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Abby was getting ready for her birthday party when Suzanna knocked on her bedroom door.
Abby: "who is it"
Suz: "It's Suzanna"
Abby: "it's open"
Suzanna comes in, Abby is sitting at her vanity looking so very grown up. She looks at her sister thru the mirror.
Abby: "I hate you"
Suz: "What?"
Abby: "Does it even take any effort at all on your part to look fabulous"
Suz: "Please, I happen to work really hard to look like this"
Abby: "Oh yes, what is your newest interest? Kickboxing or something?"
Suz smiles: "We can't all be power shoppers." Abby scoffs then smiles. "You know it's true you can out shop anyone."
Abby: "Whatever, anyway you know it's genetic. You got all Mama's good stuff, and I got her hips."
Suz: "Come on Abby your hips are fine. Now stand up, let me see the dress."
Abby stands to reveal the dress she had designed especially for her birthday party. She slowly turns so her sister gets a good look at the floor length gown. "How's it look?"
Suz: "You look fabulous. I wanted to give you this before the party and before the gifts start rolling in."
She hands Abby a small bag. Who smiles and proceeds to open it. Inside is a ruby and diamond necklace, bracelet and earring set.
Abby: "Oh, they're beautiful. Thank you."
Suz: "I thought the rubies would go with your dress and well they used to be mama's. They are very old and very valuable so cherish them ok." Abby hugs her sister.
Abby: "I will always. Thank you."
Suz: "I know she'd want you to have them. Oh, one more thing. This is from me too, also as well." She hands the other bag to Abby. Inside is a bottle of her favorite perfume. That Abby would never buy herself because it is way too expensive.
Abby: "thank you"
Suz: "You're welcome. Now you can stop using mine." She sits on the little love seat. "I can't believe your 18. It seems like only yesterday when Mama and Papa brought you home."
Abby smiles and finishes her hair. Someone knocks at the door and then it opens. It is their father. Giovanni smiles when he sees them.
Giovanni: "There are my girls, my beautiful girls. Are we ready for the party?"
They both nod and he walks them down the stairs. Jon Carlo and Justino are waiting for them. Both are wearing tuxedos and have recently been to the barber shop.
JC: "Excuse me but I was waiting for my little sister. Have you seen her?"
Abby: "Very funny JC."
JC: "Oh Abigail is that you?" She rolls her eyes.
Abby: "Are you going to be this corny all night? Cause if you are I'll just start avoiding you now."
JC: "No this is the extent of my corniness. You look absolutely beautiful." He kisses her cheek. "We're definitely going to have to keep an eye on you
now, huh Tino."
Tino: "Whatever can we just go." He looks like he could use a drink already or in addition to those he has already
consumed.
They all get in the car and head to Caesars. Traffic was worse then than usual.
Abby: "What is all this traffic from"
Tino: "Big fight tonight for the Welterweight championship." Abby rolls her eyes, boxing doesn't interest her in the slightest.
JC: "Who's fightin'?"
Tino: "Salazo, the Turk against De La Hoya. They are sayin' it's gonna be a good fight. De La Hoya is talented. He took out McMillon in the 7th round
last month for the top contender space but Salazo is wiser, more experienced."
JC nods meaning he either remembers now or could care less. More likely he could care less. Justino is the one into boxing and anything you can bet on. He is a numbers man, Tino loves the odds. He is the best there is, when he
isn't fucked up on drugs and or booze.
Abby looks out the window and groans. "I am going to be late for my own party."
Giovanni: "Relax Abigail you will not be late."
Suzanna is still looking out the window as the car passes a huge sign for the fight. A silouette of both men facing each other is featured with their names in big bold letters. She thinks to herself about the last time she saw
that silhouette, three weeks ago tonight.
*****************************************
Downtown Boston.
Suzanna had finished her evening run in the park and went to get in her car. On the driver's seat she found a note.
Smiling to herself as she read it she then stuck it in her bag and lost her "shadows". The guards assigned to her by Don Genovese, whose protection she was suppose to be under while in school. She drove to the corner of Morrow and Foxhaven. Once there she parked and went inside. She made her way thru the dimly lit training rooms, locker rooms, until she got to the ring in the center of the building.
