I got up to hit the bathroom about an hour later, accidentally waking Annetta in the process. When I finished, we snuggled in front of the fireplace, alternating between talking, laughing, and messing around until the sun came up.
All too early, my pager went off - reality calling me to return. I phoned in and confirmed that Carlo needed me to do a couple of pickups. Annetta and I put the blankets we’d used in the dirty clothes hamper and locked up the house.
The drive to Annetta’s was quiet, and I got the sense she was no readier to go home than I was to drop her off. Still, duty called, so I walked her to the door.
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again,” I said.
“I get it,” she replied, searching my face. “But try to call every once in a while, and let me know you’re okay. I worry about you.”
She was so damn sweet, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and shield her from my shitty world. “Don’t let the Celica guy touch you,” I said. She hadn’t mentioned her friend’s name, but I knew where he worked and what he drove. I’d have it by the end of the day.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a slut, Dom. You have nothing to worry about.”
Trapping her between my body and the door, I gave her one last kiss before letting her into the house. Then, I went back to work.
***
The rest of the week passed in a blur of business as usual. Saturday evening I worked another of Carlo’s poker games before helping Michael intercept a forty-foot truck of liquor bound for the Columbian. Successful heists that broke up the Durante’s supply chain always put my old man in a good mood. He slapped me and Michael on our backs and broke out the good cigars. Then he let us know that Mom and Mrs. Caruso were planning Michael and Zeta’s engagement party.
Knowing I’d be next, and practically hearing the clock tick against my time as a bachelor, I tried to get away to see Annetta, but the old man kept me tied up. With the hits on our warehouses, we were short staffed, so Father had me and Michael making rounds to pick up and drop money. He didn’t want us flying solo and he sure as hell didn’t want us off doing our own thing. Michael was practically glued to my hip, making it almost impossible to call my girl, much less go see her.
My first chance to break away came Tuesday night when Michael was roped into having dinner with his future in-laws. It only took a quick phone call to the restaurant to find out when Annetta’s shift ended and to get the name of the Celica driver: Brandon Smith. I dropped by the Davenport Hotel to call in a favor with their desk clerk, who would book me a room on cash, before hauling ass back to the restaurant. Arriving only minutes before Annetta’s shift let out, I lit up a smoke by the back door and waited.
A man emerged, took one look at me, and then leaned against the wall. He had dishwater blond hair, average height, average build, and looked exactly like Collin’s description.
“You Brandon?” I asked.
He eyed me. “Yeah. Do I know you?”
I took a final deep drag before dropping my cigarette and crushing it under my steel-toed shoe. “No, but I wanted to thank you for giving my girl a lift to and from work. It’s uh… nice of you to take an interest in her safety like that.”
His brow furrowed. “Your girl?” He looked at the door. “Annetta’s… your girl?”
She hadn’t told him about me, huh? Wondering why, but trying not to let it bug me, I nodded. “Yeah. In fact, I’m picking her up tonight, so you can go ahead and head home.”
He continued to watch me, making no move to leave.
Who the fuck did this guy think he was? “You got a hearing problem?” I asked.
“No.” He frowned. “I’ll just wait and make sure that’s cool with Annetta.”
As I was mentally ripping Brandon’s arms from his body, Annetta emerged from the restaurant. She paused, midstep, and smiled at me, her eyes bright.
“Dom!” Leaving the door wide open behind her, she lunged, sliding her arms under my jacket to hug me.
All concerns I’d had about her and Brandon-the-asshole disappeared as I breathed her in and gave her a peck on the lips before releasing her. Keeping an arm wrapped around her waist, I dismissed Brandon. “See, we’re good.”
“I’ll catch you tomorrow Annetta,” he said, pushing off the building and heading for his car.
Annetta frowned, looking from me to Brandon. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then to me, she asked, “What did you say to him?”
I pasted on my best innocent face, acting like I hadn’t been ready to kill him. “Nothing. I was just sizing up the competition.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous. I told you, there is no competition.”
Music to my ears. I grabbed her arms and pulled her in for a longer kiss, knowing full well I shouldn’t be doing it in the parking lot of a restaurant under my family’s protection. Anyone could see us, and if word got back to my old man or the Pelinos, all hell would break loose. But Annetta was like a drug that I couldn’t get enough of. Knowing she’d probably get me killed only made me want to take more of her in. Hair pulled back in a bun, smelling of pasta sauce, I’d never seen a more beautiful sight. I wanted to fuck her in the parking lot. Barely controlling myself, I released her and led her to my Porsche.
“Thanks for picking me up,” she said.
