Chapter 41
Chapter
Forty-One
Vince
“I’m going to Bridget’s apartment this evening to eat pizza and hang out,” Luna announces from my bedroom doorway. “Before you say no,” she points at me, “Aldo weaseled himself an invite, so I’ll be supervised.”
“I have business tonight, so that’s fine. I’ll be out late; Aldo will bring you home.” My gear is laid on bed, and I pack my bullet proof vest and pistol in my duffle bag.
“Was that a bullet proof vest? Why are you packing a bullet proof vest?” Luna says, her voice rising in octaves.
“Better safe than sorry.”
“Will you stop with the Vince-isms! Where are you going?”
“Family business.”
“Ugh, you are so annoying!” She storms off.
I finish getting ready, joining Luna in the living room. She silently grabs her backpack, walking to the door. I’m rewarded with a nice view of her ass in those leggings, but something’s different.
I grab her wrist, turning her around. “You’re not wearing long sleeves.”
She looks to where my hand’s banded around her wrist. “Soft launch of me not hiding my scars.”
I bring her wrist to my lips, kissing each and every scar.
The air’s become intolerably thick between us as she watches me. “Vince?”
“Yes, Luna?”
Her emerald eyes bore holes into mine. “What’s your endgame?”
“We need to go,” I say, dropping her arm.
She lets me off the hook. For now.
We make the drive to Bridget’s place, and I tell Luna, “Do not leave your friend’s apartment unless it’s with Aldo. I don’t have time to be tracking you down tonight. Understood?”
Luna makes an annoyed sound in the back of her throat. “Fine. Can we stop at the liquor store?”
“Ab-so-fucking-lutely not.”
She crosses her arms. “To get Bridget a housewarming gift, you buzzkill.”
I stop at the Italian market, popping in and out with a brown paper bag and handing it to Luna.
She pulls out a bottle of olive oil and a small box of salt. “What the hell, Vince? I meant a bottle of wine.”
“Olive oil for health, and salt for variety in life. There’s your housewarming gift.”
“I should’ve never let a chef go into the market by himself,” she grumbles. “When does your new restaurant open, by the way?”
“Bluebeard’s wife,” I remind her.
Luna purses her lips. “You told me you didn’t dream of becoming a chef, but I saw the proof in your office. ”
“I may have been playing around with the idea.” Thanks to her.
She smiles triumphantly. “What would you name your restaurant?”
“I’ll have to think about it.” A lie, as I already know what I’d name it.
We arrive at Bridget’s apartment, and having learned my lesson, I escort Luna to the door. Aldo catches up with us on the stairs, carrying pizza boxes.
“ Non perdere di vista Luna. Se è mezzanotte e non hai mie notizie, portala a casa ,” I tell my brother.
“Two a.m.,” Luna counters. “And don’t be a weirdo; your brother will let me out of his sight if I have to pee.”
“She speaks Italian?” Aldo eyes Luna, then me.
I sigh. “Fluently.”
My brother howls with laughter. “See, this is why I needed an invite to dinner. I’ve missed so much.”
“Maybe your nosy ass didn’t get an invite for a reason,” I inform him. “Luna, comportarsi .”
She holds up her paws like a panting dog, and my brother snickers as they’re greeted by Bridget.
I say my goodbyes, walking down the stairs. Luna chases after me, and I pause.
My eyes go wide when she wraps her arms around me. “Are you going to die tonight?” she asks, barely above a whisper
“Do you want me to die tonight?” I skim my nose along her hair, inhaling the sweet smell of apricots.
She looks up at me, eyes guarded. “I haven’t decided.”
“Would you kiss me if you thought I might die?” I cup her cheek, and she leans into my touch. I’ve never wanted to taste anything as bad as I do her mouth.
“Would you tell me your secrets if you thought I might kiss you?” she counters.
I drop my hand. “Go back inside, Luna. ”
She huffs. “Be careful, okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve already survived one attempt on my life,” I tease.
“Two.” Something hard pokes into my side. The barrel of my gun. The little con artist swiped it when she hugged me.
I bark a laugh as I disarm her, swatting her ass as she disappears up the stairs and inside the apartment.
Hopping in my vehicle, I check my messages before calling the janitor of the Chess Hall.
“Hey, man. Whatcha got for me?” I ask.
“Wesley threw a fit after his loss to Luna. Overheard him saying some pretty vile stuff about your girl.”
Words may never checkmate Luna, but I don’t play by chess rules. Wesley keeps it up, he’ll find out the hard way. “What about Aspen?”
“She thinks Wesley’s her boyfriend, but I overheard him tell someone else she’s a ‘situationship.’ Kids and their slang.”
“Thanks for the update. Keep your ears open.”
“Will do.”
Ending the call, I feel like the biggest ass. Luna was right: if Aspen is helping Brit Boy cheat and Luna points a finger, three fingers could be pointing back at Luna.
Maybe the solution is to cut off Wesley’s fingers and be done with it.
Arriving at Fabio’s restaurant, I walk to the private dining hall and take a seat with an uncharacteristically quiet crew. Guess word’s gotten out about Mike and Sal.
Fabio enters and gets straight to business. “We have reason to believe our enemy is operating a gambling hall in AC tonight.” He holds up a picture and passes it around. “Our target is John Davis. We don’t have a positive ID on him, but this is the best we’ve got.” I take a look at the man with a huge Phoenix tattoo on his right arm, his facial features hidden beneath glasses and a baseball hat.
Fabio goes over the tactical plan before we split up into vehicles. I hop in the front seat of the refrigerated truck with Fabio driving, the back filled with explosives.
“How’s Luna?” he asks as we pull out of the parking lot.
“She’s fine. Hanging out with a friend and my brother. What’s Kat up to this evening?” The family’s casinos are closed tonight due to this situation.
“My wife’s at the house.”
“ Wife ?” I knew my boss was obsessed with the woman, but I didn’t know she felt the same.
Fabio grins from ear to ear. “We got married today.”
“Congrats, man. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. I have a bullet with John’s name on it for making me miss my wedding night.”
“The honors are all yours.”
We drive to the outskirts of AC, winding up in a vacant lot. “Skipper, are we sure this is the right address?”
“We’ve been played,” he says through gritted teeth. He calls the boss, and there’s a short exchange before he ends the call. “Back to the restaurant. Darius and I will take it from here.”
Things are getting serious if the family’s hitman is being called in, but I don’t ask.
We arrive back at the restaurant, and the crew’s dismissed.
I text Luna that I’m on my way, and I’m surprised she texts me right back.
Oh thank God. I’ve been the third wheel all night.
Can’t wait to give my brother shit about his situationship .