Looking around she saw no one, but then from somewhere behind her, she heard him say, "you came."
Suzanna turned around. Oscar came walking out of the office.
Suz: "of course I came. You owe me a lesson."
He grins, "I do, don't I."
She nods, "you ready?"
He looks at her. "What now?"
Suz: "No time like the present, unless you are afraid that I might kick your butt."
He chuckles, "That is exactly what I am afraid of. But if you insist, come on lets get you taped up."
Suzanna follows him back to the office and he tapes up her hands.and puts some boxing gloves on her and ties them. Then he puts his on.
For the next half hour or so they goof off in the ring, play boxing and stuff. Then she gives him a left hook and he falls over. She really didn't think she hit him that hard but he lay there on the mat. She bent down to
check on him. He opens his eyes and reaches up and pulls her down on the mat with him. Then thier boxing match turns into a wresting match. They are laughing and carrying on and then their wrestling match turns into a making out session.
Suz: "I have missed you so much. Why did you stay away so long?"
He stops kissing her neck and looks at her. "I wanted to come see you, but I was in training, baby."
Suz: "I know, but still.. "
Oscar: "But still,"
She gives him a look, he winks at her and kisses the tip of my nose. "Are you hungry?" He nods. "Lets go to my apartment and order in."
He gets up and reaches down and to help her up. After untaping her hands and his, he throws on a shirt. He had been only wearing his jeans and boxing gloves, a look Suzanna finds extremely sexy. Grabs his duffel bag and they exit the building holding hands. He drives her car and they go back to her apartment on Beacon Street and for the next three days they don't leave the apartment except for her morning and evening runs, for which he accompanies
her. Suzanna drove him to the airport and waited for his flight to be called. Oscar kissed her goodbye.
Suz: "When will I see you?"
He smiled: "I fight in Vegas in three weeks."
Suz: "Where?"
Oscar: "Ceasars"
Suz: "I'll be home for Abby's birthday, maybe I can make it."
He kisses her forehead. "Don't get yourself in trouble, Suz." He was referring to her family. He knows who she is or more importantly, who her family is. He knows Papa would NEVER approve of him and he knows they are not a forever thing, but they both agree to see what comes their way and roll with the punches, no pun intended.
Suzanna hugs him, not wanting to let go.
Oscar: "I gotta go baby"
She nods into his chest and chokes back her sobs. Suzanna lets him go and watches as he boarded the plane. He winked at her before he boarded and that was the last time she saw that silhouette.
*************************************
Abby: "EARTH TO SUZANNA"
She snaps out of her dream state. "Huh?"
Abby laughs, "We're here you silly goose. Come on."
Suz blushes at being caught in her daydream. "I am coming." She gets out of the car and takes JC's arm as they make their way inside to the Grand Ballroom for Abby's party.
Inside an hour or so later.
The ballroom at Caesars was all down up in lavender and black. All eyes where on the center table, which was slightly elevated on a platform. Giovanni stood to give a toast.
Giovanni - "First I wish to thank you all for coming to see my little girl ascend into adulthood. I remember not to long ago when her parties meant pony rides and clowns. Now she wants a big band and partying all night." He looks at down at Abigail. "I remember having to send Johnny to get her down out of tree when she got stuck and her sitting on my lap until she feel asleep. It's hard for me to see her now as this woman sitting next to me because I still look at her through a father's eyes." There is a slight pause. "I don't know what she plans on doing next with her life but I know she could have the world at her feet if she wanted to. And I am just glad that god blessed me with such a child. Happy Birthday Abigail." He raises his glass and everyone toasts. The band starts playing and he takes her for a dance.
Back at the table Justino finishes his glass of wine and orders a scotch. Suzanna is sitting next to him.
Suz: "Don't you think you've had enough."
Tino: "I'm not even close to having enough."
Suz: "Justino it's Abby's birthday could you please just tone it down a little."
Tino: "Oh yeah let's not make a scene at Abby's birthday, we wouldn't want to ruin it for her."
Suz: "Just hold it together for at least another hour until Dad leaves."
