Page 26 of Vows of a Mobster

“God, it is horrible,” she confessed, blushing. “I’d need multiple alcoholic drinks to go through that story.”

“Maybe one day?” I suggested and she smiled. This was so uncharacteristic for me. Was I flirting with a woman half my age? She looked way too young, but her demeanor and soulful eyes made her appear older. I really enjoyed her company. If she noticed me flirting, she didn’t seem to mind. She made me feel so at ease, unlike anyone before her. And certainly not a woman.

“Maybe one day,” she agreed, chuckling. She sat in the driver seat and started her car. “Just make sure there is a lot of alcohol around.”

“I certainly will. Have a good night, Brianna.” I didn’t want to dwell on the fact that I wanted to know what she was doing tonight. There was such ease at talking with her; I would rather spend the night with her.

“You too.”

I walked away from her toward my Land Rover. When I entered the car, I shifted into drive, and when I passed her on my way out, I noticed she was still there, her Jeep running. Her gaze was lowered to whatever she was doing, probably her phone. I wondered about her. She didn’t seem the corporate job type. Why did Marissa recommend her? She never recommended anyone.

I exited the garage, onto the main street in the heart of Boston. Since the bar was ten minutes out, I decided it was the perfect time to call Marissa. Just as I was about to call her, Brianna’s Jeep zoomed past me, music blasting through her speakers and sunglasses hiding most of her face.

“Definitely too young,”I muttered to myself. Then why was I still thinking about her?

I pressed the call button and a few seconds later, Marissa’s voice boomed inside my car.

“Mateo, you are actually calling me?” That must be the greeting of the younger generations. Marissa and Brianna must have been close in age. There was just something about these millennials that didn’t believe in hierarchy nor certain protocol.

I chuckled. “Can’t I call my favorite cousin?”

She was right though. I didn’t call her too often.

“You can but you never do,” she replied. “So to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Marcus said you recommended a girl to work at our company.” There was no sense in beating around the bush.

A few seconds ticked before she answered. “I did. My friend Brianna,” there was something in Marissa’s voice that I couldn’t quite place.

“I thought you said that you would never recommend anyone.”

Marissa had told me herself on multiple occasions she would never recommend anyone. Not only because it always came back to bite you in the end, but also because she didn’t want anyone to be pulled into our family business although Agosti Enterprise was perfectly legal. But sometimes in our business, the line between legal and illegal becomes blurry.

“She is good and she really needed a job.”

“And she couldn’t find it anywhere else?”

“No, she couldn’t. Mateo, please don’t get rid of her. I know Marcus keeps swarming her but she is good at keeping him at bay. She’s not interested in him at all.”

“Does she have an actual job?” I asked.

“She does,” she quickly replied. “She has been writing all his correspondences and ensures all his emails are answered.”

I guess that explained why Marcus’ emails sounded different lately and he actually answered them. More reasonable and to the point. It was thanks to Brianna. Then I remembered his last email to me, where he signed his email with Xs and Os. I bet it was Brianna that wrote it and probably signed it in habit.

“How do you know her?” I was curious since I have never seen her around or heard my cousin mention her. I didn’t see Marissa very often but names were always dropped and this was one I didn’t recognize.

“Daphne, she, and I had a few classes together in college,” she answered. “Brianna pretty much helped us pass them.”

Jesus, what did that put her roughly? Twenty-five?

“You won’t get rid of her?” Marissa’s voice was hopeful.

“Don’t you think it is risky to bring a friend into our business?” I challenged her. “Daphne grew up in this world. If I had to guess, Brianna did not.”

I didn’t have to guess. I knew she didn’t. I haven’t told Antonio to do a full-blown check on her but the little he dug up to ensure she wasn’t a threat was a clear indication she wasn’t part of our world.

“Please, Mateo,” she pleaded. And Marissa never begged. “Don’t get rid of her.”