“Oh. Good.” She lets out a breath of relief. “Well, you better go eat.”
“Get some sleep, Laurie. I’ll swing by tomorrow.”
“Quick question. Can the two men please leave? I don’t want to hide in the bedroom all night, and they make me very uncomfortable.”
“Okay. But don’t try anything stupid like running away.”
“Yeah-yeah,” she mumbles before her tone turns snarky. “I’ve had my fill of being manhandled and tossed around, thank you very much.”
After she ends the call, I send Paulie and Marco new orders.
Adriano: Move down to the lobby. No one goes into the private elevator unless you’ve vetted them and Laurie doesn’t leave the hotel.
Paulie: Yes, boss.
Marco: Understood.
Walking to where my family is sitting down at the outdoor table, I message Laurie.
Adriano: They’re leaving.
I’m surprised when she reads the text instantly.
Laurie: I appreciate it. Good night.
I hesitate for a moment before replying to her.
Adriano: Sleep tight,La mia farfalla.
Reaching the table, I sit down beside Little Ricky.
Mom is squashed between my father and Tiny, the way it’s always been. He’s been Mom’s guard since she married Dad, and wherever she goes, he follows.
Big Ricky and Tiny might be old, but they still guard my parents, and I’ll never take that away from them.
That’s why I have them all living on the same property as me. It’s so I’m in control of their security because I’d lose my fucking shit if anything happened to the four of them.
Mom reaches across the table and places a big scoop of the creamy potatoes on my plate. “Eat,beddu mio.”
“Thanks, Ma,” I murmur while I help myself to some of the meat before Little Ricky and Tiny eat it all.
As I take a bite of the potatoes, Mom asks, “Were you talking to Laurie?”
I nod and shove some garlic bread into my mouth to save myself from having to speak.
Mom narrows her eyes at me. “You sounded impatient with her.”
Christ.
I swallow the food, then say, “Leave it be, Ma. Don’t get involved.”
Dad lets out a chuckle, which makes the rest of the men laugh.
“You plan to marry this woman?” Mom asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“She’ll come to live here with us?”