Tino: "I think I'm going to go play a little."
Suz: "Good idea." She watches him leave and her eyes catch Vito's at his table. She should have expected to see him there but she was still in shock that they where actually in the same room together in public. He was there
escorting his mother along with his cousins, Brian and Nick, along with three bodyguards. The atmosphere at their table was less then festive.
Nick: "This blows."
Brian: "Relax we're leaving soon."
Josie: "Why don't you go ask a young lady to dance?"
Nick: "Cause I feel like every time I sneeze some one reaches under the coat. I could just imagine it if I actually talked to some one."
Josie: "Nicholas, they would not invite us if we were not welcome. Now that young lady has been looking your way all night. I suggest you go ask her to dance."
Nick: "Yes Aunt Josie." He leaves.
Brian: "I can't blame him I'd rather be some where else too."
Kevin: "So would I but we promised dad."
Brian: "This sucks I'm going to get a drink."
Josie: "Could you bring me a cranberry and vodka please?"
Brian: "Sure Aunt Josie." He leaves. On his way to the bar he sees Abby standing with four young men. She catches his eye and he knows that if doesn't go and wish her a happy birthday she would be insulted and tell her dad. So he makes his way over. "Excuse me. Hi I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday."
Abby: "Thanks, but I don't believe we've met."
Brian: "Michael Bainchetti. But everyone calls me by my middle name Brian."
Abby: "Oh well I'm glad you could come." She turns to talk to one of the guys, which implies he's excused.
Brian: "Would you like to dance?" He's acting on impulse because the last thing he wants to do is spend more time with this brat but he is furious that she would dismiss him.
Abby: "Excuse me?"
Brian: "I said would you like to dance?"
Abby: "Um, sure." She can't say no without making her dad angry. They both walk reluctenly on to the floor. Vito sees them.
Kevin: "Oh shit."
Josie: "Vito!"
Kevin: "Sorry ma, but look."
Josie: "What is he doing?"
Kevin: "Dancing with Mazzagotti's daughter."
Josie: "Oh this is not good your father will not be pleased."
Meanwhile Brian and Abby are dancing. It's just genetic that all Italian men are good dancers, they are taught from birth. They dance in silence for while, when Abby starts to get bored.
Abby: "So are you going to say something or what?"
Brian: "How's your birthday going?"
Abby: "Fine."
Brian: "That's nice." He lapses into silence again. Most of the time men are complementing Abby the whole time they are talking to her. She's not taking his behavior well.
Abby: "Do you like my dress I had it made just for tonight."
Brian: "It's a very pretty color." Oh now he's really pissing her off. "Did you get anything good for your birthday?"
Abby: "Just the usually stuff. Jewelry, a car, but then my daddy bought me an amusement park."
Brian: "Which one?"
Abby: "Wet n Wild." For some reason she really wants to impress him.
Brian: "Are you?" She looked at him shocked. Abby glances around quick to see if anyone heard him. He can't help but grin at her embarrassment. Joey chooses that moment to come rescue Abby.
Joey: "Excuse me can I cut in?"
Brian "Sure. I'll talk to you later." He kisses her hand and leaves.
Abby: "Okay." She watches him walk off the dance floor. Joey pulls her close for their dance.
Joey: "Sorry I didn't see him ask you to dance."
Abby: "That's okay. Who would have thought that one of them would ask me to dance."
Joey: "They shouldn't even be here."
Abby: "Relax Joey. Daddy invited them for a reason. I just wish he could have found a different way to break the ice with their family then at my party."
Joey: "And it's such a lovely party."
Abby: "It is isn't it."
Joey: "You are so beautiful." He spins her away and back. "When are we getting out of here."
Abby: "Can you wait a few more hours?"
Joey: "I've waited three years for you a couple hours isn't going to kill me."
Even though thay've been dating for three years Abby's father made Joey understand that if he touched her before they were married he'd kill him. She decided that her eighteenth birthday was long enough. There was a room
upstairs all set up for them. Suzanna knew all about it because it's all Abby had been talking about since she decided that she had waited long enough. Their dad knew too but wasn't saying anything. Joey's family were
old friends so he knew that Abby would be taken care of properly if anything were to happen.
