Page 66 of The Bronze Garza

Nostrils flaring, she tells the chef, “Give us a moment, please.”

Once he’s gone, she asks, “Is this about that girl I hear is staying in the condo?”

“Yup.”

“Listen, Tor, I allowed you to run me over with all this ridiculous amount of security on the propertyonlybecause Monica and Tillie are here, but I’m not about to have you start using my place of business as a safe-house, do you understand?”

“Perfectly.”

Her eyes narrow to slits. She’d been expecting a fight, so my acquiescence has thrown her off. “Who is she anyway?”

“Just a client who needs a safe place to lay low for a bit.”

“Is she in some sort of trouble?” Monica asks.

“Working on figuring that out.”

“Considering she’s going to be in my home, is there anything I should look out for with her?” she asks. “Anything important I should know?”

“No.” I almost smile. Almost. “She’s actually really easy to like.”

Monica and Lexi exchange glances, but I ignore it. “Just do me a favor and make sure she eats. She’ll sometimes...forget to.”

Lexi makes a disbelieving expression. “Whoforgetsto eat?”

Monica asks, “Is it like an eating disorder thing?”

“No, just...just send her small fruit bowls, salads, or smoothies throughout the day. I’ll pay for whatever.”

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I get it out, check the screen.

Stefano.

“Gotta go,” I tell the women. “Call me if you need anything.”

Lexi mutters one of her usual hate jabs as I exit the kitchen and answer the call. “Yeah.”

“Ciao, cousin,” Stefano greets, about to start with some bullshit, no doubt. “How doth thou doeth?”

“Cut the small talk, Stefan,” I say, and find myself moving to the back of the B&B instead of the front. “What’ve you got for me?”

“Always so discourteous, Torin Garza,” he gripes.

“Business first, pleasantries later.”

“With you it’s pleasantriesnever. That is why you are my least favorite Garza.”

“Oh, I don’t have your affection? How unfortunate for me.”

“Dio, you’re a buzzkill.” He sighs. “Anyway, Skullaz gave up their man faster than I could issue a threat. Where do you want him?”

“I don’t. He’s just a kill for hire. I wanna know who hired him.”

“Extracting information is going to cost you extra, cousin.”

Of course it is. Money is this man’s god. “Fine. Just get the info.”

He tuts. “That sounds suspiciously like an order. I’m workingwithyou, cousin, not for you.”