Chocolate and Italian Wine (Music and Mayhem Book 1) (20 page)

“Just come by, what, to say hi?” she asked. 

“Yeah, and I was missing that pretty mug of yours,” he teased. Valerie shook her head. Sierra looked at Karisma, who seemed bored already. 

“Why don’t you give us a couple of minutes?” Ray said to Valerie and Sierra. “I’d like to talk in private with Kari for a bit.”

The two looked to Kari, who’d just called them in, but now she nodded that it was okay for them to go. “Go ahead, this won’t take long,” she added. They retreated to her bedroom.

“So, Ray, what’s got you following me around Italy?” Karisma asked, settling back. 

“Girl, this separation shit is whack. You had a long enough time to be pissed. We need to get back to what we know. Shit, girl. I want you back,” Ray said.

She looked at him like he had two heads. “Are you insane? I don’t want you and I’m over it. Thought you knew. Now go away.” She sang the verse to one of her hits.

Angered, he said, “You with that white boy? Or is he just fuckin you? I mean, everybody wants to, baby…”

She cut him off and yelled, “Well everybody may want to, but
Ray Bryant
sure won’t get to!” 

“Hey, baby, don’t shoot the messenger,” he laughed. Every man out there wants to tap that ass.” 

She stood and began moving toward the door. “Get your dumb ass out of here. NOW!” she hollered. Valerie and Sierra came to stand in the doorway.

“Look, girl, you’ll always be my lady. Ain’t no pretty mobster gone ever come between us. Believe that,” he said, pointing at her. 

“Oh, ok, he’s Italian, he’s got money, so he’s got to be a mobster, right?” 

Walking towards her, he said, “Naw, baby. He’s Italian, he’s got money, and he 
is
 a mobster. Muthafucka’s mobbed up.” 

“You are still ridiculous and will say anything to get what you want. I should have never let you in here,” Kari said, ready to hit him.

“Your boy is mafia, baby. A boss. Don Corleone and shit. Why you fuckin around with somebody like that? Between him and that killer Wolfe, you runnin with the big dogs, baby.”

“Fuck you, Ray. Go back to where you came from. You’re pathetic,” she said, just as Wolfe appeared at the door.

“Oh, no!” Ray feigned. “Not the stone cold killa!” And he looked at Wolfe who was flexing his biceps and cracking his knuckles. “I’m out man, don’t shoot my ass, I ain’t no intruder,” he said then, backing down on his tough talk.

He headed toward the door. “Bye love, we ain’t done,” he said. She gave him the finger. His tongue flicked wickedly through the air at her, as Wolfe slammed it behind him.

“Why was that ass up here?” he asked her. 

“He came to tell me that Paolo’s in the mafia. He’s Italian, you know,” Kari said, rolling her eyes.

Wolfe looked at her silently and Valerie walked back into the room. She said, “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I’ve heard the same thing.”

Karisma whirled around to look at her. “Where did you hear that?” she asked.

“The gossip show Bizzee has been sitting on it for a while trying to check it out. They ran into a wall and were shut down. That can only mean one thing of two things, CIA or mafia,” Valerie said. “I tried to tell you this once before, but we were interrupted. I haven’t had a chance since.” 

“Have they tried to get a statement from me?” she asked. 

“No. They wanted to have the facts corroborated before asking you for a comment,” she said.

Karisma felt slightly dizzy. She held her hand to her forehead. “Wolfe? Have you heard this, too?” she asked her loyal friend. 

“Kari, I don’t know if all that’s true. But of course we check anybody out who gets close to you. Nothing’s come up. Not even a parking ticket.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you checked him out?” she asked.
Fuck.

“You’ve always known we check everybody out, wouldn’t have thought of mentioning it, especially since nothing came up,” Wolfe said.

“He handled the shooting,” she said, looking him dead in the eye. ‘
Cause he’s mafia
.

“Yesss,” he said drawing out the word and giving her a look that said to end that conversation. 

“You didn’t go to jail,” she added, ignoring the look. ‘
Cause he fixed it like mobsters do
.

“It was self defense, something people don’t go to jail for,” Wolfe countered. His look was cautious.

