“Okay.” The crosswalk sign begins to buzz. We step offthe curb and cross. “We have options.” Trying to get some semblance of knowledge before I walk into this lion’s den, I ask, “My amnesia has made me bad with names. I need a quick refresher.”
Stopping in front of the window, she’s still holding my hand when she turns to me. “Pamela is my mom. Anthony, my dad. Joe is my oldest brother, and Lorenzo is every bit the middle child.”
“So you’re the youngest?” As her “husband,” I should know these things. But as the guy who she’s now sleeping with, I actually do want to get to know her.
“I’m the youngest.” Why does this not surprise me? Placement in the sibling lineup determines everything from personality to how much they get away with. Being the only girl only complicates matters more. Toss in a big Italian family, and I’m screwed. My usual charms won’t work on them. Listening more than speaking will be my friend this evening. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”That’s not saying much.
I hold the door for her, the smell of garlic and home cooking escaping through the opening as she walks in with me behind her. She reaches back with her hand, so I take it as she says hi to the hostess and weaves through tables toward the back.
“Delly bean,” a woman who mirrors Sass’s features—hair color and the same blue eyes—but older, slides out from a large red vinyl booth in the back corner. My hand is released as Delaney hurries into her open arms. I think it’s safe to assume this is Pamela.
Her father is easy to pick out from the lineup of other faces. One by one, the three men slide out to wait their turn to greet Delaney. There’s a lot of love to share between them. Even her brothers hug her, though I catch the waythey both have a straight face when they eye me over her shoulder.
I’m fucked.
Although this is where things should fall apart for her, she turns to me and waves me off like I’m an old hand here. “Warner.”Smooth.
They’re staring at me like they’re missing a piece of the puzzle. Me too, Bayetti family.Me too.
Her mom captures my face in her hands just to get a good look at me. “So handsome.” She pulls me to her and embraces me in a hold that doesn’t leave much room to escape.
“Thanks, Pamela.”
“Call me Mom.” Releasing me like she got burned by the hot potato, she says, “Say hello to the others.” She slides back into the booth with Delaney sliding in after her.
“Oh, okay. Yeah, of course.”
One of the brothers looks me over and asks, “You look like a money guy. You have a man on the inside?”
“On the inside of what?”Clearly not Sass’s plan.
He slaps the back of his hand against my chest and laughs. “Business.”
Not what I was expecting, but not a topic I’m opposed to. Unless he’s trying to sell me something, which I’m getting the distinct impression he is. “I have a few. Are you in finance?”
“Top of my class over at NYU.”
“Ah, Stern School of Business. Impressive. I’m a Harvard man myself.”
The smile disappears as if I crushed his dreams. “Well, if you need a guy?—”
“I know who to call, Joe.” Taking a wild guess paid off. He steps aside and then disappears into the back of therestaurant, leaving me to face Lorenzo on my own. I can already tell by the crossed arms and narrowed eyes that I’m about to get a talking-to or maybe a threat. Potentially both.
“Warner, huh?”
I hold out my hand. “Warner Landers.”
“Yeah, I know.”Okaaay.“You’re finally showing your face around here.”
What the fuck is this guy talking about? He whacks my arm and bursts out laughing. “I had him going. I really had him going.”
Delaney says, “He only has one good arm, Lorenzo. Go easy on him.”
“Right. Right,” he replies, staring at the cast. Cutting off my sleeve isn’t pretty, but it got me here looking the best I could on short notice since my tailor isn’t open on Sundays. He turns as if he’s lost interest and slides in next to his mom.
I turn to her father, who has been extraordinarily patient. I imagine he’d have to be with this rowdy crowd. “My cannoli tells me you were hit by a car?”
