But she was crying. And he couldn’t deal with that.
His heart melted, and he pulled her into his big arms. Which caused her to cry even harder as if it had nothing to do with this Cleopatra lady calling him and everything to do with her fear that there were so many more women out there who didn’t call. Whose names weren’t in his phone. But they were as much a part of Mick’s life as she was. And she hated that she had allowed herself to becomethat girl.
Mick could feel her pain. But only for Roz would he cave. “You’re the only one I want, baby,” he said as he held her tighter. “You’re the only one.” He took his hand and lifted her chin to his face. “You hear me?”
Roz didn’t respond. She could be as stubborn as he was. Then she tore away from him, went into the bathroom, and slammed the door.
Mick pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fuck!” he said beneath his breath. If it wasn’t urgent, he wouldn’t go.
But it was urgent.
Deadly urgent.
He had to go.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Boss?Boss?”
Teddy and Marco were seated at the kitchen table playing a game of Spades. Cleo Burgess was in the living room of the open floor-planned house tied to a chair with two armed guards on either side of her. Teddy’s capos were on guard duty in the back, in the front, and on both sides of the safe house too. The way his old man stressed the urgency of her capture, they were taking nothing for granted.
Teddy didn’t bother to look at one of his capos that had just come inside. “Boss,” the capo said again.
“Don’t you see I’m working over here?” Teddy responded to him. “Damn. I can’t even play a game of spades anymore?”
“You can play, but you can’t win,” Marco said as he threw down an Ace. “Bam!” he said and won the deck.
Teddy tossed his cards in. And looked at his capo. “What is it?”
“Sal and Robby’s a few blocks away.”
Marco looked at the capo too. “Sal Gabrini’s in town?”
“And he’s on his way here.”
Teddy was confused. “How did he find out we were back here?”
“I don’t know, Boss. But he’s heading this way. And there’s no way we gonna tell Sal Gabrini he can’t pull up. Nobody’s got the nerve.”
Marco looked at his father. “I thought you wanted him out of the loop.”
“Pop wanted it.”
“Why?”
“How the hell should I know?” Teddy was irritated as he stood up and grabbed his suit coat. “You think that man tells me his business?” He began putting on his suitcoat and heading toward the exit. Marco hopped up and followed behind him.
But Cleo, who heard the conversation, was adamant. “Keep that man away from me,” she yelled, “or I won’t tell y’all shit! Keep Sal away from me!”
Teddy and Marco looked at her. Even after two more years of wear and tear, she still looked good. And still riled Teddy in ways he couldn’t understand. She still got under his skin.
He and Marco, with the capo behind them, walked outside.
Marco popped a gum in his mouth. “Wonder why Robby’s with him? A man that takes his underboss around with him means it’s major league business he’s on.”
“That’s why he’s with him.”
Marco shook his head. “I still can’t believe that shit.”
