6.
I think Jewel will surprise us all and become a granola-munching hippie who refuses to eat meat and peacefully protests things like disrupting the migratory patterns of garden snails.
Of course, anyone who’s met Jewel knows that’s complete bullshit.
When she gets an idea in her head, peace is the absolute last thing on her mind.
She’ll go far, do great things, and leave a trail of burning rubble behind her.
Marie Dean
ZIGGY
I listened with half an ear to the banter between Dal and the woman from Rojo, whom I vaguely remembered from Matteo’s wedding.
When she introduced herself, I was surprised to learn she was the town’s mayor and related to Bella Conner, now Bella Russo.
Apparently, the mayor of Rojo was using this trip to finalize a deal with us while catching up with Bella and Matteo on the side.
As it turned out, this woman was connected to my niece’s fiancé and his family, though I wasn’t sure how.
Even though Rojo had seemed like a small town to me and my family when we were there, it turned out to be even smaller than we’d imagined in terms of how everyone was connected.
It wasn’t small geographically; the town spread out in a way none of us were used to.
Even the smaller homes I’d seen sat on large plots of land, which felt foreign to those of us who grew up in New York City.
The fact that Bella’s family lived in what was essentially their own neighborhood of large homes, massive yards, and acres of open land had amazed all of us.
So much so that we were eager to buy our own land in Texas, to soak up the wide-open spaces while remaining anonymous in a way we never could at home.
This meeting would help that along by giving my family an investment opportunity and plenty of reasons to come out.
That was crucial, since I planned to make Rojo my primary home.
I’d work remotely most of the time, returning to New York only for family functions or business meetings that couldn’t be handled over a video call.
“Don’t you think so, Zig?”
I snapped out of my reverie and looked at my friend in confusion. “Where is your business associate again?”
“As we were getting into the elevator, she got an urgent call from home and went back to her room so she could take it in private,” Brooklyn explained.
When I narrowed my eyes, clearly not buying her story, she added, “Let me text her and tell her we’re waiting.”
I held up a hand and smiled. “Don’t do that. I’d rather go upstairs and check on her myself.”
“You would?” Brooklyn asked in shock. She cleared her throat and gave me a tentative smile. “Of course. That would be wonderful. Thank you for taking an interest in her.”
I frowned at the implication. The woman had the gall to laugh, biting her lip in a brief, useless attempt at self-control. A few seconds later, her eyes watered. She snorted, dissolving into full-blown laughter before burying her face in her hands.
She sniffed, hiccupped, and finally choked out, “I apologize, Mr. Romano. Yes, please check on Jewel. I’m sure she’d love to reconnect with you.”
Obviously, this woman had heard about our interlude, and I asked through gritted teeth, “And that amuses you, Ms. Conner?”
“You spent enough time with her to get why, I’m sure.”
Irritated that this woman knew what I’d managed to hide from my own family and friends, I stood up.
My irritation turned to an outright growl as she asked, “Do your guards wear body armor? You might think about borrowing a vest before you . . .” Brooklyn cleared her throat, a muffled giggle escaping, then managed to finish, “. . . encounter Jewel again.”
“While he’s gone, I’d love for you to fill me in on what I’m missing here,” Dal said smoothly, understanding without words just how irritated I’d become.
Brooklyn either didn’t know or didn’t care. I realized it was the latter when she winked at me. “Have fun!”
I left without another word, mostly because I wasn’t sure I could contain the string of curses lodged in my throat, and I had no desire to embarrass myself.
I also couldn’t risk jeopardizing this opportunity.
It meant too much to Dal’s future and mine, not to mention the franchise where I’d recently become the majority stockholder.
As much as it burned to have been tossed away like yesterday’s trash that night at the hotel, I’d been looking forward to seeing Jewel Parker ever since I learned she was part of the committee working to bring a sports team to Rojo.
If nothing else, I wanted the chance to make her uncomfortable.
Life had taught me how to read people, and I had no doubt that, despite walking out without a word the next morning, one-night stands weren’t part of Jewel Parker’s normal behavior.
I’d had more than my fair share, and I could admit there had been plenty of mornings when I hadn’t handled the aftermath very gallantly.
Maybe being treated the same way was my karmic punishment, but that didn’t mean I had to like it.
