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Divorce starts in the bedroom…
Joey remembered words from a friend. Eli hinted he and Faith weren’t having sex anymore, but it wasn’t because of lack of interest; more like lack of trying. There was a tension building between the pair for a while; their usual witty comebacks to each other started to have a bit of zing to them, as if they were purposely trying to hit below the belt. Eli worked longer hours at the shop, a thought Joey finally concluded, to stay away from Faith. Faith’s purchases seemed to get more extravagant over a small timeframe, as if she was filling a void for something. Faith could be immature as well as Eli; no one would debate that.

But they always came back together. Always.

All of the signs of the pair being in trouble were there. Nobody noticed it until something happened.

Joey could remember seeing his mother come home from work, exhausted from waiting

tables, only to get a few hours rest before she headed out to the janitorial gig. Every day for
years,
she repeated that same schedule. They didn’t have a lot of money, but they never went without. Before their father left, they always had everything – the best clothes, shoes, and money for extra things they wanted to do. Weekends were spent going to Yankee Stadium, eating out at local diners, playing at the parks.

When Giorgio left, weekends were spent being shuffled from one relative’s house to

another while Nicola worked her jobs. The brothers were often divided with Nick, Kieran, and Joey heading to one relative’s while Eli and Tony went with another’s. They always came home on Sunday nights at Nicola’s request. No matter how tired she was, every Sunday was family dinner night, a tradition she still kept throughout the years.

Sunday night dinners were going to be strange and uncomfortable until Eli settled his situation with Faith and his newfound girlfriend, Simone.
Moni
, Joey chuckled,
what the fuck is
a Moni?

“Did you come back to earth yet?” Kieran’s baritone entered the office.

Joey tossed a pen on the desk and shook his head. “You know when I woke up this

morning, I didn’t think I would be having a family meeting about one of us.”

“Tell me about it,” Kieran folded his arms, “we still need to tell Ma about this.”

Joey groaned at the thought of reporting the news to their mother. It was no secret that Eli was her favorite and they had the closest relationship out of all of the brothers. He could never do wrong in her eyes and that used to cause a bit of resentment from the others when they were younger. “Do we have to?”

“Better she finds out from us than through the press. The
Post
will be all over this in a millisecond and I don’t want Ma to find out that way.”

Joey agreed. “I have a contact at the
Post
so it won’t make Page Six. I don’t need this bullshit to affect our reputation at Madre’s and our pending contracts. The last thing brides want to hear is that the hot guy helping them plan their wedding can’t keep his dick in his pants.”

“Cool. Let me know when you’re ready and we can head out. Nicky and Tony are going to pick up Ma now and we’re all meeting back at her house before we go out to lunch.”

“I’m ready but let’s talk for a moment.” Joey got up from behind the desk and perched himself in front of it. “Why didn’t you tell me about Zoe?”

“What do you mean why didn’t I tell you about Zoe?”

“Like everything,” Joey smiled, “like she’s intelligent, she’s beautiful, she has her own ambitions…like why didn’t you try to do the hook-up?”

“Well, for starters, you’re out here and she’s in L.A.,” Kieran reminded, “and of course, the obvious reason.”

“Which I’m clearly not seeing so you have to point that out to me.” Joey smirked.

“I didn’t want you to fuck her, play her for a fool, and then leave her high and dry wondering what the hell happened since you obviously don’t remember your own reputation.”

Kieran raised an eyebrow, “besides she has a lot going on and she doesn’t need some guy who won’t commit to her.”

“I’m kinda digging her, K.” Joey slowly nodded. “I’m really feeling her.”

“Dude, don’t.” Kieran sternly warned.

Joey was surprised by his older brother’s warning. It was as if Kieran had his own

reasoning for not seeing the pair together. “Are you sweet on her or something? I know Eli got that Simone thing going on…”

“And that is the
last
time you will
ever
suggest I’m cheating on Tee.” Kieran had a fleering look on his face and whatever contempt he currently had for Eli was about to be transferred to Joey. “I don’t know what the hell our little brother is doing but I am not down for that shit whatsoever.”

