “Let’s order something. We’ve been sitting here for the past twenty minutes, just talking.”
I call Jade over, one of the co-owners of the Velvet Bloom Café. “Jade, how have you been?”
“Good, how have you ladies been?” Jade is around my age, her short, chic bob streaked with deep purple that blends into her black hair. She tends to change her hair up every couple of months.
“We’ve been great, thanks for asking, Jade,” Aunt Mariana says.
“So, what can I get for you? The usual? Or would you ladies like to try something else today?”
“What’s today’s special?” Mara asks.
