Chapter 24
Sienna’s laugh fills the car, light and joyful, the sort that makes you want to join in the fun. It’s unexpected, throwing me off guard.
Looking in the rearview mirror, I find Tommy grinning and moving his hands quickly while she continues to giggle.
She’s quick in her responses to him with her signing.
It must have taken her a lot of time and effort to get this at ease with it.
And he’s so animated when he talks to her, his fingers flying in a rhythm I can’t follow.
They make it all look so easy. So innocently sweet—a family on a drive to school.
Tommy catches me watching them in the mirror and drops his hands to his lap. The carefree joy drains out of his face, leaving that quiet, wary look he gets whenever I’m near.
Sienna notices immediately. Her gaze moves to mine, and she frowns.
“He’s still afraid of me,” I say.
“He doesn’t know you yet, Kaz. That’s all,” she assures me and touches Tommy’s arm to get his attention.
After a few more signs, he swings his eyes to me and gives me a smile. It’s too big, too forced.
“It’s fine.” I turn back to my phone, the weight of his discomfort sitting on my chest like a weighted vest.
Gerald is having more trouble than he originally thought he would getting the will and guardianship paperwork, but it’s been three days. He should have something by now.
“Are you certain this is going to be okay?” Sienna leans forward through the opening between the front row seats.
“He wants to be back at school. You said that yourself.” I type out a demand for Gerald to get the job done.
“What if my uncle shows up, or Dante?”
I twist so she can see my face. “Mikhail is going to be with him. Even if Dante shows, he won’t get within fifty feet of Tommy.”
“Yeah, you explained that. I still don’t understand how the school is allowing one of your men to shadow Tommy all day. Isn’t that…weird?”
“It’s handled,” I say as we pull into what looks traffic jam leading into the school parking. “What’s this? I don’t like this, it’s packed in here.”
Car horns blare. Kids run past the car with their backpacks bouncing behind them as they make a run through the lot. A car door opens and a woman in a flannel pajama set and a pair of knock off Uggs jumps out, waving a lunch box.
“It’s the drop-off line.” Sienna laughs. “Welcome to civilian life.”
The strong aroma of coffee wafts from minivan windows. Mothers waving their children goodbye, sending blown kisses through the air. Men like me don’t live in spaces like this. Too damn normal.
I check the side view mirror. Mikhail’s car trails us, Melody is jerking her finger toward a parking area, her face tight with irritation.
Sienna spots it too, laughing.
“She’s trying to get him to park. If he stays in this lane, he’ll be forced back out and have to go around again. Tell him to just listen to her.”
I shoot him a quick text. Seconds later, Melody’s frustration morphs into a triumphant grin.
A woman appears at Tommy’s door.
“Hey!” I’m out of the car before I can think. She jumps back.
“Kaz, it’s okay.” Sienna leans over Tommy as the door swings open and waves. “It’s fine. This is Mrs. Martha. She works for the school.”
I glare down at the woman— middle-aged, bundled up in a green knit hat and gloves, eyes wide.
“I’m just helping Tommy from the car,” she stammers, gesturing toward Tommy who is climbing down from the car.
“Sorry, Martha.” Sienna calls from inside the car.
“It’s all right. Glad to see Tommy is well protected.” Her voice wobbles.
Tommy stops in front of her and starts signing. She quickly responds. I watch their hands move, a language I can’t read. With a quick look over his shoulder at me, he waves, then runs off to the front doors.
“Wait!” I call after him, realizing how stupid it is the moment the word leaves my mouth. My pulse spikes until I spot Mikhail following.
“Your friend there seems to have caught up to him,” Martha says. “Oh, Melody will be joining us, too?”
“If that’s all right?”
“Actually, that works perfectly. Suzanne, his usual aide, is out for the week. We have a substitute lined up, but I’ll send her home.”
“Good.” I push the door shut, closing Sienna inside. “You’re aware of the situation with Vicente Conti.”
