Page 47 of Highball and Chain

“You have to show her you’re not going to hurt her.” Gabe nudged my shoulder. “Returning her calls is a good start.”

“I’ve already apologized to her for that.”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure she’s over it. She calls you the Ghoster.”

“Damn it.”

Leo grabbed the whiskey and nodded toward the door. “Gabe, we should go say goodbye to Dahlia and Jessie.”

“I’ll be right in.” He turned to me and lowered his voice. “Enzo, what Pops said to you the other day was bullshit.”

I stared. If he meant that, he should have said something then.

“Have you given anymore thought to walking away?”

I poured myself another drink and sat back. “Have you given anymore thought to stepping down and letting me take the reins?”

Gabe glanced toward the house, drew a deep breath, and nodded. “I’d like nothing more than to hand this entire ordeal over to you, but I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.” He finished his scotch. “I won’t because I’m afraid your concerns about what happens here will impact your ability to get us out. I can’t because I’m already in too fucking deep to stop now.”

His candor shocked the hell out of me. “Thanks for the honesty. We may not always agree, but I have your back.”

“I appreciate that. You know, walking away from the restaurant doesn’t have to mean you’re leaving the family.”

“I don’t think our parents would agree with that statement.”

“Maybe not, but think about it.” He stood and clamped his hand on my shoulder. “As for Shanna, if you don’t plan to keep her around, let her go, or you’ll end up hurting her.”

Tell me something I don’t already know. Unsolicited brotherly advice or not. He had a point, but Gabe of all people should know nothing was that easy when your last name was Marchionni. Our mother had come around with Maggie because she had no choice. The baby growing inside her made her part of the family. Knocking up Shanna wasn’t an option.

I downed the rest of my drink and followed him inside. “We should get going soon. Where’s Ma?”

“She’s upstairs. You know how she is when any of us leave home.” Leo motioned to the closed guestroom door. “You should go say goodbye to Pops…”

It could be your last chancehung unspoken in the air between us, but I couldn’t bring myself to see my father. He’d said his piece and he would never hear mine.

The idea of leaving four kids, a worried bride, and my terminally ill father made me queasy, but I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt toward Shanna. Time alone together would give us a fighting chance to figure out what was happening between us. It seemed my father had unintentionally given me a gift.

“Remember your promise.” Maggie stared at Shanna as if trying to use a Jedi Mind Trick to force her to comply.

She sighed. “I’ll use the bodyguard if I leave the house.”

Maggie embraced her and whispered something I couldn’t hear. Shanna’s cheeks flushed as she pulled away.

Which house?I had a transcontinental flight to convince her to stay with me until we knew it was safe. I intended to use my time wisely.

Gabe threw his arm over Shanna’s shoulder. “I’m sorry this wasn’t the vacation you hoped for.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry about your honeymoon.”

“We’ll get a honeymoon. I’m just glad she married me.”

“You should be.” She glanced at me for a split second before Marco pulled her from Gabe.

The goofball lowered his voice, but anyone within five feet could hear him. “I’m jealous Enzo’s the one taking you home, but you two are good for each other.”

---