I couldn’t believe it when Renzo ordered pizzas, pasta, bread, mozzarella sticks, a salami board, and drinks. When the sodas hit the table, I practically cried. When the food piled in, Boyanclapped and laughed with excitement. Lou’s eyes bulged, her hand snatching the closest thing to her. The moment the first bite hit, one of her rare smiles broke free. And me, I giggled at their joy as a few tears leaked free.
“Why?” I whispered to Renzo.
“Because I can.”
The kids dug in without further ado, but I hesitated. He wasn’t supposed to be nice. He wasn’t supposed to feed hungry kids. He was supposed to be the tyrannical monster who chewed up anyone in his path. I had to hate him. Anything else was a betrayal to Noah, but starving and beaten down as I was, it seemed like a stronger crime against myself to refuse.
With tears streaming down my face, I ate. I sniffled as I chewed my first decadent breadstick, the best thing I’d had in months. I silently blubbered through every stuffed bite until my eyes prickled with exhaustion and my shirt collar was soaked. Bite after bite, I chewed and swallowed, regretting each one yet reaching for more. All the while, Renzo Iannelli watched silently. It was like that Philly cheesesteak sandwich from seven months ago all over again.
Chapter 16
DEMON
You’re the reason every day is a struggle.
“Kidsaren’tsomethingyoutake on then throw away when it suits you.” Tore thumped up the stairs after me.
“You have quarterly reports to review and hand in. Worry about those instead of my personal life. And get some sleep. I know I would.” I muttered the last part.
“You can’t be serious about this.”
My cousin was giving me a headache with his constant barrage of arguments, especially at one in the morning after a long dinner with the mayor and his guests, including the police chief and the district attorney. If he continued, I was going to pummel Vinny’s head in for not keeping this information under wraps until we had something concrete. The paperwork had only been submitted a week and a half ago.
“There are other ways to get the Giambrones off our backs.”
“Offmyback.” I shoved my way into my office. “None would be quite as effective, don’t you agree?”
“Pfff.” He nudged the corner of a painting on my wall, pushing the darn thing off-center, so I had to fix it. The irritatingcafone—boor—leaned against my doorway and watched, arms crossed. “His daughter’s not bad to look at, you know. I’d tap that ass.”
“You’d fuck anything with three holes. Not the resounding praise you make it out to be.”
“I resent that.”
“Go right ahead.” I rounded my desk and unlocked the top drawer. My mother’s flower of life pendant on my thick gold chain remained exactly where I’d left it. The lights overhead shone off its gold luster. “Shouldn’t you be with one of those conquests right now?”
“This was more important.” I stared at him, deadpan. “Well, this and the meeting with the Greeks. You didn’t think I’d let you do that alone, did you?”
The metal of the necklace settled heavily around my throat, the pendant chilling my skin. I always wore it when dealing with mafia business as a reminder of what happened to my mother, and I was headed out. Dimakos had finally called for a meeting, one I’d agreed to on neutral ground near Pier 33, touristy enough to contain any murderous urges, but empty enough at this hour to offer some privacy.
“As my sottocapo, you should stay on the sidelines in case I’m clipped.” I pulled the slide of my gun back, the click and scrape comforting.
Tore flicked his lighter open and closed, the metallic click resounding in the stillness of the night, broken only by the clack of car doors outside from my soldiers preparing for the night ahead.
“As if. Cousins in life and death. Let Vinny take over if the devil takes us.”
I scoffed, strapping a sheathed knife to the back of my pants. “He’d sooner travel the seven levels of purgatory just to drag our souls back than willingly take over. Well, come on then. You can help organize.”
“Sure thing, but…” He pointed at me, clicking his tongue. “This conversation’s not over, daddio.”
Passing him, I slapped his finger aside. “Never. Call. Me. That again.”
“Hey, it’s only fitting if you’re going to have a kid.”
I looked to the ceiling and the heavens it hid for patience. “Sei un caga cazzo.” You’re a pain in the ass. “It’s a wonder you’re so good in business.”
“What can I say? Brains, looks, personality. I’ve got it all. The complete package.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sounds to me like you’re compensating.”
