“Remember the good widow… the wife of the club’s attorney?”
“Yeah, what of her?” I remember someone had murdered her husband, and she’d come to Cole for help. She’d wanted him to take care of whoever had done it. Turned out it was the mafia.
“The Santorini crime family lost one of their guys in Vegas. They caught a woman on one of their surveillance cameras. They think it was her. They want Cole to turn her over.”
“Holy shit.” My arms come unfolded. “He gonna do it?”
“He hasn’t decided yet.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Not sure. Probably nothing good. Just keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious.”
“Like a Cadillac being driven by a guy with a pinkie ring?” I try to lighten the mood.
“Exactly. New Jersey boys stand out in Cali like a turd in a punch bowl.” Green studies me. “You hurtin’ for money? I mean, I know you ain’t paid your dues, but have you made your mortgage payments?”
“Yeah. I had enough left from the insurance money to cover this month and next. I’m okay.”
“You need a loan, let me know.” Green touches my shoulder. “Understand? I don’t want you losin’ your house.”
“Yeah, sure. Thanks.”
“One for all, and all for one. Comes with that patch on your back, youngin’. That and all the pussy you can handle.”
I grin. Green always has a way of cutting up, but still reminding us he’s always here for us second generation patches. “Gotcha.”
A pickup truck pulls in, and I recognize it immediately.
It parks, and the driver leans out the window.
My mother looks as beautiful as the pictures I’ve seen of her when she was in her twenties. Her long hair is dark, and her skin is flawless.
“Hey, Ma.” Kyle says.
“Rafe,” she says, and motions me over.
I meet her at the driver’s side window. “What’s up?”
“I just saw a video of you pulling a man from a burning car. It’s all over the evening news. About three different witnesses filmed it on their phones.”
My brows lift. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. What happened?”
I tell her everything, including the job offer. The guys wander inside, and I lean against the side of the pickup. “It’s been a crazy day.”
“Climb in, honey,” she says in a soft voice.
I take the passenger seat and relax in the rich leather.
“What’s troubling you? You saved a man’s life today. He offered you a job, but you look down in the dumps.”
“You think I can do it, Ma?”
“The job?” she asks.
I nod and stare out the windshield.
Her hand settles on my thigh. “Baby, you can do anything you set your mind to.” She’s quiet for a long moment. “Are you still having trouble concentrating?”
“It’s not like it was, but yeah, sometimes.”
“Still having headaches?”
I shrug. “Once in a while. They’re not as bad as they were.”
“You won’t know what you can do until you give it a try, honey.”
“Yeah.” I stare at the clubhouse door. “Kyle still treats me like I need a fucking babysitter.”
“He probably always will. He’s looked out for you since you were kids like he was the older brother.”
“Older by three minutes,” I bite out.
She grins. “True. But he’s the steady, serious one. You’re the fearless one, ready to jump off the swing or climb to the top of the tree.”
“I suppose.” I won’t tell her I have no memory of ever climbing to the top of a tree. Some memories are just gone, like holes in Swiss cheese.
She shrugs. “It doesn’t work out; it doesn’t work out. You can always work for your brother at his restaurant. He’s told you that.”
“I know, but it’s the last thing I want to do.”
“Work at a restaurant?”
“Work for my brother.” I give her a grin.
She stares at the steering wheel, lost in thought, and I frown, realizing something’s bothering her, too.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh?” She pastes on a smile. “Nothing.”
“Yeah, there is. Spill.”
“It’s your sister.”
“Which one? Fiona or Ella?”
“Fiona. You know she held off going to college after high school, and last year she started at San Jose State.”
“Yeah, I know. What about it?”
“She just got put on academic probation. This is her third semester and the third time her grades have been low. If she has one more bad semester, they’ll kick her out.”
“What the hell? School has always come easy to Fiona.” I run a hand through my hair.
“I know.” Mom shakes her head. “I think she’s more focused on boys than on getting her degree.”
That has my brows lifting. “A guy? Is she dating someone?”
“Not that she’s told me, but she’s been going to a lot of parties. Maybe it would help if you spent a little time with her.”
“All right. I’ll see if she wants to meet for taco Tuesday.”
“She does love tacos.”
“Who doesn’t?” I tease and pull the handle. “You goin’ inside?”
“No. I’ll let your father have his night.”
“He’s always happy to see you, Ma.”
“I know.”
I frown. “You two having trouble?”
She shrugs. “He seems distant lately.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. And don’t even think there’s anyone else, Ma. There’s not. Hell, your love story is legendary around here.”
She nods but looks a little sad.
I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, baby.”