Page 104 of Scorned Beauty

“I need to bring Ginger back to the penthouse.”

“No need. She can stay with Sam on the second floor. Sam loves cats but Renz and Liz can’t have pets because of the café, but once in a while should be fine.”

“All right.”

I hadn’t been to Jabbin’ Java in months, but we found a corner booth near the kitchen where we could discuss the Delphine proposal.

Renz delivered our cappuccinos and danishes.

“Is this new?” Bianca asked her brother.

“Yes, matcha and passion fruit.”

“It’s so pretty,” I said and took a bite. “It’s delicious too.”

“Why don’t you do matcha lattes?” Sera asked.

“Nah, and have the Italians revolt?” Renz laughed.

I gave a shake of my head and took a sip of my cappuccino while the De Luccis did small talk. After Renz left our table, Sera tipped her chin to the folder in front of me. “You have concerns.”

“Where is the money coming from?”

“We’re not laundering money. Bowman Inc. is a shell company, but the monies funneled through it are seized assets from criminal organizations who profit from human trafficking. We’re merely redirecting those funds to more appropriate use. We’ve used it for homeless shelters and a host of other charities.”

“Why not continue with those charities? Why the interest in Delphine? You know the clientele are not exactly destitute.”

Sera leaned forward while Bianca side-eyed her. There had to be a mafia angle to this. “Okay, so we’re making some provisions for older adults who have nowhere to go. Victims of criminal violence. Most homeless shelters are not equipped to handle them. Mafia families also have their own issues. Luca and Dom had talked about easing the worries of their soldiers regarding retirement homes. And you know the Italians. The last thing they want to do is to put their parents or grandparents in assisted living. But the guilt of not doing so is not the healthiest or practical alternative, especially when they need nurse supervision. The plan you’ve submitted appealed to both Luca, Sandro, and yes, Dom, so in a way, we are using these homes as an alternative for mafia families.”

“Sort of like a pension for mafia soldiers,” Bianca piped in. “You know Al and Arnie Scavo are not getting any younger and their mom is ninety and is complaining about her assisted living facility.”

“It would also make it easier for the holidays, too,” Sera said.

My hand shook when I lifted the cappuccino to my lips. Excitement was rattling inside me. I laughed lightly, lowering the cup. “I trust you not to hide anything in the fine print, and oh my God.” I put a hand over my chest, and I could feel my heart pounding. This was a dream and my mind was swirling with all kinds of plans I could do for Delphine residents. “I…I haven’t even graduated or passed the NCLEX.”

“You’ve proven yourself enough, Sloane. To us.” Bianca reached across the table for my hand and squeezed. “You’re tenacious, smart.”

“Zio Luca asked to look at your transcript.” Sera laughed. “He is in a trust-but-verify position. And he had his own private investigator interview a few of your instructors. Yournurse supervisor in your ER rotation gave you a stellar commendation.”

“I missed graduation,” I said. “But I’ve earned enough clinical hours to take the NCLEX.”

“Does that mean you’re considering it?”

I laughed lightly again. For the first time since Billy died, I was seeing a way out of the dark tunnel that seemed to swallow me each morning when I woke up and each night I fell asleep. “But what would be my position in the family?”

“Bowman Inc. is part of an organization that is mafia adjacent,” Sera said. “I can’t reveal its inner workings until you pass a waiting period or marry a member.”

Bianca’s lips rolled as if she was controlling a smile or her urge to speak.

Sera’s expression was deadpan, as if she was waiting for me to say something, too.

“And is Dom a member?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“I don’t have to answer to him?”

“No, Matteo is the head of the organization, and I function as his adviser,” Sera said.