Page 241 of Anti-Heroes in Love Duet

It made me grieve for the woman I’d been and rejoice for the progress I’d made in the past few months.

“Thanks, Ric,” I said, letting some of that tenderness seep into my tone. “That means a lot.”

“Hey, don’t forget, you’re a powerful lady now. Maybe you’ll be able to do a big favor for me someday,” he teased.

“Well, while we’re on the topic of favors, there is something else,” I confessed. “Have you heard of the di Carlo brothers in the Cosa Nostra?”

He snorted. “Anyone in law, police work, or the media knows the di Carlo brothers.”

“They’ve gone to war against the Camorra.”

“Ah.” He rubbed his chin as he pondered the situation. “Because they think Dante killed Giuseppe di Carlo?”

The coffee shop was on a quiet street and it was too cold to be sitting outside really, so Ric and I were the only ones sitting bundled up on the chairs in front of the shop, but I still lowered my voice. “They know he didn’t. Apparently, the brothers were the ones to order the drive-by to take out their own uncle and get power for themselves.”

Ric let out a long, low whistle. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the world you just married into is violent as hell.”

“You do not.” I could still remember Rocco Abruzzi’s brain blown out all over the back wall of his office like it happened two minutes ago. I knew I would live with that memory for the rest of my life.

“So what did the Camorra do to them?”

“Nothing so far as I can tell,” I said honestly. “I’m wondering if you can look into that too? See why they’ve targeted this Family first. I think they have plans to take it all eventually, but there must be something personal there.”

“Yeah, I’m inclined to agree.” He had that look on his face he got when a good case landed in his lap, all quivering, animal excitement like a hound who’s caught a scent. “I’ll get going, got some leads I want to hit up before it gets too late.”

He stood to go so I did too, initiating the cheek kisses for the first time in our friendship. When I finished, I kept hold of his shoulders and gave them a squeeze.

“Thank you, Ric. This means a lot to me.”

He grinned at me, knocking my chin lightly with his fist. “Don’t mention. I’m only too happy to help the female gladiator at Fields, Harding & Griffith.”

I laughed. “I could lose my licence for marrying Dante.”

He knew how much being a lawyer meant to me so he frowned. “Worth it?”

My hand went to Dante’s cross beneath my bulky knit sweater. “Worth it.”

My next stop was to visit my old idol and current nemesis. The Winthrop Gun Club was an exclusive, members only brick building in the Flatiron District. It was where decorated policemen, wealthy gun enthusiasts, and right-wing politicians spent their time schmoozing and rubbing elbows with the right crowd.

Happily, my woman’s doctor, Monica Taylor, and her husband were members and she was able to secure a visitor’s pass for my partner and I to tour the facilities in case we wanted to join too.

Frankie, my fake husband in Italy, once again donned the faux boyfriend role as we signed into the reception and were taken on a tour of the extensive building with all its amenities.

“You would have to sign an NDA if you wanted to go through with the application,” the guide was explaining as we moved by the viewing windows overlooking the handgun bays. “We have many important members who value their privacy.”

“Of course,” I demurred. “We feel the same way.”

Ric had called half an hour after our meeting to tell me Dennis could be found at the WGC every Tuesday and Thursday evening for a few practice rounds and a follow-up pint with friends at the bar across the street.

Still, the sight of him after so long, knowing that he was going to use Dante as a means to his own end, lit me up with fury like a fucking Christmas tree.

“Would it be possible at all to try one of the bays while we’re here?” I asked sweetly, clutching Frankie’s hand. “My husband is such a crack shot, but sometimes the bays are so narrow, he can barely move his arms!”

The woman nodded sagely. “I completely understand. If you’ll wait here, I’ll grab a key. I have the copy of your gun license, should I grab the gun you checked in or will you need to borrow one?”

“The one we checked in.”

She scuttled away.