Kari could see that Wolfe wanted her to stop where she was headed, but she couldn’t. “He has more bodyguards than I do.” ‘
Cause they’re his hitmen.

“So, that ass comes up here and is getting everybody riled up all over Mafia shit. I ought to fuck him up good for this,” Wolfe said, suddenly irate.

“But you believe it, don’t you?” Valerie asked, challenging Wolfe.

Kari shook her head and looked around at everyone. “Okay, let’s calm down before this gets too crazy! The mafia? Why the hell are we even entertaining this bullshit?  He’s not mafia!  This conversation ends right now, dammit!” she paused, catching her breath. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be ready to leave in 45 minutes.” She threw her blouse over her head and onto the floor as she stalked toward the bathroom and slammed the door.

Wolfe, Sierra and Val all stood around looking at her and then each other.

“I think it’s the pills,” Sierra said.

“Somebody better go check on her,” Val said, looking at the other two.

“Not me,” Wolfe said, shaking his head and sitting down.

“You go, Sierra. You speak fluent Karisma,” Val said.

About a minute later, there was a knock on the bathroom door. “What is it?” she yelled.

Sierra opened the door. “Kari, I wanted to be sure you were okay.” 

“I’m fine,” she said blandly.

Have you talked to Karla today?” Sierra asked, changing the subject.

“No.”

“She called. She’s on her way,” Sierra said.

“Yippee.” Kari’s voice was not genuine when she said this, showing the stress in it.

“Kari? Sweetie, how many of those pills did you take?”

“Not enough to kill myself okay? I’m fine, Fluffy. Leave me alone, a while. I have to get my mind right.”

“I’ll be right outside the door. Call me if you need me.”

“I will,” Kari said, turning on the water to her shower.

“You’re not going to take any more of those pills, are you? You have to meet Paolo’s family,” Sierra said.

“I know, Sierra, thank you!” Karisma snapped. “Stop hovering. I want some privacy.”

“I’ll be outside,” Sierra closed the door, leaving Kari alone.

Karisma got undressed and went into the shower, thinking about what Ray and Valerie had said and what Wolfe had not said, but his look…  She suddenly felt weak and slid onto the tub floor and stayed there with the water running until Sierra and Valerie came in later to fish her out.

                                               ***

“How do I look?” Maria Elena asked, glancing over her right shoulder at her mother. 

“Bellissima,” her mother replied, smiling warmly.

“Do you think it’s too much?” she asked, now checking out her back in the mirror.

“Too much for what? His eyes? His eyes will appreciate what they see and fall in love,” her mother said.

Maria Elena’s face fell. “He won’t be looking at me, Mama,” she suddenly said. “Who am I fooling?”

“Do you want to stay home, then? You are obviously not ready for this,” her mother said.

Maria Elena paused. “I don’t want him to reject me again. He keeps rejecting me,” she whined. “Yes, Papa said he’d fix things. He hasn’t fixed this. He won’t return my calls. I call him all the time…”

“And you must stop!” her mother interrupted. “Stop chasing him, Maria Elena. Let him come to you. Your father is working on this. Let him do it.”

“Not fast enough! I cannot stop. I love him. Why can’t he see that, Mama? He’s mine, not hers. She’s going to find out tonight, though. She needs to know that I love him and I want him and I’m not going away so easily.”

“Just keep your head and you will do that,” her mother replied. She sighed. What had Paolo been thinking, letting a pretty face turn his head from what was right. “Remember, this Montgomery woman has a lot of protection and Paolo will get angrier if you try to approach her. We must find another way.”

“What are you saying? We aren’t going to the concert tonight? We have to,” Maria Elena replied desperately.

“Of course we’re going,” her mother said with a dismissive wave of the hand. “But we won’t be able to get close to her. Her bodyguards and security will never allow it. Our best bet tonight is to get to Paolo. Let him see you. He is obviously seduced by beauty. And you look absolutely wonderful, darling. He’ll notice,” her mother assured her.

“She’s famous and she could never be an ‘Ndrine wife. Never. She’s black. He’s going to be
Don
.”

