My father-in-law was deep in conversation with a German man, nodding at something he said, a cigar hanging out the side of his mouth. Everett had supplied the cigars as a gift.
If by chance Scarlett’s mother walked in, she’d put the cigar out on his head. He wasn’t supposed to be smoking after his heart attack.
He met my eye and smiled, then put a finger to his mouth in ashhgesture.
Mitch was seated at another table with Donato, making every man laugh.
This was going to be high-stakes poker, and I was sure that not only money would be on the table. I had warned both my father-in-law and Mitch to keep things civil and not to cross any lines. Everett understood and so did Mitch, but it never hurt to remind them of who they were playing with. More than half the men in the room were involved in gold-collar crime.
All of Luca’s brothers had taken a table. Lothario sat to the left of Luca. Every so often, I noticed that Lothario sent Dionigi a subtle glance, and I found it suspicious.
Nudging Rocco, I told him, as quietly as possible, to fill me in on what the deal was between Luca and Dionigi, and how Lothario factored into the situation.
Rocco, one of the most competitive men I’d ever met, took a second to acknowledge me. His concentration was focused on the cards in his hands—his teeth rolled over his bottom lip every so often.
Keeping his green gaze hard on the men around the table, clouds of fine cigar smoke purling above heads, drifting across the many windows, he cleared his throat. He took a sip of whiskey before he answered in almost a whisper.
“Rumor has it that Dionigi had a love affair with Bonfilia whenPapàwas imprisoned. They’ve known each other since childhood, he andPapà. Dionigi has a jealous heart. He had wanted to marry her, butNonnohad arranged the marriage, without anyone knowing that she could not bear children. Of course, her family knew. A childhood illness or something—” he waved a hand “—left her barren.”
“Was she a good mother to you? Bonfilia?”
Whatever possessed me to ask, I had no idea. We never brought her up, not if we could help it.
He shrugged. “From time to time. There were times we would not sleep. She could be…” He gave me a look that explained exactly what she could be. Unsteady. “Nonnomade sure we were taken care of. After I spoke to him about the situation, he had men watching us at all times.”
I picked up my own glass, taking a drink. “Lothario.”
“What about him?”
“How does he factor into this?”
Rocco’s eyebrows drew down before he looked at me. “He does not.”
“Ah,” I said, breathing out. “He does. Later.”
Rocco glanced around the table, realizing that some of the men had quieted, attempting to listen in. He nodded once and we both got back to our hands.
The chatter picked up again, raucous laughter and crude remarks flowing like good spirits. These men were betting high, and losing made no dents in their deep pockets.
The longer the games drew on, the higher the stakes.
Luca’s table was the highest.
Vanni, who was at our table with one of his brothers, started to sweat, competitive himself. The other men were taunting him.
A squeal of laughter broke through the atmosphere, followed by the thump of little feet, and then “Papà!” being screamed out before my little monkey flung herself at me.
She giggled, pressing her nose against mine. “I had to use the potty! Dat other one was locked.”
Scarlett rushed into the room, a woman walking on air in a flowing all-in-one suit. The top was fitted, but the legs flared, and her heels hardly touched the floor as she rushed to take Mia.
She apologized in four or five different languages, making most of the men laugh. Luca had stood in her presence, and the other men had followed, most of them keeping their cards to their breasts.
Before Luca could introduce her to the room, though, I heard Vanni lean over and ask his brother, “Who isthatwoman?” in Italian. Followed by Everett leaning over to tell the German man that Scarlett was his daughter.
Luca’s introduction came a second later, and a few men shook her hand. A couple of them complimented her; they had watched her perform at the ballet.
Not wanting to bother us, though, she held out her hands for Mia.
