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“What’s going on, Gloria?” Chrissy walked with her sister toward the elevator, with the ostensible mission of grabbing coffee from the cafeteria.
“I just want to show you my ring.”
“Ring?” Chrissy repeated. “You told me that Mario wouldn’t go against Grandpa.”
“That was right after you left. But when Grandpa took off to go fishing, Mario rethought the engagement.”
She pulled out a chain she had under her blouse. “It was Mario’s mother’s.”
Chrissy stared at the ring, a symbol of a lifetime promise, but also a harbinger of trouble. Gloria chattered happily away, detailing the carat weight and shape of the emerald-centered ring. The details flew right by Chrissy, as she couldn’t help but feel uneasy over it and her talk with Saks.
“It’s beautiful,” Chrissy said, when she realized her sister had finished rambling. How angry would their father be once he realized that Mario had disobeyed their grandfather?
Gloria giggled happily. “How are things going with you and Saks?”
She saw Gloria’s game now. If Chrissy distracted the family with what was going on with Saks, Gloria and Mario could slide under the radar with their unsanctioned union.
“None of your business,” Chrissy admonished. She tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice, because that would only inflame her sister to more mischief. Whenever Gloria was up to something, it usually involved getting Chrissy into trouble. And Gloria Serafini’s eyes sparkled with the devil’s work right then.
Gloria leaned in close. “You didn’t come home last night.”
“As if you were home,” Chrissy responded, snorting.
“To tell you the truth, Mario has moved in a few of his things.”
“You’re playing with fire, Gloria. Are you telling me that you and Mario are living together?”
The elevator shot them to the main floor, and they walked off toward the cafeteria a few steps from there.
Gloria gave a little half-shrug, a glint in her eye. “You left me alone in that apartment. I didn’t want to stay by myself. And Mario was glad to get out of his parents’ house.”
“Mama mia,” Chrissy huffed. Now she knew why Mario rethought the engagement. “So, I’m paying Mario’s rent?”
“Hey, that’s not how it is.”
“But I’m still paying for my half. And Mario pays what?”
“Things are tight for Mario since Grandpa left on his fishing trip. He’s not driving for him, and Dad won’t pay him.”
“Why not?”
Gloria’s jaw tightened. “He wasn’t happy that Mario asked me to marry him without getting his permission.”
“You told him?”
“He saw the ring and put two and two together.”
So, Gloria and Mario were suffering blowback already. How much worse would it get if Grandpa and Dad found out they were living together? Old-fashioned wise guys didn’t like that. They could rob, cheat, and steal, but their little girl putting out? A father like theirs would end lives if it meant protecting his girls.
“What? When?”
“That day we went to the airport to try to stop you.”
Chrissy’s eyes grew wide. All that was going on, and she didn’t know?
Why would you know? You’ve had your head all into James Pearson’s business instead of your family’s. Could she be any worse a daughter or a sister?
No. I did what I needed to keep Saks safe from my family... And then ran away to avoid the consequences of loving a man my family did not approve of. At least Gloria stayed and faced them.
Sort of. Except that he’s hiding out at our apartment. And now I have to deal with that.
“Why would Mario do that?”
“Perhaps he was sure of the answer. Mario is more Grandpa’s man that Dad’s. He was hoping to get in a good position before Dad became the big boss.”
“Oh, Gloria,” Chrissy moaned.
“And now with Grandpa gone fishing, Mario’s position in the organization is a big question mark.”
Unfortunately, that meant he wasn’t in good with any of lieutenants and he wasn’t earning a dime.
Terrific, thought Chrissy. And now my sister is supporting him. Well, me too. “And why didn’t Grandpa take Mario with him?”
“He thought that Mario would help Dad, but Dad’s pissed off because he won’t stay away from me. He’s too stubborn to take Mario’s help.”
“And who’s keeping the lieutenants in line with Dad in the hospital?”
Gloria shrugged as a distressed look descended onto her face. Unfortunately, their father was too goddamned stubborn to use Mario, when he was in no condition to do the job of heading the organization.
“This is a freaking mess, Gloria.”
“Yeah, I know.”
They stood in the middle of the cafeteria with visitors, staff, nurses, and doctors swirling around them.
“Get the coffee,” Chrissy instructed. Her tone was no-nonsense, but she was thinking hard. If no one was taking Mario under their wing, and no one was stepping up to help their father, then there was also the worry of what else they’d all be up to. These would be the sorts of things that would get them into a world of hurt when her Grandpa returned. Plus, it was exactly the kind of situation another crime family would take advantage of to usurp the Serafinis’ position.
Gloria returned with a tray filled with coffee cups.
“Gloria, I want you to call Mario and tell him to call the lieutenants to the house tonight. This is an or else call.”
“What?” Gloria’s grip on the tray faltered in her confusion. “Why?”
“Just do it. I’ve gotta go. Tell Dad I’ll see him later.”
“Go? Where are you going?”
But Chrissy was already out of the cafeteria hall and to the valet parking. While she waited for her car, she called Saks.
“Hey, babe,” he answered.
“Hi, honey,” she said. “Can you talk?”
“I’m at work. Can it wait until later?”
“Um, no. I just found out important information, and I need your help.”
“Hang on.” Saks’ muffled voice filtered through her phone.
“Come to the shop. Luke says it’s okay.”
Chrissy drove on autopilot all the way to Luke’s shop. Her head spun with the myriad problems in front of her. She and Saks, her sister and Mario, her grandfather’s fishing trip... and then there was James Pearson and her missing friend, Jessica. The only thing she could think to do at that moment was get to Saks as quickly as possible, so they could come up with a plan before things went haywire.
Saks was standing outside, already waiting for her when she pulled up. In a hurry she jumped from her car and raced over to where he was. Every second felt paramount in the race of whatever it was they were truly up against.
“Hi, babe,” he said. “What’s the 911?”
“It’s a mess, Saks. Grandpa took off, and expected Mario to help Dad while he’s in the hospital. But Dad isn’t letting him.”
The words came out with the speed of a locomotive, but Saks understood what she meant. “So, there are problems with the organization?”
“Yes. After Dad left him without work no one took in Mario, and you think they would, thinking they could score points with Grandpa.”
“That’s too bad for Mario.”
“No. That’s too bad for us. There’s no one running the ship. If one of the lieutenants decides this is an opportunity to make this into civil war, it could lead to a gang war—”
Saks took a deep breath. “I get it, sweetheart. What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to back me up when I talk to the lieutenants tonight.”
Saks stared at her shocked. “Not for nothing, babe, but how am I going to do that?”
Chrissy breathed in deep to steel herself. “As my fiancé and the heir apparent of the Serafini crime family.”
