Page 33 of Empire of Seduction

“There wasn’t really a choice to refuse. Besides, if he’s here, he’ll see we’re doing fine and go back to Toronto sooner.”

That made sense, I supposed. “He said he’s making updates out there. Should we be worried?”

“You going to tell him no?”

Yes, I would. I wasn’t afraid of Vito. “What else don’t I know?”

He stomped his feet and blew on his hands. “Chuck is gone. Vito found him trying to buy drugs off a biker behind the kitchen this morning.”

“What the fuck? Did you know Chuck was using?”

“I caught him taking pills a few times. He said they were for his knee, some injury back in high school. I told him to be careful, but I didn’t know it was this bad.”

“Jesus.” I took another bite of apple and considered the implications of not having a chef. “So we’re canceling the event Saturday night.”

“No.” Mikey grimaced. “Vito’s brother is coming from Rome.”

A low buzzing started in my head then spread to my ears. More D’Agostinos on the grounds wasn’t a good thing. “Vito’s brother happens to be a chef?”

“A chef-in-training.”

“Oh, my god.” I pinched the bridge of my nose between my gloved fingers. “We’re screwed.”

“Vito said his brother is a very good cook. But he has a problem with being told what to do.”

Must run in the family. “Great. Just great. And what if this brother can’t pull off the dinner?”

“Vito said he’d give them their money back and then some.”

So we’d start buying people off. Sure, why not? That made sense. “Any other good news for me?”

“No, that’s it,” Mikey said. “I’ve got the kitchen doing what they can until Vito’s brother arrives.”

“And when will that be?”

“Tonight. And don’t get mad, but I have a favor to ask.”

Instantly, I knew what he was about to ask and my knees locked up tight, like I was preparing for impact. “No, no, no. Come on, Mikey.”

“Please, Mags. You have all that room.”

“Let Vito’s brother stay with Vito in the guest cottage.”

“We can’t. Vito is tearing down the adjoining wall to make one big bedroom.”

“What!” I shoved Mikey’s shoulder. “Why did you say okay to that?” Another lie from Vito. He said he was only putting up blinds and installing an espresso machine.

“Again,” my brother said calmly. “Are you really going to tell him no?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Maggie, don’t cause trouble. We can put up another wall after he leaves. It’s not a big deal.”

It felt like a big deal. But I didn’t want to make any promises regarding Vito, so I changed the topic. “Let the brother take your room. Then you come and stay at the house.”

“You know I hate sleeping out there.” Mikey hadn’t slept in the house much in the last four years. I knew the memories of our parents were painful for him, just like they were for me, but would a few nights kill him?

Mikey smirked at me. “We could give the brother the cottage and Vito could come stay with you.”

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