We pick up with the Changretta's in New york 1924. The twins are 5 and full of energy. The world is about to change for the Changretta's as Birmingham crashes into their perfect New york life.
*contains violence
"It's called spaghetti daddy." Four year old Lucia said with a twinkle in her eye as she corrected her Mafia head father. Her raven ringlets, cut short in the style, bounced around her face highlighting her cornflower blue orbs.
She was a great blend of both her mated parents. Luciano Changretta and Caroline Changretta.
And even though she hated to admit it, she was a twin.
"Chitarra. It's the same thing. This is egg noodles and sauce. Tomato, tomato, why you gotta argue with me?" He tosses his hands up in the air as if he were exasperated with her. His accent shifted on the words to make her giggle.
Dinner time was family time. Luca didn't take calls unless it was an emergency. Caroline was home from her volunteer shift teaching at the hospital and the kids were home from school.
This room was sacred and the decor spoke to that. Red walls sparkled in gold looked regal and definitely telling of their empire. The wood was deep polished hand carved mahogany.
The table sat twelve but most nights, as it was the bosses preference, it was the four of him. Luca at the head, Caroline to his side and Carlo and Lucia, his twins.
His perfect little American family.
"Our teachers say we should be more worried about saying things in American." Lucia, ever the one to keep going, refused to let it die that he'd called the dish anything other than spaghetti. She was bull headed like her father.
Luca raised his wine glass with one eyebrow held high. " Is that so?" He learned a lot at this table. All the news from their days was combined and flowed as the dishes were passed. He wouldn't trade it for the world.
"In English dunce." Carlo, Dark hair and rolled eyes shook his head. He had his ma's curls but dark hair like his father and chocolate brown eyes like his Nona's Changretta.
He was a tough one. No nonsense. He hated bullies, he'd defend others and sometimes his anger spilled a little too hot too fast but he was a good kid.
The biggest agitation in his life was his twin sister. She taunted him and according to him, intentionally got him into trouble.
They saw the elbows and the tongue being stuck out. Still, they were the crown jewels to the Changretta legacy.
"Carlo, not nice." Caroline snapped her fingers. She couldn't touch the boy, but she didn't need to. He respected his mama. He sat up straighter and looked down at his plate. " I think being bilingual is a good thing. Makes you well rounded." Caroline's sweet Detroit voice, melodic and bubbly filled the space and covered the wounds between the two kids.
She was an amazing woman and mother.
"We have them in private school right?" His deep voice rumbled over the fine china and he gently took his wife's hand and rubbed slow circles over it.
"Yes. " Her blonde hair, which was pinned up, her crowning glory, slightly tumbled over the pics.
Lucas' mossy green eyes landed on that lone rouge curl. He'd make sure he had a handful of those silken locks between his fingers tonight.
"Why send them to school if they ain't learning to be well rounded individuals. I pay enough in tuition each semester to fund a small country." He looked over at the kids and shook his head. A smirk escaped. He could feel he was missing something within this exchange. " Besides, where do you think we summer every year, Italy? You're Italian too and you're well rounded." He shrugged. He caught the look of confusion on his wife's sweetheart face.
He had missed something.
"They have a new teacher." Caroline said softly. Her eyes said it all. She'd told him this.
" Background check? When did this happen?" I realised her hand was wiping my mouth. Habit more than anything. She and I didn't miss things. Nothing fell between the cracks between us, ever.
"Daddy is falling behind. He's old." Lucia beamed unaware of the shift between her parents.
"Like a dinosaur." Carlo chuckled but stopped abruptly.
"Hey, don't put me out to pasture just yet, my god." He winked at the kids to let them know it was okay. He nodded his head towards the hall indicating a private word. Caroline's linen went down quickly as the staff pulled out her chair.
Once they rounded the corner away from listening ears and running mouths he cleared his throat. Everything he did was for this family. For their protection, how had he missed this?
"Why didn't you say anything? You know this is a security thing." He kept the accusation out of his tone but he was tired. Luckily she brushed over it.
"I did say something." Her hands went on her hips and she smiled.
"Caroline, don't you load up on this hay ride too, I ain't senile yet." There was no way. It had been 5 years with the kids. Nothing, literally nothing happened with them without him knowing.
"We'll, you've been so busy at all hours of the day and night with Capone, the clubs and with your families issues in Birmingham. I did mention Luca, I promise." She was firm and sincere.
He rubbed his stubble on his chin. He'd dropped the ball, great.
"Good to know you were listening to me." Her sweet voice was teasing. He opened his eyes and laughed. She was grinning, he was safe. Not that he feared his American queen.
"Brat. I see where the kids get it from." He pulled her towards him and kissed her deeply. She was almost breathless when they parted.
"Umm, your side. Clearly." She wasn't down playfully taking her digs. He shook his head.
"Clearly. I'm sorry Tesoro. We'll talk tonight. I'll have Matteo run a background check. Come on, let's finish the...spaghetti." He rolled his hands as if searching for the word Lucia was holding unto too.
"Sir, Telephone." A staff member in white and black uniform approached the couple, a silver tray outstretched and a black phone. The receiver was on the platter.
Caroline looked at Luca saying everything in that one look.
"I love you, be safe."
"I'll take it to the office, thank you." He nodded at his wife, waited until she rounded the counter and he climbed the staircase. He'd been taking calls about the Changretta business being up in flames. A retaliation, unprovoked by the Shelby family.
His father had gone, like a civilized gentleman to talk it out. He'd ended up with a threat and tea on his boots.
Luca had vowed those people would be buried with their precious tea in a bloody ditch.
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