Taking Her Home

"Congratulations, Graduates!" The guest speaker said into the microphone as the crowd cheered. Rebecca smiled and hooted with her classmates in excitement. She was more than ready to get the rest of her life started. Turning away from the crowd, she rushed for the exit, trying to beat the others out.

She slid her diploma under her arm and walked to the spot underneath her favorite tree. She had told her parents to meet her there. As she walked, she thought about the last six years and couldn't help but smile. It had been great. She had made some friends, not a lot, but it was about quality, not quantity. She loved them and wouldn't change it for the world.

"Bex," she heard someone shout. She looked around before seeing her green-eyed, beautiful best friend since high school, Joni, waving frantically from under the tree they had deemed theirs on the first day of freshman year. She laughed and shook her head at her overdramatic ways, which Rebecca couldn't live without, before waving and taking off into a light jog in the direction of her friend.

"I can't believe we did it!" Joni squealed as she started jumping up and down. She threw her arms around Rebecca and hugged her tight. Rebecca rolled her eyes before she realized she couldn't breathe as Joni continued her jumping around. She patted Joni's arm to let her know it was time to let go of her. She loved Joni like a sister, but sometimes she wondered how they had ever become friends when they were so different. Joni was the typical beautiful, spoiled, rich girl. She didn't act like she was too good for Rebecca, though, and she had always shared everything with her. She truly was the definition of a best friend. They had met at the mall when they ran into each other, literally. Joni had twisted her ankle pretty bad and Rebecca, being a nurse's daughter, had a small first aid kit in her purse that included a wrap. She helped her to a bench, wrapped her ankle, then drove Joni home. Joni, wanting to return the favor, had invited her in for dinner with her parents, who loved her. As they say, the rest was history.

The girls were very different, but that never mattered to either of them. Rebecca never thought of herself as not pretty; she just wasn't overly beautiful like Joni. She was short and pretty average. Especially compared to Joni. Rebecca's parents had never struggled financially when she was growing up; they just didn't own sixteen different companies, like Joni's father did. Thankfully Joni loved her no matter how she looked or how much less money her parents had then her own.

"Bex. Bex. Are you even listening to me?" Joni asked her with an impatient look on her face.

"Huh? Um, yeah," she answered as she came back from her thoughts. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Joni rolled her eyes and sighed, "You never listen to me," she popped her hip out and placed her hand on it. "I was saying, where are our parents?" She looked around the open area that was filled with families congratulating their own graduates.

"Right here," came a female voice from behind them. They both turned around to find Rebecca's mother, Roslyn, standing behind them with a huge smile. "I'm so proud of my girls," she said, wiping a tear from her olive-green eyes. "You both look so beautiful," she looked each of the girls from head to toe.

Rebecca wore a dusty pink lace sleeveless panel dress with a high neck. She wore simple stiletto heels that matched the dress. Her chocolate brown hair was styled in large curls that reached just to her chin. Joni wore a tight nude bodycon dress with a plunging neckline and a wrap skirt with a cut-out back. Her lace-up heels wrapped around her long legs. She had left her long blonde hair in its natural wave. Both girls were never really into wearing a ton of makeup, so they had both done theirs simple and natural-looking.

The girls looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Momma, don't cry," Rebecca said as she wrapped her mother in a hug. Soon they were joined by Joni, "Yeah, Momma, don't cry," she said.

Joni and Rebecca had spent all of high school and college as best friends. Each set of parents was like a second to each girl. They both had always thought that it was pretty cool that they got two sets of parents.

"We just love you both so much," they heard Gordon, Rebecca's father, say from behind them.

"Daddy!" They both shouted as they stopped hugging Roslyn and ran towards the man, nearly knocking him over.

"Girls, easy. I'm not as young as I use to be," he chuckled. They both unwrapped their arms to see that the man had unshed tears as he smiled at them both.

"Don't cry, Daddy," Rebecca said, wiping his eyes as they began to fall.

"What am I, chopped liver?" came a voice from beside them. Everyone looked to see an older man dressed in a very nice, obviously expensive suit. Beside him, his wife was dressed just as nicely.

Richard and Sherri Banks, Joni's parents, were older than Rebecca's parents. Like Joni, they never showed that it mattered to them, though. They were very happy when Joni and Rebecca met. They encouraged them to spend as much time as possible together. They had even helped pay Rebecca's college tuition so that they could both attend the same school.

"Mom, Papa," the girls said in unison, hugging them both before the group all began to cry again.

"Let's go eat before we flood the area with these tears," Joni said. "You people cry more than anyone I have ever met," she sighed as she walked past them. Everyone laughed, knowing that she was more dramatic than most people and cried all the time, as they followed her to the cars.

