Page 98 of Mob Knight

“We’re not responsible for whatever you’re talking about. We’re on good terms with Jesus.”

“Does your wife know that? Are you that good an actress? Did you know about me and decide to get revenge for whatever my father did to you?”

She doesn’t deny Jesus likely did something. He did. At least his men nearly did, which made the Mancinellis hold him responsible.

Jesus and Enrique can’t stand each other. I don’t know if Joey knows that. It makes me wonder if Pablo or Javier have anything to do with this. Was Enrique merely enjoying toying with the Mancinellis and me? Or was he crowing “dance, monkeys, dance” to himself?

“I knew nothing about you. Are you with Cormac, feeding him information to sabotage my family?”

“No. Until tonight, I didn’t think about your family because I didn’t know any of you existed.”

The women stare at one another, and the rest of us stare at them. Joey’s tone softens a smidge.

“Does my father know who you are now?”

“Yes.”

“Does he know his sister’s alive?”

“Yes.”

“My father carries a photo with him everywhere. He’s done things I’ll never know to get it back when someone’s taken it. It’s your mom and my dad when they were kids. He’s handing her a toy, and she’s handing him a ball. He thought it was the only thing left. Our grandfather did this, not your mom or my dad.”

Olivia’s gaze isn’t as piercing as she shifts her gaze to Santiago for a moment before returning it to Joey.

“I know. My mom thought he was dead, too. Our grandfather took him and trained him. By the time he came back from wherever, my mom was already here.”

“Do they talk?”

“I don’t know. I think once in a while.”

Joey nods. I think it bothers her that Olivia knows more about their family’s past than she does. That sparked her anger and defensiveness. It sparked Olivia’s resentment and distrust from what happened before Jesus learned who she was.

“No one I know in our family has your eyes. Did you get them from your dad?”

“Yes, and the blonde hair’s from his side, too.”

Olivia’s lips flatten as she realizes she just told Joey something she must already know. They stand in silence, and it’s Luca’s and my cue to wrap our arm around our women and pull them into our embrace. We move with a synchronicity that would normally make us snarl. But neither of us cares about the other more than we do the women we love.

Joey gazes up at me, and I can tell she wishes to say something for my ears only. I kiss her forehead, bringing my head closer to hers.

“Would your family allow me to get to know her better? Would they worry if Santi did, too?”

“Of course you can.”

We both see Olivia whispering to Luca, and my guess is it’s the same thing Joey asked because both women turn to each other.

“I’m sorry.”

They speak together, then smile. Joey tries again.

“I’m sorry for my harshness. I never imagined I’d meet my mirror image. I’m protective of my family, just like you are yours. But we’re also each other’s family, and three of us live in the same city.” She glances at Santiago. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

“I’d like that too.”

Both women turn their focus to Santiago, who’s remained quiet, only observing.

“Me too.”

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