Page 90 of The Fixer

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do. Hey,” he said, clapping my shoulder again, “I gotta run. Catch up later?”

“Of course.”

Rolly ran off through the crowd, his sunburned shoulders shining in the afternoon sun. Not far in front of him bobbed a head of dark brown hair, one side shaved close to the scalp, the rest gathered in a ponytail at the nape of her neck, the style showing off a matching sunburn.

Jael David.

The two had been the best of friends, once upon a time. Then lovers, destined for a life together, right up until Jael’s eighteenth birthday. She’d disappeared in the middle of the night, run off to join the IDF, tearing out the man’s heart when she went.

It was only this past summer that she’d come back; the woman a part of the crew I’d put together to guard Paulo’s most precious assets, which had now come back home.

“Jet!” A little ball of energy crashed into me, arms wrapping me tight. I looked down and found Tessa Silva smiling up at me. “I’ve missed you! How are you?”

“I’m good, Tessa. How are you?”

She edged back, hands cradling her tummy. “I’m wonderful.” A larger set of hands slid over hers, the man who’d claimed this tiny woman as his own.

“G, good to see you again.”

The man only answered with a nod. His brother, Yanny, came up beside him, and we shook hands before Lia Silva reached out to hug me, too. I was jostled through the crowd, greeting Paulo’s guests, introducing Eliza, catching up in a way I hadn’t been able to the last time I was here. With Eliza at my side, the weight I’d borne on my shoulders had lifted, her happiness and safety now my biggest concern.

And she looked happy, the smile on her face radiant, that fucking dimple caving in her cheek. It took everything in me not to attack her mouth with my own every time she smiled.

Lorenzo and Carmen Giordano stopped before me, the two of them smiling wider than I’d ever seen.

“You’re Eliza Westbrook,” Carmen said, hands extending toward my girl. She took Eliza’s hands in hers, looking her over like a mother would a daughter. “You look just like your mom.”

Eliza gasped. “You knew her?”

“I did. I worked with her at Hope before Rolly was born. You were such a wee little one back then. And your momma was such a lovely person. The world lost an angel when God called her home. And look at you.” Carmen turned her smile on me. “The both of you. You make such a beautiful couple.”

“Thank you,” Eliza murmured, a blush working its way across her cheeks.

“Think you can teach my son how to settle down?” Lorenzo asked, a chuckle in his voice. “He about gave us a heart attack earlier this year.”

“I just want him happy.” Carmen grasped my arm. Then, under her breath, she asked, “Do you think you can fix him up with anyone?”

Laughter ricocheted in my chest, and I wiped a hand across my jaw, watching as that dark ponytail disappeared around the corner of the house with Rolly following behind. “That’s not the kind of thing I usually fix. But for you, I’ll give it a try.”

“Thank you,” she told me as the sound of silver clinking on glass rang out.

“Can I have your attention, please?” Paulo asked, speaking into a microphone Mateo handed him. The crowd quieted to a murmur, those furthest out pushing closer so they could hear. Out in the field of green grass that surrounded the estate, even my nieces and nephews and the other children who were running around came racing toward the house.

That was the thing about Paulo D’Angelo. He commanded respect from his people, but he gave them respect in return. And that respect garnered a deep loyalty that could be found in everyone in his organization, from his highest lieutenants to the tiniest of the kids.

“Zio Jet!” Rebecca’s daughter, Piper, grabbed my hand and started to pull. “Come on! We have to get closer so we can see!”

Piper’s brother, Logan, took hold of Eliza’s hand. “Wiza, come qwick!”

My girl gave me a smile and released my hand so the children could tug us through the crowd. Piper pulled me straight up toward the house, where my family had gathered in a group. The girl released me, passing me off to my mother, who pulled me into a hug.

Paulo climbed atop the stone steps leading to the pool and looked out at the gathering crowd. He lifted the mic to his mouth, then paused, casting a glance to the side. Queenie rushed up the steps with Mateo on her tail. Mateo tugged at his ear, then gave Paulo a thumbs up.

“Thank you all for coming.” Paulo shifted, his gaze dragging over the crowd. “This celebration has been a long time coming, and I’m beyond thrilled that I can share it with you. All of you here, you are the rocks that hold this family together, and I couldn’t do what I do without you.

“This year has brought us challenges that tested our strength and tried to tear us apart. People within this family who actively worked against us, giving information to one of our greatest enemies. But this year has also brought us closer. It gave me back my daughter. It has extended our family,” he said, gesturing to Mariana and Yanny Medina, “and brought us new allies who have pledged their support and their strength to back our own.”