Page 9 of Mafia Heiress
“Listen, let’s go to lunch this week. Make Luigi stay with your son and we can grab a meal at Patrizia’s. I haven’t been there in a while. I could use a good burrata.”
“You’re on. I need to get out of here. This kid is driving me nuts. He’s all about cars lately, and my whole fucking basement looks like a racetrack. I can’t anymore.”
“Tuesday then. I’ll pick you up.”
“You’re on. Night, bitch.”
“Night, savage.”
As soon as I hang up the phone, a knock sounds on my door. My mother doesn’t wait for me to answer before she barges in. She’s never been one for privacy unless it has to do with my father. We’re expected to tell her everything.
“What’s the matter?” I ask, sitting up.
“Ciro is here. Unexpected. And he’s got a car waiting outside.”
Her lips are pursed together and she’s got a hand on her hip. Not good.
“I didn’t tell him to come if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s ten o’clock and I’m in my house clothes. If I did, would I be dressed like this?”
“I don’t like it, Giacomina.”
I get up from the bed and wrap her in a hug, then walk into my closet and switch my leggings for a pair of skinny jeans before walking down to the foyer. Ciro is standing there in a leather jacket, hair slicked back, and jeans tight enough that I can tell his ass is nice and firm.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, hands placed firmly on my hips. When I want people to pay attention, I channel a bit of my momma.
“Want to get ice cream?” he asks, as if this was a regular thing, him popping by so late.
“You know they invented this little thing called a cell phone. Real easy to use, you don’t even have to call the person.”
He takes a few steps toward me and picks up a loose piece of my hair that had escaped my messy bun. “But then I wouldn’t be able to see your shocked face when I showed up. This was worth your mother’s wrath.”
I can’t help it, his smell wraps around me and I take a step closer. We aren’t able to touch, but the need is there. I don’t think Ciro will ever be boring.
“I could go for a cone,” I whisper, trying hard to focus on not jumping him right there.
“I have a car waiting. Put on some shoes and meet me outside. Your mother is giving me the death glare.”
I spin around and sure enough, my mother is at the top of the stairs looking down at our little scene. She really is pissed.
“I’m gonna go out for ice cream. Be back in a few hours.”
“See that it’s not too late. You know nothing good comes out of staying out past midnight. And don’t make me involve your father.”
“Ma, I’m twenty-eight years old. I think I got this covered.”
“You’ll always be my baby, regardless of how old you are.” She sniffles a little and then turns to Ciro before he walks out the door. “And you. Ten is too late. Remember that for next time, you hear?”
“Yes, Mrs. Gambino. I was excited to see Jack, I just had to stop by.”
His devilish smile has her huffing, but she leaves us alone. I slip on some flip-flops and walk out with him into the balmy night.
The summer is my favorite season, full of potential and fun. It’s short in New York, only lasts about eight weeks before it gets cold again, and I try to enjoy every last one of them.
The driver holds open the door for us, and I slide in without a word. Ciro climbs in after me and makes himself at home, spreading out his legs and putting his arm across the back of the seat.
“You don’t drive?”
“I do, but I wanted to give you my undivided attention. Tom doesn’t mind driving, right Tom?”