"I would like to make a toast," Richard said, clinking his glass and standing. Everyone turned towards him, giving him their attention. "My beautiful daughters, Joni and Bex. I think I speak for everyone when I say we are all so very, very proud of you. We watched both of you girls go through high school and now through college, and you have done it all together. We know that you have your whole lives ahead of you now, and it's time for us to let you fly a little freer." Looking around, the girls saw the other three parents agree with his words.

"Joni, you are getting married, and we couldn't be happier," he continued, looking Joni in the eye before turning to look at Rebecca. "Bex, you already have an amazing job starting out, and we are so happy for you. We have a gift for you," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He started to hand it to her before pulling it back to his chest, "your mother expressed how worried she was about you moving to the city and being on your own. Truth be told, we are a little worried about Joni, even if she has Isaac," he looked at his wife, then Joni, who had crossed her arms in a huff and was now pouting, causing everyone to laugh. "We want you to be able to focus on your goals and not worry about things for a while, so we got you this," he finished, finally handing Rebecca the box.

She opened the box to find a set of keys inside. She frowned in confusion before looking at Joni, who was biting her lip, trying to hold back the huge smile on her face. Rebecca squinted her eyes at her best friend, knowing something was up. "We are going to be neighbors!" She finally shouted, unable to keep it in anymore. She threw herself at Rebecca while squealing louder than Rebecca had heard her squeal when Isaac asked her to marry her.

Rebecca was still confused as she looked between both sets of parents and waited for an explanation that didn't seem to be coming. "I... I can't afford an apartment in your building, Papa," she stuttered. "I can't even afford to be the cleaning lady in your building," she added as she handed the box back to him.

"Honey, you think I would make my daughter pay for her own apartment right out of college?" He said, pushing the box back towards her. "You have a year free, just like Joni. After that, we will sit down and discuss what your rent will be," he smiled at her.

Rebecca could feel her eyes filling with tears. The Banks' had always been the best second parents a girl could ask for, but this was more than she could have ever expected.

"It's already furnished too. You're welcome," Joni smiled, proud of herself. Rebecca looked at her, smiling. Rebecca could only guess that Joni was the one to decorate the place. She loved to "make things pretty," as she always told people. "And it's right across the hall from Isaac and mine, so we can still see each other all the time." She couldn't help but laugh. Everyone in their little, blended family believed that Joni had a slight dependency problem when it came to Rebecca. They all hoped that it would lessen once the wedding was over, but Rebecca had a sneaking suspicion that Joni had something to do with this apartment's close proximity to her.

After they had all finished eating and both of their mothers were finished crying over the girls finally being adults, Joni and Rebecca decided to head to their apartment building so that Rebecca could see her new apartment and they could get ready for their night out celebrating.

"Are you ready, Bex?" Joni asked her as she placed her hand on the doorknob. Rebecca was slightly speechless, so she just nodded her head enthusiastically. Joni turned the handle and pushed the door open before stepping to the side to let Rebecca step through the doorway.

She couldn't believe her eyes when she walked in. "It's beautiful," she said, turning around to look at Joni with a smile that captured her excitement.

Joni started laughing, "Why are you so shocked? Do you really think Papa would give you anything less than? Not to mention you have seen my apartment. I know it's not as big as mine, but it was the closest one to me," Joni gestured towards the apartment to signal for her to walk further into the apartment.

"I like small anyways, and it is just me," Rebecca shrugged, looking around the living room.

"I picked out the furniture, so I hope you like it," she said. Rebecca could tell that it meant a lot to Joni that she liked what she had picked, which she did, so she smiled big and threw her arms around her best friend.

"I figured, and I love it so much, thank you, Joni," she said before bursting into tears. She let go of her and continued to look around the lower level of the apartment, "I really do love this," she said as she sat on the fluffiest couch she had ever seen. Sighing in comfort, she realized that she was excited to be starting her life finally.

"Okay, we don't have time for this," Joni said, clapping her hands in Rebecca's face. "Ross and T are going to be waiting at the club, and you know that T hates to be kept waiting when there is a high potential for him to get laid," both girls rolled their eyes before bursting into laughter.

Joni headed for the door, "I'm going to run and get dressed. I had Papa hire someone to move your clothes over while we were having dinner," she smiled at Rebecca, who rolled her eyes, not shocked at all about Joni's antics. "Try the dress in the dress bag," she winked. "Hurry up and meet me in the hall in fifteen," she pointed at Rebecca, who opened her mouth to argue. "Nope," Joni shook her head, "Your makeup still looks gorgeous. Not that you need any anyways. Your hair is great, too, so all you have to do is change your clothes." Rebecca gave her a thumbs up. She knew when not to argue with Joni, and it usually was whenever there was a party involved.

