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“I didn’t either. But, Alex’s contingency only included Avery. I’m a businesswoman, he should’ve been more specific.”
“But how did he . . .”
“Oh, my uncle’s one of those CIA operatives—at least we all think so. He’s a human mind reader. Anyway, I’ll tell Donnie. My conscience will be clear.”
I skim my hands along her thighs. “You have this all figured out. What about the undercover Grinch?”
Gina makes like she’s cracking her neck, then threads her fingers together as if to crack her knuckles.
I chuckle. “Gina.”
“Whatever, Santino. She has beady eyes!”
“I’m never going to live this down.”
“Nope. But you haven’t given memyring yet, so you still have time to weigh your options.”
* * *
An hour later,we’re at a bar with peanut shells on the ground. The only type of place open on Christmas. Geraldine and Gina are pretending to play pool while my Bella shares about this past week. A couple of beers before us, I sit at the wooden counter with Zane.
Gina and I have just spoken with my mom. She shared a Christmas card from Cecco and Piero—guess we’ll call that progress. She was oblivious about us being in the news, and Big Tony was on FaceTime with Antonia. He looked slightly slimmer in the face. So, I could only guess my uncle’s torture device included not feeding him while he was in Cecco’s basement.
Antonia said that this was the best Christmas she had with her dad. I smile, shake my head, and drink from my beer. “So, Zane, you’ve been married this entire time and the dad . . .?”
“Oh, he knows, now. Gina spilled the beans earlier.” Zane lifts the beer, chortles, and takes a pull. “That girl went to bat for you. The Alexander fellah, get on his side. He’s got better ball grips than the dad.”
“Good to know.”
Albert sighs. “I think their Uncle Alex’s some sort of Interpol operative. Knew about the tiniest infractions I ever had in my hometown as a teen. But once he likes you, the Christmas baskets are amazing.”
The girls head over to us. Geraldine sighs, mentioning the Christmas baskets too.
Gina stands behind my stool, kneading my neck. “I told my sis we’d meet up with them next month. I’m sure you have to go home and check on your ma and Antonia.”
I groan, eyes closed, focusing on the magic of her soft fingers.
Gina says, “Before you guys give us a lift back to reality, I’m buying us a bottle . . . Uh can I buy a bottle here?”
I pull her around, positioned between my legs. “We don’t need that much to drink, Bella.”
“But Gabby and Steven have put Lil Stevie and the baby down for a nap. Their car just pulled in.”
“Why . . .” My voice trails off.
Geraldine and Zane have also locked her in with quizzical stare when I catch on. The bottle service was a joke.
I run a hand up Gina’s cheek. “I won’t be a source of contention between the two of you, Bella. As long as she keeps my name out of her mouth, I’ll . . .”
“Oh, she will.” Gina glowers, her eyes transforming into tiny slits, deep in thought. “Seems Gabby wanted to show me the type of guy you were.”
“Which was very fucked up. You’ll volunteer as tribute. Someone has to be punished?”
Biting her lip, Gina says, “Damn, Dirty Santino, of course do me any way you like, baby. I haven’t been the greatest lover, you will have no complaints from me. However, it’s time for the Grinch to sow what she reaped. I’ll be the judge, jury, and executioner of that.”
60
Gina
