Page 44 of Taking Care of the Target

“You’re not serious,” she said.

Hell, am I?A life somewhere else with Cassie called to him. Maybe if he could find a way to leave after Carlo got wrapped up in business as usual and forgot about her. She could go get set up, and he’d follow her a couple of months later. He closed his eyes for a moment, picturing it. A little house. Coming home every day to her, listening as she filled him in on how her “CIA” training was going, watching her juggle ingredients in the kitchen as she tested out the new dishes and techniques she’d learned…

Eventually they could start up their own restaurant. He’d do the management, she’d cook.

But what would happen to Bobby next time he landed himself in trouble? Vince didn’t even know where his little brother was right now, which always worried him. Part of him wanted to say Bobby’d had enough chances, but it didn’t change the fact that he was partially to blame for getting him into that lifestyle, or that his screw-ups could get him killed if Vince wasn’t there to intervene.

Even without him in the equation, he doubted Carlo would wish him well and let him leave without a fight.

Every way he tried to spin it, being with him put her in more danger.

Vince lifted his eyes to Cassie’s. “I want to be. But…I have a brother. I’m not sure I could leave him behind. Honestly, I only hear from him when he’s in trouble, which he gets himself into frequently, and if I wasn’t here to help him, I worry about what would happen.”

She nodded, her dangly silver earrings catching the light. “So maybe just New York? Really this is just the dream stage of talking, where the idea’s shiny and new, before reality steps in and tells me I can’t get in… or afford tuition even if I did.”

“You’re going.” He squeezed her hand. “Cassie, promise me you’ll make it happen. Please don’t let me hold you back.” She opened her mouth and then closed it, like she was looking for an excuse. “Promise.”

“I promise I’ll try,” she said. “That’s the best I can do.” The fierce look she added made him think she was telling him that if she accepted him for him, he had to accept her for her.

As soon as he broke things off, she’d be more motivated. Maybe even go for the farther location. It’d be best for her in the end.

“Vince…” She slipped her fingers between his. “I don’t know how to say this without it coming across as too much, and I don’t want to freak you out. But I’m enjoying…” With her free hand, she motioned between them. “Whatever this is. I feel like you’re the only person I even know. I’m so used to being alone, and it’s nice to not be. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

The words stung, each one a dart to the chest that radiated guilt. Because while she knew him better than anyone in a lot of ways, she didn’t really know him at all.

Chapter Twenty-One

Allegra was suffocating Carlo, and after three days of never leaving the house so he could prove he only had eyes for her, he escaped to Rossi’s. Most restaurants weren’t equipped with offices this large, which made him all the more grateful for it when he needed space. His great-grandfather bought the older brick building when he first settled in New Jersey, and it’d worked very well for the family business—both the legitimate restaurant side and the less legal, higher paying side.

Carlo had just leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to enjoy the blessed silence when the knock on his door jerked him upright. Che palle, what is it now?

Sal poked his head inside.Oh, good. The gnat.

He strolled on in, sat in the chair across from Carlo, and propped his feet on his desk.

Carlo stared at the boots until Sal got the message and removed them. “What do you want?”

“I was just wondering where Vince was? Sal could’ve taken care of Cassie in a day.”

“Why don’t you do your job and let me worry about Vince? And Cassie for that matter.” He’d put Sal on all the shitty jobs for a week after his last stunt, but instead of complaining the entire time, he’d brought in twenty percent more money. So while he needed to be reminded of his place once in a while, Carlo couldn’t deny he got things done.

“Sure thing, Boss.” He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “It’s just I got to thinking…”

Carlo gripped the arms of his chair, already regretting this. He was about to tell him to get the hell out and not bug him again when Sal said, “Did you ever notice the way Vince looked at Cassie?”

Carlo narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Sal held up his hands. “It might be nothing. I mean, I asked her out, too, and we all agreed she was a pretty girl. But I think Vince has a thing for her. He’s insisted on staying out of the business, and then suddenly Cassie’s involved and he’s volunteering? Now he’s spending all this time with her. Aren’t you worried he might get his allegiances mixed up?”

The suggestion dug under Carlo’s skin, leaving it itchy and irritated. “Vince doesn’t want her to suffer. A sentiment I share,” he said, although now hewastrying to remember how Vince acted around her. He’d seen them talk now and then—normal considering they’d worked together—and she’d laughed and smiled, but she was a friendly girl, like that with everyone. It was why his customers liked her so much, too. “That’s also my nephew you’re talking about, so you’re walking a fine line. You think I don’t know my own flesh and blood?”

“Just thought I should mention it in case you didn’t know, that’s all.” Sal stood and wrapped his hands around the back of the chair he’d vacated. “He’s never killed anyone before, either. Notice he always steps away before it happens? I just don’t think he has it in him.”

“I’m pretty sure he would’ve killed you if I hadn’t pulled him off.”

Sal’s hand went to his neck, and anger flickered through his eyes. This was about revenge. Vince had tried to squish the gnat, so he’d decided to come buzzing.

Carlo pulled the remote out of his desk, eyeing the flat screen he’d installed last year. “Like I told you boys, Cassie’s to be left alone. Vince is on it, and the last thing we need right now is to draw extra attention to ourselves. It does me no good to get arrested for conspiracy to commit murder to avoid a murder rap, does it? You think I got to where I am by making bad calls?”

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