“I’ve been kidnapped by a SWAT team member, kidnapped and tortured and almost killed by a trio of psychotic cop wannabes, attacked by a mob hit man, held hostage by my crazy-ass father-in-law, and knocked around by a sorry excuse for a stickup man.” I shook my head as I looked the “alleged” mobster up and down. “You’re going to have to come up with something better than that if you want to intimidate me.”
I wasn’t about to tell the man I was quivering inside.
“I could kill you.”
“True.” My lips turned up at the corners because in my world, threats like that were funny. “But then you wouldn’t be an alleged mobster anymore. You’d be dead.”
“He’s right, Uncle,” Eddie said. “Sal wouldn’t stop until you were six feet under.”
I glanced back to Eddie. “That’s assuming there is anything left to bury.”
“Oh yeah.” Eddie’s eyes rounded. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“And if Sal didn’t do it, my father would hire someone.”
“Your mother would just do it herself.”
I chuckled. “Right?”
I adored my mother.
“Enough!”
I frowned as I turned back to the “alleged” mobster. “It’s not nice to yell.”
I twisted my lips when Vinnie just stared at me. It was a nervous habit I had yet to break. When the guy continued to stare, I turned to look at Eddie, who simply shrugged.
Damn it.
Well, this was awkward.
“So…” I glanced around for something to talk about. “Jell-O?”
* * * *
I fluffed the pillow in my hand before pushing it behind Eddie’s back. It was one of three I had already shoved behind the injured man. Two more were propping up his injured leg. “Is that enough, or do you need another one?”
I wanted the man to be comfortable.
“No, that’s good.”
Eddie gave me another one of his strange looks.
“What?” I’d just about had it with the strange looks. I’d been getting them all afternoon. The least the man could do was break them up a little or stick out his tongue or something.
“I’ve never seen my uncle back down from anyone.” There was a note of awe in Eddie’s voice, but the look in his brown eyes said he wasn’t sure if I was crazy or not.
I wasn’t, but I didn’t share that information with many people. “A lot of people think I’m loony. They tend to give me a wide berth.”
“Aren’t you afraid someone will hand you your head one of these days?”
I shrugged. “I have Sal.”
That pretty much explained it right there.
“Sal won’t always be there to protect you.”
“Yes, he will.” I was positive of it.