Sigh deeply. She got off the couch and headed up to the loft bedroom to get changed. When she reached the top of the stairs, she looked around the loft-style bedroom. The décor was beautiful, just like it was downstairs. The bed was Rebecca's style. The tufted headboard looked like the exact one that Rebecca had shown Joni once. Rebecca walked to the end of the bed and ran her hand over the cream-colored satin bedspread. There were two doors next to one another on the one wall that wasn't full of windows. One was open and looked like the closet, and she assumed the other was the bathroom.

She headed for the closet to find the dress that Joni had told her to wear. It didn't take Rebecca long to find the dress bag. She took a deep breath to prepare herself for the dress that Joni obviously picked out. She always loved to push Rebecca's limits. Unzipping the bag, she sighed. It was shocking that she didn't hate it. She pulled out a nude-colored bodycon dress with a square neckline. It had sequins hanging in a fringe-like way on it. It was sure to catch the lights in the club. Joni had outdone herself. Rebecca grabbed the dress and headed for the bathroom to get ready quickly before Joni ended up coming back to yell at her.

Vincent rolled his eyes, listening to his cousin, Domenico and younger brother, Gio talk about the job they just finished, as he turned the knob to his father's office. Walking in he heard his father talking to Roco, his youngest brother. "I am proud of you son, for treating your brother's club as your own," his father said patting Roco on the shoulder.

"Yes, little brother. You have been doing great things with my club," Vincent shook Roco's hand. Roco was dressed in a dark blue suit with a maroon tie. Vincent thought about laughing seeing as his brother only wore a suit when in their father presence. Everyone knew that he would leave the suit jacket in the front hall closest on his way out. His normal attire usually consisted of dark washed jeans and a button up with at least the top three buttons undone. But when you were around Francesco Bellandini, you dressed like he expected a responsible man to dress.

"Thank you, brother. I'm glad you decided to trust me with this job." Roco turned and grabbed his leather jacket that was hanging on the arm of the chair he was recently occupying. "I will let the bad boys fill you in father. I have a hot date before heading to the club, anyway," he said as he put on his coat.

"You know it's summer right Roco?" Domenico asked him, shaking his head. No one ever understood why Roco insisted on wearing his leather jacket year-round. It was too hot for that shit right now.

"Yeah, yeah," Roco said, flipping off the group and walking out the door.

"Yeah, yeah," Gio imitated his brother before laughing and looking around the room at the other men who were looking at him with questioning looks on their faces.

Vincent shook his head, "anyways, Padre," he said, turning to look at the man he was speaking to and kissing each cheek in respect. Francesco Bellandini was the Capo Di Tutti Capi, or boss of all bosses, within the Italian Mafia. He was also Vincent's father. Most people feared him, but Vincent and most of his close family knew when it came to them, he was nothing more than a big lovable teddy bear. Even so, Vince had never shown his father any disrespect and he never would. He was next in line and he didn't want him to ever think that he wasn't ready for it.

Vincent looked at his father. The man was shorter than him, but he knew that besides that and their eye color, they looked nearly exactly alike. They had the same roman shaped nose and full lips. Our skin was tanned because of our Italian heritage and our hair was dark black. Francesco still styles his in the same pompadour hairstyle that he had been since he was a teenager. Vincent's on the other hand, was faded on the side, but long on the top. No matter their differences, Vincent tried to be like his father as much as he could, but he knew that he had to do some things different when he took over. He had spent his entire life being prepped for this. He was ready. "How did the job go tonight, boys?" Vincent's father asked him as he walked behind his desk and unbuttoned his suit jacket before taking a seat.

"It went really well, Uncle," Domenico spoke before Vincent could. He earned a glare from his cousin for his excitement. "I apologize, Cousin," he said, cracking his knuckles before walking over to and sitting on the couch in the corner of the office to help himself stay out of the way.

"That's great to hear, Figlio. I assume that we won't be having any more problems with the Morandi Family?" he asked his son with a raised eyebrow.

Vincent nodded his head, "they shouldn't be a problem. I think blowing up an entire warehouse full of their product was just what they needed to understand that they shouldn't bite the hand that feeds them."

"Fantastico," Francesco said, throwing his hands in the air with joy as he stood up from his chair. The three boys laughed. They all loved how excited the man got when things went as planned. They, like everyone, were more than a little terrified when things did not. "I'm telling you boys, I am feeling more and more secure in the fact that my son will be in charge and that you boys will be beside him the whole way," he smiled at each of the boys with pride. He walked around his desk, stopping in front of Domenico.

"Thank you, father," Vincent and Gio said at the same time as Domenico stood before saying, "thank you, Uncle, that means the world to me."

