Page 150 of Married with Mayhem

My dad comes out from behind the counter and steps right up to eye Julian more closely. “You’ve still got to eat while you’re here.” He wraps his big arms around his nephew for a brief hug and slaps his back before releasing him. “Take a seat. I’ll work some magic in the kitchen.”

The crowd inside Gino’s is moderate and the back tables are taken. I’ve just finished pushing two small tables together near the front when Nico and Getty return.

They’re arguing. Sort of. Nico wears a disgusted expression while Getty parades inside with a shit-eating grin.

“You fell in that creek,” Getty insists. “I was just trying to help you up.”

“By holding my head underwater?”

Getty shrugs. “I don’t remember it that way.”

“Maybe if I smack your face against the wall a few times your memory will improve.”

Getty clucks his tongue. “You sure grew up to be violent. You ought to pipe down before it gets you in trouble.” He nearly collides with my father, who carries a basket of garlic knots. “Uncle Sal, is that you? Damn, you’ve lost a lot of hair.”

“Gaetano,” my dad says with an eye roll. “Seems as if you’re more like your father than ever.”

Getty takes this as a compliment. “Thanks.” He plucks a garlic knot out of the basket. “You’re serving us lunch? That’s nice of you.”

Nico keeps an annoyed eye on Getty as he plops down into a chair beside his brother.

“I need a fucking beer if I’m going to sit through a meal with this asshole,” Nico grumbles.

“Get me one too,” Getty calls, then throws his hands up at the sight of Nico’s glare. “What’s your problem? You work here, don’t you?”

“Getty,” Julian says. “Say hello to Monte’s wife, Sabrina.” There’s a warning tone in his voice, not that it does a bit of good.

Getty, being an incurable dick, leans forward and looks Sabrina over with arrogant nerve. “Just think,” he says, “you could have had one of us instead of this clown.”

Sabrina stares at him with obvious dislike. She hugs my arm possessively. “I have no doubt I made the best choice. But don’t give up. If you keep paging through the mafia bride catalog, sooner or later you might find a desperate taker.”

He blinks and then howls with laughter. “Okay,” he says. “The girl is all right.”

Nico brings a pile of beers to the table, along with Sabrina’s favorite soda drink.

“Thank you, Nico,” she says.

“Anything for my brother’s wife,” Nico replies and sits down on her other side, sending a clear message that any hint of disrespect toward Sabrina will not end well for the Tempestas.

Though the mood at the table is initially awkward, the more food my dad brings over, the more we all manage to loosen up. Sabrina is a big reason for that. She asks a lot of eager questions about Storm’s Eye Ranch and her enthusiasm is infectious. The Tempesta boys are quickly charmed by her and I even catch Getty gazing at her a little wistfully.

Naturally, his admiration for my wife makes me pull her chair even closer because she’s MINE and she always will be.

It’s Sabrina who suggests that there’s an empty apartment upstairs on the third floor and invites my cousins to stay there while they’re in the city.

Julian looks at me to gauge whether there’s an objection. Honestly, I don’t have one. He tells Sabrina they’ll be flying out tomorrow but he accepts her invitation to stay overnight.

When Nico excuses himself and walks toward the restroom, Getty decides it’s a fine time to bust his balls.

“Don’t fall in!” he shouts. “I don’t feel like being accused of trying to drown you again.”

Nico ignores him but Getty has now earned a glare from me.

“You’re fucking deranged, you know that?” I say.

He grins, not insulted at all. “So what? I’m still family.”

“Whatever,” I mutter.

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