Page 56 of Dirty Deeds

“Yeah,” I murmur, making a mental note to call Finley. I reach up and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear when my phone buzzes on the nightstand. Dropping my hand away from her face, I reach over and grab my phone, seeing Nico’s name on the screen.

Accepting the call, I bring the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“You still locked away in the apartment upstairs from the bar?”

With Danica being as paranoid as she’s been, I knew she’d have an issue with spending the night at my place, so I asked Nico for the keys to the apartment upstairs from Kate’s. No one had been there since Christmas, though, and it needed a little TLC. Since I had to work, I asked Carrie if she wouldn’t mind helping me out. Give the girl a credit card, send her to Target without a limit, and she’s happier than a pig in shit. Not only did she load us up on clean sheets and towels, but she stocked the fridge too.

“Yeah, why?”

“I bought Anna one of those outdoor swing sets with all the bells and whistles. It’s got a slide, two swings, a rock-climbing wall, and a treehouse type of thing.”

“Okay,” I say.

“It came in seven thousand pieces.”

I bark out a laugh. “And you’re calling me to put it together.”

“I tried to do it myself. I even called Riggs, figuring he’s half of a genius, but it turns out his intelligence is limited to computers. Anyway, I wouldn’t bother you, but she saw us trying to put it together and asked me to call you.”

He pauses and I hear Anna in the background.

“Please Uncle Enzo.”

When our brother died, Nico and I swore Anna would always come first. She didn’t have her father, but she’d always have us. I glance at Danica. The plan was to spend the rest of the day in bed, then later I was going to try and convince her to let me take her to L&B in Brooklyn before I dropped her off at home. Going to my brother’s house is probably more in her wheelhouse.

“Give me twenty minutes,” I say, then I disconnect the call and drop my phone onto the bed.

“Everything okay?” Danica questions, concern evident in her features as she lifts her hand to my face. I grab her wrist and turn my head, kissing her palm.

“Anna Banana has a swing crisis that only her Uncle Enzo can fix,” I explain. “How do you feel about being my assistant?”

She smiles at me, and I feel it deep in my bones. “What does being your assistant entail?”

“Well, you get to hand me parts, and read directions. But most of all you get to make a little girl happy.”

Her smile widens and she winds her arms around her neck, touching her forehead to mine.

“Then, I’m in.” She may still be weary of us getting caught together, but there isn’t an ounce of hesitation in her voice. I cradle her face and press my lips to hers.

When you know, you know.

* * *

Nico lied,there wasn’t seven thousand pieces. It was way more than that and half the pre-drilled holes didn’t line up, making it even more of a nightmare to put together. But it was totally worth the trouble when it was finally done, and our little Anna Banana squealed with delight.

“Anna, baby, it’s time for a bath,” Carrie calls from the deck.

I give my niece another push, sending her high in the air. Her giggles fill the backyard and I glance over at Danica who sits on the other swing watching us, a blank expression on her face.

Grabbing the chains, I steady the swing.

“One more time,” Anna pleads.

I hate saying no to her, and truth be told, I don’t do it often. But I’m already on Carrie’s shit list from the ice cream I bought Anna. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if I didn’t give it to her before dinner.

“Baby, you heard your mom. It’s time for a bath. I’ll come by one day this week when I get out of work and we’ll swing, okay?”

“I guess.”

---