My uncle was serious. I threw his generosity in his face, and yet he was sitting there, forgiving me and welcoming me back.
I didn’t deserve it. Especially….
“Here.” I gulped and pulled the wad of cash from my pocket. “I took some of this from your nightstand. If you—if you want to rethink that offer, I’ll understand.”
Theo plucked the wad of cash, stroked it with his thumb, then tossed it on the table near me.
“Keep it,” he said softly.
Right then and there, I decided I was done running. My past was sure to catch up with me here, since the phone could be traced to Boston. But in the face of my uncle’s kindness, I resolved to fight it rather than run and hide.
“No, I can’t,” I breathed, pushing the money toward him.
Theo shook his head. “I have more money than I know what to do with. And you’re welcome to whatever you want.”
“Uncle Theo,” I groaned. “I don’t deserve this.”
His smile was terribly sad. “I couldn’t help your mama; she never let me. But you’re here. And I want to help you. So—” he pushed the money back and tapped a hard finger on it. “Take the cash.”
“I don’t need it,” I insisted. “I’m not running.”
“Not right now you’re not, but I know the temptation will be strong for a while yet. You’ll fight it, and having the money will help you know it’s an option. But it’s one I hope you don’t take.” Theo rose and pulled his uniform jacket over hisshoulder. “I’m headed up to the main house. If you’d like to help with dinner service, I’d be grateful. Maddie can’t hold a platter still to save her life.”
I laughed. “Let me go change quick, then I’ll be right there.”
Theo nodded and moved to the door. I shot from my seat. This time, my hug was hard and filled with a strange emotion. One that normal people felt. Love. Theo patted my back, holding me tight for a blissful second.
“Ti volgio bene, cara mia,” he whispered.
“Same,” I croaked. That was one phrase I knew by heart. And I meant it with every fiber of my black soul. “Same, Zio.”
Chapter 28 – Nico
Knowing what waited for me in the private lounge of the La Rosa Via, I popped a handful of Dramamine. The stench of cigarettes belched from the room. Breathing through my mouth didn’t help. I cursed my father silently. He caught me smoking once, made me smoke an entire pack, then made me eat the last cigarette, swallowing every toxic bite. I never touched the shit again. Even cigars made me queasy.
Yet the capos sat around the table, each one holding a toxic stick in their fingers. The don was on his third. The fact that his wife asked him not to, and his doctor forbade it, didn’t escape me.
I might not have put a ring on my woman’s finger, but if she asked for something like quitting the death sticks, I would have moved heaven and earth to make her happy.
“Dominico, good of you to join us,” Alfonso said with a condescending smile.
I dropped my gaze so as not to glare at him. “Glad I got your text.”
The manipulative bastard sent it right before the meeting started, knowing full well that I wouldn’t be on time. Such a petty game. One that took me away from the actual work of operating the criminal empire.
“Now that we’re all here,” my grandfather drawled. “We have a matter of the utmost importance.”
My fingers drummed against my thigh.
“We seem to be at war with Carlos,” Grey Tony explained to me. “He’s under the impression that we didn’t take his attack seriously enough.”
“We can’t lose his business,” Alfonso insisted.
The urge to strangle the capo made every muscle lock tight in place. How could these old men be so blind? That was exactly what we should be doing. Cut the fat from our business, deal directly with better product. The Zorzallo Famiglia wascleaning up their streets. Why the hell weren’t we taking the opportunity to do the same?
“I have a solution for that.” My grandfather sounded irritable. “My granddaughter Caterina is as wild as her mother. It’s time she settled down, and I know Carlos will jump at the chance to tie himself to our organization in such an…intimate way.”
The old men chuckled.
