Arianna POV:
I had woken up that evening with a pounding headache and little to no memory of what had been said, I remember her attempting to call me a bitch, and Giovanni escorting her out and after that was all a blur.
I had asked him how much sake I had decided to drink and he told me it was more than he would have attempted but he could tell I needed the edge off. Still, I felt highly embarrassed as to what I had done or said, all I knew was when I was having such a wonderful day with him, I was so happy, and seeing her ruined it.
Her face flashed into my mind, the anger in her eyes, it was a deep dark coldness that ran through her. The wonderful sibling relationship I thought I had salvaged and recovered seemed to be another stupid and hopeful wish.
The next day I stayed in bed still feeling a little rough, more my heart than my head. Gio had to go out and do something, so when we got up this morning for work it was the first I had seen him.
He looked exhausted and I poured him an espresso he took in sleepy silence. If we were a normal couple I wouldn't be so disturbed by this, but I knew him enough now to know a dark deed had been done to keep him awake all night. We drove to the office in the same murky silence, he slumped against the side of the car hand over his eyes.
As we arrived though I saw him whip himself into shape, getting himself ready for the day. It was a quick turn around from the tired, haunted, shell of a man, and then in what was a matter of thirty seconds, he transformed into the brooding, commanding, mafioso. I sat there shocked at his effort and he got out of the car opened my door and led me into the building.
"Your office will be across from mine, you'll have Becca as an assistant she will see to your every need and help guide you on today's proceeding. As usual, Luca will be by your side if you need me tell him," He told me and I walked into the building as he stayed put.
"Wh-What about you?" I stopped in my tracks as he started heading back to the car.
"I have business across town, I'll be in later," He didn't look at me as he left I frowned but I knew it in my gut this wasn't a judgment on me. He was fighting something large and was keeping me safe, away from the battle.
I hurried after him stopping him and kissed his cheek. "Be safe,"
It wasn't a plead it was an order, he had to stay safe. I walked back into the office mimicking his strength and squaring my shoulders back. I would do what was requested of me I would crunch the numbers and manage our assets while he fought the beasts on the other side of town. I wouldn't flounder with worry about him because it wouldn't solve a thing.
Becca introduced herself quickly a small girl in a cute black and white polka-dot dress. I squinted when I saw her green eyes and looked over at Luca. She was related to them too, I noted that much and sat down.
She placed a coffee in front of me and stepped back with a pen and pad in her hands. "Cappucino with vanilla like you like," She told me.
Gio must have told her how I prepare my coffee, she sat down and got her pen and paper ready. "We have fifteen new companies under our banner we need to look into their finances and help manage their numbers. Most of these businesses walk the line on staying open rather hard, considering their situation and they've been charged for the protection it's not surprising," She rambled off jumping into work mode.
Where the men in her family were quiet and reserved this girl was bubbly and talkative. She didn't fall into their dark and brooding category either a pink pen and the floral notepad gave that away if her pastel blue heels didn't.
"We'll need to go over their numbers first and then we need to go over our numbers and double check the new revenue, make sure we report that influx to the bank because I'm pretty sure they called earlier today. They are probably working with the feds so making sure everything is appearing above board is highly important," She continued.
"At around noon there's a meeting-"
"She won't be attending that," Luca interjected.
I saw Becca huff for a second before scratching it out. Her indignation at the interruption let me know she had the Risci temper. I grinned and sipped my coffee as I nodded along with the rest of her list.
"Alright well let's start with the worst-case scenarios and then work our way up," I told her and she nodded heading out of my office and coming back in with a cart of boxes full of receipts, books, transactions, and shipping deals.
I took a long sip of my coffee, well I wanted more work.
The worst-case scenario was a bleeding heart shop that was forgiving a lot of people on their payments and they had debt out of the wazoo. It seemed most of their customers who were taking things on "credit" were members of my father's gang. I noticed the red dot next to all of their names.
We worked our way through their files and receipts their rent was back three months but Gio owned the building now so one it wouldn't be quite as steep and another those who took on credit were no longer welcome.
The further we went in, the further I found my father's men had bullied their way into very easy lifestyles. It looked like every business in town was marked by financial stress on their account. I felt that familiar guilt rises in me. We looked down at the files of a tailor, a single mom of twin girls, she had been forced into doing my sister's engagement party gown. Fine Chantilly lace free of charge.
"Luca," I called to him and he got up from his chair in the corner coming over. "Why is this account still open?" I asked him.
Luca clenched his jaw in anger and jerked his head. "She lives alone and on the Caputo side of town, she's too scared to refuse your sister's service from what I understand she's being forced to make her wedding dress,"
"Becca, do you happen to know if any purchases have been made on this endeavor?" I asked her.
Becca shuffled through the file until she handed me an invoice. It was for Duchess Satin, twenty yards. Free. Of. Charge," I growled when I saw the cute, perfect, spiraled signature of my sister at the bottom.
"Luca get the car please," I told him. "We are going on a field trip,"
He looked confused for a moment before he nodded and headed down. I grabbed my coat and Becca followed after me confused.
"Where are we going?" She asked me. "What-what are we doing?" she hurried after me with her little legs brushing past people trying to keep up with me.
"Collecting payment," I explained.
Luca took me to the tailors across town and I entered the shop the kind woman behind the counter looking down as she beaded a dress.
"Hi," I gave her my best cheery voice and twitter my fingers in a wave. "I'm Arianna Captuo I'm here to pick up the fabric for my sister's wedding dress," I told the woman who got very wide-eyed and went another shade whiter.
"M-M-Miss Caputo..But I- I wasn't told you'd be coming today, I mean what I mean is no one had called your sister didn't she didn't," The woman flustered as she headed into the back of her store quickly grabbing the fabric and holding onto it with clutched fingers.
"Oh trust me-" I grabbed the fabric from her. "-This is entirely my fault," I grinned
"Oh, oh alright, I can press it here too if she'd like,"
"No no, don't worry. I'm sure my sister has been a delight to work with but she won't be requiring your services from now on," I assured the woman. "Luca please make sure that Mister Risci's men stay here and escort her and her daughters home. There's an apartment above the Vivaldi's restaurant they aren't using and they could use the extra rent, so tell them to help her move her things. Tonight," I told him.
"Mister….Risci," The tailor sat down in a weighted plop.
I handed the fabric off to Becca and she scuttled off to the car, I turned back to the tailor. "Don't worry, when I'm done she won't even remember you were involved," I explained. "Close up for the day and go get your girls, you have some packing to do,"
She nodded blankly but grabbed my hand. "Thank you,"
I felt pride surge in me, I may share the last name but I wasn't them. The constant threat that hounded the people of this city was enough, I may not be able to get all of them to pay attention but my sister dearest had this coming.
"Luca we need to make one more stop. At the pet store," I explained heading out with a swish of my hair. I was going to make sure to make her head pop off her it's pretty little shoulders.