Chapter Thirty Six
Gio
Reading the stalker note Carly got had me seeing red. Some sick fuck was stalkingmygirl. He was scaring her. I wasn't about to let that go without punishment. The problem was, I had no idea who'd written the letter. I needed to talk to Luciano and Cesare to see if they'd noticed anyone who looked suspicious. Right now, however, my focus was Carly.
"Take today off,Tesoro. You shouldn't go in with as shaken as you are."
"I can't, Gio. It's not fair to Camille. She deserves this night off with her kids. She's taking them to see a movie. She hasn't been able to do that with them in over a year."
I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her. "You're a stubborn woman,Bella."
“It’s one of my best qualities.”
The grin she gave me had me chuckling. “I don’t know about that. I can think of a few more things even better than that.”
“Since you’re determined to go to work, let me drive you.”
“I get the feeling you were already planning on that. Why else would you be here?”
“I came to take you and Eli to lunch.” There was a look of surprise on her face at my confession.
“You want to include Eli?”
“Si,Bella. Why wouldn’t I? He is your son, he is important to you, and that makes him important to me.”
“You are full of surprises, Gio. Most men don’t include the child or children of the women they’re trying to date. Not right away, anyway.”
“Ah,Tesoro, but I am not like other men, am I?”
“No, you aren’t.”
I waited for her to make her decision. I knew she would agree. I was that confident.
“Where are we going?”
I flashed her a grin. Like I said, I knew she’d agree. “Katie’s.”
“I’ll get Eli.”
I watched her go and waited patiently for mother and child to be ready. The letter she’d received was tucked into my pocket and once mother and son had joined me, I ushered them downstairs to my car. Now, more than ever, I wanted Carly safe. She needed to get her mind off the letter and lunch with just the three of us would be perfect.
“So, Eli, what do you like to do for fun?” I wanted to get to know the boy.
“I dunno. Play video games, read...I wanna learn how to play guitar but Mama says I have to wait.”
“Oh? Why is that,Bella.?” I glanced over at her as I drove.
“Guitar lessons cost money and right now things are still a little tight. I’ve promised him as soon as everything is caught up, which should be soon.”
“Let me help.” Before she could argue or refuse, I continued. “We can consider it a loan if that would make you feel better,Tesoro. I want to help.”
There was a moment of silence before, “Okay. Just as long as we’re clear that it’s a loan and I’ll be paying you back.”
“Si, we’re clear,Bella.” I had no intention of taking any of her money but she didn’t need to know that.
Once we were at the restaurant and seated at the table I glanced over the menu. I already knew what I wanted but I looked anyway. “What would you like, Eli? You can have anything on the menu.” Of course, I expected the boy to go with a plain hamburger or a cheese pizza but he surprised me.
“Um...can I get a Remmy Po’Boy?”
