Page 34 of Vows of a Mobster

“Why are you out at this hour? And taking a cab?” I didn’t need my family being careless, making themselves vulnerable.

“I went to see a friend,” she muttered, making her answers vague. She did it on purpose, I knew without a doubt. “My car was in a different location so I decided to get it back tomorrow.”

Giovanni’s body tensed under my hand. “Everything okay?” I got a hunch it was the same friend that Giovanni refused to reveal. Her eyes met mine, and I knew, just like Giovanni, she would never tell me the name of the friend she went to see. After all, it was an Agosti trait that I possessed too.

She nodded in confirmation at her brother’s question, then strolled to her brother, taking his other side. “Let’s go home, brother.”

Fourteen

Brianna

Present

Marissa's party was anything but small. She pretty much had most of her family here and then some. Talk about asmallSunday gathering. As soon as Emma and I arrived, I wanted to turn around and leave. Unfortunately, Emma refused to be quiet and Marissa spotted us. She ran towards us squealing happily and we hadn’t even gotten out of the Jeep.

“You came,” she exclaimed, hugging me, and then hugging Emma. She was thrilled to see us, although we just saw each other yesterday.

“I thought you said it was a small party,” I mumbled under my breath.

She glanced over her shoulders. “Oh, this is small.”

I groaned inwardly. I should have seen this coming with Marissa. It was going to be a long day.

“Okay, Emma. I have lots of small cousins,” Marissa took her hand and they started walking ahead of me. “You want to meet them?”

Emma shook her head in agreement eagerly. As much as I hated large gatherings, my daughter loved them. I couldn’t see her eyes, but I was fairly certain they were probably big as she absorbed all the people and kids. I grew up among politicians and foreign delegates, attending state dinners but it was always the same feeling. I hated crowds, strangers roaming around me. It always felt fake and strenuous, trying to pretend to like them all and be perfect at the same time. I didn’t want to be perfect but my mother demanded only perfection.

I watched Marissa introduce Emma to all the little kids. They had a little sprinkler system going and all the kids were in bathing suits. They all watched her with interest, like she was a new shiny toy. She did the same with them. Emma turned around, her eyes searching me out.

“Go ahead,” I told her. “Your bathing suit is under your dress.”

Marissa helped her take it off and brought me her dress. We stood there watching them in silence when Daphne joined us.

“Great weather for a birthday party,” she exclaimed as she hugged us both. “Did you ladies read last night?”

Both Marissa and I grunted our response.

“Yes, and I was so damn horny afterwards,” Marissa complained.

“Me too,” Daphne answered. “How about you, Brie?”

“What do you think?” I told her dryly. “I think that book is a bit much. I barely get through two pages and it gets all hot.”

Three of us shared a look and started laughing.

“I think that constitutes being a good book,” Marissa proclaimed.

“What book?” Marcus asked, wrapping his arms around all three of us.

I groaned and took a step back. “No book,” I answered quickly, hoping he would move on. I didn’t want to hang out with him. His constant attempts at seduction were exhausting.

“Want to dance, Brianna?” God, why couldn’t he go ask one of his other girlfriends or cousins to dance with him.

“No, I’m not in the mood for dancing,” I told him.

“Maybe later?” he asked hopeful and I felt like a total jerk.

I should have told him no, never, but instead I just said, “Maybe.”