“Do you hear yourself? You’re marrying them off? Have you given up? Then it is pointless for us to make the trip to Napoli. She’s won. Go take the dress off,” her mother said, flicking her wrist.

“Mama!” Maria Elena cried, alarmed.

“What? You’ve given up. I’ve done all I can to help you,” her mother said.

Maria Elena and her mother stared at one another.

“Are we going to Napoli or not?” her mother asked her calmly. 

“We are,” Maria Elena said, determined. 

“Then get your coat. We have a long way to travel.”

18

Hair and makeup were hard at work. Karisma smiled and looked at her own beautiful visage briefly, but her thoughts were about what Ray and Valerie had said about Paolo. She just had to ask him, even if it would be tough to do. Still, she didn’t want to insult him with the question; it seemed like such a stereotype.

“Stop frowning,” Maya, her make-up artist, said.

“Sorry,” Kari replied. She picked up her phone and smiled. Time to get in the zone!  She took a selfie and posted it on Twitter, #bouttogetbusy.  

“You are the bomb, Maya,” Kari commented as she inspected her makeup, turning her face from side to side. 

Not to be outdone, Tomas said, “You’re always fierce, Miss Kari! The fiercest, baddest heifer on the planet, bar none!” he exclaimed.

She grinned at his mirrored reflection. “With a whole lot of help from y’all,” she said, pointing at all of her assistants. Mikki walked in, ready to take on Naples. 

“I’m ready to get it on!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands and sashaying over to air kiss her cousin’s cheek. 

“Hold up, Mick,” Karisma said, as she took a picture of herself and Mikki, #readytogetiton.

“Turn around,” Karisma said to Mikki, inspecting the gold one piece bathing suit with the fringed butt that was designed by Nia Simone, an up and coming black designer from Paris. The women of Goldust had her commissioned to design their wardrobes for the Gen X Tour. And while their outfits were all similar, Karisma’s costumes were always adorned a little more elaborately, giving her a little extra pop.

“Ready to put this on, Kari?” Lyric asked. 

Karisma asked, “We done here?” to Maya and Tomas. 

“I’m finished,” Maya said. 

“I’ll need to help you so you don’t mess this mane up, you little lioness. Uh huh,” Tomas said. 

Tomas and Lyric helped her into the curve-hugging golden catsuit that glittered and sparkled underneath the bright lights of her dressing room.

Zipping her up in the back, Tomas said, “Ooh chile, I want one of these. You are too bootylicious for your own damn self!”

She gave herself the once over as Mikki admired the catsuit that showed off Karisma’s hourglass figure. “This is gorgeous,” Mikki said, touching the fabric.

“Nia Simone has done it again,” Karisma added as she was helped into her thigh high black leather boots. All the while Tomas fussed with her hair. 

A stagehand came in, and upon seeing Karisma and Mikki said, “On in 10 minutes, ladies. The band is heading toward the stage now.”

“Okay, thanks,” Karisma said. Turning to Mikki she asked, “Where’s Tessa?” 

“Still in hair and makeup.” She paused. “She’s been drinking.”

 “What?” Karisma asked loudly. She was angry and panicking. “Is she drunk?” 

“No,” Mikki said, “but she’s had a few.”

“Shit!” Karisma cried. “Let’s go get her. Please don’t let her be drunk.”

 As they headed out in search of Tessa, she was walking out of her dressing room with her assistant. Surprised to see Karisma and Mikki headed her way, she stopped. “What’s wrong?”

              “You okay?” Karisma asked. 

Tessa smacked her lips and looked at Mikki. “Wow, Paula Revere, really? You told her I had a few cocktails?” Tessa said.

“A few too many from what I saw, but I did say you weren’t drunk,” Mikki said. 

So you both came to look at me and what?” she asked, putting her hand on her hip.

“Would have depended on whether you were drunk or not,” Karisma said. 

“You’re one to talk,” Tessa said, hand on her hip.

“Tessa—”

“Listen Miss Karisma of the dilated pupils, you need to take care of yourself!” Tessa hissed. 

Karisma stood rooted in place like she wanted to say something more, but changed her mind. Walking away, with a wave of her hand, she said, “Let’s do this.”

