Page 74 of Cassio (Belles & Mobsters 3)

Lifting my right brow and faking the bravado, I turned my attention to all three men. Their eyes on me, I studied them. Cassio’s expression was unreadable, Luca had amusement in his, and my stepfather, he seemed agitated and nervous.

“Okay, will someone start talking? This is grating my nerves and I still have a drawing to work on for the new building. I don’t have all night for whatever the hell is going on.”

Mentally, I high fived myself. Hopefully, it was convincing enough. Though probably not, considering these two men saw me fall apart a month ago in a broken down elevator.

Cassio’s lips tugged upwards into a half-smile and confirmed my suspicion. He totally didn’t buy my bravado. But it gave me a glimpse of the man I met in the club two years ago and then again in Vegas.

“Should I tell her, or will you, Callahan?” Cassio’s and Jack’s eyes locked. There was a challenge in his, while Jack’s gaze held resignation and regret.

“We’ll wait until her mother comes, Cassio,” Jack replied in a firm tone. Why did I have a hard time thinking of him as Cassio? He’d forever be Hunter in my mind.

“You know, Jack,” I muttered, “I’m well past the age where I need Mom’s permission to do anything or hear any news with her holding my hand.”

“I know, kiddo.” His voice was affectionate, and I had a feeling whatever I was about to hear would change my world forever. The room was so quiet that I could hear seconds ticking off from the clock on the mantel.

The silence was broken when my mother came through the door, her eyes roaming the room. She nodded at Cassio and Luca, recognition flickering in her eyes.She knows them. I didn’t know how I knew, but I was certain she had met them before. Maybe when Jack arranged this whole shenanigan and circus of marriage arrangements.

Jack immediately went to her and wrapped his arms around Mom. “Thank you for coming, love.”

The love I saw in Jack’s eyes every time he gazed upon my mother made him a good man in my book. I would forgive him a lot, just on the account he always took care of my mom. Yes, he was the head of an Irish criminal organization, but he loved his family and protected it. At all costs.

I was happy those two found each other. Happy endings were what made it all worth it. They both sacrificed years without each other and finally found a way to each other again.

“Of course. What’s going on?” They shared a look and I wondered if it told Mom everything. Sometimes those two seemed to be on the same wave link or frequency. “Áine, when did you get here?” she asked, surprised.

“I just got here,” I muttered. My mother came over and gave me a hug. She always did it. No matter when she saw me, whether two hours ago or two months ago, she always gave me a hug like she hadn’t seen me in months. I returned the hug and pressed a kiss onto her cheek. “You look nice, Mom.”

She was already dressed for tonight's event wearing an elegant red gown that came down to her ankles. Her hair was up in a bun and the only jewelry she wore was a diamond necklace that Jack gifted her for their wedding. And her wedding ring. Truthfully, the damn thing was worth a fortune, so she didn’t need anything else to make a statement. She might have been in her fifties, but my mother still looked amazing.

“Working late again?” she asked me with a smile. I threw a glance down at my outfit. I wore an off-white business dress and a matching blazer. Nothing fancy, but it hid the nasty bruise from the bullet I took through the Kevlar vest. Thank God for the bulletproof vests. The bruise was well worth it.

I shrugged. “You didn’t give me much notice, so I didn’t have time to stop at my place to change.”

Her fingers brushed against my cheek, then she looked back at Jack. “What’s going on?” she asked him again.

Jack took a deep breath in, then exhaled slowly.

“Margaret’s engagement fell through,” Jack started, not wasting time. He was never the one for beating around the bush. Mom’s eyes darted to Cassio, and it confirmed my suspicion that Mom knew who Margaret’s intended was. “She’s pregnant. Refused to say who the father is.”

“Oh.”That was exactly my response, I thought wryly. Then something flashed in her eyes and her eyes snapped to Jack’s. “No, Jack. No, no, no.” She kept shaking her head in panic, and I wondered what she was sayingnoto. I watched the scene unfold, trying to pick up any clues from their expression and failing. “Please don’t tell me you are considering what I think.”

The guilt was written all over Jack’s face. It would seem my stepfather was considering whatever my mother objected to.

“Jack, you can’t,” she begged. “It’s not fair.”

“I’m sorry, love.” I wasn’t quite sure what he was apologizing for. “I never expected Margaret to do this.”

“The engagement has to be announced tonight,” Cassio stated. “The guests are already arriving, and this cannot be delayed.”

I must have been the only clueless one, as my gaze ping-ponged between everyone.

My mom gasped on a whimper and my eyes turned back to her, watching her.

“Emily, my dear... he knows,” Jack’s voice was drenched with regret.Who knows what?My eyes kept darting between all of them, waiting for someone to start explaining. At this rate, my eyeballs would get a whiplash.

Mom’s eyes sought out Cassio. “Please, you can’t,” she choked out. “S-she… she can’t. Please.”

I frowned. My mother never begged, so it had to be something big. Watching all four of them, it started to feel like it was something critical I was missing here. I chewed on my lower lip, waiting for someone to start explaining before I exploded with tension. My head kept turning back and forth between Jack and my mother, then to Cassio and Luca, in anticipation for someone to start talking. If I didn’t stop, I’d give myself a serious case of whiplash or dizziness. My eyes darted to Cassio and Luca, but they seemed to know exactly what was going on. There was no curiosity nor surprise on their faces. Although maybe they were just good actors.

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