“Thanks, I love it here.” There. That was the truth. Boston’s energy was more fierce, more open, than any other city. It was home, the only place that gave a sense of belonging.
A few of the other girls broke away, leaving the one who looked like she was about fourteen to order.
“This is Signora Messina,” Maria told them, lifting her brows.
Delight flashed through all but one pair of eyes.
Gabriella snorted. That snarky dislike still simmered under the surface, but the barista called out my drink. I had to dart to the counter before one of the bodyguards grabbed it for me. It was one thing to have them around, but I didn’t want them treating me like a helpless princess who needed serving.
Gabriella eyed the goons. “I see Vincenzo assigned you a detail. Typical.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, especially when a second look showed these girls also had a security escort. There were only two guards for all six, though.
“What are you and your friends up to?” I asked Maria, hoping to sound genuine.
She smoothed a hand over her ponytail. “They’re my sisters, actually.”
I jerked slightly but hid the surprise behind taking a sip of scalding tea. Thankfully, four of them started jabbering about the song playing softly in the background, saving me from more small talk.
“I’m Carmela.” The last of the flock bounced over. “Why don’t you come with us to the bookstore?”
Gabriella groaned. “She’s not one of us,” she muttered in Italian.
“No, but I guess I’m part of the famiglia now,” I responded, enjoying the look of shock on her face when she discovered that I understood her jab. To Carmela, I added, “I’d love to come, but I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not.” Maria smirked and nudged her sister with her elbow. “We’re curious about Vincenzo’s new bride.”
Just like that, I was swept away with the group of sisters. They talked a mile a minute, garbling over one another in their haste to be the center of attention. Apparently, there were four more girls at home, and this group had escaped babysitting duty for a couple of hours to enjoy their weekend after family dinner.
They asked why I hadn’t been to Don Morelli’s for the noon meal. I lifted my shoulder in a small shrug.
“Vincenzo isn’t home today.” That made them pause their conversation for a brief second. I pushed a question into the silence. “Do you guys know where he is?”
Carmela shook her head. “It’s not our place to interfere with family business.”
Gabriella’s eyeroll was palpable. I wasn’t looking, but I felt it all the same.
Rounding on her, letting the other girls step past me on the sidewalk, I lowered my voice. “Well?”
“Well, what?” Her russet eyes flashed.
“Where is he?” I hissed.
She tipped up her chin and kept walking. I kept pace with her.
“It’s like my sister said, the men have business,” Gabriella sneered. “A good mob wife knows to stay out of it.”
Well, then, I wasn’t a good little mafia bride, because that was the last thing I wanted. Something about the way she spoke told me that she shared my opinion. Like it or not, we were probably more similar than either of us wanted to admit.
Once inside the bookstore, the girls fluttered through the shelves, sipping their beverages. It was the perfect girls’ outing. I wandered around, but after doing a lap around the new release table, I tracked down my would-be nemesis. Moving close, I waited for an opening to pressure her into talking. She worked at thefamilyrestaurant. That meant she heard things. If it had been any of the other sisters, they would immediately start chatting and tell me what I wanted to know. Gabriella was the only one who was grumpy about my presence. But as I watched her trail her fingers over the true crime spines, I noticed that underneath that was a level ofexhaustion.
So, I changed my approach.
I grabbed a thick paperback with red dripping font and held it up. “Is this any good?”
Gabriella looked up. The corner of her mouth twitched despite her best effort to stay frigid. “It is.”
Thumbing through the pages, I spoke low. “I don’t know what I did to upset you. But I’d like the chance to start over.”
