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Never mind that all the exterior doors were guarded at all times. Even the service exits to the basement. There was no way anyone was getting in or out without notice. Not my wife or anyone who might even consider hurting her.
She’s safe, I reminded myself. I was almost always worried about her. It was a new feeling and something I couldn’t shake. My wife’s wellbeing was the only damned thing I cared about these days.
And squashing my father like the vermin he was, of course.
“You ready?” my brother asked without preamble. I nodded, sitting across from him as he made the call. Today, we were putting things in motion.
The shit was about to hit the fan in Miami.
I grinned as Connor answered his phone. Game on, fucker, I thought with a sort of dark glee.
“Connor, it’s us.”
“Vince, Tony,” he said over speakerphone. I said nothing, waiting. Vincent asked him if everything was in place. Connor affirmed that it was.
Then Vincent did something he never, ever did.
He made a promise.
“We are in your debt. Call on us if you need anything.”
“That’s not necessary,” Conn answered after a brief pause. “But I appreciate it.”
“So, they are making moves today?”
“It’s already in motion.”
“Good. Keep us posted.”
“I’m sure you’ll hear about it soon,” Connor said with a dry chuckle.
“Thank your buddies for us.”
“Will do.”
Vince ended the call and steepled his hands together, staring at me. Then he did the second thing he hardly ever did.
My big brother smiled.
I spent the next hour pleasantly contemplating taking my wife to bed while watching her eat takeout Chinese food, which she devoured gleefully. She was eager to get back to her books. I was eager for her.
I gave my wife a quick kiss, telling her she smelled like eggrolls.
“Is everything okay?” she’d asked worriedly when I came up from seeing my brother. I’d just shaken my head. This was one thing I couldn’t talk to her about. I wouldn’t.
I had to keep up a front to be worried about the old man as this thing unfolded, but Evie didn’t need to know that. I knew she wouldn’t say anything, anyway. The girl played things close to the vest. It was one of the things I loved about her.
And right now, I was going to show her how I felt, even if I hadn’t said it yet.
“I got you something,” I said, placing a large velvet jewelry box in front of her.
She gave me a funny look.
“You don’t need to buy me so much stuff.”
It was true, I’d been spoiling her. But it was fun. In fact, I couldn’t think of anything better. Other than making love to her, of course.
Which I planned to do very soon and very, very thoroughly.
“Oh, but I want to. Open it,” I said with an encouraging smile. I wanted to see her reaction. I had resisted the urge to buy her a huge piece of jewelry. I’d wanted to get her something for everyday use.
My girl was learning to be fancy, but she was still a college student. Her style was more casual, I was learning. Her style was naturally dainty and pretty. The jewelry I’d bought for her reflected that.
She gave me a look but did as I asked. I watched her face light up when she saw what was inside. I’d bought her a gold chain and locket with a few small diamonds set inside. A pair of delicate gold hoops with small diamonds set along the rim. And a gold charm bracelet with a few charms. Books, kittens, and a movie reel, to start.
“I thought we could add to it over time,” I said, laying it over her delicate wrist and latching the bracelet into place.
“It’s beautiful, Tony. Thank you.”
“Thank me with a kiss,” I demanded. She stood and leaned up, pressing a soft kiss into my lips. Her mouth was so delectable and soft that I groaned. Then I turned her around so I could put the necklace on her.
“It’s inscribed,” she said. “What does ‘cara mia’ mean?”
“It means ‘my heart’,” I said huskily.
“There’s a place for a picture inside,” she said with a touch of wonder. She was so sweet, it made me believe there was good in the world. She’d done that to me. After everything I’d seen and done, Evie made me believe in the inherent goodness of people.
My voice was thick with emotion when I finally spoke.
“You can chose something for it. I thought you might want to wait to fill it,” I added, hoping that she might want a picture of our child inside. Or me. I watched as she slipped the earrings into her pierced lobes and stared again at the bracelet. I tapped one of the ornately carved charms, sending it swinging.
“Speaking of kittens, have you visited them lately?”
She shook her head softly.