Their full entourages seemed to appear out of nowhere, as the ladies of Goldust made their way to the stage entrance…

As the lights went down on the crowd, the sound of cheering became deafening.

“Ready, Miss Montgomery?” a tall blond stagehand asked her.

She nodded as he and another assistant walked her to her spot on the pitch-black stage. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw her bandmates were already in place. It was time. As the announcer told the crowd to turn off cell phones and not to take pictures, Todd, or Toddy T, as he was known on stage, waited to give the count.

              Then it began. Toddy T began beating his drumsticks together. The crowd went wild. 

“Ciao, bella Napoli!” Karisma’s voice boomed into the darkness right before the stage lights went on.

The rest of the band joined Todd in his musical celebration through their hit song, 
We Come To Party.
Karisma sang lead on the upbeat tune about letting loose, and having a good time. The crowd, though boisterous and loud, was mesmerized by the force of nature that was Karisma Montgomery. She bumped and gyrated and shook her ample booty to the rhythm of Toddy T’s beat, all the while singing the lyrics so smooth, with Chris, and the girls moving with her, singing background. Ted was grooving, slapping that bass.

Paolo was in the front row with his parents, siblings, including Father Armando, as well as other family members. The Montovanis had come out in mass to meet the iconic lead singer of Goldust. Paolo stood along with the crowd, swaying to the hard driving beat of Toddy T’s drums. Paolo had always enjoyed watching Goldust perform. Lately, however, the sight of Karisma dancing and moving her body in seductive choreography brought about feelings of discomfort. She was a beautiful woman. He knew that. Hell, every man there knew it. But she was his and the lust that he saw in the eyes of others often brought about profound feelings of possessiveness. He watched her. She was lost in the music. His Karisma was a goddess queen and the throng assembled there, her loyal subjects. 

“The music’s loud!” his father yelled, bringing him out of his thoughts. He leaned in to be heard over the impossibly loud music. 

Paolo yelled back, “Yes, it is, Pop!”

“How can she stand it up there? I’ll need a hearing aid after tonight!” Raffaelo said, smirking at Paolo. “She is a beauty, Paolo.” 

Paolo nodded. “That she is,” he said, looking toward the stage.

Karisma was walking toward center stage. All lights were shining down on her as the first piano chords struck.

They say time will heal all wounds

                            That make you weep,

                            But there are wounds that

Cut you far too deep

She sang the lyrics to the song, which had been a number one hit for them, with just as much heart as she had when recording it at the studio.

On Paolo’s right side, his brother Armando said into his ear, “So, little brother, that’s your lady, eh?” 

“Yeah, that’s Karisma,” Paolo said, never taking his eyes off of her. “She’s mine.”

Armando elbowed him. “Good for you,” he said. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Paolo looked at his brother. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, you’re going to have your hands full, brother,” Armando said casually. “Yep. She’s going to drive your jealous ass crazy.”

Paolo looked at the stage. Kari was shaking her booty. “I’m not jealous,” he frowned, never taking his eyes off her apple bottom.

“Yes you are, and how the hell does an Ndranghetisti like you get a babe like that?” Armando leaned in close to his brother, looking at Kari’s ass, too.

Paolo smirked at him. “Wouldn’t you like to know, Father Jackass?”

Armando shrugged. “The Bianchis might think you’re flaunting your relationship with her,” he yelled, the music suddenly deafening.

This time, Paolo shrugged. “What does that tell you?” he asked Armando with a smug look.

“It tells me you probably don’t give a shit,” Armando laughed, looking at Kari again.

Paolo shook his head. “That albatross is gone,” he hollered.

“I’m surprised you did it. Marriage arrangements aren’t usually broken without repercussions,” the priest said.

“With the right incentive, anything is possible,” he looked back to Karisma, on stage, wearing a black top hat with her arms outstretched, twirling in place.

Armando watched her as well. “I know you’re a big boy, Paolo, but be careful. She’s a woman desired by millions. And you carry a lot of baggage.”