“Sorry, bro,” Joey held up his hands in defense, “I’m just saying I don’t know why you’re so against me trying to get to know Zoe better.”

“I don’t care if you’re trying to get to know her better, J. Really, I don’t. Zoe is about to work on a major project for us and I need her full concentration. I don’t need her to be moping over a broken heart when she should be designing the spring line. I don’t need her curled up in a ball, fetal-position, when she should be preparing for Fashion Week.” Kieran was emotionless and his eyes were serious. “I do not need you – in any way, shape, or form – messing with her mind.”

Joey was aghast at the gall of Kieran and got off the desk to stand eye to eye with his brother. “Are you really forbidding me to see her?”

“No,” Kieran met Joey’s challenge, “maybe I should be clearer…”

“You need to be fucking transparent, bro,” Joey’s voice with rife with irritation.

“Zoe is being paid to do a job and we want her to do the best damn job she can do. It’s her dream and we’re supporting her. Therefore, we do not want any reason why she can’t do that job.

If you just happened to be that reason, we – as in you and me, bro – will have some serious issues.” Kieran didn’t attempt to hide his thinly-veiled contempt. “Is that clear enough for you?”

Joey stared down at his brother. If he was another man, he would’ve been knocked out already. “Pristine.”

****

All day her thoughts were occupied with Joey. How strong his arms were around her waist as he held her throughout the night. The subtle fragrance of his cologne, woodsy with earth notes, tickling her nose and making her aroused with desire. The way he buried his face into her neck when she turned to face him during the night. When she turned again and pressed her ass against his cock, she felt him twitch and sprung to attention.

He was thick and long, she could tell. She didn’t know specifics other than she wanted to wrap her lips around his cock before her wet slit welcomed him throughout the night. He couldn’t feel how damp her panties had become, but he had to be aware of the heat emitting between her thighs, circling around to her ass and onto his cock. She wanted him to make a move, any move on her and he refused.

At first she was offended,
real
offended. What the hell was all that noise about sharing goals and ambitions if he wasn’t interested? But when they talked in the bathroom the following morning, the way his eyes commanded her attention and didn’t let go, staring into the depths of her soul and making it loud and clear that he had every intention of pursuing her…Zoe put a hand to her chest. Her heart was pounding wildly.

She knew the type of guy he was – cigar-smoking, whiskey-chugging, smelling like leather and Old Spice with a hint of swagger type of guy. The type of man who win a fortune at a late-night poker game and spend said money on a nice romantic evening with his girl. The type of man who would put it down on his girl in the bedroom, making her scream his name and claw at his back and have her want to make him a full plate of breakfast the next morning.

Dangerous. That’s what Joseph D’Amato was. He was dangerous with a lot of power

through his words and actions and he yielded them both carefully.

When he dropped her off at Kay’s apartment, Joey walked with her, holding her hand,

seemingly not wanting to let it go. Zoe didn’t want him to let it go. Not that morning. Not ever.

She didn’t even mind the faint smell of his morning breath. She found herself strangely used to it already.

Already?

Zoe shook her head. When was the last time she was going gaga over a guy and his stank morning breath? No, she had to be careful. Joey had a reputation and both Kieran and Tiana gave her plenty of warnings about him. Fuck ‘em and dump them. A girl would be his as long she knows she’s one of many, a role quite a few women didn’t have an issue with as long they had a piece of him. Zoe scoffed at the idea. If she was going to be with Joey, she was going to be number one and the
only
one.

I’m talking about being his girlfriend and I don’t even know if he likes coffee or tea.
Zoe rolled her eyes at her high-school feelings over a potential adult relationship. Still, the thoughts of wanting to feel Joey underneath her as she rolled on his thick cock, increasing her tempo as he guided her waist and sucked on her hardened nipples as he moaned her name over and

over…
Zoe, Zoe, my sweet Zoe
…

“Zoe!”

Zoe looked up and saw Kay’s youngest daughter run towards her and crash into her lap.

