Chapter 11 #2
“I need to talk to Frank and Santi. The three of us have always done everything together since Santi’s my best friend outside the family, and Frank and I have been best friends since he was born.
Apparently, I’ve always been extremely protective of my little brother. Turns out, I enjoy his company too.”
She rests back against the pillow, and I kiss her again. We keep it light, but we don’t rush.
“I missed you so much, bambi.”
“I missed you too. It’s like the world is back to normal hearing you call me that.”
We gaze at each other before we speak at the same time.
“I love you.”
We’re grinning like fools as she sits up, and I wrap my arms around her. She kicks off the covers, and I pull her onto my lap.
“This is where I belong.”
“Because you belong to me.”
“I do.”
“I won’t give you up, Stella. Our families will have to accept it. You’re mine. All of you.”
“Mind, heart, body, and soul.”
“And I’m entirely yours. You’ve had all of me since the moment we met.”
She grins. “I’m pretty sure you were ready to give me back while we were at the pub.”
I shake my head. “That’s when I knew I’d never let you go. I goaded you at the bar, and I loved watching the spark in your eyes.”
“I knew I wouldn’t let you go when you protected me. It wasn’t because you were doing something for me. It was because of how fiercely protective of you I felt in return.”
“We’ve been a match since before we met.”
A knock on the door interrupts us. Stella scrambles off my lap, and I stand before it opens. Gio and Elena come in, and I gird myself for what’s coming.
Nothing.
They say nothing to me. They just watch Stella. They probably want to speak to her without me around.
“I’ll let you rest, Stella. Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything you need.”
“Thank you, Tommaso.”
I hate hearing her use my full name. But for now, everyone can speculate as much as they want. We can’t confirm anything. I know everyone heard her call me Tommy when she woke, so that’s incriminating enough.
I leave my bedroom and go down the hall to Frank’s.
It’s empty, so I try Santi’s. He and I spent so much time over at each other’s houses that we had rooms at each house.
Now he doesn’t sleep there when he comes over because he shares Tori’s old room with her.
They’ve been in love with each other since they were kids.
I used to tease him that the only reason we were friends was so he could come over to play with my sister too.
“Where’s Mama?”
Frank glances at the door. “In her room. We’re pretty sure she’s crying.”
“We can check on her soon. We have a problem.”
“Always the dramatic one. Your mother’s a piece of work sometimes, but—”
“Uncle Mano put a hit on Stella.”
That stops Santi mid-sentence.
“What?” Frank and Santi speak at the same time and look at me as though I lost my mind.
“We need to speak to Pauly. He recognized a guy. He’s one of ours. Stella heard a different one say, ‘he wants her dead.’ What other ‘he’ could there be?”
Without a word, we head outside to the pool house. It’s where the guys hang out during breaks or nap during their off hours between shifts. I’m certain Pauly’s there.
“Out.”
Frank barks the order as he follows me in and goes straight to Pauly. When we’re alone with Pauly, Frank points his finger at the man.
“You didn’t tell me you called because Stella was hurt. You called me to avoid explaining to Tommaso why you needed to know.”
“Because I trusted no one—sorry, Frank, that included you and Santi too—except Tommaso with Ms. Rizzo’s safety.
I wouldn’t have brought her here without knowing Tommaso would be here soon.
He’s the only one I was certain couldn’t be the man who wants her dead.
He’s had too many opportunities to do it himself, so I knew it wasn’t him. ”
“That’s fucked-up, Pauly.” Santi crosses his arms and glowers at his cousin.
We’re all practically related somehow or another. Nepotism is our family business.
“Yeah, well, it’s still true. Tommaso’s taken Ms. Rizzo and her family all over Boston. I know there were times he could’ve pulled her aside or slipped somewhere concealed enough to shoot her, but he didn’t.”
“Who was it?”
I’m more interested in that right now than anything else. As long as Pauly isn’t claiming he can tell I’m in love with Stella, then his reasons why it isn’t me aren’t important right now.
“Luigi Montenegro.”
“That fucking giant? No wonder the bruises on her neck wrap almost all the way around.”
He’s Uncle Mano’s chief henchman. The guy’s six-eight, two-seventy-five. It’s not all muscle, but he’s still a strong motherfucker. I saw the fist-shaped bruise on Stella’s temple. She’s lucky she isn’t dead if he threw that punch.
Frank and Santi nod, agreeing with me. Frank pulls out his phone and makes a call.
Pauly, Santi, and I listen as he speaks to one of our top intel gatherers.
He tracks all the cars in our fleet. He also tracks all the cars belonging to our soldati, Made Men, and associates.
So pretty much everyone. They don’t know we monitor their personal vehicles, though I’m sure some suspect it.
“He’s at Uncle Mano’s.”
Frank ends the call as I pull out my phone. It’s my turn to make a call to one of our intel guys.
“Stu, what’s the alarm system activity at Uncle Mano’s house?”
“Hey, Tommaso. Hang on. Let me pull it up.”
I cover the mic part of the phone and whisper to the other guys as I listen for Stuart. “I don’t think Luigi’s watering the plants over there.”
“Are you still there?”
“Yeah, Stu. What’d you find?”
“Someone turned off the alarm at two-twenty a.m. three days ago. It’s been off during the day and set again at night.
There are only two times when it’s been on during the day, and that was only for two hours each time.
It corresponds to the garage and gate opening.
I pulled up the security feed. I hadn’t heard the don was home. ”
“Yeah, he got back a few days ago. I heard something that made me wonder if someone’d been snooping around, but it looks like it was just my uncle at home. Thanks for the help.”
“You’re welcome.”
I hang up and look over at my friend and now the only man outside my immediate family I trust with Stella’s protection.
“Thanks for taking care of Stella, Pauly. Did you get hurt?”
“Some bruised knuckles and ribs. Nothing serious. Tommaso, if I were you—for what it’s worth—I wouldn’t take Ms. Rizzo or her family anywhere. I’d have them stay here rather than go back to the hotel. At least, not until you have someone sweep it for you.”
“I know. That’s my plan. Take tomorrow and the day after off. Paid leave on me.”
“Thanks, boss.”
Frank and Santi follow me out. We head to the foot of the garden. I keep my voice hushed as I explain what I heard. Santi’s fuming.
“Quello è il cazzo del cane.” That’s the dog’s dick.
It loses something in translation, but Santi means that’s fucked-up.
“Oh, it gets better. Stu said he’s been home for three days. He checked security video from outside the garage and saw Uncle Mano leaving his place.”
All three of us look toward the house before looking at each other. I put my hands on my hips and inhale before speaking again.
“It’s time.”