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“Russel,” I growl. “Now that I’ve told you that, I need you to promise you won’t mention anything to him.”
Mom’s face drains of color. Her eyes get wide as if she’s looking for an escape. It happened the moment I mentioned Russel’s name. “What does this have to do withhim?”
“Promise, Mom. Please.”
“I promise. Now,youplease answer my question.”
I run a hand through my hair. “I’ve got reason to suspect that Russel broke into Scarlet’s apartment and threatened her. He loaned her dad some cash, her dad took off, and so he threatened his daughter instead.”
“Russel suggested the restaurant,” Luca says. “Scarlet works there as a waitress. We think he was trying to scare her. Or maybe just get a look at her and see what effect his threat had. Or, well, who knows how idiots like Russel think?”
Mom scowls. “I thoughtyouwere in support of this stadium project.”
“I was,” Luca says, “but I won’t work with somebody who breaks into women’s homes and threatens them. If the dad took a loan, then all right, he should’ve paid it. If he didn’t pay it…” Luca shrugs. “He made his bed the day he took the cash, but to go after his daughter? That’s cartel shit. That’s the shit the Marinos have always kept out of this city.”
I smile at my little brother’s passion, then focus on Mom. I can tell she’s getting frustrated. It makes me feel like one shitty son. “What makes you think Russel is the loan shark?” she asks.
“A hunch Scarlet had.”
“Ahunch?”
“Russel was eyeing her up at the restaurant.”
“You’re saying Angela—Scarlet—was working at the restaurant that night?”
“She served our food and drinks all night, Mom,” I say. “I knew you wouldn’t recognize her. You were too focused on Dad.”
That’s only half the truth. The other reason is that Mom rarely pays attention to waiting staff. She’s not rude—never that—but she doesn’t notice them. I probably don’t either, unless they’re curvy, perfect, andmine.
“Russel was reveling in it,” I say. “He chose that restaurant for a reason.”
“It’s hardly proof,” Mom replies, then drains her glass of wine.
“I can get proof,” I growl. “The debt’s owed tomorrow. The shark said he’d visit my…” Crap. I was about to saymy woman. “Scarlet’s apartment to check on it. I’m going to set up an ambush there. When the shark shows up, we’ll spring the trap. If it’s Russel, we’ll know who we’re in business with. If not, we’ll catch the shark and make him back off. It’s a win-win.”
“That’s not a win for us,” Mom says. “It will jeopardize our business.”
She’s not looking at us. Her head’s on a swivel, constantly changing direction. It’s like she’s hiding something. I can’t stop thinking about what Scarlet said. When Luca asked if I thought Mom would pretend Dad was speaking to her, the idea seemed insane to me, but now, not so much. Butwhy? If she’s doing this, she has to have a reason.
“It was Dad who said we should never be in business with men like that,” I grit out.
“Don’t yell at me, Elio,” Mom says, glaring.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“He didn’t yell,” Luca says quietly.
I wave a hand at him. “Mom,” I go on, “we have to do this. Maybe it’s a coincidence, and Russel chose that restaurant randomly. Maybe the shark is somebody else, but we have to find out, don’t we?”
“Dowe?” Mom says, her breath coming fast as if she’s about to have a meltdown. “I don’t think we should put our business at risk so hastily.”
“Let’s ask Dad about it, then,” I reply.
Mom flinches, head on a swivel again, looking anywhere but at me. She wasshockedwhen my singing angel’s voice stirred Dad to tears. There’s no doubt in my mind now. This whole thing has been a sham. I just can’t figure out why she would do that.
With a huff, she stands up. “I need a rest. This is all too messy for me. If you’re going to do it, do it. You clearly don’t need or want my opinion.”
She storms off the balcony, slamming the glass door behind her so hard it’s a miracle it doesn’t shatter. Luca leans forward and crosses his arms. “That was weird. I can’t remember the last time she got this upset.”
