Page 82 of Sin and Redemption

We settled around the table.

“I should have known something was up when you insisted on buying mayonnaise for the Vitello Tonnato instead of making it yourself,” Inessa said with a grin.

I frowned, not following her train of thought.

“The eggs,” Inessa said in a duh kind of way, giving me an exasperated look. She could be a handful. “Pregnant women aren’t supposed to eat raw eggs, and the storebought stuff Mom got doesn’t have any eggs.”

“Thanks for the life lesson,” I said dryly and gave her a wink.

She raised her chin.

As usual, Liliana had cooked way too much, and it tasted fantastic. After hearing Amo’s stories from his mother’s failed cooking attempts and my mother’s stories of Gianna’s experimental and hazardous cooking style, I wondered how she was so good. “How come you cook like a professional chef and your sisters don’t?”

“They don’t just cook badly, they pose a risk to humankind with their food,” Flavio said. I gave him a surprised look. He rarely said anything when Sara and I were over for dinner.

“I love cooking. For Aria and Gianna, it’s a necessary evil. That’s the main difference,” Liliana said with a smile. I supposed that applied to more than just cooking. I was a good Enforcer because I enjoyed breaking our enemies.

After dinner, Romero asked me to go to his garage to see his new vintage car. I admired the dark green Alfa Romeo 200 Berlina. It had rust all over it, and the brown leather seats were washed out by the sun and had rips in them. Two of the four front lights were broken, and there was probably more damage that wasn’t obvious right away.

I still remembered the first time he’d asked me to join him in his garage after our first Christmas dinner. I had been convinced he’d try to bury me under his car and say it was an accident.

I told Romero as we circled the car, which was too small for my personal comfort.

He gave me an amused look as he let his hand glide over the hood reverently. “I would never kill someone at our home. Lily would never forgive me.”

I chuckled. “So you thought about it.”

He became serious. “There were moments, unreasonable moments that passed quickly. I always knew you weren’t the one I really wanted to kill.”

I gave a nod and pushed my hands into my pockets, wishing I hadn’t brought it up.

Romero stepped up to me. “I’m glad my reasonable side won because I can tell things between you and Sara are good now, and soon you’ll have your own family.”

“We’re working on our marriage every day.”

The door to the garage opened, and Flavio entered, looking uncomfortable. Romero walked toward him, and they exchanged a few quiet words I didn’t catch before Romero moved toward the door. “I’ll grab a few beers for us.”

He left Flavio and me alone. Flavio focused on the car and shrugged. “I feel like a sardine in that car.”

“Me too. I prefer my Suburban.”

“You’re half giant, so it’s not really surprising,” Flavio said with a half smile. He sobered, his eyes on mine. Like Romero, he looked like a mother-in-law’s dream, all sonny boy and white dress shirts. He straightened and cleared his throat. “I…I’m okay with you, you know? It took some time, but I think I’ve worked through it. Mom thinks I should apologize, but I can’t do that. Just know, I’ll try to accept you as part of this family now.”

He extended his hand, and I took it. “I never expected an apology. I understand every bit of hate and anger you felt toward me. I’m glad you’re giving me a chance, though.”

Romero came in with beers shortly after, and we drank them together as he explained his newest car to us. His passionate monologue almost made me eager for one of those babies too, but I simply preferred the comfort of new cars.

Shortly before midnight, I decided to walk home with Sara. It was a short distance and I’d drunk two beers. In the past, that had never stopped me from getting behind the wheel, but fuck, I wouldn’t risk anything with Sara in a car with me. If something happened to her or the baby because of a crash, I’d dump myself in the Hudson with Romero’s and Flavio’s help.

Sara gave me a pleased smile when I told her why I wanted to walk. Holding her hand, we headed down the street. We had almost reached our building when I noticed suspicious movement on the other side. I glanced over but the person who’d slinked from one car to the other was no longer there. Fuck. I reached for my gun and pulled Sara against me but never slowed.

Sara snuggled up to me, obviously not realizing why I had tugged her against me. I was glad. I didn’t want her to be scared.

I walked faster. I couldn’t hunt down whoever had been following us without leaving Sara behind, and that definitely wasn’t an option. I risked another glance back, but I didn’t see anything. Either he was gone or I had imagined the movement, but my instincts usually were on point.

Sara lifted her head curiously as I ushered her into the building and closed the door. “Is everything okay?”

I gave her a forced smile. “I just need to go to the bathroom. Too much beer.”

---