Page 10 of Bruno
“I take it Miss Wilson wasn’t exactly amenable to the kiss?”
“Who the hell knows what she thinks, either? She was responsive enough during the kiss, but after…”
“After she was mad enough for her son to think you were —”
“—our son.” I correct on reflex. “And like I said, she was responsive—”
“—at first?”
“Yeah.” There is no one I’d discuss this shit with other than Marco. Not even my own brothers, but maybe that’s the problem. Maybe if I’d spent more time talking to her… “Anyway, we didn’t get much chance to figure it out when he burst into the room. Knocking us apart and threatening me.”
“So, he’s a real Falcone.”
“Like Czaks are any different. We protect our women.”
“True.”
“So, how did this little Shakespeare play end?”
A laugh breaks out. First one I’ve had today. “Like your dumb Polish ass ever read Shakespear.”
“As much as your dumb Italian ass… finish the story.”
“Nothing to finish. I sent them to the kitchen to have a meal and told them I’d join them and tell them…”
“What can you say?“
“The hell if I know. I have about as much experience explaining myself and sharing my feelings as you have with nice church girls.”
“Never wanted a church girl. Always preferred sinners. Why do you think we’re friends?”
“Yeah, well, I got a nice church girl and our son in my house waiting for answers. The only thing I know is I’m not going to lie. That’s the shit my father did to me. I always said I would never be the kind of father I have. I wouldn’t keep my son in the dark until it was too late and only share things on a need-to-know basis—”
“But you did it, anyway. Don’t worry, my friend. As my grandma used to say,Co sie stalo, to sie nie odstanie. Which basically means you can’t make something that happenedunhappen, but you can start over. I’ve spent a lot of time checking in on them—personally, keeping up. I didn’t assign them to strangers. I can tell you they both have good hearts. You never wanted to hear… after the marriage. But they were good people—still are.”
“Do you know what happened…”
“I know that the woman you should ask is a few feet away.”
“Fuck you,” I say without heat because I know he’s right.
“Okay, okay. I’ll behave.”
“You better,” I sigh. I need you to dig into the Verrazzano family. Get me a list of their current associates, connections, and financials. I need to know who we’re dealing with. I also want to know about any recent developments in their organization. See if they’ve acquired any new assets or made any moves.”
“Already done. I’ll fax everything I have within the hour.”
“Check in with the Roarers, too. They are the ones who watch over Stone’s Throw. Find out if anyone has come looking for Attia and Chris. We intercepted the chatter, but we need to know if any specific plans had been made. If anyone steps a foot into town looking for trouble, they’d be the first to hear about it.”
“Okay. They already know to keep us posted, but I’ll check in and get back to you. Anything else?”
Chapter 4
Ican’t sit at the kitchen table with Bruno—not now, not while I’m still angry and… reeling from our kiss. Chris shouldn’t see me like this, not after what he just witnessed. I need to calm down before facing them, but when I open the door, chaos erupts.
Men rush towards me, guns drawn, their faces tense, and alarms blaring in the background. I turn around, slowly raising my trembling hands to show that I’m unarmed. They lower their guns and clear a path, allowing Bruno to walk through with angry concern etched on his face. Behind him is a terrified Chris.
“I… I just wanted to take a walk.”
