Page 51 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

Her eyes light up. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Bethany will jump at the chance to show off, just like her mother here.

I reach in my jacket and pull out the card I came to make sure she has in her possession. She watches me with her lips parted like I’m about to feed her some dick. It’s the greed for me. It oozes off the family.

“Gustloff’s Fish Corp?” she says and lifts a brow.

“Yeah.” I shrug. I wave a hand in the air. “The beef and poultry are already handled. Call this guy and let him know what you need for the seafood menu. I’ll have my chef get in touch with you to make arrangements for the prep.”

“Oh, I think the beef and poultry will be fine.”

“Forget about it. Everything is on me. The food, the chef. I’ll even send over some wine. We’re family, after all. I’m just trying to look out. Times are hard, everyone can use a break.”

I give her one of my best smiles. She licks her lips, and an excited smile comes to her face. I’ve got her. This job is done.

I turn to Jace with no further thoughts of Bertice. “Andiamo.”

* * *

Jace

I look at the interracial couple sitting across from us in this doctor’s office and smile. He’s blond like me and she’s a bit lighter than Nyla. Her swollen belly is cute on her. She rubs it and returns my smile.

He turns his gaze to me, then settles the little boy in his arms as he wraps his other arm around her shoulder. I snort to myself and turn my attention back to my phone. She’s pretty, but not that pretty.

Ny would make him forget her and the kids. He can relax. I’m here for something totally different anyway.

Gio is here to see Lance and Summer Anderson. The forensic accountants. The feds can’t bug the doctor’s office due to Doctor-patient confidentiality laws. Summer is having another baby. This appointment was a perfect opportunity for this meeting.

Gio walks over and hands me a folder. I look up at him and lift a brow. He smiles and takes the seat beside me.

“Always two moves…”

I open the folder with the clinic’s insignia on it, already knowing how his words finish. My lips part when I see the appointment card inside with Nyla’s name on it. I look back at Gio.

“They’re the best. Whatever she decides to do, these are the doctors for her. This clinic is rated in the top twenty in the country.”

Before I can reply, the door to the examination area opens and Lance Anderson sticks his head out. We stand and head in to follow him.

“Thanks, Doc,” Lance says to the doctor coming out of the room we’re all headed into.

“How you doing?” Gio says to the doctor.

I squint at the middle-aged doctor. I know this guy. He’s been to the Dollhouse.

Searching my brain, I pull up the data I have on him. In the middle of a nasty divorce, two kids, and a gambling problem we fixed. Yeah, I know Dr. Morrison well.

“No, he’s not going to be our doctor,” Gio answers my thoughts. “Ny’s doctor is a woman.”

I nod and focus on a smiling Summer. She looks great. Her belly is out there, and her deep-bronze skin has a glow. I long to see Ny like this. Happy and pregnant.

“Hey Gio, Jace. It’s good to see you,” Summer says.

“Good to see you too. Congratulations again.”

“That reminds me. Thank you so much for the gifts. You didn’t have to do that.”

I smile. I think Gio had as much fun as I did shopping for Lance and Summer’s son and the newborn on the way. We’ve known Lance since junior high. We played football with him. We linked back up with him after Dante took over the business.

Gio needed someone he could trust to look after the family business as well as the things we have going. These two do their job, nothing more.

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