Vinnie.
The steroid-fueled bodyguard watched me approach the building through narrowed eyes.
“You ever think about getting your eyes checked?” I asked as way of greeting.
“Why?”
“You squint a lot.”
“My eyes are fine. I wear contacts.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “I just figured a guy who takes such pride in his appearance”—I gestured at his muscle-bound physique—“wouldn’t want to end up with wrinkles from squinting so much.”
He stared at me for a long moment, trying to determine whether I was making fun of him. Unable to, he finally said, “Pudding time.”
I’d have liked to tell him that I didn’t really have any interest in eating since I still had a constant uneasy feeling that left me nauseated, but as a rule, turning down a mob boss isn’t good for one’s health. I walked inside the hospital, tossing over my shoulder, “At least consider investing in some sunglasses. They might help.”
The mobster’s henchman muttered something I couldn’t make out, but from his tone, I doubted he appreciated the advice.
I went straight to the cafeteria so he couldn’t call Delveccio and tell him that I was blowing him off. When I got there, he was twirling his pinky ring and staring off into space, deep in thought.
Seeing that he had two bowls of pudding in front of him, I approached cautiously. He smiled when he saw me and pushed one of the bowls of jiggling chocolate across the table for me. “You look tired.”
“Trouble sleeping,” I admitted sliding into a chair.
“Worried about our mutual friend?”
“Among other things.”
“Is Katie okay?” Despite being the head of a criminal organization, the Delveccio twins had a real love and respect for family.
“She’s doing well. How’s Dominic?”
His shoulders slumped as though the weight of his beloved grandson/grandnephew’s condition was too much for him. “They tell me he’s improving, but he still hasn’t woken up.”
Silence stretched between us until I confessed nervously, “I’m not sure I should say, ‘That’s great’ or ‘I’m sorry.’”
He nodded. “That’s okay. I don’t know how to feel about it either.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. Usually, Delveccio seemed like a larger-than-life character, but in that moment he was just a man. A man powerless to help someone he loved.
I remembered that feeling all too well from the time Katie had spent in the same condition as the boy was in. Without thinking, I reached across the table to pat his arm, trying to offer comfort.
He looked down at where I touched him and I froze, worried that I’d somehow broken mafia protocol or something. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, snatching my hand back. “I didn’t mean—”
He looked up at me, his normally sharp gaze, misty. “You’re too kind for this world. The first time I saw you in that black dress and those heels, having taken on Alfonso to save my Dominic, I thought you were one tough chick, but now…” He shook his head.
I didn’t tell him that I’d been in the black dress because I’d come to the hospital straight from Teresa’s funeral. Nor did I think it was the time to mention that my surviving his son-in-law’s attack had been dumb luck.
“Our mutual friend wasn’t sure you were cut out for what was being asked of you,” Delveccio continued, picking up his spoon. “But here you are.”
“Here I am,” I confirmed weakly.
“One of my most trusted associates.” He scooped up some pudding. “You understand the importance of family. Of doing whatever it takes to protect them.”
“I do,” I murmured.
“You can’t teach someone that lesson.” He put the spoon down without having eaten its contents. “Look at my daughter. She only ever puts herself first. She married Alfonso and now she’s dating an idiot cop. But do you know the worst part?”
He paused.
I held my tongue, pretty sure I knew what he’d say next.
“Well do you?” he prompted.
I swallowed
The steroid-fueled bodyguard watched me approach the building through narrowed eyes.
“You ever think about getting your eyes checked?” I asked as way of greeting.
“Why?”
“You squint a lot.”
“My eyes are fine. I wear contacts.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “I just figured a guy who takes such pride in his appearance”—I gestured at his muscle-bound physique—“wouldn’t want to end up with wrinkles from squinting so much.”
He stared at me for a long moment, trying to determine whether I was making fun of him. Unable to, he finally said, “Pudding time.”
I’d have liked to tell him that I didn’t really have any interest in eating since I still had a constant uneasy feeling that left me nauseated, but as a rule, turning down a mob boss isn’t good for one’s health. I walked inside the hospital, tossing over my shoulder, “At least consider investing in some sunglasses. They might help.”
The mobster’s henchman muttered something I couldn’t make out, but from his tone, I doubted he appreciated the advice.
I went straight to the cafeteria so he couldn’t call Delveccio and tell him that I was blowing him off. When I got there, he was twirling his pinky ring and staring off into space, deep in thought.
Seeing that he had two bowls of pudding in front of him, I approached cautiously. He smiled when he saw me and pushed one of the bowls of jiggling chocolate across the table for me. “You look tired.”
“Trouble sleeping,” I admitted sliding into a chair.
“Worried about our mutual friend?”
“Among other things.”
“Is Katie okay?” Despite being the head of a criminal organization, the Delveccio twins had a real love and respect for family.
“She’s doing well. How’s Dominic?”
His shoulders slumped as though the weight of his beloved grandson/grandnephew’s condition was too much for him. “They tell me he’s improving, but he still hasn’t woken up.”
Silence stretched between us until I confessed nervously, “I’m not sure I should say, ‘That’s great’ or ‘I’m sorry.’”
He nodded. “That’s okay. I don’t know how to feel about it either.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. Usually, Delveccio seemed like a larger-than-life character, but in that moment he was just a man. A man powerless to help someone he loved.
I remembered that feeling all too well from the time Katie had spent in the same condition as the boy was in. Without thinking, I reached across the table to pat his arm, trying to offer comfort.
He looked down at where I touched him and I froze, worried that I’d somehow broken mafia protocol or something. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, snatching my hand back. “I didn’t mean—”
He looked up at me, his normally sharp gaze, misty. “You’re too kind for this world. The first time I saw you in that black dress and those heels, having taken on Alfonso to save my Dominic, I thought you were one tough chick, but now…” He shook his head.
I didn’t tell him that I’d been in the black dress because I’d come to the hospital straight from Teresa’s funeral. Nor did I think it was the time to mention that my surviving his son-in-law’s attack had been dumb luck.
“Our mutual friend wasn’t sure you were cut out for what was being asked of you,” Delveccio continued, picking up his spoon. “But here you are.”
“Here I am,” I confirmed weakly.
“One of my most trusted associates.” He scooped up some pudding. “You understand the importance of family. Of doing whatever it takes to protect them.”
“I do,” I murmured.
“You can’t teach someone that lesson.” He put the spoon down without having eaten its contents. “Look at my daughter. She only ever puts herself first. She married Alfonso and now she’s dating an idiot cop. But do you know the worst part?”
He paused.
I held my tongue, pretty sure I knew what he’d say next.
“Well do you?” he prompted.
I swallowed
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