But, obstinate woman that she was, she’d denied me the chance to gloat over how the tables had turned, and I wasn’t about to accept that.
Dammit.
I took the staff elevator up to the floor where she and her friend were staying, ignoring the cheerful vibes from my guard until his inability to hide his amusement got on my last nerve.
“What the fuck are you laughing about?” I snapped, stopping and turning to glare at him.
“You’re a man on a mission, and I’m not trying to stop you.”
“That’s not what I asked, and you know it.”
“I met her when we were in Texas, and I have to say, you’ve got your work cut out for you with this one. She’s a firecracker.”
“How do you know?”
“I’m friends with some of Bella’s family. I’ve heard about the relationship between the doctor and the mayor, and some of the stories were definitely eye-opening.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“The woman you’re stomping around about was a teen mom who worked her way through not just high school, but college and med school while raising a kid. You might have finally met your match when it comes to stubborn fortitude, and I’m just glad I’m here to witness it.”
“I’m going to send you back to Zach and tell him he can kiss my ass.”
“Too late, my friend. I’m all yours for the duration.”
“Fine. If you’re all mine, then I’ll send you to Vegas to be with . . .”
Jersey burst out laughing before he sputtered, “Punish me with pleasure. Please. I beg you.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I muttered, turning around to continue toward Jewel’s suite. “Worst business deal I’ve ever made.”
That was a lie, and Jersey knew it. Zach’s old friend had experienced a revelation after nearly getting himself killed.
He wanted out of the life as badly as I had, so it only made sense for Zach to find a way to let him go.
Working for the Four Families wasn’t exactly the kind of job where you turned in your two-week notice and walked away.
It helped that my family kept me connected to the life, just like Jersey’s knowledge would always tie him to it.
“Do you need me to come in with you?” Jersey asked. I shot him a glare over my shoulder, and he chuckled. “Remember, she’s a gatta selvatica.”
“I know exactly what she is,” I snapped, stopping in front of her door. Before I knocked, I said, “Stay out here. Or better yet, go jump off the roof or something equally life-ending.”
“I’m so glad you’re my new best friend, Zig. My life feels complete.”
“Fuck you.”
I rapped on the door three times. When she didn’t answer, I knocked again. Suddenly the door flew open, and the woman I’d spent months thinking about stood there with a murderous look on her face and her phone pressed to her ear.
As the man on the other end screamed obscenities, she blinked a few times, then slammed the door in my face. I caught it with my hand before it shut, resisting the urge to punch Jersey when he made the sound of a crash and an explosion.
“Listen to me closely, Robert,” Jewel said, her voice deadly calm. “You are not going to send my son away because he made a single bad decision and then acted like you do when he got caught.”
I couldn’t hear the man’s response from the phone, but her chilling laugh sent a shiver down my spine. Next to me, Jersey crossed himself and stepped back.
“You forget that I have primary custody. Taking him out of town without my permission violates that agreement, just like seeking medical care for him without notifying me violates it. If I have to, I will drag you through the court system until Max graduates from college, but you will not be sending him to boarding school.”
“Oh, shit,” Jersey whispered.
In a low voice, I told him, “Go downstairs and order two of tonight’s specials, two bottles of red, and a selection of desserts. Put it all on my tab.”
“What?”
“Give my excuses to Dal and Ms. Conner and explain that I’ll be dining with Ms. Parker in her suite.”
“What?”
“Knock when you get back, and I’ll take the cart from you before you leave for the evening.” When Jersey opened his mouth, I said, “And if you ask ‘What?’ one more fucking time, I’ll throw you off the goddamn roof myself.”
“Did you hear her laugh?” Jersey asked.
“I did, and it sounded surprisingly like my sister’s laugh right before she decides it’s time for someone to develop a medical condition not conducive to life.”
“Exactly!”
“She’s obviously in no condition to socialize, but she still needs to eat. Go do as I asked or you might walk in front of a bus.”
Jersey turned around and almost got to the elevator before I heard him mumble, “And I thought Zach was the crazy one.”
As I reached for the doorknob, I wondered if Jersey might be onto something. Cornering a lioness in her den would probably get me injured, but damned if I wasn’t excited for the fight.
◆◆◆
JEWEL
I pressed my forehead against the window and closed my eyes, listening to the phone ring. Just when I thought it was going to voicemail again, my son Max answered angrily, “What?”