Once they’re gone, Mom asks, “Who wants coffee?”
When my sisters head back into the house, I say, “I’ll have some, Mom.”
She gives me a smile, but I see the worry in her eyes when she asks, “Riccardo will be okay, right?”
“Yes,” I answer as I wrap my arm around Mom’s shoulders. Even though she’s almost sixty, she doesn’t look it. With her blonde hair and green eyes, Mom is still as beautiful as when I was a kid. “Stop worrying,” I tell her. “He’s a married man of twenty-seven.”
“It doesn’t matter how old he is. He’ll always be the baby in the family.”
After we step through the open sliding doors and into the living room, I let go of Mom and take a seat across from Dad.
As soon as Mom is out of hearing distance, Dad says, “It’s hard for her. Be patient.”
I nod, then ask, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” He lets out a sigh, then asks, “How’s business?”
“Good. I just handled a big shipment of medical supplies for Salvador and Lina, and we’ve transported three hundred and fifty million in counterfeit notes and goods to South America and Europe the past month.”
“That’s very good.” Dad gives me a proud smile. “And Paradiso?”
“Everything is running smoothly at the club.”
Dad is very sentimental about Paradiso as it played a role in him and Mom getting together. I was sixteen when they told me how Dad tricked Mom into falling in love with him. I still hear her call him her mystery man at times.
Mom comes into the living room with a tray, and once we’re all sitting with a mug of coffee, I ask, “So what’s next, now that the wedding is done and over with?”
Mom grins at Dad before looking at me. “We’re going to Seattle to visit your grandparents.”
It will do Mom good to see her parents again. It’s been a while.
“How long do you plan to stay in Seattle?” I ask.
Mom shrugs, giving Dad a questioning look. “A month?”
Dad nods. “Yeah. A month is good.”
I glance between my parents. “When are you leaving?”
“Thursday. There are a few things I need to take care of before we can go,” Mom answers.
I enjoy some of the coffee before I say, “Just let me know when you land safely in Seattle and check in with me every day.”
Mom rolls her eyes at me. “Of course.” She gives me a loving look. “When are you taking a break?”
I shake my head as I set the empty mug down on the coffee table that’s situated between the couches. “Not soon. Work is too busy.” I climb to my feet and walk the short distance to them. Leaning down, I press a kiss to Mom’s forehead before shaking Dad’s hand. “I have to run, but I’ll see you before you leave for your trip.”
“Be safe out there,” Dad says.
When I exit the house through the sliding doors, I signal to Lorenzo and Raffaele that we’re leaving. I grew up with both men, as their fathers worked closely with Dad until they retired, which means I trust them with my life.
Currently, Raffaele is standing in as my underboss until Riccardo returns from his honeymoon. I haven’t told my brother yet, but he’s taking over as my second-in-command. It’s time for him to start learning the family business.
Lorenzo is my personal guard, and I don’t go anywhere without him. His father, Milo, named him after a close friend who died taking a bullet for him while they were protecting Dad.
There’s so much history between my men and me that I’ll never question their loyalty to the Vitale family or the Cosa Nostra.
When we climb into the G-Wagon, Raffaele asks, “Where to, boss?”
