Page 6 of Married to the Mafia

“How did you hear about that?”

“Everyone’s talking about it. Rose lays down in the dirt to stop the diggers. Gets busted by the Feds. You’re a hero.”

“Am I?”

“No, no, you are not. Entire town thinks you’re an idiot. You haven’t so much as returned a library book late before and you got arrested? What is it? Going through a rebellious stage? Want to get back at your father for something? Try sleeping around, that’s what I did with mine. Got myself a man in the city and he went ballistic. Said no son of mine is gay. I said I enjoy a lot of cock for a straight man.”

Caroline punches him on the shoulder. “Let her tell the story.”

“Right, sorry, go on wild child. What happened next in your life on the lam?”

“I gunned down a bus full of nuns. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Did you?”

“Might have been penguins. It was hard to tell from a distance.”

Caroline groans. “You’re as bad as him. Will you just get to the point?”

I sip my wine. “I got arrested, but then they dropped the charges. This weird guy said I could come see the contracts so he could prove they’re going to replace the shelter. Said Amelia and Leo already signed off on it.”

“And have they?”

“I don’t know. Leo’s on his boat somewhere and Amelia’s back at college, not answering her phone. I only found out the place was being knocked down last week. I mean, don’t they have to give more notice about things like this?”

“No idea.” She glances at Eddie, who shakes her head back at him.

“What?” I ask. “What is it?”

“Nothing. Go on. What else happened?”

“No, something’s up with you two. What is it?”

“We weren’t going to say,” Caroline says, beaming at me. “But we got engaged.” She holds her hand up and I see the ring.

“Wow,” I say. “That’s amazing.”

Engaged at eighteen. Imagine being that certain about someone. It’s insane. “Hang on, aren’t you gay?”

“Gay, bi, straight. It’s all just one big tapestry, Rose.”

“And you’re sewing yourself to Caroline’s patch.”

“Exactly.”

I spot something over his shoulder. It’s the TV and I recognize the man on it. It’s the man in the suit I saw outside the sheriff’s office. He’s in an armchair looking like a younger version of The Godfather, being interviewed by a woman with platinum blonde hair and an immaculate blue suit.

The sound’s off so I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I can read the text at the bottom of the screen. Dino Gianni - Building Mansion in Gordon’s Cove - Exclusive Interview.

“What are you looking at?” Caroline asks.

“Him,” I say, pointing at the TV. “That’s the guy from this morning.”

“Wow,” she says, craning her neck to see. “What a hottie.”

“I’m right here,” Eddie says before looking at the TV. “Although fair point, he can carry me up to bed anytime he likes.”

“I thought he was one of the security guards,” I say, taking a gulp of wine.

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