Chapter 103 Rachel
RACHEL
Parker peered around the office door. “Want some tea?”
“If I pee anymore, I might as well just work out of the bathroom.”
She snorted. “You could have kept it simple and polite and said that you didn’t want any.”
“Since when do we not overshare?” I shot her a sweet smile. “Oh, wait, since now seeing as you’re lying to me about that baby shower I know you’re organizing.”
Parker folded her arms across her chest. “You’re paranoid, do you know that?”
“Oh, I’m sure.” I sniffed, but before I could pepper her for more information, my cell rang. When I saw Hunter’s Caller ID, I snatched my phone and snapped, “Have you been avoiding my calls?”
Recognizing the tone, Parker backed out of the line of fire, gently closing the door behind her.
“With a greeting like that, who could blame me?” Hunter intoned, sounding grimmer than usual.
“Are you or are you not related to the De Laurentiises? The Camorra De Laurentiises?”
I still couldn’t believe that this was news to me.
That I’d learned it from Dead To Me pissed me off more than anything.
And that I hadn’t been able to get in touch with him since her call was beyond annoying.
He heaved a sigh and I chose to believe that it sounded guilty. “You could have asked Lodestar that.”
“Why would I ask her when I could just ask you? You’re one of my best friends—I should know little things like you being a part of a crime family.”
Another rough exhalation sounded down the line. “It’s not my fault I’ve got blood ties with the Camorra.”
“No, it’s not your fault, but you could have goddamn told me. That’s why you have the hit out on you, isn’t it? What the hell have you done?”
“Nothing. I haven’t done anything,” he grated out. “Nothing worthy of a hit at least, goddammit. You have to understand, Rachel, I never asked for any of this.
“My parents broke away from that side of the family when they moved to Sicily when I was a small kid. I didn’t even know my grandfather until he approached me after college and invited me to live in Vegas. I came because what the hell else was I going to do? Follow you and Rory around the country?
“He promised that he wouldn’t get me involved in the business. That he just wanted to get to know me. The bitch of it is, he meant it. It’s only these last two years that I’ve even gotten a pinkie muddled up in their trade, and that’s simply because he’s old and sick.
“Now, he’s going to be on fucking trial too—”
My ears pricked at that. “What? Why didn’t you call me? I can’t practice law there, but I could advise. I’m sure he’s paying for the best, but another set of eyes on a mob case is never a bad thing.”
“He’s old school,” he muttered, his tone finally apologetic.
“My ovaries make me less capable of getting him out of this?”
Hunter grunted. “Yeah. Otherwise I’d have had you on the next plane out here.
The idea of him dying inside is hell. But I don’t know if that’s gonna happen or not.
He’s done plenty of worse shit than what they’re charging him for.
I don’t want him to go to jail, Rach. I love the cranky old bastard. ”
It was very common for criminals involved in organized crime to be Caponed, and the reason for that was the DAs had a brilliant success rate in getting powerful men behind bars on the simplest of charges.
Take Luciu Valentini—his ass could have rotted for a couple years in prison for that desecration of a burial site.
He’d done plenty worse, but that was what could have had them locking him up and throwing away the key as they found ‘ways’ to extend his time inside.
I didn’t often fear the counts of murder one, but the pathetic charges packed more of a punch than most could imagine, and took a great deal of skill to maneuver out of.
“So, you think the hit on you is because you’re the natural heir?”
“I mean, I assume so. I genuinely haven’t done anything worthy of being targeted by a hit man. Not since… you know. I’ve kept on the downlow. It has to be because of who I’m related to.”
I released a soft sigh. “Send me what you can from your grandfather’s case?”
“No. You have enough going on. How’s my niece or nephew?”
“They’re making me need to pee a lot, and I’m not even that big yet.”
“You’re in an oversharing mood.”
“I’m tired,” I admitted. “This week has been rough. Bear had his funeral, and Rex…” Jesus, Rex had been at his lowest.
“How are things between you and him?”
“We’re together.”
“You are? Really?”
“It’s awesome.” I knew I sported a dopey smile. “Which is saying something because it hasn’t been easy.”
“I’m glad, Rach. So fucking glad. I appreciate that you’re willing to take the time to check out my grandfather’s situation, but honey, he’s got enough lawyers on the case to fill out a football team. They can’t work miracles, and neither can you.
“But, what you can do, is try to take a step back. You’re pregnant now. You need to chill out more.”
“If life would accommodate that, I would.” Worry hit me even though he’d just told me to calm down. “Are you safe?” Dead To Me was still a threat.
“Yeah. I have everything delivered in, and my place is secure. Granddad saw to that.”
My brow puckered. “He did?”
“He’s paranoid. Has been ever since the Fieris took down the Valentinis.”
Knowing the intimate details of Currau Valentini’s case—where he’d been accused of killing his entire family so that he could take over as Don, but was, in fact, only the patsy for the Fieris—I didn’t exactly blame Hunter’s grandfather for being cautious.
Strange things, horrific things, happened all the time in this game.
It wasn’t a safe world to inhabit.
“Keep me updated?” I asked softly.
“I will. You too. I promise I’ll be better about communicating.”
“You’d think for a man who was stuck at home you’d have more time on your hands.”
Hunter chuckled. “You would, but I’m busier than ever.”
“I’ll let you get on with your day. Stay safe, Hunter.”
“I will. If Dead To Me gets in touch, tell me what she wants and I’ll get it to you.”
“Will do. Speak soon.”
As we hung up, I pinched my bottom lip.
Everyone had secrets; logically, I knew that. But was Rory aware of who her childhood friend was related to? Were her brothers?
Somehow, I didn’t think so, which was going to be a massive problem if, once this BS with the hitwoman was over, Hunter still intended to claim Rory this year…
But that was tomorrow’s problem.
I had enough shit to deal with today without worrying about that, and worry was an understatement because when everything fell apart, both of them would come running to me. Somehow, some-frickin’-how, they’d both expect me to fix things for them.
“That,” I mumbled under my breath as I reached for an antacid for the heartburn that was incoming, “is a nightmare waiting to happen.”