I’d see about that.I stomped into the bedroom, the scene of Johnny’s scissor tantrum and sludge fest.
A brand-new Wayfair bed with padded headboard dominated the space.The sheets were slightly rumpled, as if someone had lain on top of the piece, but otherwise, it was a study in beige.Allie would love this.I made a mental note to have it moved to her place and replace her utilitarian twin mattress that she’d kept since Mom got rid of the bunk beds.
Bridget followed me in.
“See this?Does it look like me?”
Her caution was understandable.“What looks like you?”
“Up until about a week ago.I had three pillows with the word ‘fuck’ embroidered on them.”
Oh shit.
I ran to the kitchen.
My little sugar bowl had been turned around so only the white side faced outward.A nice little bouquet of flowers should have graced the table, but they were wilting something fierce.The petals fell off as I moved it to the sink.I set the vase down and turned the bowl around so Bridget could see the word on it.
“Cocaine?”She picked up the bowl, dipped a finger in and tasted.“Cute.”
“See?That’s me.The rest of this?Nope.”
“What happened?”
“Johnny Pornstach.”
It took her all of two seconds to work out the nickname in her head.“Man, if I were still on payroll, the guys wouldn’t believe that you call him that.Not a single one of them would be able to say ‘Porciello’ again.Damn.”
“My sister thought of it.”
“Allie?I thought she was the nice one.”
I laughed.“Wow.You realize that’s an act, right?”I rummaged through the cabinets, finding all my worst mugs hidden on the top shelf, and brand-new packages of food everywhere.
Not a single pantry item was missing, but it was all new.Ringo’s connection was thorough.I appreciated the thoughtfulness of it.I rinsed the coffee maker carafe and measured the water.“You drink coffee?”
“I might have lost my badge but I didn’t lose my mind.Double up on caffeine if you can.Please?”
“Firehouse brew coming up.”
While I wanted for the carafe to fill, I rearranged the artful cups with my staples.In the process, I found a T-rex mug that made me laugh.Kat got me that one.Allie got me an orange and white mug that looked like a prescription bottle.The large text on it said “coffee.”I handed that one to Bridget.
Even the refrigerator had been restocked.“I love being a kept woman.”
And I forgot I had company.
“Who’s your sugar daddy?”
I set the cream down next to Bridget.She could open it and smell to see if it was off or not.“Ringo Devlin.”
Her reaction wasn’t as shocked as I expected.“About him.”
“Let’s not, we’re not girlfriends.”
“Out of former professional courtesy, you do realize he has dubious friends, right?”
“You mean Mario, my sister’s husband?”
Bridget made a noise.“Let’s start there.Mario Valentini.Son of Italy’s trade minister, Nicolo Valentini.His mother was the daughter of Graziano Manca, one of the most notorious crime figures in Sardinia.
