Page 128 of Highball and Chain

I’d waited my entire life for someone to look at me the way she did. She lifted my mask and peered at the man beneath, and by some miracle, she didn’t turn away. “Ah, so I’m not the only one who enjoys watching the other sleep?”

“Listening isn’t the same as staring at someone.” Laughing, she pushed me to my back and climbed on top.

“Enzo? Shanna?” Marco pounded on the door. “You guys decent?”

“No!” we shouted in unison.

“You might want to turn on the television.”

Shanna moved to my side and snatched my T-shirt from the nightstand where it’d landed earlier in the day. Once covered, she pointed the remote at the TV. The screen filled with what appeared to be a press conference.

Grumbling, I stood and pulled on my jeans.

“Oh, you’re going commando.” She licked her lips as if debating where to bite.

“I don’t intend to be dressed long.” I opened the door without so much as a glance in my brother’s direction. “What’s going on?”

Grinning like an idiot, Marco folded his arms and rocked back on his heels. “I sent the press release about Pops and Mayor Carter to every media outlet I could think of.”

“Oh shit.” I sank onto the edge of the bed.

“It’s going exactly as planned. Better, actually. Since the news broke, people are coming out of the woodwork to accuse Carter of everything from blackmail and extortion to murder.”

We watched the coverage, including footage of officers shoving Carter into the back of a police cruiser. While most of the news anchors focused on the mayor, a few mentioned the Marchionnis. Surprisingly, no one speculated on our illegal activities.

Shanna whistled. “Maggie must have done an incredible job spinning the story.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. If it wasn’t for your sleuthing, we wouldn’t have connected the Abruzzos to Carter in the first place.” Despite the inherent danger of her job, I loved watching her in action. More importantly, solving the puzzle seemed to make her come alive. “You should get your PI license as soon as possible.”

“Maybe.” Shanna’s face flushed and she waved her hand. “Seriously though, I thought the reporters would eat Papa Joe alive, but they are acting like he’s a hero.”

Marco’s grin widened. “That’s because he’s either golfed, played poker, or vacationed with most of the media conglomerate owners.”

She glanced between us. “Is there anything the Marchionnis don’t have their fingers in?”

“There’s a dirty joke in there somewhere.” Marco smirked.

“Thank you for your restraint.” I turned to Shanna. “To answer your question, if it can benefit Pops, he’s involved.”

“I’ll let you two lovebirds get back to whatever it is you were doing.” Marco turned for the door.

Standing, I clamped a hand on his shoulder hard enough to make him wince. “Not so fast. Did Tara and her kids get settled?”

He wiggled out of my grasp. “Yeah. I got a call around noon. She seemed happy with the place.”

Shanna furrowed her brow. “Happy in the fishing cabin? It’s a dump and not great for young kids.”

Marco chuckled. “My father took matters into his own hands. He had her put in our vacation villa in Gulfport. It’s four bedrooms, oceanfront, and behind a wall. Plus, he’s ordered around the clock security for her family. She’ll be safe there.”

Safe and pampered. “Let’s hope she doesn’t expect me to set her up in that kind of luxury permanently.” I would do right by her after she testified, but I was thinking about a starter home in the middle of Kansas. Willing participant or not, the woman had played a role in my brother’s murder. I intended to keep close tabs on her until the Abruzzos paid for his death.

“That sounds a heck of a lot better than Jack’s place.” Shanna shook her head.

Marco rolled his lips in and turned to her. “About that…would your friend mind if someone else used the cabin?”

“I don’t think so, but I should ask.” She tilted her head. “Why?”

“Nico and I might need to get out of town for a while.”

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