Page 20 of The Mafia's Surprise Gift

“Fuck. Well, you know you can’t do anything.”

“What do you mean?” Rocco frowned deeply. “The fuck I can’t.”

“Rocco, remember what Jian said. She’s got a kid. She’s got a life, and she for sure doesn’t need you or me chasing her up again because of some old crush.”

“I know,” Rocco snapped. “Don’t you think I know that? I was angry at Dad for so long for taking us away because of that stupid war. All hands on deck because people were dying, and all I could think about was her. I never thought I would see her again, and now…” Rocco sighed. “Now some other fucker has her, and I bet he has no clue how fucking special she is.”

“Special enough that you invited her to a Mafia funeral?” I snorted. “Most people ask their exes for coffee.”

“I wasn’t thinking. Besides, she won’t come. If she did, she’d blend in with the rest of the town, but I dunno. She didn’t look happy to see me.”

“Can you blame her?” Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and a voice carried through, informing us that we had ten minutes until the ceremony. Mae might be a distant dream, but she was a nice enough distraction that Rocco successfully had a lid on everything once more.

The brokenhearted son was back under lock and key, and the new Don was ready to put our fallen leader to peace.

“You ready?” I handed Rocco his black suit jacket and slowly helped him into it.

“Yeah. Just… keep an eye on Mama.”

“I got you.”

To my surprise, Mae turned up. I spotted her near the back as I stood by Rocco’s side for the entirety of his speech. She was a beacon amid a sea of faces that all blurred into one meaningless, sorrow-filled ocean. I knew the moment Rocco spotted her because his entire demeanor shifted. He became slightly softer while his speech grew stronger, and whatever he saw when he looked at her gave him the strength to make it to the end while his poor mother wailed in the front row.

When Rocco and I returned to our seats and he drew his mother into his arms, I turned to the comms and contacted Jian, who was providing overwatch for the service with another team.

“How is he?” Jian asked quietly in my ear.

“One wrong move away from starting a war,” I replied softly. “But he’s holding it together. I thought I was going to lose him halfway through the speech, but Mae is here.”

“What?”

“She’s here. At the back. Rocco invited her after bumping into her yesterday. He saw her, and he made it through that speech without a disaster.”

“Fuck. I’m kinda jealous she’s there with you and I’m stuck up here.”

“You’re like a little sniper squirrel.”

“Fuck you.” Jian snorted. “It’s clear, though, so whenever you’re ready to move, let me know.”

“Will do.”

We sat through a couple more speeches from close friends and a cloaked speech from Vito that was a threat to those who understood his language. Then we walked outside into the setting sun and approached where the coffin would be lowered into the ground. Beatrice sobbed into countless tissues and wept on the shoulder of Rocco, and then her sister when Rocco stepped away to thank the priest. When he returned to my side, his face was grim but there was light in his eyes as Mae suddenly appeared beside us.

“You came,” Rocco said softly.

“Yeah.” Mae nodded.

Her gorgeous, long red hair was scooped into a braid draping over her left shoulder. A black belt cinched her simple black dress at the waist, and her striking green eyes were as bright as I remembered.

“Thank you,” Rocco said. His hand lifted as if reaching for her, and then he changed his mind and rubbed at his jaw instead. “I appreciate it.”

“I was… worried, I guess. You’d been gone for so long, and I had no friends at my father’s funeral. I didn’t want to risk your feeling the same because it was horrid, and I… well, anyway. It’s an amazing turnout.” Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she clutched at her black bag. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” Rocco’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, but the appreciation was achingly clear. “You remember Dino?”

Suddenly, Mae’s eyes were on me, and my heart skipped a beat. Jian had described her, and I’d seen her in the church, but having her this close was a completely different story. I could see every freckle on her cheeks, the dip of her collarbone, and the slight glisten of gloss on her kissable lips.

“Dino? Oh, my God, look at you!” Her smile widened. “You’ve grown so much since I last saw you.”

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