“Of course,” she says happily. “The hotel looks amazing.”
“Because of you,” I remind her. January’s been putting in twelve hours days restoring the place to its original, Italian-inspired roots. In the next few months, it’ll be ready to run as a five-star hotel full time.
Two drunk girls push past me, giggling loudly.
“Hey January!” one squeals. “Coming to dance?”
“Soon,” she says, rocking Luci. “I’m gonna go put the little man down, then I’ll be back.”
“That’s a promise,” the other girl says, swatting my wife’s ass and running away laughing. I stare after them. “Who are they?”
“Pilates friends,” January explains. “You’re so jealous.”
“And you’re too hot and your friends are a bad influence, but you don’t see me bitching about it.”
“What’s happening here?” Morelli asks. He and Bobby appear in the doorway, cocktails in hand.
“Having a family moment,” I say. “Luci, how pretty does Mama look?”
“Pretty,” Luci coos, playing with January’s diamond necklace.
“Too pretty,” Morelli says darkly, looking her up and down. “When are the guests leaving? In twenty minutes?”
January rolls her eyes. “Where’s Adriano?”
“Skulking the perimeter like an attack dog,” Bobby says. “What did you expect?”
“I was hoping he’d have fun,” January says, exasperated.
“He is. In his own way. And Archie and Bill are with him.”
I narrow my eyes. The twins work for us now, but I don’t have to like it. Especially since they’re still single.
“Are they dating anyone?” January asks, as though reading my mind.
“No,” Eli says, sipping his negroni. “They’re still visiting Emilia a lot. Sending her things too.”
“Like Morelli’s family heirlooms?” I ask.
January swats me. “They gave the necklace back.”
“Yeah, but they took it as payment in the first place those grifting, straw-haired—”
“Anyway,” Bobby says loudly. “So, they’re into Emilia?”
“Seems that way,” Eli says.
Fuck that, I think to myself. The girl’s still living at a mega-expensive Vermont treatment center. She’s doing better but January visits every month and says the girl’s still having a hard time. Considering how long she was Parker’s side piece I’m not surprised.
“Hmm,” January says, kissing Luci’s head. “I hope Bill and Archie aren’t…I don’t know…leading her on or anything.”
“I doubt it,” Bobby says. “She’s a beautiful girl. They might just like her?”
“Especially now she’s not on enough coke to kill a mule,” I add. “Anyway, that Emilia thing’s bullshit. Archie got wasted at Dreams a month ago and told Betty he and his moron brother are still in love with some girl they met in New Orleans nine years ago.”
“Really?” January asks, intrigued. “Who?”
“Some broad.”