Abby: "I really want to kiss you."
Joey: "Not here."
Abby: "I know it's not allowed. But later"
Joey: "we better stop talking about it now."
Abby: "Okay." The song ends and Abby goes back to sit down.
Brian gets back to the table with the drinks he went for.
Josie: "What was that all about?" She takes her drink from him.
Brian: "I don't know I wished her a happy birthday she tried to blow me off and before I knew it we were dancing."
Kevin: "She's got a boyfriend you know."
Brian: "I don't like her."
Josie: "But she is very pretty."
Brian: "Yeah and she's also a brat. Sorry Aunt Josie I know you said we had to be nice but come on you can tell she's always got everything she wanted."
Nick comes back to the table. "Who are we talking about?"
Kevin: "Abigail."
Nick: "hey yeah I saw you dancing together, have you gone nuts?"
Brian: "No it just happened okay it's no biggie."
Josie: "It could have been. You didn't say anything rude did you?" Brian thinks a minute and smiles. "Micheal what did you do?"
Brian: "Nothing Aunt Josie. Everything's fine."
Josie: "Well you just sit there the rest of the night and don't look at her. You might make her boyfriend mad."
Brian: "I'm just going to go play some craps."
Kevin: "Can't play craps here man."
Brian: "Then I'm taking off this sucks."
Josie: "No we're all going to leave together in a half an hour just like planned. You can sit there and behave yourself until then."
Brian: "Yes mam."
Kevin: "I've got to go to the bathroom." He excuses himself and heads to the toilet.
*******************************
Suzanna had been out dancing with some of the girls that had come from Abby's school for her party. It helps distract her from the fact that Kevin is so close but yet so out of her reach. Jon Carlo is just chilling, taking
everything in, making sure that everything is running the way it should be.
The two oldest siblings were trying to keep an eye on their younger brother, making sure that he didn't cause any trouble. Tino behaved for about an hour and a half. Shortly after Giovanni's speech, Suzanna sees him get up and non-chalantly follow a cocktail waitress down the hall. She rolls her eyes and prays that their father didn't notice. He didn't, he and Donatella are
dancing.
A slow song comes on and Suzanna decided to use this time to go to the ladies room and check on her make-up and
hair, doing the YMCA can reek havoc on an up-do. She is coming out of the ladies room when she runs into Kevin.
Suz: "I'm sorry, please excuse me."
Kevin: "How are you?"
She looks up at the sound of his voice and can't help but smile. She nervously glances around to see who is around, no one. "I'm good, and you?"
Kevin: "I'm fine. When did you get back?"
Suz: "Tuesday. I was trying to think of a reason to visit. I didn't know you would be here"
Kevin: "My father isn't doing so well, so I brought my mother"
She smiles, "you're very considerate. Must be killing you to miss the fight"
Kevin: "I could say the same thing about you." She tries not to look startled at his possible knowledge of Oscar. She didn't know how to reply, he caught her off guard. Kevin smiles, "come on Anna. Do you think I am stupid?"
She still says nothing. "I am not mad at you kitten, we've never committed exclusively and hey, we're all entitled to
a few skeletons." The look in his eyes, contradicted his words and it sent shivers down her spine. He quickly kissed her forehead and at that moment some of Abby's girl friends enter the hall. He enters the men's room. And
Suzanna makes her way back to the party.
*************************************************************
Abby is at a table talking to a few girls from school. She would call them friends but they are really more like acquatinces. She has never really been able to have friends, male or female. She sees Joey walk to the bathroom and decided to take that moment to try to find out more about Brian. She has always been one to want something she can't have. He intrigues her because
of what he said and the risk he took to ask her to dance. She's convinced he wants her because everyone else always has. Abby excuses herself and made her way over to their table.
Abby: "Dona Bainchetti I am so glad you decided to come." She sits in the chair that Kevin left empty.
Josie: "Oh course I would come. I can't believe that you're 18 now. I remember the day you were born."
Abby: "Really?"
Josie: "Yes you were so perfect looking. You had your mother's eyes and perfect little mouth."
Abby: "I didn't know you knew my mom."
