Page 11 of Rex

“He really is, but Mac’s my favorite,” I state.

“He’s a beautiful bird, but the language that comes out of him,” Mom replies with a sad shake of her head and a tiny cringe.

I smile because my mother is a true lady with the manners that go with one. She came from a very wealthy family and was raised to be prim and proper no matter what was happening around her. She went to all the right girls-only boarding schools and learned the proper way to hold a teacup, along with a lot about managing a household. She learned the important skills of correct posture, the proper walk, and how to support whoever her important husband may be. Luckily for her, her father also insisted she be well-read and educated in regular subjects too.

The only “unladylike” thing my mother did was refuse the highly suggested and well-connected marriage her father wanted her to have. Instead, she married one of Chicago’s rising stars in the underground world of the mob. Not that she knew that’s who she was marrying. She thought Enzo Zanetti was a businessman who was very good at what he did. He was excellent at what he did, but being a businessman was not where his skill set was best used. Enzo made a name for himself at an early age by having no conscience when it came to killing. Unfortunately, my mother didn’t figure that out until she was married and had a baby on the way.

If it weren’t for Enzo’s job, he and my mother would have had a beautiful life together. They loved each other in a way that is rare to witness. They had three children together, and we were raised in a loving home. I didn’t even know what my father’s real profession was until he was arrested. My brothers knew but kept that knowledge from me. It was a blow to find out what he was being charged with, but not as much as finding out that he had been grooming my brothers to follow in his footsteps. Who loves their children but, at the same time, wants them to join themafia? Who loves their wife as much as I thought he’d always loved his but makes her live with the knowledge that he was a paid killer?

“Aria? Aria?” my mother says before laying her hand on my arm.

I mentally shake myself back to the present and turn a smiling face toward Mom.

“Sorry. Was thinking about a client I’m seeing today. What were you saying?” I ask as I reach for my water glass.

“How are you settling into your new partnership?” Mom repeats.

“Good. Very good. I really like my partner. She makes the day fun and treats the staff great,” I answer.

My brother Les walks up and drops a light kiss on my cheek before doing the same to Mom. Les is barely seated when the waiter appears. Les quickly scans the menu, and we give our orders. As the waiter departs, Les turns to me with a grin on his face.

“Saturday night was fun. I never saw myself hanging out with bikers, but I must admit, they know how to party,” Les says.

“Yeah, same for me. Lucy and Lisa are cool, too,” I state while working to keep my facial expression bland.

“What time did you four decide to call it a night?” Les asks.

“I don’t know. It was late, and I paid for it yesterday,” I reply while praying our food shows up soon so I can use eating as an excuse for not talking. “What did you do Saturday night, Mom?”

“The usual. I ate an early dinner and then watched a documentary about Ted Bundy. It was good,” Mom says with a small smile.

“God, Mom. Can’t you watch something that doesn’t include serial killers?” Les asks in an exasperated voice.

“True crime fascinates me, and it was a well-done documentary,” Mom answers in a defensive tone.

Our mother has always been a true crime buff. She watches all the crime shows and reads all the books, and it skeeves me and my brothers right the hell out, considering she’s married to a killer. The only thing I can think of to explain her fascination is maybe she’s trying to figure out what made my dad do the things he did. Maybe she’s hoping she’ll figure something out that excuses his behavior.

Not that we kids will ever think there’s an excuse for him, but I think Mom still loves him now as much as she did before. I know she doesn’t condone the things he did. She’s been angry with him ever since his arrest, but I don’t think that’s stopped her love for him. It’s not something she will discuss with me, no matter how many times I try to get her to. She gets tight-lipped anytime Dad is mentioned or when one of us suggests she moves on with her life without him.

We chat about things in our new lives until our food arrives. Glancing at my watch, I know I have to eat fast so I’m not late for my next patient. I squish my BLT sandwich down, cut it in half, and take a huge bite.

“It’s nice to see Drew isn’t the only one in the family with a big appetite,” Les says with a laugh as he points his fork at my face.

“Les! Don’t point utensils at your sister. You were taught manners. Please use them,” Mom chastises.

“Yeah, Les. Use your manners,” I taunt as I take a second bite.

“Aria! Don’t talk with food in your mouth. My God, you two. It’s like you were raised in a barn,” Mom sputters while daintily cutting her chicken breast into small pieces.

I growl and smack Les’s hand when he steals a French fry from my plate, but I return the favor by stealing one of his onion rings.

“I give up. I don’t know where I went wrong with you kids,” Mom mutters.

“So, I have to ask. Did Lisa and Reeves hook up Saturday night?” Les asks while glancing at me.

I inhale a sharp intake of breath and immediately choke on the bite of food in my mouth. I cough, choke, and endure Les smacking me between the shoulder blades for several seconds before I can breathe again.

“You okay?” Les asks as he turns back to his food.

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