A laugh rumbled through Leo’s broad chest. “You do know me well.” After a gulp of wine, he said, “The truth is, I really want to do something that’s all my own. Something my brothers don’t have a hand in.”
“A hospital for orphaned children?” I suggested sarcastically.
“That mouth of yours,” Leo mused.
Tapping my chin, I said, “A high-end escort service?”
“Rafe’s already cornered the sex market with Inferno. But you’re sorta close with the idea of a club.”
“Then what?”
“I want to open a casino.”
Somehow, his response surprised me. Not that Famiglia families weren’t known for owning casinos, especially out west. “Really? You don’t seem like a flashy casino type guy.”
“I’ve always wanted to do something that provided entertainment. Then after Caterina married into the Kavanaugh family, I got to know her brother-in-law, Dare. When he told me about the casino he’s opening in Boston, I realized that’s what I wanted to do, too.”
“Maybe you guys could go into business together,” I suggested.
Shaking his head, Leo’s expression became determined. “No. I want to do it all on my own.”
“Then I’m sure you will.”
He smiled. “One day, Rafe can bring you to my opening.”
An ache spread through my chest at his words. “I’d like that a lot.”
“Maybe I’ll let you cut the ribbon.”
“Or maybe I could launch a bottle of champagne at the side of the building like they do with ships,” I suggested with a smile.
“I like that idea.”
I pushed my fork through the leftovers on my plate. With my chest tightening, I said, “I’m sure you’ll have a lovely lady on your arm by then. I doubt she’d allow me to cut any ribbons or break champagne.”
“I suppose not,” Leo said in a low voice.
The air around us grew thick with all the unsaid emotions. Considering what I was feeling, I had to believe that Leo feltthem too. But we were too tightly bound by the honor of our world to say anything.
After exhaling a ragged breath, I rose from my seat. “I'd better get started on these dishes.”
“Let me help you,” Leo said as he stood up.
“No, no. You did the cooking. I should do the cleaning.”
Shaking his head, he argued, “You helped me cook.”
“You flatter me since I basically just mixed and stirred food. Besides, I’m just going to rinse and throw everything in the dishwasher.”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
I laughed. “If there’s one thing that’s consistent about me, it’s my stubbornness.”
“You and Rafe are really going to butt heads because he’s a stubborn ass.”
“Somehow I think that it’s a family trait.”
“Har, har,” Leo replied.
