Page 102 of The Man with a Treasure

Quietly, he said, “I didn’t know you played.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“Your mother?”

Sal knew me so well. “Yes.”

He nodded as if completely understanding why I never played, and why it was monumental that I just did.

After more silence, he asked, “What else happened while you were gone?”

I exhaled regret. “I called your father.”

Next to me, his whole body seized up. Me telling him had him suspecting bad news.

I nodded. “I’m sorry. Disconnected.”

His eyes slid shut. “Mamma.”

“My heart says she is safe.”

His eyes slid open.

I then explained the conversation with the Steel Stallions. Sal didn’t blame me at all for reaching out. In fact, he spoke of the same guilt, for both the grey-eyed girl and the other victims we left defenseless.

After even more silence passed, he finally asked, “What is happening to our friendship?”

I hated to hear his insecurity. I never meant for him to feel any doubt between us, so I answered honestly, “It is getting stronger.”

His tension eased as an exhale released from lungs that had been restricted.

It was all making sense to me now. “Sal, I’ve never been with anyone without you. Even if only a kiss, you were at least nearby.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

We had been together every day since I had moved onto the Giordano property. “How did you feel, watching me almost kiss Scarlett in the kitchen?”

He rumbled a hungry, “Like I was finally getting back to something tantalizing and so familiar it heated my insides.”

“Yes. It is something you know very well.” He would understand soon. “Now, imagine you at, say, the store in town.”

He nodded.

“Now, while you’re at the store, imagine me kissing her,” I pointed to the kitchen counter where Scarlett had been sitting, “sucking on those perfect lips.”

His body jerked. “Wait. I don’t like it.”

“Exactly. Now, imagine Noemi sitting on the kitchen counter.” I smiled as he literally took a step forward before catching himself. “Yessss,” I agreed. “Now, imagine one of those women from a bar sitting on that counter.”

His upper lip lifted.

Pleased, I said, “Now you see.”

His head fell forward. “I see.”

“For a perfect time in our lives, we had Noemi. She was all ours.” I lifted my hand and let it glide up into the air. “She made you and me soar, my friend. She took us to where we had never been. She left a deep mark that will be a part of us for the rest of our lives.”

As if the memory of her was bringing him pain, he grabbed his chest. “Why are you torturing me with something I can no longer have?”