Page 30 of Gianni DeLuca

“Mamma, say whatever is on your mind. We don’t keep secrets, remember?”

“Says the man who has a grown son with a woman he dated as a teenager. And I don’t recall ever meeting Lafayette’s sister.”

“You know what I mean, Mamma. My personal life is just that. Personal.”

She only grunted.

“Why didn’t you say you knew who Wisdom is in front of Roberto?”

Mamma clasped her hands together on her lap. “The same reason you ordered Roberto to leave the meeting with Wisdom. The same reason you didn’t say that Lafayette used to be your best friend. Roberto is a Tucci, no matter how distant. Knowing that Lafayette is the one who supposedly killed his cousin will only bring more unnecessary and unjustified vengeance to him. We won’t let Lafayette take the fall for anything else.”

She gripped my forearm. “Something else I need to say.”

“Say it.”

“I didn’t give any orders the night Santini was murdered. I didn’t want you and Roberto to fight, and that night I hurt so much I wanted blood, so I covered for Roberto. I’ve been feeling so guilty ever since. The way you handled Santini’s funeral and consoled his wife, I realized that I should’ve trusted your judgment and decisions as I always have. I am sorry for lying to you.”

I patted her hand that still held my arm. “What’s done is done.”

“No, it’s not. Telly called me today, thanking me and you for how much we’ve been there for her and her family. She also lamented that she wished that Santini had listened to you when you told him to stay home instead of Roberto. She said that Roberto threatened him when he insisted that he was told to stay off the streets by you. So, he reluctantly went to the Voodoo Fest because he felt he was disloyal to you. An hour later, he was gone.”

My heart crashed against my chest.

Mamma lowered her eyes to slits. “What are you going to do?”

I replied, “Handle it.”

She nodded her approval. “Now, tell me about this grandson of mine?”

Chapter Eighteen

“This sauce is perfect,” I complimented my chef at the restaurant. I spent more time with Mamma and the restaurant over the last few days. I needed familiarity, and my casino was too new for me to feel some sense of peace. Diamond and I had agreed to only speak by phone and stay in our respective corners. True to her word, she’d spoken with her brother about Courage, and now Courage would be here soon.

“Mr. DeLuca, a Courage Domonique is here to see you.” Jacques peeked his head into the kitchen.

“Thank you. I’ll be right out. Seat him at the bar.” I washed my hands, trying to stall and quiet my nerves simultaneously. Until that moment, I don’t think I realized how important it was for my son to respect and accept me. He’d been used to Laffy acting like his father, and I didn’t know if Courage believed I had anything to offer.

I strolled out of the kitchen, mask back in place, greeting my usual customers as I felt the searing gaze of Courage. However, when I finally eased down next to him at the bar, he barely glanced my way and continued drinking what looked like soda.

“You can have whatever you want to drink.”

“Not a fan of alcohol. It dulls the reflexes.” He faced the bar, refusing to look at me.

“Is that what your uncle told you?”

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