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“I’m not trying to cause problems, Michael. I’m simply doing business. I hope I don’t need to remind you:My business.”
And with that, he hung up—getting the last word in like he always did.
“Goddamn it!” I yelled, pulling my hair. “Mother fucker!” My eyes landed on the plans rolled out on my desk. I stared at them, slapped my hands on the table. “Fuck!” I roared, my voice echoing in the empty space. I flung the papers to the floor and slammed my fists down onto the bare tabletop.
My phone vibrated again.
“What?” I bellowed into it.
“Michael, it’s Sophia. Am I calling at a bad time?” Her voice sounded surprised.
“Sorry, Sophia. I thought you were some idiot from the office calling me back.” I took a breath to calm myself.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to cause you more of a headache. But I need a favor.”
“Anything. How’s Sal?”
“He’s doing better. We finally got him settled in his own bed. Thank god for you and the girls. You all totally stepped up. They’ve done nothing but rave about you and how amazing you are.”
“It was nothing. Just friends helping friends.” I didn’t think I could still blush, but Sophia Moretti’s words made my cheeks feel hot.
“No. You’re not a friend.”
My heart stopped.
“You’re family, Michael. You’ve proven that time and again.”
“Sophia . . . I . . . Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me feel appreciated and welcome. I’m an outsider. I know that. Things between us may have started out a little tense, with the focus on both of our businesses. But I know our lives have begun to merge.”
“Entwined.”
“Yes, exactly. And I’m thankful for that. I’m glad Sal’s home.”
“Me too.” I heard her sigh through the line, a sense of relief. “You have no idea.”
“So, what’s this favor you have?”
A few minutes later, our phone call ended. I had tried to sound nonchalant when I asked about Siena, but I could feel Sophia had some inkling about us. My thoughts drifted back to the hospital: Sal in the hospital bed, Siena looking lost, and Sophia looking worried and tired.
I took a few deep breaths, thinking about everything that had transpired, trying to figure out what I needed to do. Tim contacting Siena. Sal’s heart attack. My dad’s phone call. Sophia’s favor. Siena.
I didn’t want to betray my family. But I didn’t want to betray the Morettis either.
“Fuck it,” I said, grabbing my phone from where I’d dropped it just moments before. I texted Jenny, made contact, and got what I needed from her.What the hell am I doing?
“Exactly what you need to do,” I told myself as I pulled up Mosby’s number and dialed.
“I need you to do something for me, no questions asked,” I told her when she answered.
“Okay.” She seemed slightly hesitant, but her trust in me, as well as my tone, told her to do exactly as instructed.
Siena
The overcast morning sky wasblanketed in pewter nimbus clouds. It was beautiful, except for the threat of rain, the earthy aroma of an approaching downpour in the air. The showers should hold off for a couple of hours, but I grabbed my jacket and umbrella just in case.
