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Her eyes soften. “So… wedding? Seriously? This soon?”

“My dad’s dying, Capri. If you didn’t get the memo.”

Saying it out loud twists my heart with an invisible wrench. We’ve been doing hit jobs together for as long as I can remember. Yeah, I know, not typical father-son stuff. But that’s my bond with him. Whenever he tried to show me some sappy bullshit, I knew that wasn’t for me. Movies, advice about settling down, fancy dinners. Nah. You go do that stuff, Pop. I’ll run my strip clubs, thank you very much.

Prick got me in checkmate with this one next to me, though. Even if she did grow up easy on the eyes…

“Get ready for a trip to PA,” I say.

“Pennsylvania wedding.Ew.”

“Some would say the same about Jersey.”

“What?We havethe Venetian,Estate at Florentine Gardens, the list goes on. PA has what?Steamtown Mall?”

I shrug. “It’s probably going to be a legal thing. In and out at the local court, or whatever. My dad’s smart. He knows none of the mobsters would dare look at a Pennsylvania wedding registry. By then, this whole thing will have blown over,ifwe make it out.”

“Mmm.” She grits her teeth in fear and faces forward, buckling her seatbelt. She’s scratching at her own arms.

“Something I said?” I squint one eye.

“Everythingyou said. You’re offensive andnotcomforting. At least you drive like a turtle in old cars. Who would’ve thought that’s all I needed to tame you. Next, I’ll get you an old piece of cheese, then maybe you’ll stop being a grumpy dick.”

The next thirty minutes I do my best to keep my attention away from Capri. She’s a whirlwind of emotion. Every time I glance at her, she’s like a different person. Is this how civilians process trauma? Reacting to every damn thought that pops into their heads?Jesus.

We get home and I pull into the cul-de-sac, where my beautiful BMW awaits me, where I also notice another dry-cleaned outfit waiting at my doorstop.

She’s not going to like this one.

I smirk, shoving this old thing in the garage while inhaling the stench of a bad catalytic converter stinking up the space.

Capri steps out without addressing me, then nearly smashes into the door – it’s locked.

I walk up slowly, like I’m approaching a cat that could claw me at any second. “Relax.” I stick the key in and linger.

She smells good, like flowery soap and a hint of fear. It reminds me of yesterday – the stint of passion. She wanted to stick her tongue in my mouth, though she’d never admit it.

How long have I been standing here?

She looks up at me with those big blue eyes, and I can tell her breathing is shallow with heat.

There’s a moment.

She’s considering me. But her expression changes. “Well, are you going to unlock it?”

Before I can fully twist my wrist, she’s already pushing the door open to get up the stairs.

“What’s with you today?” I call from down below.

“Um, I don’t know… I almostdied? I’m getting married tomorrow to keep my dad alive? Just yesterday, my biggest problem was trying to figure out scuba gear. Now? I’m on a mafia hitlist! Shall I go on?” She holds the door for me.

I grunt. She’s definitely not going to like my next surprise, then.

“You’ll be fine, Capri. Just do everything I say.”

She huffs, stomps up the next flight of stairs and shuts the bathroom door as I head to the front. Those two imports had no idea who was shooting at them. I may as well have been a ghost. Unregistered car, using the target to taunt them. Now they’re going to be looking twice as hard. Don Vino will be furious.Which is why…

I open the door, pick up the package outside and hold up the stringy outfit.