Page 43 of Pragma
I hear Luca grunt, then a gasp coming from Joel, and I’m ready to turn Mad Dog on his ass if he dares hurt River. But I’m abruptly pushed to the side as he’s tightly embraced in a big, loving, brotherly hug.
His hand goes to River’s face, trembling fingers quickly moving over the unblemished right side, like he’s studying him with his touch–remembering him from when he couldn’t see.
“It’s really you!” Joel starts sobbing like an infant, and I see actual tears falling silently down River’s cheeks. I don’t like this instant connection between them. And all this mushiness is killing my mood. But the relief I’m witnessing on River’s face stops my bitchy reaction. I can let them be… for a few seconds.
I look around the living room. The place is not bad. Modern and chic, with a large kitchen and a nice view of Manhattan from the balcony.
“Mad dog,” Luca says, pointing his finger at me.
“My reputation precedes me again.” I smirk, heading toward him. “And you are?”
“Luca Nero.”
“Scarface Nero.” The nickname I’ve heard before pops into my head. As soon as I say it out loud, his whole body stiffens and helets out a furiousgrrr. “I agree. That’s a shitty name. You’re a damn gangster, can’t you fucking change it?”
He shows me his teeth and then turns toward the view. Another silent type.
“What’s with him?” I ask, tilting my chin toward Moretti, who’s staring intently at the two brothers now smiling and talking.
“Possessive fucker,” Luca mutters. Can’t say anything since I’m one of those too. I let it go and enjoy the cold air surrounding me for a moment.
After a few minutes, I turn and walk inside the living room again. I hear River talking. He’s sitting in a chair at the kitchen counter, coat still on–surely to cover his torn Henley–with Joel near him.
“I didn’t contact you because I thought you were better off without me, Joel.”
“How can you say that?” his little brother says vehemently, with Moretti standing near him.
“I’m in the yakuza, lil’ bro.”
“And I’m in love with a mafioso, River.”
“I can’t say I don’t see the appeal,” I interject, since I’m attracted to a criminal, as well. But River misunderstands, narrowing his eyes at me. Does he think I like Moretti? That’s preposterous. I had zero sex drive before he kissed me, and now I only get horny for him.
“What? Jealous, bunny?”
“Bunny?” Moretti makes a sound that almost resembles a snort.
“What’s really hysterical here is to think River sacrificed so much to keep Joel out of this dangerous life, and still, he ended up in love with a…thug who doesn’t even have manners. I thought Italian people were known to be welcoming folks.” I sniff.
“Not Marco,” Luca throws in from the balcony, he’s more interested in his phone than us.
“Sacrificed?” Joel repeats. “What do you mean? You said you moved with…Akira.” He butchers my name, but at least the spelling seems right.
“He paid for your eye surgery and gave money to that…old bat to keep you fed and give you a roof over your head,” I reveal, earning a growl from River. “He needs to know how far you went for him. The lengths you’re willing to go for him.”
“They told me the surgery was free since it was a novel surgical approac…” he lets the word fade. “Instead, you paid for it?”
“Yes, you can see again because of him.” Joel was blind as a child, but thanks to that surgery, he regained his sight.
“How did you know about the surgery in the first place? Did Miss Bailey keep in contact with you?”
“Yes. After she passed, I hired a P.I.,” River confesses. “I needed to know you were alright.”
“Your brother also pretended to be dead to keep you safe. He was afraid his line of work would put you at risk,” I add.
“Oh god,” Joel breathes out with a trembling voice.
Moretti slams two glasses of water on the counter in front of River—I gather one is for me—and then lifts an emotional Joel and sits in his chair with him on his lap.