"Your father would be proud of you, Nipote," Francesco said, placing a hand on each of his shoulders. Domenico's father was Francesco's younger brother and he was his consigliere or advisor. He was killed during an attack when Domenico was five. With his mother having died during childbirth, Vincent's parents had taken him in and raised him as if he was their own. Vincent and his two blood brothers never looked at him as anything but a brother. Even if they hadn't had some of the same blood, they still would have seen him that way.

"Let's go celebrate our latest victory," Gio raised his fist in the air as if he already was. Francesco looked at him with a stern look, not impressed with his son's outburst.

Vincent raised an eyebrow, "Idiota," he breathed shaking his head.

"What?" Gio shrugged causing everyone to chuckle. Gio spent a lot of time being intimidating when they were working, but whenever it was just the family he could be pretty goofy. Plus, he loved a good party just like the rest of them.

An hour later, Vincent walked into the back door of his club with his brother and cousin right behind him. He nodded to the bartenders that were setting up for the night as Roco walked up to them. He still had his leather jacket on but seemed to have changed into jeans and his button up shirt that was more unbuttoned than not, from the tie and dress pants he was wearing earlier. "Vince, I have some paperwork that you need to approve for a few different orders we need to make."

He nodded before turning to the guys behind him, "I want you two to check in with security and make sure that everything is as it should be then meet me in the office," they both nodded before turning to head to do as they were told.

He led the way to his office, Roco stopped and ran into his office that was right across the hall, and grabbed the papers, before running back across the hallway and into his brothers. "Here you go," he said, handing Vincent the stack of papers. He took them from his brother and sat behind his large desk.

Vincent's office was dark and masculine. There was a large window that overlooked the dance floor of the club giving him a lay of the land as it were. He had made sure that the walls were insulated well enough that only a little of the bass from the music in the club was heard. Not being able to hear while making business deals was not a good thing. He had offered the office to Roco when he started running the club for him, but he had refused it knowing that the office was sometimes his older brothers sanctuary since their father wouldn't step foot in the club.

"Everything is going smoothly? What happened to your date?" He asked his brother without looking up from the papers in front of him. He scribbled his signature across a couple then went back to reading others.

Roco rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, I wanted to talk to you about something," he said gaining his brother's undivided attention with his tone of voice. Vincent stared into his brother's blue eyes that he had gotten from their mother and waited for him to continue. "There has been someone selling drugs in here. We can't seem to keep it out," Roco sighed. "We catch a guy every night and then there's a new one the next. I got a call on my way to the restaurant, that they caught someone again."

"And you're just now telling me this?" He asked in a deep tone that sent a chill of fear through Roco's body. Standing up, he walked around his desk. "I can assume that because you are busting them, they are not our men, so whose are they?" He barked loudly.

Roco shook his head, "we don't know. We have been trying to figure that out for weeks. I didn't say anything because I was trying to prove myself. I know that you all take me as the little brother that screws around and makes jokes. I wanted to prove myself," he lowered his head. He knew that he had let his brother down and he felt horrible for it.

Vincent took several deep breaths. He hated losing his temper with his youngest brother. He had given him the job managing his club because he knew that Roco didn't have the slightest interest in anything the Mafia had to offer. He likes to have a good time, so what was more perfect than the club. Vincent had really never expected him to take it as seriously as he had.

"My apologies brother," He laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I understand. Thank you for telling me now. We will spend the evening trying to get to the bottom of this," he walked back to his desk and took a seat to finish the pile of paperwork. Roco sat in the chair in front of Vincent's desk and rolled up his sleeves. Vincent looked up for a second before back at the papers, "new ink?" He asked his little brother.

"Yep," Roco popped the p. He looked over his own arms. They were the only place on his body, he had tattoos and he was nearly out of space. The women liked it, but he wasn't sure he wanted more. He was picky when it came to his tattoo's. His brothers liked to tease him about the amount of time it took for him to decide on one but he didn't mind. They were covered more than him, but that was their decision. He didn't see the point in getting something permanent on his skin from a dare, like Vincent had or the number of women you had been with or men you had killed like his cousin and Gio.

"How long did it take you to get this time?" His brother asked him breaking him from his thoughts. He still didn't look at him when he spoke just continued to read the papers in front of him.

"I've been thinking about it for about a year," he shrugged. Vincent scoffed and shook his head. "It's for madre," he told him. "You know, since she is always saying we are lucky Jesus has such a sacred heart." Vincent laughed hard at his brother's explanation.

"No wonder it took you a year to get the thing. Madre is going to hit you," he told his little brother who sighed.

"See why I think these things through," he put his head in his hands. Vincent laughed harder.

"Just make sure she sees it after she has eaten dinner. After a few glasses of wine, she starts to like our tattoos... Sometimes," he advised. Rocco groaned, but said nothing and Vincent went back to the contract he had been reading before he decided to mess with him.