Josie: "Yes we use to go shopping together all the time."
Abby: "I didn't know." She looks at Nick. "I don't believe we've met."
Nick: "Nickolas Bainchetti. I'm Vito Sr.'s nephew, Brian's brother." He stands and takes her hand to kiss it.
Abby: "You two look like each other." He let's go of her hand and sits back down.
Nick: "Resemblance is the only thing we have in common trust me."
Brian: "What's that suppose to mean."
Nick: "Well for one I'm a much better dancer. Would you care to join me Abigail?"
Abby: "Normally I would but my feet are throbbing and I need a rest."
Nick: "Well how about you Aunt Josie? Would you care to dance?"
Josie: "Yes I would. Just take it easy I am an old lady."
Abby: "Youi're only as old as you feel Dona Bainchetti."
The two of them leave, which means Brian and Abby are once again alone. And like before he sits in silence.
Abby: "You don't talk a lot do you?"
Brian: "No I just can't think of anything we would have in common to discuss and I don't give out frivolous comments that don't mean anything once they hit the floor." She sits with her mouth hanging open. He looks at her, "you
might want to shut your mouth you look like a fish I caught out at Lake Mead last week." She snaps her jaw shut.
Glancing around her, she sees that once again no one is paying attention to their conversation. "You know what you've got some big ones mister. You are in a room full of people that would crush you with just one word from me and
you still insult me."
Brian laces his finger together and rests his arms on the table and leans forward to talk to her. "It's your eighteenth birthday right. You've been taken care of all your life and you think that makes you special and that
everyone loves you cause everyone always has. You've been told for as long as you can remember that you are pretty and that everything will be fine. Well it's time to grow up, cause outside of this room full of people no one
gives a damn about you baby, including me." From the look on her face he can tell he had been too harsh on her.
Abby is fighting back tears. "Well then thank you for my present. I guess you thought I needed a reality check for my birthday. I'm not sure when your birthday is but I'll give you yours early. I won't say anything about what
you just said to me. For some reason my father wants peace with your family. After having this conversation with you I really don't think that's a good idea but I'm not going to ruin his dream."
Brian: "What now I'm suppose to thank you?"
Abby: "No. You're to never speak to me again." She gets up and walks away. She had learned all she need to about Brian.
Suzanna was frantically trying to find Justino, papa had noticed his absence. She had succeeded in doing so, she found him drunk as all hell, screwing some showgirl in a backstage storage room. Suzanna quickly closes the door
to the room. Counting to ten to compose herself and then she knocks.
Tino: "What?!"
She opens the door and walks in. The girl is quickly getting dressed and she looks at Suzanna with a glare as she hurries from the room.
Tino: "So who sent you?"
Suz: "Come on lets get you out of here before Papa finds out."
Tino: "Fuck that. I am stayin' right here and havin' one hell of a time."
Suz: "Justino! I will not let you ruin this party or disgrace the family. You know Papa hears all the rumors of your behavior, JC and I can not possible keep covering for your carelessness"
Tino: "Well who the fuck asked you! You aren't trying to protect me, your sparing the great and powerful Papa, and yourselves. No one gives a damn about me,"
Suz: "Don't say that, now come on. I'll have Rob take you home."
She goes to take his arm to help him up and he pushes her away causing her to get her heel caught in the lining of her floor length dress, thus causing her to fall backwards into some crates. He is so drunk he doesn't even realize
that she is hurt. He makes it to his feet and staggers out of the room and back into the casino. A few tears run down Suzanna's cheek, not from being hurt it wasn't that bad. She cut her hand and scratched her cheek from where one of the crates broke, but from feeling she was helpless to help Justino.
She sat there for a few minutes collecting herself when a stage helper came into the room to find something. They managed to scared the shit out of each other. He was new and had no idea who she was, but he helped her to her feet
and she assured him she was fine and quickly left. She ran into her body guard Sphinx, who had come looking for her. He didn't speak but his eyes widened at even her small injuries. His eyes were asking who?
Suz: "Tino, I assure you they look worse then they are. Please go find him and take him home under force if necessary, he'll thank me tomorrow"
Sphinx looked with concern on his face.
