Perhaps he had a point, but I was reluctant to admit it out loud. “Everyone has friends, family, hobbies. I wanted to be certain none of hers are in direct opposition to ours.”
“And?”
“As she said, she went to the grocery store and the post office.”
“No friends or family, then?”
Why did he seem so concerned about her life? “Planning on making me call her mommy?”
“What the fuck, son?” He shook his head. “Certainly not.”
It wouldn't be the first time he’d set his sights on a female employee. Ever since we lost Mom, he’d been trying unsuccessfully to fill the void she left behind in our lives.
“Then why can’t I be critical or suspicious?”
It took him a few seconds to answer. “I don’t know, but just as you felt instantly irritated with her, I felt instantly at ease. She has a calmness about her, a reassuring nature, that I like.”
The headache that had been threatening me earlier returned. “Then I’ll have to promise to let it go.”
“Don’t think I didn't notice there was no actual promise in those words.”
Chuckling, I leaned over to kiss him on the top of the head. His hair had gone wispier lately, which was just one more reminder that I might lose him.
“I promise to back off the doctor, as long as she cares for you properly.”
“There, was that so hard?”
He had no idea.
“Any news about the next meeting?” he continued.
“We’re waiting to hear back from Lorenzo about the location. Gio and I were debating buying a permanent warehouse for these things.”
“But you don't trust anyone enough to keep the place secure.”
“You know me too well.”
Since I’d already had too much bourbon for the day, I tucked my hands back in my pockets and stared out the window.
“It’s my job to know how your mind works. I think the idea has merit, but you’d have to be absolutely positive no one could infiltrate the area and get the drop on you.”
“Yeah, that’s been my biggest hangup.”
Dad picked up the remote and turned off the TV, so I focused on what he had to say. “If you don’t trust any of our men with your life, then you need to send them on. There’s no use keeping staff who you don’t think would have your back in a life and death situation.”
“I understand that’s the honest truth, but none of them deserve to die just because I have hangups and trust issues.”
“Then you need to test them and find out whether your hangups are rooted in reality or a byproduct of your mother’s passing.”
Goddammit, why did he have to bring that up? “Low blow, Dad.”
“It’s as much the honest truth as everything else I’ve been saying.”
Mom died because her guard betrayed us. He pulled the trigger in revenge for someone in his family we’d targeted. In a way, it was mob justice, and a way of life we’d come accustomed to, but on the other hand . . .
She was the love of my father’s life. The best woman I’d ever known, with no one else coming in at a close second. One minuteshe was the center of our universe, as mothers should be, and then she was gone.
Turning from the window, I faced him with difficulty. “Then you understand why I can’t throw my wholehearted support behind anyone these days.”
