She didn’t know and he wasn’t telling. He had work to do. He walked on out.
Bella stood there shaking her head. First Dory. Now Mick. All because of disrespect. That very word that started so many wars in mob land was about to start a very personal war.
And here she was thinking Dory was just like Ron. But now she knew better. He was just like Mick.
CHAPTER TEN
“Charlie!” Roz hugged his neck. Then she hugged Deuce. “Hey Deuce!”
“How are you, Roz?”
“Tired. We’ve been at it all day. Now it’s almost midnight.”
“Long work hours.”
“And getting longer. But what’s up with you? Charles comes to see me rehearse whenever he’s in New York on business, and he drives me back to Philly. He’s a regular. What brings you to these neck of the woods?”
“I didn’t think you saw us in here,” Deuce responded.
“I didn’t. The production assistant recognized Charles and told methat manwas watching me rehearse again. I keep telling her he’s my brother-in-law, but she doesn’t believe me. But they recognize Charles. You, on the other hand, has never seen me rehearse before. Which makes me think this isn’t a casual drop by.”
Deuce smiled. “It’s almost midnight. You guys put in some long-behind hours.”
“Anything for our craft,” Roz said, although she knew it was all just small talk. Deuce was there for a reason. Deuce was trying to stall telling that reason.
“You’re doing a great job, Mrs. Sinatra,” Deuce said, “from what I saw on that stage. You’re a natural.”
“Ah thanks, Deuce. But you know you can call me Roz.”
“And get my head knocked off by that husband of yours? No thanks. I was with him this morning, and he wasn’t having it.”
Just as she suspected, Mick was involved. “You saw Mick this morning?”
There was a slight hesitation in Deuce’s voice. “I did.”
“Where?”
“At his office.”
“Why?What’s up?”
Deuce looked to Big Daddy.
“Sit down, Roz,” Big Daddy said, and Roz sat down between the two men.
“What is it?” Roz asked.
“Did you know Mick was in Rome?” Big Daddy asked her.
Roz was shocked. “In Rome? I thought Deuce just said he was at his office.”
“That was this morning. He left for Rome this afternoon.”
“For what?”
“Business,” was all Deuce was going to say about it.
“What kind of business, Deuce?” Roz asked him. “And don’t you lie to me.”
