Cara
It feels strange being back at the diner. Even weirder since I’m not in uniform.
“Please, can I get you anything else, Mrs. Khazan?” Demetrios asks me, wringing his hands together.
“You have to stop calling me that,” I say with a big smile. “I’m still just Cara.”
“Yes, of course, Mrs. Khazan-I mean, Cara.” He returns my warm smile. “It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you too.”
He pats my hand and walks off to help his wife in the back.
I drink coffee alone at the counter. Greek soldiers come and go, the place packed with them. Alonzo lurks nearby, laughing with some of the boys. He gets along with everyone so well-it surprises me that he got twisted up into the crew that tried to betray Eros. But so far, Alonzo has done nothing but show loyalty and respect. It helps that I like him.
“You look different.” Phel leans against the counter in front of me. “Something about you changed.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say innocently.
“Hm. You’re wearing the wedding ring. That’s nice. But that’s not it.”
I tilt my head from side to side. “Maybe it’s the fact that I’m not in the uniform.”
“No, I think it’s more like, you look like a rich lady.”
I gasp, mock-offended. “How dare you.”
“Hon, you’re in a silk blouse and jeans that probably cost more than my dad’s mortgage. You have serious rich lady vibes right now.”
I grin at her and stretch out my legs to show off my sneakers. “Still me though.”
“You’ve got that going for you at least.”
“Hey, I’m trying to embrace my new life, you know? Enjoying the fruits of nearly getting murdered. Several times.”
“Fair enough,” she says, eyeing my black eye with a frown. “Is there a story behind that shiner?”
“There is, but don’t worry, Eros was the solution, not the problem.”
She nods once. “Good to hear.”
“As it turns out, he’s wearing his wedding ring now too.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Is that so? What’d you do? Gave him some sex he couldn’t forget?”
“Oh, god,” I say, laughing. “I mean, yes, but that’s not what made him put it on. I think we’re just… I don’t know. Can I say we’re growing without sounding dumb?”
“You absolutely can,” she says. “It must help with what happened and all. One less thing to stress about.”
“Totally,” I say absently then frown at her. “Wait, after what happened?”
“All the guys are talking about it,” she says, eyebrows knitting together. “You know, the whole Don Pavone thing? The boys can’t shut up about your husband.”
“Sorry, what now? What did Eros do?”
“You don’t know.” She leans closer. “Apparently, your big, bad husband killed the Don of the Pavone Famiglia at some secret meeting.” She slashes a hand across her throat. “Did it with a knife. Really gory and awful stuff.”
“He did?” I blink rapidly at her. I knew Eros was dealing with something and seemed a little bit more relaxed, but he hadn’t told me about this.
“Totally. Some brutal stuff, apparently. Really won the respect of the soldiers.”
“Huh.” I glance over my shoulder. “Which means what, exactly?”
“They’re all saying the war’s basically done now. I mean, the Famiglia isn’t finished, but nobody’s been fighting for the last day or two because the Italians are panicking and killing each other. Eros didn’t tell you any of this?”
“No,” I say quietly. “We’ve been dealing with some other stuff.”
“Fucking like rabbits, I bet.”
“Phel!”
“Just saying, a healthy sex life is key to a loving, lasting relationship.”
“Your sage-like insights are amazing as always.” I finish my coffee and push back from the counter. “I should head back and have a chat with my husband.”
“Don’t be too hard on him. Or do, make-up sex is the best.”
“Bye, Phel.”
“Stop by again soon!” She waves as I walk off.