The True Memoir of a Mafia Boss' Daughter

The Beach

" This is actually very beautiful and relaxing," I said.

"This is my favorite place to go." He says, placing his hands in his pants pockets.

"Honestly, can I say something?"

"Yeah sure."

" OK, where the hell was this person 2 years ago? And are you honestly like this or are you just a good actor?" 

He smiles but you can see he is blushing as he lets out a light giggle.

" Well, honestly. I have you to thank for me being this person."

" What do you mean?" I say looking at him as we slowly strolled on the beach.

" Well.. Hang on, I'm going to take my shoes off so we can walk a little closer to the water." He says, kneeling down, untieing his shoes, taking them and his socks off, as well as rolling up the bottom of his pants to his calves.

" That actually is smart thinking," I said starting to bend down to take my heels off as well.

" No, here, put your hand on my shoulder so you can balance. I can take your heels off." Stunned for a minute, I didn't react. He was kneeling in front of me looking up, he smiled as I placed my hand gently on his tight muscular shoulder.. I raised my foot for him to pull my heel off. He stands up with my heels in his hands, handing them to me, then bending back over and picking his shoes up with his socks stuffed inside them.

" OK, so where were we?" He says with a nervous smile running his hand through his hair.

" About how you became who you are now." I said, taking in his absolute gorgeousness as the moon's light shined a little on his face.

" Oh yeah, well, I have you to thank and well, also your father, if I am honest."

" What do you mean, my father?"

" As you know, when I was 19 I was a complete, and I mean complete ass. Everyone did as I said and what I wanted. The girls never turned me down, no matter how I acted. No one, not even my father, ever put me in my place, so I thought I was completely untouchable." He takes a deep breath. " When I met you and you went off on me. I was shocked and it made me want you like you were a conquest. No female ever told me to basically go to hell. So it pissed me off. I wanted nothing but to put you in your place for talking to me like that. When I grabbed your arm I honestly don't know what I was thinking and for that I am truly sorry. Yes, you aggravated me, but it gave me absolutely no right to put my hands on you. I should have never done that, especially because of how I was acting you had every right to actually slap me." He says looking at me "When I got home that night, my father ripped me a new one. I mean for the first time he let me have it. With my actions that night, other families saw what I did and the way I acted. No one wanted to go into business with my family because they were afraid when I took over I would take them down along with my 

family. So a lot of business deals fell through that night and a lot pulled out of business. They just paid outright and basically told us to never contact them. So that night, I had punishment from my father. I had never seen my father that angry at me. He cut me off from all the money, took my car and made me work around the house I was not allowed to eat with the family. With this I'm sorry to say, but I developed a hate for you and blamed you." He says, looking at me with sadness on his face and eyes. " Well about a month or 2 later, your father showed up and grabbed me by my neck and held me up against a wall along with a few right hooks I may add" He laughs a little " And told me if I ever came around you, looked at you. or touched you he would kill me. All along, my father was standing there with others and not one tried to stop your father. So I put in my mind. I would get revenge on you, you ruined me."

I suddenly stopped and looked at him with wide eyes, not knowing if I should run or scream. He then looks right at me with so much care and passion in his eyes and says

"Please continue to walk with me. I wont hurt you, I promise." I looked at him for a minute more and then agreed. We continued to walk side by side. He then says

" I felt like that for months. But then one day, as I was sleeping on the floor in my room. I realized it wasn't you. It was me, that I am the reason the family wealth started to go. I am the reason your father did what he did. I was the reason for all of it. That I needed to grow up and take responsibility for myself and to redeem myself to my father, my family and to your father and you especially. The next time I wanted to see you, I wanted you to see a strong, confident man, a man that can take the family and lead. The man any woman would want but could not have. I would not make you come to me, I will not force you. I want you to choose me for who I am now and, if not, I would like for you to see who I have become and possibly extend your family and we could work together."

" Wow, I am sorry I did not realize my father went there and did that and also that your family did that as well. I am sorry." I said

"You have absolutely no reason to be sorry. I deserved it and, honestly, if I didn't straighten up I don't even want to think about what damage I could have done."

" So if you are not trying to force me, then why did your father make mine an offer?"

" Honestly?" He says as he rubs the back of his neck. " That was not my father's idea. That was your mother."

