“Is the intruder still breathing?” Across the room, Suds ties a tourniquet around the man’s thigh which, under the circumstances, is pretty big of him.
For a moment, I regret not aiming for the strangler’s heart. He killed at least three people and today, almost added two more to the body count.
I put my cell on mute and ask. “Will he make it?”
“He’s lost a lot of blood.” Suds tilts his head, no doubt wondering what’s bothering me.
Back at my cell phone, I answer the operator’s question. “He’s fine. Take your time.”
Suds raises a brow and is about to say something when a noisy crowd shouts downstairs in front of the café.
“Keep your eye on him. I’ll see what’s going on.” Kissing me, he slips out the door and a few minutes later, appears below.
“Oh my fucking God.” My uncle Vinny puts the barrel of a Smith and Wesson to my husband’s temple.
One eye on the prisoner, I dash across the room, and place the nine-one-one operator on hold. Then, I hit speed dial. “Da fuck? Don’t’ shoot him.”
“Da hell I won’t.” Tilting his head, my mother’s brother gives me an Italian salute, biting his index finger.
I bang on the window, wave my hands madly, and wonder why he wants to kill Sebastian… more than usual. Then, I recall the salon ladies and the Zoom meeting. They must’ve thought the gloved hands belonged to Suds and called in family.
I scream into the phone, hoping to be heard over the commotion on the sidewalk. “It wasn’t him. A guy broke into our apartment. Come and see for yourself.”
I can’t hear what he says but he lowers the weapon. Then, everyone disappears into our stairwell. Joey, Aunt Marion, and Rose grow louder as they make their way toward my landing. I hear the whole salon crew and more.
Finally, the inner door opens and Vinny peeks in. “Yo, Sammy. Youz in dere?”
“Yeah.” I walk to the kitchen table and point at the strangler, lying in a pool of blood in front of the bathroom.
“Huh. No shit. That him?”
I nod as Vincent whistles through his teeth. “Whoa. Why didn’t you shoot him in the nuts? You going soft?”
“No. I was bored and preparing for a trial will provide me with some entertainment.” Grinning, I relax the grip on my gun as Suds pushes through the door and makes a beeline for my mouth.
“Hey, no hard feelings, right? Where’s da cops at?” This question is directed at my husband who, to his credit, doesn’t punch my uncle’s lights out.
Instead he grins. “They should be here any second now.”
The mob boss’ gaze shifts from the foyer’s interior back to us. “Listen. Why not let me and the boys take care of the body for youz.”
“You’ll bring him to the ER?” My brows raise because for sure, that’s not Vinny’s intent.
“Somethin’ like dat.” Scratching his head, he smiles but not in a good way.
I consider his offer, then shake my head, no. “Thanks, but we probably better wait. It’ll be hard to explain how he disappeared.”
Joey pushes his uncle aside and squeezes through the door. “Jesus and Joseph.”
“What happened to Mary?”
“She don’t want to see this.”
Handing my weapon to my partner, I grab a beer from the fridge. While I take a few gulps, my oldest cousin squats near the suspect, shaking his head.
“Did you phone Uncle Mike?”
“Shit. I forgot.” The nine-one-one operator has been on hold all this time so I hang up on her and call Dad.
