Page 7 of Dirty Big Sins

“Now tell me how you came to be the goddaughter of one of the most notoriously bloodthirsty gangsters in the world. Hell, if cooking doesn’t work out, we could shop that angle to other studios instead.”

I groaned, rolling my eyes as I took another bracing sip before I began. “I don’t know about bloodthirsty. There’s a lot of rumors around the real Romeo Rossi, but I’ve never personally seen anything remotely violent from him let alone bloody. My knowledge would hardly make good fodder for television. As for my goddaughter status, it’s not that complicated. He and my father grew up together and after college my father went to work for him. That made us friends of the family for as long as I can remember— ”

A loud buzz from the door interrupted my story and we both froze. My mind went immediately to Vincent and his bellow of denial when I’d run from his room. I didn’t think I could handle seeing him right now. I needed lots more time before that confrontation.

“You want me to get it?” Zack asked.

I didn’t want anyone to get it. My plan had been to hide alone in this suite as long as I could. Zack had already shattered that idea, but that didn’t mean I was ready for anyone else to blow my life to smithereens again.

I shook my head, but I also didn’t move from my seat.

When the obnoxious buzzer sounded again, he placed his drink on the bar. “I’m going to get it. I’ll tell whoever it is that you aren’t available for guests.” He paused. “Well, unless it’syourRomeo. I’m not getting in the middle of that just so I can get my head yanked from my body when he decides to use sheer brute force to get to you.”

My body stiffened. “First, let’s get one thing straight. He is notmyanything. Second, do not call him Romeo. I don’t want to hear that name right now.” Much of the pain of the last few hours came rushing back in twice as hard and robbed my breath. I couldn’t believe my godfather was gone. Despite what him and my father put me through, I still felt a sense of loss that cut rather deep. I’d hoped with the divorce behind me we would one day mend our relationship. “Also, I’m not ready to talk toanyone.” That was seriously the truth. Although I knew I couldn’t hide much longer. I’d have to find out if I had any kind of job left and if so, the to-do list wasn’t getting any shorter like this.

“You’re talking to me, darling.”

I smirked and rolled my eyes. “Only because you broke in and forced me to deal with you. How did you get in here anyway?”

“Oh please,” he started. “I grew up in Hollywood. A little B & E is child’s play and this hotel and their high security has nothing on someone like me. I quite literally clawed my way into this life. Now I go wherever I want. It’s a perk of the business.” He turned in the direction of the suite door and I went in the opposite. His answer had been kind of weird and vague, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. What difference did it make? My house of cards was about to collapse and take everyone with it. For now, Zack could take care of whoever was at the door and then I’d get to work on getting rid of him.

“Just make sure you get rid of whoever it is,” I whisper yelled over my shoulder as I disappeared into the kitchen area of my suite.

Taking a deep breath, I let the comfort of my favorite place in any house, apartment or hotel suite wash over me. Despite my short-term stay, I’d brought all of my own things with me. My cookware, my tools, even the kitschy brightly colored porcelain bowls handed down to me by my grandmother were here and seeing them on the counter gave me a modicum of comfort.

There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t miss her. She’d been more parent to me than either of my actual parents. I still ached from the loss. Although in a way I was glad she couldn’t see what was going on right now. Not because I feared her disapproval. More so, I didn’t want to see her disappointment. I’d get more than enough of that from my mother when she found out.

Ugh. My mother. It seemed there were unending layers to this nightmare. This day called for therapy. My version of it anyway. That meant it was time to cook something. I plucked several fresh vine-ripened tomatoes from a bowl on the kitchen counter, grabbed my favorite chopping knife and got down to work. I definitely wanted a red sauce, but I needed to do something different with it. This situation called for a darker, murkier taste than my usual. Something exotic and mysterious.

Before I knew it, I was elbow-deep in tomatoes and spices and had forgotten all about Zack and whoever had arrived at my door. Inspiration had struck and I had a new recipe cooking that I had a feeling was going to become a new specialty. Maybe my best.

I don’t know how long had passed when Zack found me in the kitchen. If could have been just a few minutes, or an hour. Whenever I was cooking I had no concept of time.

“There you are.” Zack burst into the kitchen. “Don’t blame the messenger. I tried to get rid of her. Some people are just too—much.”

I looked up to see him standing in the doorway, his face red, his hair disheveled as if he’d been pulling at it, and frustration written in the firm clamp of his lips.

“Why? What’s going— “

“Move out of my way and let me by.” Nina pushed past Zack and into the small kitchen. “Is your director always like this?”

I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I didn’t welcome the intrusion. I was on a roll with my recipe and I wasn’t screwing up another sauce with a panic attack.

“Whatever it is, it has to wait. I’m in the middle of something.” I scooped a small amount onto my wooden spoon and tasted a sample. The sudden explosion of flavor nearly drew a moan from me. It was even better than before.

“Is that a new recipe? It does smell divine in here. Care to share?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Not ready yet. I need more time.”

Nina crossed to the island I stood at and took a seat directly across from the stove. “I’ll just wait right here then. I can be quiet if that’s what is necessary. You may be burying your head in the proverbial tomato sauce, but I’m not leaving. Not until we come up with a plan to fix this.”

I didn’t think Nina meant to come across so harsh, but I wasn’t exactly in the right head space to sift through my emotions, let alone hers.

“I’m hardly burying my head in anything. But with everything going on, I needed something else to focus on. And a plan for what? I think the situation is pretty clear.”

Nina exchanged a glance with Zack and he lifted his shoulders.

“You don’t know, do you?”

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