" What?"

" She came to us not long after your 16th birthday and borrowed money from my father. Which was weird because your family is very wealthy. But she said your father ran into financial problems and she just needed it until everything got cleared away. She then came back 2 days ago and said, your birthday is tomorrow and with an offer, your father is willing to make a deal as he needed finances still. So my father sees this as not only an opportunity to redeem our family, but a way to help both of our families as we are not doing as we used to financially as well. So your mom made the offer and said once the deal is made, money would be freed from other families as they would see your father expanding thinking he was financially able again. So it would mean a win win for both families." He then looks at me as I was listening to every word come out of his mouth, as if it was written on paper and I was reading it.

" My father's finances have actually grown. We extended our family to New Jersey, and also the Boston family. We do not need any money. And my mother took off a few weeks after my 16th birthday. We hadn't seen or heard from her until she showed up with you."

" Hold on what? Your mom was acting as if she was a messenger for your family."

" No, she took off when my father left to expand his business. Its been 2 years since we heard from her. Honestly, they got into an argument and I thought he ended her for good."

" Oh wow, so she has been lying this whole time. What is she planning?"

" I don't know. But we need to keep watch on her. I dont trust her at all something isn't right."

" I agree. See good team work, huh." He says nudging my elbow with his lightly and smiling.

" I have to say I agree." We both smiled and walked in silence for a few minutes, glancing at one another.

" You know I have always wanted a star fish. I read that it's not common for them to wash ashore as much as you think. I have been to the beach a few times and each time I have looked and never could find one."

" Well, for now on I will look for one for you." He says smiling at me lightly splashing his foot in the ocean as we stood there looking out to the ocean. He looks at his watch. " s**t its 10. I didn't think we were here that long. It didn't seem like it. We missed our reservation. I am so sorry."

" Oh, I didn't realize it was that long also. Do you want to go somewhere else or call it a night? Either one is OK with me."

" We can go somewhere else. I gotta feed you something." He says jokingly and smiling

" Hey, I know it's not a fancy restaurant. But do you like Nachos?"

" Who doesnt?"

" There's a place on the pier that has the best nachos and pretzels."

" Sounds good to me."

We start to walk back. Looking at the boardwalk, you would expect us to have walked a lot further than we did, but I guess by just talking and getting to know one another we walked pretty slow. We get to the steps of the boardwalk and there is a hose to wash your feet off. He gently sprayed my feet, then his. We sit down on the bench putting our shoes on.

" You know I actually enjoyed tonight. Thank you." I said

" Me to." 

We walked to the nacho stand and got 2 nachos and a pretzel to share, as the pretzels are the size of your head. We sit on the wooden picnic table and start to eat. He sits in front of me and our body guards sit a few tables away. I look over and notice them sitting there eating brats.

" I completely forgot about them," I said low. He then looks over at them.

" Me too don't feel bad. Man, I bet tonight was boring as hell for them."

" No, I think they enjoyed each other's company." I said. We both started to laugh. A few people started to sit on the benches and then we heard a few of them talking.

" I think we have been made." I said 

" I think so too. You wanna get out of here?"

" Sure." We both stand up as some people started to take pictures of us. I have learned that some people leave us alone, but others act like we are celebrities and start to get a little crazy or start bugging us about their business ideas and so on. So, when you spot people taking pictures and talking, it's better to just leave.

We get to his car. He opens the door for me and helps me get in and gets into the driver's seat. We started to head back to my house. We have some small talk and joke around a little during the ride. Once we pass the gates, you can tell in the air the night is about to end and we wished there was a little more time. We pull up out front and he opens my door. When I get out, he says

" I have to say I enjoyed myself tonight. I really did. You are very easy to talk to and honestly I feel comfortable around you. Thank you for letting me take you out tonight."

" I enjoyed it as well, Leo. Thank you for tonight." I said as I was walking towards the steps. He gestured his hand to help me up the stairs. Once I am at the door, he turns to head back to his car. He then says

" Maria?"

I turned and looked at him.

"Yes?"

" For what it means? I am truly sorry for how I acted and what I did. Thank you for giving me a chance to redeem myself." He then smiled his gorgeous smile.

" Apology accepted Leo and it was my honor to see the new you." I said smiling

He gets in his car as I walk through the front door.