“The same baggage that you ran away to the priesthood to avoid. But as far as your advice is concerned, thanks, but it’s too late for that. I’m all in with this one, Mando. No turning back for me. YOLO, right?” 

“What’s YOLO?” Armando asked.

“It means you only live once. How come you don’t know that?” Paolo asked with a confused look on his face.

His brother shrugged. “I live with nuns.”

“Bet they know.”

They both looked back toward the stage. “And you know I didn’t run far,” Then he looked back at the stage. “Shit Paolo, if I wasn’t wearing this collar, I think I’d have to fight you for that one.”

“Are priests supposed to talk that way?”

“Our vow is to God but we can appreciate beautiful things, too,” Armando replied.

Paolo loved his brother. No matter what, he knew Armando always had his back.

There was a sudden commotion to their right. They looked over at the same time to see their guards involved in some sort of altercation. Raffaelo was also looking at the scene playing out in the aisle. Maria Elena stood with her mother and bodyguards, insisting that she speak to Paolo. Paolo watched this with a sense of mild amusement. 
Desperate
 was all he could think of when he looked at Maria Elena. She looked at him and mouthed his name. He caught the eye of his personal bodyguard who understood the silent communication. He began speaking to her bodyguards in rapid Italian, telling them that Paolo would not engage in conversation with her. They were asked to leave. It didn’t work. Now Donna Bianchi requested to speak with Don Raffaelo personally to plead her daughter’s case. She was denied, too. All of the Montovanis were now curious and wanted to know what was being said. Craziness had broken out, enough so that Raffaelo signaled for a guard.

“This is becoming a scene. What’s going on?” Raffaelo asked his bodyguard.

“Donna Bianchi and Maria Elena would like a word with Paolo,” his man replied.

Paolo leaned over. “No more talking with Maria Elena, nothing more to say,” he commanded.

“Get rid of them. Tell La Signora that now is not the time,” Raffaelo said.

The bodyguard turned around and delivered the message. It was not well received. Donna Bianchi flew into a rage, prompting stadium security to come over to see what the problem was. When they realized who they were dealing with, security immediately left. The stage lights came up after Karisma’s song ended. She could see the ruckus with the Montovani entourage and wondered what was going on. Paolo made eye contact with her. He air kissed her and she smiled back, already diving into the next number.

For the next two hours, Goldust gave the sold out crowd their money’s worth, singing all the hits from the Grammy award winning X album. For the last number, Karisma wore the black thigh high boots again, paired with black “Daisy Dukes,” a white blouson sleeved midriff that hung off the shoulder and a wild lion’s mane, she took lead on the final song of the night.
Still Mine
 was one of the dozens of number one hits churned out from the Adams-Montgomery hit machine. A hip-hop song with lots of R & B infusions, it was made for dancing. They finished the concert with five encores, as the crowd wasn’t ready to leave. Every time they left the stage, their enthusiastic Italian fans kept calling them back. Finally leaving the stage, the group bid “Buona notte, Napoli!”

                                       ***

Backstage, they made a circle and held hands, raising them and looking toward the sky, still hearing the roar of a satisfied and lingering crowd. They all began to move in separate directions, to their dressing rooms. By that time, Paolo was already waiting in Karisma’s dressing room for her, along with a dozen yellow roses tipped in red for his beautiful girlfriend.

A half hour passed and Paolo still sat waiting for Karisma. “Baby, you look fine, let’s go, they’re waiting,” he said. His arm was flung over the side of the sectional sofa of her elegant, white dressing room, his leg crossed at the ankle.

Maya had thoroughly cleansed and removed all traces of the makeup Karisma had worn in the show. Now, her makeup was light, with just a little mascara and a soft pink gloss. Tomas had toned down the hair and removed the clip in extensions. He pulled her hair into a ponytail that accentuated her lovely features perfectly.

She blew out a nervous breath. “How many people did you bring with you?” she asked with a slight frown, looking at Paolo through the mirror she was facing.

He cocked his head at her. “I’ve told you three times already, Kari. There are fifteen of us, including me. Come on, woman. You can’t possibly be stalling on meeting the Montovani clan. What? You just sang and danced, half dressed, I might add, in front of like, a hundred thousand people!”