Page 74 of Gin & Trouble

Nodding, I released her and took a seat away from the others. I couldn’t help but wonder how Ma would react if she knew about me and Frankie. Since we’d been old enough to notice girls, my mother had harped on us to marry Italians, Catholic Italians, preferably from the old country. While Frankie was those things, she was an Abruzzo. And to my mom, that was the same as being first cousins with Satan.

I tried to reach Frankie again. The call went straight to voicemail. Weird, considering in the months I’d known her, she’d obsessed about keeping her cell charged so she could receive alerts from her software project and from her sisters.

Software she’d developed for my family.

How had I missed that little detail over the previous few months? We’d talked code more times than I could count.

“Listen to me. Park in the grass. If you’re towed, we’ll deal with it. Just get your ass in here.” Gabe spoke entirely too loud for the small space. Evidently, Leo was having a difficult time finding a parking spot due to an onslaught of reporters gathered outside.

Freaking great. Of course the vultures are here.

Marco shook his head. “We should have expected the news coverage. Dahlia is the governor’s daughter and Enzo is a Marchionni.”

By Marchionni, I assumed he meant a suspected mobster.

“Has the woman at the restaurant been identified?” With everything going on, I’d forgotten to ask.

Marco’s expression darkened. “Harrison Meriwether’s ex-wife. Dahlia and Shanna were supposed to meet her for lunch.”

I could see the headlines,Popular Politician Kills Ex-Wife and Injures Ex-Girlfriend.

It was possible, but not freaking likely. Enzo had been close both times shots were fired. It made more sense he was the target, and the women happened to be in the way.

Gabe hung up and motioned to me. “Leo’s coming in through the front. He’s not alone.”

Not alone?

It took me a couple of seconds to catch on. Leo had brought his and Dahlia’s son to the hospital. The son my mother had no idea existed.

Shit.

I pushed to my feet. “I’ll find him and bring him back.”

Gabe nodded and took the seat next to Evelyn. “Hey Ma, there’s something you should know before Leo comes in here.”

Call it self-preservation or a low tolerance for drama, but I needed to get the heck out of there before Gabe spilled the beans about the kid. I hit the door and didn’t look back.

Once in the main waiting room, I dialed Frankie’s number. She didn’t pick up. But hearing her voice on the recording helped to calm my nerves.

“Hey, Frankie. It’s Dante. Give me a call when you get this. It’s important.” I didn’t expect her to reply until she’d had a chance to charge her phone.

Leo burst into the room with Gunnar in his arms. He glanced around like a man on the verge of a meltdown and headed for the reception desk.

I waved to get his attention.

Leo turned his anxiety-ridden gaze toward me and my mind went blank.

I should have thought about what to say to him rather than calling Frankie. Instead, I panicked and told him what I hoped was the truth. “They’re both going to be okay.”

“Thank, Christ.” His eyes softened and his voice quivered. “Where is everyone?”

“This way.” I nodded to the nurse behind the desk.

She pushed a security button and the double doors leading to the patient area whooshed open. Leo stared at the controlled chaos, otherwise known as the emergency department, and froze.

I got it. The last time we’d stood in these halls was the night Joe and Rebecca had died. It was like voluntarily walking into your worst nightmare while wide awake.

My nephew gave me a shy wave before burying his face in Leo’s shoulder. The poor kid had no idea what was waiting for him.

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