Suz: "I'll be fine. I will have JC take me home."
He nodded and apprehensively leaves to go find Justino. It's not too hard, he tends to leave a trail of havoc, which more then a few people always seem to cover up before Papa finds out.
Suzanna was hurrying back to the party looking in her compact trying to cover up the worse of it when she ran straight into Kevin. She would have fallen on her ass for the second time in less than an 15 minutes if he hadn't
reached out and caught her.
Suz: "Thank you"
Kevin: "No probl... are you ok?" He leaned closer to look at her face. He was still holding onto her elbow when Joey comes walking into the hall. He misinterprets the situation, understandably so.
Joey yells down the hall. "Yo man, what the fuck are you doing to her?"
He makes it to where we are standing in like 2 strides grabs Suzanna's arm out of Kevin's gentle grasp. Joey spins her around, takes one look at her injuries and assumes Kevin is at fault. A few guys came running at the sound of Joey's yell.
Suz: "Joey it's nothing. I fell and then I wasn't watching where I was going"
Joey was not listening to her. He turned around and got in Kevin's face swearing at him in Italian the wrong thing to do, because at that second one of their bodyguards, who were sent by Josephine to find Kevin and find out what the rukus is all about, enters the hall. They see the exchange between Kevin and Joey and pull their guns on Joey. Another wrong move. All of Joey's guys pull their guns.
Abby and some guests enter the hall and see all the guns pointed, people yelling at people and Suzanna in the middle of it. Some girl screams causing even more of a rush towards the hall. Another of Kevin's bodyguards grab him
and the another one ushered Josie and the cousins out a second earlier.
Nick: "Ah man, things were just starting to get interesting."
Josie: "Keep your mouth shut"
They get to their car and Kevin is quickly placed in and away they all go. Back to where they feel safe. Josephine is trying to find out from Kevin what happened, but he is pretty much a stone wall.
In the mean time:
Abby is less than thrilled that this all is taking place at her party.
Suzanna is for lack of a better term in shock. Giovanni had sheltered his girls from all of the hard aspects of his life. Of course they are far from stupid, but it still shocks Suzanna, more then her younger sister. Abby had
been thru Joey getting shot, merely just a flesh wound but she babied him for weeks. Suzanna was tucked away safe and sound in Massachusettes at Harvard, where she didn't see all the day to day happens in her family.
When she finally snapped out of it, she was in some room sitting on a sofa with someone's tuxedo jacket draped over her shoulders and a glass of water in her hand. Her father comes in to check on her. He only gives a look and the room clears out.
Giovanni: "I have spoken to Young Joseph. I must be slipping because I find myself not acting on his description of the events."
Suz: "You are not slipping Papa, it's called reason. Does it make any sense for someone to attack me here, especially Vito Bianchetti? What could it possibly gain besides an untimely trip to the undertaker? Absolutely not, and that is exactly what did not happen. Bianchetti was actually being quite a gentleman. I was not watching where I was going and I would have tripped and probably would have broken my arm, if he had not acted so quickly and caught me. And how is he re-paid? With accusations and guns in his face."
Giovanni: "And these bruises you have, they were not there earlier. Can you explain them?"
She takes a drink of water. "Not without hurting you, which I would never do"
Giovanni sighs. "So where is Justino?"
Suz: "I sent him home with Sphinx."
He nods. "You should be going home too"
Suz: "I'm fine, really. I just want to find Abby and apologize for the mess at her party"
Giovanni: "She and a few of her friends left about 20 minutes ago."
Suzanna nods. "Well, I guess I will head home then."
Giovanni: "I will send Enzo with you."
Suz: "I'll be fine papa, it's 20 minutes from here"
He kisses her cheek and leaves. JC then comes in and checks on his sister. She assures him that she is fine. He heads out clubbing with some friends of his. Suxanna is walking across the lobby and out of the corner of her eye
she sees Abby and Joey, now friend-less, making a mad dash for the elevator.
Abby wasn't moving fast enough for him so he picked her up and throws her over his shoulder. Making her giggle like crazy. One of the bell hops shakes his head and says "spoiled brats."
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