AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Marco glared at me and gestured at the door. “Close it.”
Alicia did and stayed standing.
He heaved a sigh, leaning back in the creaky, ancient office chair. “Now, what’s going on with my brother?”
“He’s doing a lot of coke and acting like someone’s out to get him, which I don’t know if that’s because of the drugs or something else.”
Marco exhaled loudly. “Anything else?”
Alicia shook her head, and Marco dipped his chin. “Thank you for telling me. You can go.”
She silently left the stuffy room. As soon as the door closed, Marco’s dark gaze fell on me. “Beth didn’t budge?”
“Not only did she not budge, but she gave me a psychiatrist's business card.”
He threw his head back with a laugh. “No. That’s amazing.”
“Apparently, marrying a Moretti is a reason to seek help.”
“I mean, she’s not wrong.” Marco unwrapped a mint and popped it in his mouth. “I guess it’s time for me to formally meet our new mayor.”
“Do your thing.” I slouched in the chair and noticed the pictures lining the back wall. “Is that your dad?”
He didn’t bother looking behind him. “Yes.”
“Then that’s you and Mickey?”
He spun the chair around. It groaned loudly under his weight and the movement.
“You should really grease that thing.”
Marco ignored me. “That was the day Dad took over. The first Moretti to run the place, but not cook.” He glanced over his shoulder and then back to the wall, pointing to the next picture. “And that’s little Luca cooking with our great uncle.”
I leaned forward, smiling. “I know that look. Whatever’s on that spoon doesn’t taste right.”
“Always the perfectionist.” Marco rubbed his jaw.
“A family trait.”
Marco turned back around, a sad smile on his face. “Tommy drive you here?”
“Yep. I should get out of here before the dinner rush.”
He walked me out, waiting with me at the curb. “I talked to Rosa.”
“And how did that go?”
“She’s going on a trip.”
The sun was setting, but there was no relief from the heat. Sweat on the nape of my neck soaked into the collar of my blouse. “That’s probably for the best.”
“I agree. Give her time to clear her head.”
I nodded, dabbing a bit of sweat from my lip. No amount of time would change what happened, but I hoped Rosa would eventually find it in her heart not to hate me. An ugly, prickly emotion grew in my gut.
What if she didn’t?
What if I’d lost her forever?
