Page 32 of Dirty Deeds

“Pop, she’s terrified that you blame her for what happened to me and thinks you’re going to take it out on her brother.”

He grunts and looks away.

“The guy is doing serious time for a crime he didn’t commit. She only agreed to support Brent’s bid for congress because he promised once he got elected he’d ask the governor to pardon her brother.”

His gaze snaps back to me.

“Let that sit for a minute,” I continue. “I’m sure Finley or Schwartz caught you up to speed on my case when they told you to post bail. Finley made it clear to me that it’s going to be imperative to my case that Danica’s story matches mine. What she doesn’t know is that Danica went to the cops this morning on her own will, to give a statement. No one threatened her. No one even asked politely. Now, I was there, Dad, I heard Matthews tell her what to say and I saw her leave his bloody ass on the ground. She chose the truth over him. She chose me. And she did it knowing she’d be severing any chance of a pardon. You lost your kid and I’m not going to try and pretend like I know what that feels like. But I know what it’s like to lose a brother.”

“What do you want from me, huh? You want me to apologize to your girlfriend? Fine, send her in here.”

“I also want you to assure her that you’re not going to do anything to harm her brother.”

“Anything else?”

There is one more thing that’s been nagging me.

“I’m concerned Brent might go after her. I don’t know what has happened since I got arrested, if she’s had any contact with him or if he’s tried to reach out to her. But she did mention the press have been hounding her for a statement.” His eyes widen and he starts to lift himself out of the chair. “Relax, no one followed us, besides we drove Ro’s car.”

“The fake secretary.”

“She’s actually Danica’s sister-in-law.”

“Drinks like a sailor, and curses like one too, but a nice girl nonetheless.”

“As I was saying, I’m afraid he’s going to do something to her. A man like that doesn’t fade quietly into the night. He’s made a public skeptical of their relationship, parading her around the campaign trail like a prized filly. He needs her to win. Hell, right now he needs her to stay in the race.”

“Matthews ain’t going to be on the campaign trail for long.”

I arch an eyebrow. That doesn’t sound like an empty promise.

“Do I even want to know?”

“It’s probably best if you don’t. Let me talk to her.” I open my mouth to object, but he holds up a hand. “Don’t get your panties in a twist, son. I just want to have a conversation. You can sit in on it if you’d like.”

* * *

Danica

Wolf has a lot of ex-wives, all of whom decided to show up to the house within the last twenty minutes, and get this, they all get along.

First there’s Sophie, Frankie’s mom and Anna’s biological grandma. She’s quiet, more reserved and a die-hard Jew. We exchanged numbers and she promised to text me her matzo ball recipe. I don’t even like matzo anything, but I couldn’t say no and now Ro is going food shopping tomorrow. In case you were wondering, she’s a big fan of the matzo.

Then there’s Patty, Nico’s mom and apparently, Enzo’s plus one to family parties. I think that’s a little strange, but, hey, Patty seems like a good time. She’s outspoken and tells it like it is. She’s like the female version of Wolf, only nicer. Much, much nicer.

Lastly, there’s Enzo’s mom, Carmela. When the other wives, including Maria, briefed her on who I was she had questions. Lots and lots of questions.

Is your divorce legal?

Are you opposed to remarrying?

Do you want children?

How many?

Those kind of questions. Ro and Carrie poured me some wine and settled in to enjoy the show, refilling my glass whenever it hit the halfway mark.

“Honey, wine is meant to be sipped, not guzzled,” Carmela chastises.

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