31

Bobby
For the first time in, well, ever, I wish I brought a date to a family event.
We’re at my cousin Mario’s wedding Friday evening, but being here with the twins feels wrong. I don’t mean that it was wrong to bring them, but it feels like something’s missing.
Lexi’s missing.
But I couldn’t bring her here. You can’t enmesh outsiders with the Family. It was sticky enough to get divorced. I got grilled a hundred times by Al about how much my ex knew and what kind of liability she’d be. No one wanted me to cut her loose. Divorce is uncommon in La Cosa Nostra. The only way out of The Family is in a box, as they say.
But as I sit and watch the young people dancing on the ballroom floor, I wish I was out there, holding Lexi’s perfect curves up against my body. I’m sure she’s a great dancer. And she would fit in here. She’s the type who can make conversation with anyone. The family would love her, except for those who say I’m robbing the cradle.
The music changes to a slow song, and I watch Carlo glance at the don before he makes his way to Summer’s side. Dangerous territory for him. He should stop pining for the don’s daughter before he gets himself in more trouble than he can handle.
Summer lights up when he takes her hand, though, and I have to admit, the two make a beautiful couple.
Janine and Juliana spin off the dance floor and plop down at our table.
“Summer gets all the hot guys,” Janine mutters to her sister.
“Seriously. I want Carlo. He has the sexiest accent.”
My brain implodes at everything that’s wrong about what I just overheard.
“Dad’s stroking out right now.” Janine laughs.
“Maybe now is the right time to mention I have a date tomorrow,” Juliana says brightly. “With a guy from school.”
I loosen my tie. Force my fingers to unflex. I want to be cool here. It’s better if I know what’s going on in their lives than if they hide things from me.
“Is he picking you up at the house?”
“Are you kidding? No chance. I’m not going to let you intimidate him. I like this guy.”
I nod. “Fine. If you won’t let me meet him, pass along a message from me. You just tell him I will break both his arms if he hurts you.”
“That would be funny if it weren’t true,” Janine observes. “And speaking of introductions. Why didn’t you bring Lexi to the wedding?”
“Yeah, Dad. You look lonely,” Juliana chimes in.
“I’m not lonely.” I frown to shut them up, but they’re already on a roll.
“When do we get to meet her?” Janine asks.
“I already told you we’re not doing that.” Although the idea of introducing them actually does appeal to me. The girls would probably like her if they could get over the fact that she’s only seven years older than they are. Lexi would like them, I’m sure. She’s the type who makes friends easily. It’s worth considering for the future.
I stand when Jessie and Dean walk by. The girls crowd in to ogle baby Olive.
“Oh my God, she’s the cutest baby ever. Can I hold her?” Juliana gives Olive an exaggerated smile as she reaches for her.
“Where is Lexi?” Jessie asks.
Janine gives an exaggerated gasp and turns to me, her jaw open. “Jessie’s met Lexi, and we haven’t?” she demands.
I roll my eyes. “We went to a Yankees game together. It wasn’t planned.”
Janine shakes her head and looks to Dean and Jessie for support. “I don’t get it. Is there something wrong with her? Why won’t you bring her around?”
“No, she’s great,” Jessie says. “He’s probably just trying to keep things uncomplicated.”
I shake my head and walk off before they can razz me any further. I need a drink.
I find Al at the bar with Joey. “Why aren’t you out there dancing?” I ask Joey after ordering a Glen Livit on the rocks. He’s usually quick to spin a woman around the floor for a dance.
He grimaces. “I strained my back lifting weights yesterday.”
“You’re getting old.” Al sips a glass of grappa.
“That’s you.” Joey is fifteen years younger than Althey’re half brothers.
“You should go get a massage. I heard Artie Palazzo’s daughter is a masseuse now. You should see her. It’d be good to throw her some cash, you know?” Al reminds Joey of Artie Palazzo, a made man who was killed years ago. The Family takes care of their own in a case like that, and we had, but his widow and daughter Sophie had worked to put distance between themselves and La Cosa Nostra in the years since.
“So what’s the word with the Feds?” Al asks, but his gaze is on Carlo and Summer. As if Carlo senses it, the moment the song ends, he gives Summer a polite kiss on the cheek and makes his way to us.
“Crawling up my ass.”
“They gonna find anything?”
I shake my head. “Nope. But they’re costing me in headaches. Plus, I’ll have to triple future payoffs to the mayor after this.”
“That sucks.” Al watches Carlo approach with a stony expression.
I shrug. “It’s no big deal. Chalk it up to the cost of doing business. I’m satisfied knowing they’re pouring their resources into a fruitless investigation.”
Al snorts. “Right. Thank you for that.”
“Anytime, Boss.”
Carlo orders a drink and leans an elbow on the bar near us.
“Who do you think talked?” Al asks. I catch the danger in his gaze. Informers are eliminated. Immediately.
I shake my head. “No one on my side. I’m careful as fuck. Greta knows nothing, and she’s family, anyway.” My secretary is the sister of one of the soldiers in the organization.
“What about your girlfriends? That stripper who was getting pushy? Any of them know anything?”
My pulse speeds up. Stacy was a pain in my ass, but that doesn’t mean I want her in the don’s crosshairs. And just the idea of him threatening Lexi makes me itchy and hot.
“They’re clean. No contact to my business. Ever.”
“What about contact to your phone?”
“No.” Somehow I manage to keep my gaze perfectly steady despite the twitch of my fingers to close into a fist. Lexi had my phone the one time, but I believed her that it was a mistake. She saw a text about the investigation. Nothing damning. Nothing she could testify about.
Al’s eyes narrow like he knows I’m lying. “You sure about that?” There’s a thread of menace in his voice.
I’m not gonna come clean. Not to throw Lexi under a bus.
So I just nod my head. “Yeah. I’m sure. One hundred percent.”