I rolled to a stop outside of the hotel. Agosto hopped out of the truck, checking our surroundings as he approached.

The valet attendant ran over as I stepped out of the car.

“Good evening, Mr. Andrisani.” His short, bright red hair caught my attention.

“Good evening.” I pointed inside the car. “If anything is missing, I’ll know just who to look for.”

The lanky guy swallowed hard. “No worries, Mr. Andrisani.”

I placed a twenty-dollar bill in his hand, before I walked to the other side of the car. Smitty stood near the glass doors.

“Rocco, I spoke to your father. I’ll handle everything.”

“Good.”

Agosto nodded to Genn, who sat in the Suburban behind us.

I knew Art would report to Luciano and tell him Ryah’s whereabouts. This stay was his daughter’s decision.

Pulling Ryah under my arm, I kissed her forehead as we walked behind Smitty into the grand hotel lobby.

Ryah deserved the best. My parents' penthouse suite was just the place to relax.

She marveled at the purple flowers and the gold accent wall behind the front desk, en route to the elevator.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Happy you like it.”

After Agosto did his walk through, Ryah and I stepped inside the suite.

She stared up at the large three-gold ball light fixture before we continued to the bar. The golden leather sofas were plush and fit for mafia royalty.

“Baby, it’s time to get it off your chest.” I helped her out of her jacket. “Have a seat.”

Ryah sat in the tall cream leather chair and leaned on her elbow.

“Vodka and cranberry, please.”

I shrugged out of my blazer and draped it over her jacket on the back of the chair beside her. “Coming right up.”

“This goes without saying; I love my mother. But now that I’m older, I often wonder what kind of woman would fall for a man who’s marrying another woman.”

Peeking at her, I mixed her drink in the shaker before pouring the contents over ice.

Her eyes lit up. “I need that.”

“Sip it slow.” I placed her drink before her, then prepared myself a scotch on the rocks.

“Ryah, you’ve romanticized the way they met in the past.”

“I’m older now. It’s not cool.”

I intertwined our fingers and led her to one of the three sofas. “Ryah, didn’t you say you could see the love in his eyes whenever he looked at your mom?”

“Yes.” Ryah kicked off her sandals and pulled her feet under her.

“This might sound sappy, but I think he wanted to feel love, too. He may have fallen in love with Rosetta if he hadn’t met your mother. If he loves Rosetta, it isn’t the same kind of love he has for your mother. I see the way he looks at Melanie, too. That man would die for her.”