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Eddie’s eyes popped at the site of Kate standing before him. The other three sat silently, staring at her. She wondered what they were thinking.
“Kate,” Eddie said, standing. “What a surprise. What brings you down here?”
She smiled, feigning innocence and a genuine interest in him and his crew. “Oh, I love this place. I came for lunch and thought I’d treat myself to a little tiramisù for later.” She smiled and teased them with a hair tousle.
Eddie giggled, which surprised Kate. “Yeah. I know what-cha’ mean. The tiramisù here?” He kissed his fingers. “One-a-the-best in town. Not as good as Micola’s recipe, a-course.”
Kate smiled. “Of course.”
Eddie brought his hand to his chest. “‘Scuse my manners. You remember my cousin, Sal.”
Sal lifted his head, without really looking at Kate.
“Yes, hello, Sal. I saw you at the church. Thank you for coming.” She took a good look at him.
You fucking killer.
“My honor,” he mumbled. He seemed flustered, unable to look her in the eye.
Eddie moved on. “You remember Dario.”
Kate did a quick flip of her hand in greeting. He was seated next to Sal nearest the window, too far for a handshake, and she wasn’t interested in faking any more niceties than was necessary.
“Hello, Dario.”
You’re in on it, I know you are.
“How you doin, Kate? Good to see you. Again, so sorry for your losses—ya’ know, you’re husband—and ah’—your kid.”
“Shut the fuck up, Dario,” Eddie said, shaking his head. “Sorry about that, Kate. He’s a fuckin’ moron.”
Kate opened her mouth to speak, unsure how to respond, but Eddie had already moved on.
“And this here’s Tau.”
You’re in on this, too, Tau.
“Hello,” Tau said, also too nervous to look at her.
“Well,” Kate said with a smile, “I’m sorry to have interrupted. I just wanted to stop and say hello.”
“Kate, please,” Eddie said. “Join us. We can pull up a chair.”
Sal pressed his back against the booth and looked at Eddie like he was nuts.
Kate shook her head, waving her hand. “No, thank you. I have to go. My parents are—she struggled, her excuse unprepared. “They’re coming over later, and I—ah’, my place is a mess. You know how mothers are, right?”
Dario laughed. “Boy, do I! My mom—if I leave a big mess in the kitchen—”
Eddie stuck his neck out in Dario’s direction. “Dario. Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”
Dario rubbed his hands nervously up and down his thighs. “Sorry, Mr. B.”
Eddie turned to Kate. “Great to see you, Kate.”
Kate lit them up with her best fake smile, flipping back her hair and giving them all a slight wave. “You too.”
“Don’t be a stranger, now. You bring your parents in fa’ dinner to Fortunato’s real soon, ‘eh? My treat.”
“Thank you, Eddie. Maybe we’ll take you up on that.”
“You do that. Take care now, Kate.”
She gave the group a nod. “Bye.”
Kate walked to the staircase and made her way down and out of Cossetta’s. Once in her car, her whole body started to tremble. She placed her cold hands on her face to calm the tears that seared her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. She sat there on that side street for several minutes trying to collect herself, before putting the car into drive and heading back home. By the time she pulled into the driveway, her heart rate had settled and her tears had slowed.
She hurried into the house and upstairs to her bedroom, falling to her knees in front of the closet. She sat there for a few minutes, before opening the closet doors, reaching in for the bag, and pulling out the pistol. She held it in her hand, examining it, her finger on the trigger.
At least two of those men had a hand in killing Marco and Renzo.
Eddie and Sal.
She’d figure out how Dario and Tau fit in soon enough. She slowly lifted the gun, pointing it, imagining Eddie standing in front of her, hands up, begging.
