“I’m coming home,” I said.
“If I agree, it’s only because I want you here, not because I’m sick enough to need you. You and Uncle Tito are right. I’m just tired. I’m taking today off, but tomorrow, fever or not, I’ll be at practice. Besides, I’m sure Riccardo doesn’t want to catch what I have. I’m contagious.”
I didn’t respond. We both sat for a minute in silence.
“Tell me what’s on your mind,mio angelo.” Her voice was soft.
I sunk back into the sofa, tapping my pointer finger against the shiny black metal. I went over the night, every detail that I could remember, and then I told her about Jones meeting me at the statue.
“You need to tell Sheriff Stone,” she said. “Tell Stone, Brando. I have a feeling…”
My wife knew how I felt about Stone. The sheriff and I had never had an amicable relationship. I proceeded to go even further, and she laughed so hard that she asked me to hold on when I told her about remembering the bunny. “Good thing Jet is here,”she managed to get out.But all humor ceased when I told her that I took Jones home.
“You took her home out of revenge? Because of those pictures I—”
“No, baby.” I sat forward again, squeezing the bridge of my nose. “Ettore showed up. She followed me to the truck, so I took her home. I didn’t want to be responsible if he decided to use her as a play toy.”And I didn’t want to die in her arms, if it came down to it.But there was no need to make her worry.
“Oh,” she breathed out.
“You don’t need to worry. Ettore came here to see Luca. I’ll be on a helicopter out day after tomorrow,” I reminded her.
“Don’t worry,” she said sarcastically. “How can I not?”
Both of us fell into silence once more. The sound of her soft, even breathing lulled me to close my eyes and relax.
“Get some sleep,mio angelo,” she whispered after a minute or two.
“Stay on the line.”
“Why?” I sensed her lazy grin, could see her pretty eyes dancing in reflection to the newly risen sun. “So you can listen to me breathe?”
“Yeah,” I said, my voice drifting. “I won’t be able to sleep without the sound.”
Chapter Three
Brando
Stone found me the next day, during the unveiling of Scarlett’s marker, but I had to pry the little monkey from around my neck before I could talk to him.
Violet, Mitch, Mick, and both Emory’s went to give a TV interview about the unveiling. Violet begged me to watch the kids. Mary was in my arms, because she refused to get down, and the boys were at my feet. Stone looked on, his face impassive—he hated to be inconvenienced.
“Down, Mary,” I said, trying to get her feet to touch the ground. She held on even tighter.
Peter laughed. “She’s not a dog, BRANDPOW.”
Mary barked at Peter before she giggled. “No,Rarystay with BRANDPOW.Boop,” she said, touching my nose with her little pointer finger. Then she rested her head against my shoulder, like Scarlett had a habit of doing, and cozied up. Her hand came to my cheek, rhythmically patting.
Give a girl a sucker and they fall in love.
“Can we play cops and robbers?” Peter asked Stone.
Before Peter could pretend to pull his gun, Stone pretended to shoot him with his fingers. He grinned at me when he did.
“He has to learn,” Stone said to me. “Especially since his daddy is—never mind.” He sneered a bit. “He’s Mick’s boy, he’ll do just fine.”
Peter fell to the ground, pretending like he had taken a real one to the chest. Paul jumped on top of him, trying to revive his brother. Not long after, play turned into roughhousing, and both boys started to punch each other.
“All right.” Stone came between them. “Behave and I’ll give you a ride in the police car.”
