Page 45 of Assistant to the Mafia

Mo pulled open the front door, inclining his head.

“We’ll be at least a couple hours. Go kick up your feet,” Romeo said to his friend before continuing to lead her inside.

Grace had never actually been inside Dante and Iris’s home. As she’d expected, it was impressive. Somehow stately and modern, but avoiding the heavily industrial pitfalls. Pops of color and greenery shocked various spaces in the form of live plants in tasteful pots, some hanging, some standing in corners.

Rapid footfalls drew her attention away from the décor as a tiny figure darted around the corner up ahead. “Daddy!”

Romeo took a half-step forward and caught Lucia as she launched herself at him, squeezing her tight before setting back on her feet. “There’s my princess,” he said, ruffling her hair. “Have you been good while I was busy?”

She bobbed her head. “I was, I promise. Aunt Felicity even helped me with my homework!” Her gaze moved over to Grace and she blinked, as if not recognizing her. Then she tugged on Romeo’s shirt sleeve and stage-whispered, “Is that Miss Grace? Does Uncle Dante know she’s coming to dinner? What’s wrong with her head?”

“Yes, Lucy. Don’t be rude,” Romeo whispered back in the same tone, flashing Grace a grin when Lucia looked her way again. He patted her encouragingly behind her shoulders in a wordless instruction.

Lucia stepped up to her, smiling almost sheepishly. “Hi, Miss Grace.” She rolled her lips. “Are you okay? Did Daddy have to take you to the doctor?”

Grace smiled. “Hi, Lucia. It’s nice to see you again.” She offered the young girl her hand so they could walk and talk, and Lucia took it easily. “I’m okay,” she continued. “Your daddy actually was kind enough to come pick me up from the doctor.” She indicated the wrap still around her head. “They won’t let me drive like this.”

Lucia grinned. “Daddy doesn’t drive ever. He always makes Uncle Mo do it.”

Romeo laughed.

When they rounded the corner, the muted voices that had been speaking upon their arrival developed faces and Grace’s nerves returned.

“Daddy brought Miss Grace for dinner!” Lucia announced as if no one could see her for themselves.

Grace felt herself flush, but at the same time an amused smile teased her lips. Hers, and several others.

Lucia tipped her head up to her once more. “Miss Grace, do you like my daddy?”

“Lucy,” Romeo said as he reached out and pulled his daughter’s attention away, “let’s not interrogate people, hm?”

Iris stepped up, drawing Grace’s focus, and wrapped Grace in a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said quietly.

Grace reached up, nearly forgetting to only use one arm to hug back. “I am,” she whispered. “I hope you didn’t worry too much.” She smiled at her friend as the other woman let go.

Iris’s smile was soft and easy. “Only the right amount.”

Dante appeared behind his wife, one hand on her shoulder. “Dinner’s not for another twenty minutes. Come, sit down.” He cut a glance toward his brother. “If you’d rather make a different use of this time, use my office.”

“Right.” Romeo met Grace’s gaze and inclined his head, then dropped down beside his daughter. “Princess, there’s something I need to talk to you about. Do you mind if I steal you away before dinner?”

Grace smiled and turned, following the direction her boss had indicated and moving toward the cluster of furniture and remainder of people. The sound of Lucia’s responding giggle filled the room for a moment, and brought a warmth to Grace’s chest that she hoped she would get to keep. She knew Romeo’s feelings were genuine. She believed that as much as she believed in her own. But if Lucia outright opposed the idea of them getting married, Grace didn’t know how it would work. The girl might only be seven, but she was Romeo’s world. That wasn’t the sort of conflict a new relationship was supposed to be built on.

“Looks like it’s a good thing I grabbed you multiple outfits,” Felicity said after a moment.

Grace blinked and looked over at the younger woman, only then remembering she’d wanted to thank her at her next opportunity. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. Thank you, both of you, for going so out of your way for me this morning. I really appreciate it.” She glanced down at her feet, and the house slippers she was currently wearing. “Although I did lose one of my heels kicking out that taillight.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t slice an artery,” Mikey said.

“Goodness,” Eleonora said, “you really had to do that? I haven’t heard a story like that since I was probably around your age.”

Grace really had no idea how to feel about that statement. So she nodded, slow enough to keep her head from hurting again. “I did.” She glanced across to Mikey. “And I am,” she added, raising her bandaged wrist so the sleeve slid back. “Apparently if it had gone much deeper, I’d have been in way worse shape. Or something like that.”

“Well,” Felicity said, “it seems like a silly thing in light of the day’s events, but you’re welcome. I hope I grabbed things you’d want.”

Grace smiled. “Some of my favorites.” She didn’t point out that she’d already, very inadvertently, ruined one of those favorites. Instead she drew a breath and steeled herself, because she wasn’t going to get a better time to say something else that had been simmering in the back of her mind for most of the day. “So … I don’t want to bring down the mood or anything, but in light of the fact that other people’s secrets have nearly gotten me killed like three times in less than twenty-four hours, I’m going to be blunt. Everyone in this room has been lying to me, and where it impacts my own safety, I’m within my rights to be mad about that.”

The aura of the room shifted, going uncomfortably still.

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