Page 13 of Odin

“It seems like the chief of police has a hard-on for your grandfather, and he’s using Carazzo to get on the inside.”

I watched as she contemplated that for a minute. "I was home the day he showed up with my brother. Walked in like he freaking owned the place, and Sergio took him to see my dad. It's how he weaseled his way in." Disgust passed on her face, but I wasn't sure which man she was more angry at. "I think my dad actually gave him the job. I am not sure."

“Baby,” I said. She looked at me, waiting for the next bomb drop. “Do you know your dad’s broke?”

I watched the planes of her face shift, first in disbelief and then in shock, and finally, she was angry all over again.

“How?" she spat out the question. "My mother has always spent money like it's water. She never questions how much a bill is. I don't think she even looks at it anymore. Just whips out her black AmEx and pays. I figured my dad just wiped the bill clean each month." Her eyes were wide, and she was trying to catch her breath. I could see the emotions surging in her eyes.

“All I know is what the cop told the chief last night. I was hoping you'd have insight into the dynamics." I shrugged.

“Odin, I don’t understand." She laid her head down with her ear pressed against my chest, her hand against my heartunintentionally. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight to me. "I wasn’t kidding. She dropped seven thousand dollars on new lingerie for me the other day because she thought you’d enjoy it.”

I'd been paying attention, but when I heard the word lingerie, my eyes went straight to the V entrance of her robe. It had gaped open just enough that the tops of her breasts were visible underneath.

I wanted to see the new lingerie, and I wanted to see it on her right now. I patted her ass and made a move to get off the couch.

"Odin!" Serena shifted herself so that her back was against the arm of the couch and fixed her robe. Her legs were still in my lap.

“Baby, I am a man who’s hot for his wife. I want to see.” She laughed at my antics. All thoughts of new lingerie left as I watched her. I'd take her any day like this, her head back, her neck extended, just living in the moment. Leaning forward, she bopped me on the nose.

"My mother picked it all, except for the red set. She kept saying, ‘It's what men like.’ It was weird, and I just wanted the experience to be over. You'll probably see some of it over time, but when I intentionally show you, it will be because I know what you like," she told me as her laughter died down. I reached for her, and she came willingly into my arms, her upper body curled into my chest, and her head tucked underneath my chin. I held her like my life depended on it. "Odin," she whispered. I made a noise to let her know I was listening. “I don’t get it. Is everyone being paid but my dad?"

"What makes you say that, baby?" I kissed the top of her head.

"We’re Italian, not stupid. The hired men and the associates wouldn't stick around. They're only loyal as long as the money is flowing. If they weren’t getting paid, the men would assimilate into the Greeks. They’re the most like us.”

I let her words turn in my brain. I was missing something, and I felt like it was the clue that would make sense.

“Tell me about your family. There’s something we’re missing.”

She linked her hand in mine and traced the lines around my fingers and knuckles with the other. “My grandfather came from Italy with my grandmother. They were young and looking for a better life. We’re not sure if they were already married, but they had grown up together. My grandfather worked any odd job that he could get, even though he didn't speak English. My grandmother did the same. Laundry, sewing, cooking, anything she could think of. When they had children, the money wasn’t good enough anymore, and that’s how the family started. Everyone has a role, except for my grandmother and Uncle Junior. They're both gone."

"Your parents?" I pushed her to keep talking, her voice soothing me as I tried to put the pieces together.

"My mother and father had an arranged marriage, but they grew up together. My grandfather Conti was my grandfather Lombardo’s best friend. Grandpa Conti had started his own family for the same reason, but they decided it was better to combine instead of fighting. The official union would be when my parents married. They did, and everyone became one faction.”

“What happened to your grandparents from the Conti side? I don’t think I have met them,” I asked her.

“You wouldn’t have. They passed away in a car accident, right before my parents were married."

“Do you know how the accident occurred?"

She scrunched her nose at me."I am Italian." She raised her head and stared at me like this was obvious, and I had asked a stupid question. "We tell our family stories every chance we get. They literally pour the wine as they're reminiscing about the good ol‘ days." She raised her eyebrows.

"So, what does the legend say happened, baby?" I asked to get her back on track.

"Maybe just an urban legend. The story isn't that exciting. My grandparents were coming back from a fundraiser and hit black ice. The car spun out of control, and they hit a tree. Both of them died on impact."

If I hadn't been a Silent Syndicate, I would have taken her story at face value. "It sounds like someone made it look like an accident."

She sat up and turned to look at me. “No.” She shook her head, not believing the coincidences. "My grandfather had their car in the garage. We used to run around it, playing hide and seek, and when my dad asked to restore it, grandfather told him no. He said he wanted to remember his best friend the way he'd been driving that car."

There was one more thing I needed to ask her, and I hoped it didn’t cause any pain. “Baby, where did you get the invoices you gave the cop?"

“Sergio’s supposed to be the general manager of Euforia, but he’s hates it. I snuck into my dad's office when I knew they were at lunch and the invoices were sitting right on the corner of his desk. My brother must have left them, and they were the only ones I could find quickly. I took as many as I could and spread them out.”

“You’re damn smart.” I was proud of her, even though it was a fucked-up situation.

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