I shut the fridge and swiveled around. “Uh, hi. Good morning, sir.”
Aidan’s father was bundled up in a satin robe that looked way too bougie for his tastes, with the Donovan crest on the pocket, but that wasn’t what made me nervous. His smile, usually so ready, was hesitant this morning.
Oh, God. Had Aidan’s parentsheardus last night? I felt my forehead prickling and for the first time in my life, I understood the term “cold sweat.”
“I was just…I thought I’d get some breakfast together for Aidan. I’d be happy to cook up some eggs for you and Nancy if you—”
“No, no.” He waved a hand, another tight smile pulling his lips up. “I just came out to make a cup of coffee for Nancy. I’ll only be a minute. She likes to have one there when she wakes up.”
I stood aside to let him access the coffee machine.
“Did you sleep well?” I asked.
“Not really,” he replied, turning on the machine.
I swallowed. “I guess yesterday wasn’t a normal day for you and your wife.”
“No, it wasn’t.” The coffeepot began to roar and rumble as the first trickle came through, making quiet conversation impossible for a moment. “I’ll be out of your way soon,” he said, when the noise subsided.
“You’re not in my way, sir.”
He shot me a look from the side of his eyes, his face still turned to the coffeepot. “A day like yesterday,” he said. “It’s a normal sort of day for you?”
“I’m not sure how to answer that,” I said slowly. “I don’t get into those sort of situations most days, no.”
“But you do sometimes?”
“Sometimes. My line of work, you roll with it as it comes.”
He sighed and turned to face me fully. “Teo, I’d like to ask you something, and I’d like you to be honest with me, if you don’t mind.”
My face was already warming. “Sure.”
“It’s my understanding that Aidan has made friendships in some strange places in New York. Met people he mightnothave met in other circumstances, if he weren’t working at Our Lady.”
What he said struck me as strange, and I couldn’t figure out why at first. Then it hit me. Working. I didn’t think of Aidan asworkingwhen he was at Our Lady. It wasn’t a job to him so much as a calling. But his father wasn’t wrong—Our Lady of MercywasAidan’s workplace, and he had a job to do there.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking, sir,” I said, when it became clear he was waiting for me to say something.
“I’m very aware that the Morelli Family of New York has taken an interest in my son. Just as, it seems, the Donovan Family has here in Boston.”
My throat had tightened up. How could Aidan’s dad know something like that? “I…think that’s something you should talk to Aidan about, sir. I can’t—”
“Here’s my question, Teo,” John continued. “I’m asking you if this company you work for is actually the Morelli Family. Because it certainly seems like quite a coincidence that an Italian-American such as yourself would be guarding my son, who by all accounts is a good friend of Finch D’Amato, who is both the brother of Tara Donovan and married to the Morelli Family Don.”
I’d assumed Aidan’s parents were innocent of all these things, but I’d made a huge error of judgement. I’d misunderstood Aidan’s father in a fundamental way. The man was no fool.
I looked down at the kitchen counter, unsure what to say. With anyone else I would have lied instantly and convincingly. I’d sworn to keep silent when I was made into the Family, a vow I took as seriously as Aidan would take his come Sunday.
But I did not want to lie to Aidan’s father.
John surprised me again with his insight. “I’m aware that those who are part of that lifestyle…” I really did flush then, the back of my neck hot and itchy. “That’s not the right word at all,” he amended. “I’m sorry. Let me try again. I believe that people who are part of thoseorganizationsare not supposed to reveal their—membership? I’m afraid I’m not sure how to put it.”
I stared on at the counter top, unwilling and unable to meet his eyes, and I said nothing.
“I don’t want to get you into any trouble, Teo. But I suppose if youweren’tpart of it, you’d certainly be happy to deny it. Am I right?”
I didn’t trust myself to speak. But I nodded.
