34. Carmie
Chapter 34
Carmie
D aniel’s got mustard on his cheek. I keep looking at Luca and trying not to smile, and he keeps looking back at me and doing a shitty job of not laughing, and Daniel keeps getting more and more suspicious. Eventually, he throws up his hands.
“What the hell is with you two?” he snaps, glaring between us.
“Nothing,” I say quickly.
“You’re just looking very… good today.” Luca’s squirming with delight.
“You two are fucking children.” Daniel glares hard. “When will you grow up?”
“Probably never,” Luca admits. “You have mustard on your face.”
“Luca!” I throw a napkin at him.
He laughs as Daniel rolls his eyes and cleans himself off. I know it’s childish, but it’s fun to mess with our stuck-up older brother. Daniel can be such a perfect little prick sometimes, and it’s nice to see him get knocked down a little bit. Even if that just means letting him have food on his face.
It’s always been like this with us. Luca and I tease Daniel, and Daniel pretends like he hates it, but really we have a good thing going. The boys are super close and I’m like their little pet. Or that’s how it feels sometimes.
The deli’s crowded today. The guys behind the counter banter with the customers and there’s lots of laughter. It’s warm and smells like roasting meat and fresh bread. Luca leans back in his little chair and sighs as he watches an older Italian lady squeeze every single roll before picking two she seems acceptable.
“I’m glad you’re doing good, little sister,” Luca says, glancing at me. “Can’t be easy, what your husband’s going through.”
“Taking over his family like that.” Daniel’s lips press together. “Imagine if we killed our father?”
The thought had occurred to me… and while I still love Dad and don’t actually want him dead, that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
“You don’t know what his dad was like,” I tell them. “It’s not like he did what he did for no reason.”
“Killing your own dad though,” Daniel says, shaking his head, judgmental as always.
“Ease up,” Luca says, playing peacemaker. “Carmie didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“But I support him.” I sit up a little straighter when both my brothers look at me like I’ve gone insane.
“Right, because he’s your husband and that’s what you have to do,” Luca says like he’s making sure I still speak English.
“No, actually,” I say, mocking the way he’s talking to me. “I support him because I think what he did was right.”
My brothers share a look. “You’re serious?” Daniel asks.
“I told you, you don’t know what Lev’s been through with his family.” I’m tempted to tell them Lev’s story, but that would be a huge violation. If they knew though, if they understood what Lev’s father did to him growing up, they wouldn’t act so fucking scandalized.
“Alright, I believe you,” Luca says, holding his hands up in surrender, and elbows Daniel. “Right, bro?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever like this,” Daniel says primly.
“I don’t need you to,” I tell him, fucking my frustration. “But there’s something I need you two to do for us.”
“For… us ?” Luca looks surprised. “Seriously, Carmie, you’re talking like you and Lev are actually together. I thought you tolerated the guy at best? I mean, I know you’re married, but still.”
He’s got a point. I don’t know when it happened but I turned the corner on Lev. He makes more sense to me now. When I first married him, all I could see was the bastard that lied to me about his real name the first night we met, but now he’s more. The hate is gone. The anger’s gone too.
Now there’s tenderness. We talk about the future. He takes me to dinner and lets me past his walls. I’ve gotten to know him in the last few weeks, and I feel myself liking everything I find out.
He understands me. And I think I understand him too.
“I need you guys to talk to Adriano,” I tell him.
“About what?” Luca asks, curious.
But Daniel shakes his head. “Out of the question.”
“Hear her out.” Luca punches Daniel in the arm. “You’re such a fucking prick sometimes.”
Daniel’s jaw works. “Hit me again and I’ll break your nose.”
“Try me, you self-righteous fucking?—”
“Can you two stop?” If I let this go on, they’ll bicker all goddamn day and I won’t get anything done. “Adriano’s not going to listen to me right now because of shit with Lev and the Zeitsev. But if you two pass along the message, it might help.”
“What’s the message?” Luca asks. Daniel glares, but at least he doesn’t get up and walk away.
“Lev and I want to find a way to get back in with Valentin. We want to pick up the Canadian job where Lev’s father left off. But right now, we’re cut out. Adriano can talk to Valentin.”
“Why would he do that for you?” Daniel asks.
“Because if Lev’s on the outside, that means my marriage to him was a waste of time, and Adriano will have to start from scratch. He’s got skin in the game here.”
Luca grunts, leaning back in his seat, considering. “You have a valid point,” he concedes. “I just don’t know if it’ll do much good.”
“This isn’t just for me,” I say, leaning forward. I’m looking at Luca, but really, I’m talking to Daniel. “Don’t you two get it? I married Lev because Adriano wanted deeper ties to the Zeitsev. But if Valentin hates Lev, all that work disappears.”
“That’s good for you,” Daniel says, tone flat. “You won’t have to stay married.”
Maybe I want to stay married . I bite my tongue for a second and steady my breathing. “Just pass that along to Adriano, okay?”
Luca looks uncertain, but it’s Daniel who eventually nods and agrees. “Only because I think your logic makes sense. Not because I think it’ll help.”
“Wow, look at that,” Luca says in mock surprise. “Daniel’s actually listening to someone else for a change.”
Daniel calls him a cocksucker, drops money on the table for lunch, and walks out. I watch him go with a slight smile on my face.
“It was only a matter of time before he stormed out,” I say with a sigh.
“Getting him to agree to help is a big deal.” Luca leans closer and his tone softens. “You sure you’re okay? If shit with Lev and Valentin and Adriano’s getting too heated?—”
“I’m okay,” I tell him and reach out on an impulse to touch his hand. He smiles at me, but there’s sadness in his eyes.
“Yeah, alright, I know you are. You’re a good one, Carm. Stronger than we give you credit for.” He swats me away. “Now stop getting so fucking emotional and shit.”
We walk out together. I give Luca a quick hug while Daniel sits in the car looking annoyed.
“He’ll come around,” I say about my grumpy older brother.
“And if he doesn’t, we can always shoot him.” Luca lightly punches my arm. “You’re sure you’re good? Lev’s treating you well?”
“Honestly?” I smile at him and I don’t even have to fake it this time. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Look at that. Shit always works out, huh?”
“Not really. Lev’s business is crumbling and I’m not even sure we’ll be welcome in this city for much longer. But yeah, totally, always works out.”
“We’ll get it sorted.” Luca nods at me and joins Daniel in the car.
“Stay out of trouble,” Daniel yells as he pulls into the street.