Page 89 of Pretty Lies

It was a bit of a complex.

Or the making of one.

“This can’t wait a day?” Cory asked. “Her mother just got out of the hospital. Her brother died. Frankie’s not stopped with the phone since we got here earlier, and—”

“And business comes first, Cory. In the Outfit, it must. It also seems like I have a lot to catch up on with my Capo and his different business ventures, so I would rather just get it out of the way and continue with removing the current issue my organization faces because of his affiliations. Or his daughter’s, for that matter. Are you about finished?”

He could ask Tommas the same.

Could.

He didn’t.

Cory was a smartass.

Not stupid.

“If you are finished,” Tommas said when Cory hung up his coat on a waiting hook, “take me in to see Chloe. My wife had to meet up with her sister this morning, and I don’t want Chloe to think she isn’t coming to spend the afternoon with her like she promised to do. Despite what you might think about my business for being here, the Costellos are old friends. They also need their friends right now, Cory.”

Right.

“Yeah, sure, boss.”

Mace was still soaking up every second of the love and attention that he could get from Della and her mother when Cory and Tommas came to stand in the entryway. It took the ladies a minute to notice they were no longer alone.

He wasn’t sure if he expected anger from Chloe to see the Outfit’s boss standing there, but a sad smile colored the woman’s expression.

“Tommas,” she said softly.

Beside him, Tommas loosened his stance a bit. “Ella’s a little late. She’s coming, though.”

“Good.”

“With that tea you like, too.”

Chloe managed a laugh. “As long as somebody finds me some whiskey to chase it with.”

“Ma, I’m not sure you should be drinking,” Della said carefully.

“It’s due,” Tommas put in before anyone else could say anything else. “I’m sorry, Chloe. J was a good one—you made sure of that.”

Just as fast as she’d been staring up from the chaise, Chloe’s head dipped low, and her hand came up to wipe away the trail of wetness slipping down her cheek. “I tried. Frankie’s upstairs, Tommas.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Turning on the heels of his leather loafers, Tommas gave Cory a nod when he said, “Have your woman join us upstairs, please.”

The silence from the room couldn’t be missed. Neither were the words Tommas chose to use in that moment. Your woman. A detail Cory had only really ever thought about, next to the conversation or two he had with his brother.

Had Joe talked to their dad, who then went to Tommas?

Or was this shit just written on Cory’s face?

Tommas smiled a bit, lifting two fingers to point between the side of his head and Cory’s, answering the unspoken question rattling in his mind. “I make time to learn everything about everyone—people often forget how far a boss’s hand extends when it counts. Have her join us.”

The boss headed down the hall.

Cory looked to Della.