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He finally scratched, although I had a feeling he’d done so on purpose so the game wouldn’t be a landslide for him. Which I was used to. “What are you going to do? And please don’t provide any details. I’ll need to spend the rest of the night helping you atone.”
I scowled, shaking my head as he laughed. At least some of his tension was relieved where mine was increasing every minute. I had a very bad feeling the warning shot would soon turn into a bloodbath. I couldn’t allow that to happen. “Cut them off at the knees.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning,” I said as I took position behind the table, sizing up the balls. “I’m going to track Dante Bianchi’s whereabouts, finding out what makes him tick. From what I heard at Meghan’s party, Dante is a real piece of work and not in a good way.”
“Ah, stalking.” Dominick laughed.
“Whatever it takes, Dom. Maxwell was supposed to hold that meeting where my men died. They wanted to cut him down, hoping I couldn’t lead. That’s unacceptable in my world. Do you understand?”
“Need I remind you that you’re not God, nor are you allowed to become judge and jury, Francesco.”
They were the exact words Chrissy had accused me with so long ago.
“Says the honorable man of the cloth. Do you want to see my niece and nephew without their father? Do you want my sister to be forced to carry the burden of losing her husband at an early age? Trying to explain to her babies why their daddy isn’t around for birthdays and holidays?”
Dominick studied me intently then dropped his gaze. “There are times that you have me questioning my faith.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do, Dom. I love my family. That’s not something that came easily or without working through a hell of a lot of rage. You know that better than anyone in my life.”
“I know, buddy. Trust me, I know.” He’d shared more than a bottle of booze while I’d spouted off about all the ways I’d wanted to put a bullet in Maxwell’s brain, Viper a close second. I’d been an angry kid, so much so I was shocked I’d made it to twenty-one alive without landing my ass in prison. Dom had been part of the reason.
“Maxwell rubbing off on you had made a powerful change in your life. Even if I like to think I had a part in that too.”
I chuckled and thought about his advice. “You’re right about Max. One of the lessons he taught me was that every man has a weakness, something that they try to hide in the deepest part of their souls. However, once exposed, it will drag them to their knees. That lessens that need for violence. Usually anyway. Nine in the corner.” With my shot successful, I shifted my heated gaze in his direction.
“And my weakness?” he asked, whistling after the ball twirled, banking off the side then dropping in.
I thought about his question. “Caring too much, Father Saltori.”
“I consider that a benefit to my job,” he said, scrubbing his jaw.
“Even when you can’t help the beautiful waifs who find themselves inside your church?”
“Even then,” he said with significant emotion. “Let me think. Ah, yes. I remember your weakness.”
“And that would be?”
“Chrissy, the only woman you’re determined to allow yourself to love, the one you believe you no longer deserve because you wanted her protected.”
“Wow. You were paying attention.”
“Of course I was. You were hurting. I understand it more than you know. You did the right thing, Fran, whether you want to believe it or not. You had no idea what the Bianchis were capable of. At least now you do.”
While he was right, a cold shiver ran down my spine. I’d told him my secret because I knew he couldn’t allow it to slip to anyone. Not that he would anyway. He’d take my secrets to his grave. I’d done my best to not try to think about her. Although the last few days, thoughts and images of Chrissy had rattled my mind. “Chrissy was something special.”
“I know. I keep thinking about the girl in the rectory. I can’t imagine they were the same girl.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I polished off the last of my drink with no intention of stopping now. “Maybe what I’m thinking is next to impossible.”
Dominick headed toward his drink, a smirk on his face.
“What?” I barked.
“I’ve learned that nothing is impossible if you pray about it. Well, almost nothing.”
I studied him for another few seconds, refusing to tell him that I had prayed after Chrissy had disappeared. That was the last time I’d done so. It would never happen again. “Spill it, Dom. I’ll give you the same piece of advice you gave me. Until you let the past go, you’ll never be able to move into the future.”
