Page 80 of Thief of my Heart

“Drop it.” The man called Lis nodded at the gun still hanging limply from Ricky’s hand.

The other four gorilla-shaped gentlemen held their guns steady. With a defeated sigh, Ricky set his gun on the ground.

Lis strode forward, his face a mask of cold fury as he kicked the gun back for his associates to pick up.

“You thought you could pull a stunt like this without me finding out?” Lis spat, his heavily accented voice laced with venom. “You’re a fool. And dishonest too.”

Ricky cowered under Lis’s withering gaze. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he stammered, “I-I didn’t mean any harm—I just wanted to teach Scarrone a lesson. He can’t renege on a deal like that. It embarrassed Mancuso. The firm. The whole organization.”

“No, it embarrassed you,” Lis corrected him. He took a step closer, his eyes burning holes into the trembling man. “And you made a liar out of me. I never break my word, Riccardo. This is unacceptable.”

Quick as a striking viper, Lis delivered an open-hand slap to Ricky’s face that sent him sprawling to the floor.

“I know, I was wrong,” Ricky whimpered, trying to shield himself as the others in the room watched. “I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry.”

Nonna’s gaze darted around the room. Michael, however, stood tall as he faced Lis with unwavering determination.

“It’s done now,” he said, his voice steady and unyielding. “Ricky’s mistakes have consequences. You can’t deny that.”

Lis’s face was still hard and unreadable. “So they do.”

He turned to the men who had accompanied him and barked at them in a language I didn’t recognize, but sounded a lot like the Albanians in Belmont. Two sprang forward and grabbed Ricky, who immediately started squealing like a stuck pig as they dragged him from the apartment.

“Where are they taking him?” I couldn’t help but wonder.

Nonna’s hand immediately fell on my knee, and she shook her head. Michael also grabbed for my hand and squeezed a silent request for silence. Clearly, they were both on the same page—the one where it was better not to ask those kinds of questions.

“Nowhere good,” Michael confirmed. “I wouldn’t worry about him anymore.”

After Ricky had been hauled away, Lis delivered another set of directions to his men. They moved toward the bodies strewn across the floor and started lugging them up and onto the other couch.

Then Lis turned to us and gave a meaningful look toward the door.

We didn’t need any other direction. Michael carefully escorted Nonna up from the couch, then put an arm around me so he could guide us both from the room. He didn’t seem to care that a cut over his eye was still bleeding or that the pocket in his coat was torn. We were obviously his only concern.

“Scarrone,” Lis called.

Michael paused in the doorway and looked over his shoulder.

“An honest man deserves his freedom,” Lis said in a voice that wasn’t altogether unfriendly but still sent chills up my spine anyway. “For now. But one day, I will want a favor.”

Michael seemed to think about that for a moment while the hand on my arm tightened ever so slightly. “One day,” he said finally. “But that day is not today.”

It seemed to be good enough for the mobster.

“No,” Lis agreed. “A favor’s no good until a man gives it on his own. Take your women home, Scarrone. You keep your promises. I can wait until you’re ready to keep this one too.”

TWENTY-FOUR

WELCOME HOME, MICHAEL

Michael

It was strange, the way Lea’s house was starting to feel so familiar but off-limits at the same time. The little brown house wedged between a brick apartment building and a trio of townhomes reminded me of the gingerbread houses they’d let us make in one of the group homes at Christmas. Nothing special. Expired graham crackers, cheap frosting, and dollar store candy. We weren’t allowed to touch them for days after we made them, but it was the highlight of the year, one of the few times I could remember being happy as a kid.

After getting out of the cab that took us back to Belmont, we trailed behind Mrs. Zola, Lea’s gloved hand firmly in mine while I reached out with the other, guarding in case the older woman slipped in the snow and ice. When we reached the front porch, I released Lea’s hand.

“Now that you’re home safe, I’ll…” I trailed off, unsure of what to say.

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