Page 107 of Alfie: Part Two

“Because I am a hypocrite,” she said tearfully, removing her curlers. “I should not be happy two men are dead, no matter what they have done. But I am. I’m also so…so mad at’chu, Alfredo!” In a fraction of a second, she flipped to anger instead, and then she was waving a fist in my face.

“Ay, put down your weapon, Ma.” I lowered her hand and held it. Part of me—fuck, sorry, but I wanted to laugh. She was too cute. “What did I do?”

“I don’t know,” she wept. “You should come with me to church.”

Fuck no, I’d been there two days ago for Mass. That was plenty. I’d almost fallen asleep, too.

“Or we can do something productive with our time,” I offered.

She glared at me for that. “I think we both know you need to ask for forgiveness too.”

“For what?” I widened my arms. “You know whatIthink?” I dropped my arms again and took a step closer to her. “I think it’s time you meet them properly. Liam, Finn, Kellan… And not the stiff nods when you accidentally pass them outside church on Sundays.”

She scoffed. “You are crazy. You want me to think they’re nice, yes?”

“I want you to get to know them,” I corrected. “Let their charms cloud your judgment until you can’t wait to see Emiliaand the little ones for another birthday party or barbecue. Trust, it worked on both West and me.”

At least Dad thought I was funny.

Mom, on the other hand… She stalked into her closet, probably to find a dress for church, and she was in there for approximately two seconds. Then she rushed out again and came toward me, not stopping until she had her arms around my midsection.

I looked over my shoulder to find Dad watching us.

“What the fuck?” I mouthed. What could I say to make this better? And to stop the roller coaster? ’Cause, frankly, I was ready to get off. Her mood swings were giving me whiplash.

“Maybe I don’t want the truth, and that’s why I need to ask for forgiveness,” she cried. “My sweet boy—you could not have done this. Promise me.”

She didn’t want the truth.

I smiled and cupped her face in my hands. “Ma. I hadnothingto do with this. But I will tell you one thing. If I ever find out who did it, I’ll be the first to send them a big fucking bouquet of flowers, and I ain’t sorry about that. I’m glad they’re gone. They’ll never hurt you again.”

She sniffled and wiped fruitlessly at her cheeks. “Okay,” she croaked. “I want to heal now. I want to buy Christmas gifts for my grandbabies, and I…and I never want your father to be in charge of dinner ever again. I cannot handle more fast food.”

I chuckled and brushed back some of her hair.

She released a heavy breath. “I will not ask any more questions about this.”

“All right.” I hesitated, ’cause I did have one more thing to bring up. It was only a matter of days before the cops knocked on her door to ask questions. “Um. Just so you know, the police might stop by. You know. They’ll wonder if the Sons areinvolved, in which case it looks strange that…you know, I’m related to them, and to you…”

She cocked a brow. “You want me to play stupid and act like I didn’t raise a mobster. Yes? And guess what—I will lie better than you right now. I will also beg for forgiveness after.”

The wonders of Catholicism.

“You should come with me to church,” she repeated decisively. “Go eat your breakfast. We will leave in fifteen minutes.”

Oh, for the love of?—

EPILOGUE 1

A few weeks later

December 29th

Alfie Scott

“Dada, up!” Kian demanded.

Finn took a swig of his pint before handing the glass over to Liam, and then he hauled his boy up on his shoulders. “You promise to sit still while Daddy plays the whistle?”

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