She blinks as she nods. “Yes, but legally he’s still Tommy’s guardian, if he comes in to—”
“That’s why my man is here.”
“Yes.” She swallows. “I understand that, but like I said, Mr. Conti is legally Tommy’s guardian. He has authority—”
I take a small step toward her, forcing her to tilt her head back.
“Mikhail has total authority when it comes to Tommy’s safety. If Mr. Conti or anyone other than myself or my wife comes to the school inquiring about Tommy, Mikhail will handle it.”
“Of course.” She clears her throat. “Understood.”
“Good.” I climb back into my seat. “We can go.”
“You didn’t need to terrify her.” Sienna pokes my shoulder.
“I didn’t.”
“Kaz, you all but growled at her.” Sienna laughs, and I catch the spark in her eyes that makes the tension in my shoulders ease.
“Why does Tommy go to this school and not a private school?” I ask as we inch our way out of this absurd parking lot.
“Public schools have to provide aides for the hearing impaired. Tony didn’t want to spend money on a private school, and Tommy’s mom couldn’t afford it.”
“How fatherly of him.”
“Tony wanted to walk away from Tommy all together, but Uncle Vicente wouldn’t let him.” She digs her phone out from her purse.
“Why wouldn’t he let him walk away? He doesn’t seem to give a shit about him.”
“I like to lie to myself and think it was because I convinced him not to, but the truth is I think Uncle Vicente made him keep Tommy.”
“But why?” I press.
She looks up from her phone. “Tommy’s the last heir that links directly to my father. If Dante’s family inherits that means the Conti line is out.”
“Out of what?”
“From what little I know, there are a few vineyards in Italy and several resorts throughout Europe. At least those are the legal companies. If Dante inherits those things then Vicente would lose the control he’s had back in Italy, and now here.”
“Vicente isn’t a DeAngelo?”
“No. He’s my mother’s brother. Not blood related to the DeAngelo side at all. Dante is, though. His father was my father’s younger brother. Without Tommy, everything will revert to Dante.”
“What about you?”
She laughs. “Me? I’m part of the estate. Vicente traded me to you. I can’t inherit anything.”
Before I can ask anything else, my phone goes off.
“Hey. Sienna’s with me,” I answer the call. “Hold on.”
I lean over to Sergei, telling him I’ve changed my mind on where we’re going next. He gives a solid nod and changes lanes so he can make his turn at the next light.
“Okay, go ahead,” I tell Alexander.
“Hi, Sienna. Sorry, I need him for a quick minute,” Alexander says then launches into the reason for his call in Russian.
She doesn’t seem to mind being left out of the loop. Hell, she’s used to it. Being ignored, being put to the side. Irritation makes my skin itch the longer she scrolls on her phone, being completely fine with being kept in the dark.
“Fine. That’s fine. I’m gonna call you later.” I end the call before he can start chattering again.
The cabin of the SUV falls into thick silence. It’s a sound I’m most used to. It should be more comfortable, but all I can think about is making this woman giggle again.
I want the sound of her joy filling the space around me.
It brings the air to life.
“Where are we going?” She pops her head up when Sergei turns into the parking lot.
“Shopping.”
“Shopping? For what?” She leans forward to read the store sign as he parks in front of the best furniture store in the city.
“Tommy’s room.”
For a heartbeat, there’s silence. Then she stares at me with parted lips, color rising to her cheeks.
“You want to take me shopping to decorate a bedroom for my nephew?” She questions, like she wants to be sure she’s not misunderstanding the situation.
“Yes.” I nod.
“I think I’m turned on.”
Quietly and quickly, Sergei pops open his door and hops out of the SUV.
“He needs new furniture, some of those window things. I’ll have the room painted this week to match whatever you pick out. The boy needs something more fit for him.”
She taps her chin with her forefinger. “Yes. I definitely am turned on by that. Weird, huh?”
I laugh. With my whole chest, I laugh. This woman has the uncanny ability to put me at ease and find joy in ordinary activities.
“I don’t think we can do anything about that at the store, but as soon as we get home…”