Page 92 of Fish out of Water
“Where’s my mother?” She was the only one of the three I had yet to catch a glimpse of.
Julia’s gaze pulled from where it rested on my grandmother. “I’m supposed to tell you she’s in the back with Michael.”
My Nonna sipped at her drink, looking completely unbothered. “I’m sure she’ll be out soon.”
I didn’t want to leave Julia alone with my grandmother. Given Julia’s affinity for the older crowd and my grandmother’s love of the younger generation, they would most likely end up best friends.
And my grandmother would definitely be a bad influence on her.
But I also wanted to see what exactly my mother was up to.
I pulled out a chair, scooting it in after Julia sat. I leaned down. “I need to go find my mother.”
Her eyes widened. “Is everything okay? She said not to worry.”
“She’s fine.” I leaned down to press a kiss to her lips. “I promise.” I straightened. “I’ll be right back.”
I tipped my head in a nod at the man stationed behind the curtain nearest our table as I ducked into the hall that ran along the backside of the main dining room. The thrum of the music softened as I got closer to the far end of the building where a series of offices sat in a row. A large man in a suit stood outside one of the doors, narrowing down my mother’s location.
He didn’t so much as flinch as I knocked on the door and waited.
“Come in.” My mother’s voice was light and airy.
I stepped inside the room, my eyes taking a minute to adjust to the change in light.
My mother stood at the center of the small space in front of a man with a bandage over one eye and a strip of duct tape across his mouth. She smiled at me. “How did you like Julia’s dress?”
“It’s nice.” I stepped deeper into the room. “Are you joining us for dinner?”
She sighed as she turned to the man. “I was really hoping we could work something out.”
The man’s eyes went wide and he started to shake his head.
“What’s that?” My mother leaned in, as if being closer would make it easier to hear the words he couldn’t say.
One of my mother’s brows lifted. “I don’t have all night, Lester. If I take that tape off and you don’t give me what I want, you’ll end up fertilizing the trees at the lovely garden where my future daughter-in-law works.” She tapped the bandage over his eye. “You should be glad I’m giving you this chance considering you tried to hurt my son.” Her fingers slid down his face, pinching the tape and ripping it off in a sharp jerk.
One-eye started talking immediately. “I didn’t know he was your son.”
“You should probably keep better track of the people you associate with then.” My mother stepped back, crossing her arms over the front of her glittering gown. “Where’s Vito?”
“I don’t know.” The man shook his head violently. “I swear.”
“Then you’re useless to me.” She turned to the man waiting outside the open door. “Handle him.”
“Wait.” One-eye leaned forward, tipping the chair he was strapped to on its front legs.
My mother’s foot shot out, catching the crossbars with the narrow heel of her shoe and shoving it back onto all fours. “This better be good, Lester.”
“I can help you find him.” Lester jumped a little, bringing the chair closer to my mother. “I know I can.”
My mother looked like she was actually considering it. She tipped her head to one side. “Vito is my mother’s only brother, Lester. If something happens to him I will be very upset.”
“I can find him. I know I can.” Lester was pleading like a man who understood his fate was hanging in the balance.
I didn’t want to be a part of this shit. It’s why I moved down here in the first place. To get away from the burden my name carried back home.
But I also didn’t want anyone I cared about to get hurt. “This is a bad idea.”
