Page 23 of Convenient Mafia Vows

“There.” I point to the eight of hearts. “This card can be moved.”

“Not yet.” Abigail continues to flick through the deck on the screen until she comes across the card she’s obviously been waiting for. One move, and I can see that the game is wide open for her to clear up.

“How did you do that?”

“I watch the cards.”

“You watch the cards?”

If she’s telling the truth, the kid is a genius. The kind of client we look out for in the casinos and try to curb before they clean out the banker. The kind of person we could always use on our side.

“Did you know she could do this?” I lean forward and address Victoria while Abigail starts another game.

“Abigail is very bright.” Victoria keeps her voice low and her eyes on the tablet. “She was suspended from kindergarten for dismantling an expensive projector.”

“It was broken,” Abigail interjects.

“The head teacher suggested that the Lutheran Prep Academy would be better suited to her … talents.”

“How old is she?” I ask.

“I’m five.” Abigail peers up at me, and I get the feeling that she’s sizing me up and deciding whether to trust me or not.

“I’m impressed, Abigail. Who taught you to hack into computer equipment?”

“No one. I taught myself.”

“She watches YouTube videos,” Victoria says.

“I’ll pay for her to get into the Academy.” I’m not just doing this for Victoria now. With the right tuition, the kid would be an asset to the Murray family business when she’s older, and there are way too many shysters out there who would exploit her if they knew what she could do. “A talent like this needs nurturing.”

“Whoa.” Victoria is on her feet in an instant. “What’s going on here?”

“Nothing.” I stand up; it’s a tough habit to break, needing to be the one doing the intimidating. “The kid—Abigail,” I correct myself, “needs someone looking out for her.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s how it sounded.” Victoria’s hands are balled into fists. “When we walked in here, you were worried about Mason ruining your scheme to get your ex off your back, and now you’re acting all protective like we haven’t done alright without you so far.”

“What’s wrong with wanting to protect you?” I don’t understand how Victoria is twisting this around and acting like I’m the monster here when the kid’s dad has vanished like a genie in a bottle as soon as the going gets tough. “I take care of what’s mine, Victoria.”

“Why?” Her cheeks are flushed, and it isn’t just because she’s still wearing her coat. She lowers her voice and turns away from Abigail so that she can’t hear what’s being said. “Why do you want to protect her? What’s in it for you, huh?” She doesn’t add that Abigail isn’t mine—she doesn’t need to.

“I get my ex off my back as you so rightly pointed out.”

Victoria shakes her head. “There’s more to it than you’re letting on.” She glances at Abigail, and her expression immediately softens. “She has me to look out for her. The deal is off. Come on, Abigail. We’re leaving.” She holds out her hand for the kid to take.

“Can we get ice cream now?”

“Don’t leave, Victoria.” What am I doing? There must be an easier way to stop Olivia, but short of forcing her upon one of my brothers, I can’t think of anything else right now. “Look, don’t get me wrong, her talents in a casino… Hell, I could make a fuck-load of money out of her. But that’s not what’s going on here.”

“You cussed,” Abigail pipes up. “You need to put money in the cussing jar.”

“The cussing jar?” I can’t help smiling even if it isn’t reciprocated by Victoria. “Please don’t back out now. I want to help you. Both of you.”

“You think you can get Abigail into the Academy?”

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