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Francesca’s eyes darkened, and her cheeks flushed.
“Is that your daughter?” I leaned forward and whispered.
She nodded again. “Bitch.”
The word she said sounded more like “beach,” but I knew what she meant. I put my hand in front of my mouth to stifle a giggle. “Your oldest, then?”
The smile left Francesca’s face. “No.”
Rogue returned to the table at the same time Francesca stood. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Have you ordered?”
“No, we got to talking,” I answered, taking his extended hand.
I looked up at Francesca to introduce them. “What is your name?” I asked.
“Mama!”This time, the shout from the kitchen was louder. Francesca scurried away without answering.
Keeping his eyes on the swinging door, Rogue used the edge of a paper napkin to pick up the plastic cup, then emptied the remaining water into a pot of flowers that sat near the table. I watched as he pulled a plastic bag from my oversized purse, which sat on the chair between us. He inserted the cup, then tucked it into my bag just as the other woman, Charlene, came out.
“We’re ready to order,” I announced, wondering if she’d respond in English.
Her eyes remained riveted on Rogue.
“The, um, Italian antipasto and a Margherita pizza, please.” I pointed at each on the menu, not that she looked. Instead, she eyed the bottle of water and single cup.
“I’ll have a Cisk lager, please,” Rogue said, following her line of sight.
When she retreated into the kitchen, we could hear the two women arguing. “I can’t understand anything they’re saying,” I murmured.
“I’m only getting bits and pieces, but it sounds like Charlene is yelling at Francesca for talking to you,” Delfino responded.
“Not very customer friendly of her,” I muttered.
“Hang on,” said Delfino. Both Rogue and I remained silent.
“Charlene said Francesca talked too much about her papa and Marco.”
“Meaning Francesca’s husband and their son?” I whispered.
“Yes.”
Since Delfino was quiet again, I remained so too, but the voices sounded farther away.
“I think they’re talking about another daughter, but I can’t make out any of what they’re saying. Except she just told Francesca to keep her mouth closed.”
“Would this be a good time for us to join you?” Magnet’s voice came through the earpiece.
Rogue leaned closer and put his arm around my shoulders as though he was whispering something in my ear rather than into the comms. “I think it would be,” he said as Charlene came out of the kitchen and practically slammed the bottle of beer on the table in front of him. “The daughter doesn’t like me much. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”
“By the way, Schön, well done. Excellent work.”
“Thanks, Magnet,” I whispered, wishing there was a way I could’ve prevented Ehren from hearing his compliment and my response.
I had to admit Rogue, who was still leaned into me as though he was nuzzling my neck, smelled really good. Just not as good as Magnet. Also, when he leaned too close and brushed my neck with his nose, my body had no reaction. None whatsoever.
“I was able to get a possible sample from Francesca. Nothing from Charlene yet, though,” he said. His breath was hot on my skin. However, the warmth didn’t feel anything but gross.
A few minutes later,Magnet walked in the door. “Good afternoon,mein Schatz,” he said with a German accent I hadn’t heard him use before.
