Page 27 of Vows of a Mobster
I never mixed business and pleasure, nor friends and business. It was just the nature of our family and our company. But I also knew that Marissa never begged and rarely asked for things, unlike my brother.
“I won’t get rid of her,” I promised her. The girl intrigued me. “Although, not sure if Marcus will back off her.”
“Trust me, Marcus doesn’t stand a chance with her.” Her certainty made me want to know why she was so sure of it. Ladies liked Marcus. And he always got between their legs. It would be cruel to leave her fighting his advances for months. Unless she already had a man that would eventually cause a conflict with my younger brother.
“Okay. Now tell me, I hear your birthday party is this weekend. Is there anything special you wanted?”
“Come to the party,” she suggested, hopeful.
“Your requests are always so simple,” I answered her, smiling. “I don’t know if I’ll make it. I have another obligation for this Sunday so no promises. Did you want a gift or money?”
“Surprise me,” she laughed.
“You’ve always loved surprises.”
I wondered if Brianna would be there. Maybe I should try and go to Marissa’s birthday party just to see Brianna again. Not sure why I would care, but damn it, if I didn’t want to spend some time hearing her talk. It could be the reason why she felt so at ease with me. She was too young.
Twelve
Brianna
As soon as Emma and I walked into our home, we both kicked our shoes off. It was scary how similar some of our mannerisms were.
“What should we have for dinner?” I asked her, smiling.
“Pizza?” Her eyes watched me hopefully.
Before I could answer, my cell phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey girly,” it was Daphne. “Mar and I are around the corner. We are bringing pizza!”
I smiled at the coincidence. “Did Emma call you and tell you she wants pizza?” I asked, laughing. “Because she literally just told me she wants pizza for dinner.”
“Ah, great minds think alike,” Marissa yelled over the top of Daphne.
“Okay, then,” I told them. “We are going to change out of our clothes and be ready for pizza. What are we drinking?” I asked and then quickly added, “Emma is having apple juice.”
I knew if she asked for milk, she’d be hung up on it. I winked at her and Emma smiled wide. She looked so much better today. Her cheeks were rosy and her teacher said her appetite was healthy all day.
“Wine for us,” Marissa answered.
“Great, see you soon then.”
Two hours later, we were all stuffed with pizza and sprawled on the couch, watchingFrozen.
“That song will be the death of me one day,” I whispered low to my girlfriends.
“Just let it go, Brie,” Daphne teased and I glared at her.
“I should make you listen to it a thousand times and then we’ll see who will let it go.”
We all chuckled, Emma completely engrossed into the movie.
“So will you come to my birthday party?” Marissa asked. I knew she’d ask but I had been avoiding the topic. I threw her a glance and she pouted while fluttering her eyes trying to make a begging face.
“I just don’t know if I want to be around your other side of the family,” I muttered.
