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Complicated, crazy… two words that describe us perfectly. I’ll make the arrangements.
“I know that look,” Elio says as I put away my cell phone.
I smirk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How long has it been? Less than a week?”
“Yeah, so what?”
“So I’ve been there. I know how quickly it can happen. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, brother,” I say, “but it’s not like life is simple. I haven’t even taken her on a real date yet. She doesn’t even want to tell her family about me. She’s still scared of me, even if it’s just a little bit. Like a reflex, like how a man flinches when you pull a gun on him.”
“You can overcome all of that,” Elio says confidently.
“Then there’s the fact that her dad is Paulie Fitzgerald.”
My phone buzzes again, distracting me at the critical moment. I was going to watch Elio carefully as I dropped this information, but the vibration of my cell draws my gaze.
Okay, Luca. I’m looking forward to it.
There’s clearly more she wants to say.
…
After around thirty seconds, no message appears. I turn back to Elio.
“Her dad is Paulie,” I tell him.
“The courier?” Elio says.
“Apparently, he’s been meeting with men in the middle of the night, handing over packages. It looks like he’s still involved in Family business.”
Elio shakes his head. “No, he’s not. Not with our Family, anyway. Maybe he’s working with somebody else.”
I lean forward, looking closely at Elio. “Are you telling me the truth, brother?”
He narrows his eyes as if the idea he’d do anything but tell the truth is absurd.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I snap. “I only learned about the whole congressman thing because I agreed to help Ruby.”
“A lot of connections,” Elio mutters.
“Don’t start talking about fate and love and any of that crap.”
I sit back, folding my arms. It feels sick to call any of this crap, but I don’t want Elio to change the subject.
“Luca, listen, I don’t know anything about this. I swear, and I would’ve told you about the deal with the congressman, but…”
It’s a rare sight to see Elio Marino look unsure. He frowns and turns back toward the computer screen.
“What’s going on?” I say. “There’s something you’re not telling me. When we met with those douches, you said I could ruin what I have with Ruby somehow. It was a riddle. I let it go.” More accurately, Elio stormed off, but still. “We don’t lie to each other, Elio. That’s not something we do.”
Elio bites down, glances at me, and then back at the computer screen. Just before he’s about to answer, his office door opens. Scarlet walks in with Molly strapped to her chest, her precious little eyes closed. Scarlet stops short. “Sorry… am I interrupting something?”
I give Elio a look, meaning Later, and then I stand up. “No, it’s fine.” Leaning down, I kiss my niece on the head, then leave the office. As I walk out to my car, I call Colt. “Any news on the douche?” I ask.
“He has a boring life,” Colt says. “He drinks. He picks up women. He sleeps. Then he repeats the process. I haven’t seen anything criminal. How long do you want me to watch this bastard for?”
“As long as you can,” I tell him, refusing to let this go for some reason. “But I don’t want to take up all your time, Colt. Not for free?—”
“I don’t need your money,” Colt replies coldly.
“Why? Because you already have enough money? Or you don’t want to take cash from a mafioso?”
“You’re a good man, Luca—a good training partner. I want to help you with this, but don’t make me answer that question.”
I sigh, struggling to work out his complicated moral code. He doesn’t want to take my cash but is willing to help me. “Fair enough, Colt. Keep me posted.”
Later, in my own office, I text my woman. Focusing on work was easy before Ruby came along. I slipped into the state Elio must’ve experienced when he was a workaholic. Since I had nothing else—partying seemed so hollow and still does—the facts, figures, and dealmaking were easy to prioritize. Now, with my woman right there and the cell phone calling me, it’s much more challenging.
Elio doesn’t know anything about your dad, apparently, I type and then study the message. The “apparently” implies I don’t trust my brother. Is that the case? We’ve always had each other’s backs, even when we disagreed about certain things. I remove it, then send the message.
What do you think I should do? she replies.
Let me send a car to pick you up and bring you to me.
What, so you can’t ruin my outfit before the dinner later, huh?
Despite everything, I smile at the sassiness in her message. I can imagine her tossing her head, pushing her hair from her face, and looking at me bravely.
