Page 74 of Roman

“You’re in a mood,” he said after a while of silence. “I thought yesterday went well.”

“It did. Effie did exactly what I needed her to do. Hopefully it will get Nonna off my back for a while.”

“Was that all it was, Roman? The two of you playing a part? Looked like more to me.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but his phone rang and he frowned, looking at the screen.

He answered, listening and asking some questions as I looked at the feed from my suite. Effie was awake now, staring out the window of the suite. Her back was to the camera, but I could see the tense set of her shoulders.

I had no idea what to do. How to fix this. How to start the conversation.

How to apologize.

Roman Costas never apologized.

I was at a total loss.

“Roman.”

I looked up at Aldo’s serious expression. “What happened?”

“There’s been a fire.”

I stood, instantly on edge. “Where? Nonna?”

He shook his head. “Bagels and Bites. The building burned down this morning.”

“Let’s go.”

I surveyed the damage. What was left of the building. Effie’s business and home. There wasn’t much. Smoke was heavy in the air. Bricks, glass, wood, and steel were bent and broken. There were smoldering embers the fire department was still pouring water on. The roof had collapsed, and everything inside destroyed.

“Did the men get in yet?”

“Yes.” He paused. “At least there is that.”

I nodded. Margi and Anne stood to the side, both women in tears. I approached them. “No one was inside?” I asked, knowing how devastated Effie would be if one of her staff was injured—or worse.

“No. We’re closed Sundays, and I came in yesterday and worked ahead so I was later this morning.” Margi shook her head. “They said it was a gas leak.”

I exchanged a look with Aldo. Everything in me told me this wasn’t a gas leak. This was retaliation. The Santini brothers found the bodies of their dead men and had somehow traced it back to me. Traced Effie back to me.

She was in more danger now than before.

Aldo was already walking away, his phone to his ear. He would be adding more security.

I turned back to the women. “Send me all the payroll information. All the staff will be paid for the next three months until they can find other jobs. Get me your résumés. I can find you something at the casino if you’re interested. We’re always hiring in the restaurants.”

“Um, Effie⁠—”

I cut her off. “Effie will be fine. I will handle this for her.”

“Will she reopen?”

I stared at the smoldering ruins, knowing I was about to make Effie hate me even more than she already did after last night.

“No.”

In the car, I looked at Aldo. He was calm, returning my gaze. “They know.”