Page 195 of Eat Your Heart Out

He winked and wrapped his arm around my neck, pulling me into another chokehold as he dragged me up the walk. “Thea,” he called as we made our way up the stairs and into the house, “stop breaking shit in my kitchen and come meet my little sister.”

When he finally released me, I inhaled deeply and looked at him. “Dad’s lasagna?”

Gio shrugged. “Seemed like the right thing to make.”

I nodded, emotion tightening my throat again and threatening to spill from my eyes. But then a woman stepped out from the kitchen and raced toward me, pulling me into her arms and pressing me against her chest, saving me from my tears as I returned her fierce hug. “Oh, Jack,” she said, “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Wish I could say the same, but then that was Gio for you. A different woman every week. He was so full of love to give but had absolutely no staying gene to speak of. He’d grow bored of this one and another would take her place in a week or two.

But for now, I looked up into Thea’s kind brown eyes and lied. “Me too.”

She beamed as she released me and motioned toward my brother. “Well, come on then. Close the door and get the girl’s jacket.” She shook her head in mock annoyance, but her eyes were filled with love for my brother.

As I pulled my jacket off and looked up at him to hand it over, my eyebrows rose. That same love was reflected in his eyes, and I had to clear my throat to get him to snap out of it.

Interesting.

Thea gasped, and I whipped my head around to see what had startled her, but her eyes were glued to my sides.

“Oh,” Gio said as he grabbed my coat and ruffled my hair. “Forgot to tell you. The kid’s our resident vampire hunter.”

Thea’s brow furrowed as she finally tore her eyes away from the stakes nestled against my ribs and looked up at me. “Okay, well… Huh.” She nodded, then added, “Come on in, Buffy. Giovanni made enough lasagna for thirty.” She headed into the kitchen and I looked up at my brother as I mouthed, “Buffy? Really?”

He laughed and pulled me into another chokehold, then dragged me into the kitchen.

The subject of hunting vampires was dropped as we began filling our plates, and I was grateful for that. I’d never told my brothers about Eli. It seemed somewhat personal, a secret between Dad and me, something that was ours. The fact that he hadn’t told my brothers himself had to mean something, so I kept my vigilance a secret.

My vendetta was mine alone.

And I was quickly losing interest.

Chapter Eleven

Jack

When I pulled into the parking lot behind the shop just shortly after nine-thirty, so I could change my clothes and get ready to meet Vinny at Rockefeller Center, I was full of Dad’s lasagna and Gio’s love—and happier than I’d been in some time.

Mrs. Mankin was outside the dry cleaners next door, lugging loads of laundry from the shop to her car. Dad had been right; that woman would work until the day they put her in the ground.

She waved as I climbed out of my car.

“Hey, Mrs. M,” I called as I waved back. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Jacqueline…” She paused, her eyes softening as her smile morphed into one of sympathy. The kind that instantly sent my guard up. “Are you holding up okay, dear?”

My teeth clenched, but I forced a smile as I nodded.

“That’s good.” She returned my smile and swung a bag of laundry over her shoulder, but then her smile fell and her eyes widened.

I looked behind me quickly, but there was nothing there.

When I looked back at her, I frowned. “Mrs. M? Everything okay?”

“You’re not alone for Christmas, are you, dear?”

Stifling a groan, I shook my head. “No, ma’am.”

“That’s good.” When her back was turned, I stepped around the car and headed for the stairs, but the open back door to the butcher shop caught my eye.

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