“I’m hungry for my snack now.”

“Yes,” Zoe cleared her throat and thoughts, “it’s snack time.”

It was going to be one long, sexless week in New York. It was a good thing Zoe packed her vibrator.

Eleven

Zoe stared at the man across from her at dinner and wondered what was going on.

Something major happened in the D’Amato family, though she wasn’t sure if it was in her place to ask. It was clear Joey was bothered by it, whatever it was. He went through the motions as he prepared their dinner – a delicious serving of lasagna with fresh bread and salad – but his mind was somewhere else.

He was cordial enough to ask about her first day and cracked a couple of smiles when she spoke of Kay’s children, a girl and a boy, who were elementary-school age. He shared some stories about his childhood and it seemed his face lit up temporarily as they conversed on her day. But just as the smile appeared, it quickly disappeared and an unspoken somber returned.

“All right,” Zoe wiped her mouth and set her cloth napkin aside on the table. “You’ve been humoring me all night and I know it’s not because you’ve had a long day. Can you tell me what happened?”

The million-dollar question and there was no plausible answer. What really did happen between Faith and Eli? Did Eli simply have enough and decided to leave while he had some bit of sanity? Did Faith push him away? When did Simone come back into Eli’s picture and how much did she contribute to his decision?

Too many questions and Eli wasn’t giving any answers other than to leave him alone.
That
sounds awfully familiar,
Joey thought
.
Leave him alone. Stay out of it. It doesn’t concern anyone but him.

Giorgio.

Giorgio.

Giorgio.

Joey couldn’t recall when was the last time he saw his father and didn’t try to seek him out.

After leaving them to fend for themselves and only reappearing when they were suddenly blessed with a fortune, Giorgio told the family exactly how he felt about them without saying a word. Joey had heard stories about Giorgio still being in the area and looking haggard, with sunken eyes, once-sharp facial features turned saggy, and permanent creases in his forehead as if the guilt and lack of remorse finally caught up with him in many ways and years later. The anger inside Joey wouldn’t let him feel for a stranger. The memories of struggling to get by, watching his mother work herself to the bone just to keep the lights on, and Nick and Kieran, taking on several jobs just to support their younger siblings, always kept Joey’s feelings in check.

Children could be so cruel and Joey vividly remembered all the times he got into

playground fights at school, when the taunts of
bastard baby
were getting to be too much and he had to defend himself and his brothers. He was known as the troublemaker, the problem child, though Nicola knew the real reason why he was acting out. One fight resulted in a boy being sent to the hospital and it was only then, did the taunts finally stop.

The curiosity of the woman who convinced their father to leave the family got the best of Joey. He, along with Kieran and Nick, found out the woman’s name and located her. He could remember exactly what she looked like – long, dark hair that cascaded into curls, a curvy body that favored tight and possibly too-small clothing, a left mole above her upper lip. She had a knack for always chewing gum and every word was enunciated as if she wanted to make sure you understood her very clearly.

Cherise. That was her name. Joey learned her last name but made it a point to forget. It was bad enough he would always remember her.

The boys found her address and hid outside. They waited and watched, anticipating when she was going to come home and if they would possibly see their father. They weren’t disappointed when he did show up, along with a dozen roses and kisses as if he hadn’t seen Cherise in a long while. She paid back the favor by immediately getting on her knees and servicing him.

Nicola told the boys to pick up some sugar on the way back home from school. The boys ended up filling both Cherise’s and their father’s gas tanks with the sugar before they ran home.

When Nicola asked them where the sugar was, they simply mentioned it was forgotten and they’ll pick up some the next day.

That memory finally cracked a smile on Joey’s face. He occasionally wondered how much it cost Giorgio to get their cars fixed. It must’ve been a good penny since he knew his father wasn’t sending a dime to their mother.

Eli, whether he realized it or not, was turning into their father right before the brothers’

eyes. That disturbed Joey more than anything. The brothers always looked after each other because they were all they had. Now little Nathan was going to suffer the same fate.