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“Oh, she worries too much,” he says, which means I at least come by it honestly, I guess. “That family is the heart of this city and they protect their own. You don’t want to cross them,” he says quietly, “but they are good boys deep down. They understand family and loyalty. I’ll have to send Vincenzo his favorite sandwich as a thank you for looking after you tonight.”
“Nonno, he didn’t look after me.” Is it suddenly hot in here?
“Still, he is a good boy.”
You could say that, but I wouldn’t exactly call him a boy. More like the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on, and if given the chance tonight, would’ve let him do just about anything to and with me.
“Whatever you say, nonno.”
He smiles softly. “It is whatever I say.”
All my pretenses fade and I take his hand in mine. “What happened tonight?”
Sighing, he rubs his eyes with his free hand. “They got everything, Alexis.”
My heart nearly stops. “What do you mean everything?”
“I mean everything. I locked up and was counting the money at the register when two men broke in wearing masks and holding guns. They shattered the damn doors, too. Then they demanded I give them all the money in the register. So, I did. But then they said to take them into my office and empty my safe, too.”
“How did they know to ask that? That you had a safe in your office?”
“I don’t know, but they knew. And when I refused, one of them pressed the barrel of their gun to my forehead and told me if I didn’t open it, he’d leave my brain plastered against the wall for my granddaughter to find.”
“What?” I gasp, a chill running down my spine. “How? They know me?” I whisper, squeezing his hand tighter to keep from trembling.
“Yes, and I’m sorry, I had to do it. I had to give them everything.”
“Why are you apologizing? Of course you did. Your life is more important than money, nonno. It was the only choice you could’ve made that I would accept. But they were specific about the safe?”
“Yes, and I hesitated, which is when the other one hit me with his gun. Stronzo.”
“Did you recognize them? Their voices?”
“I don’t know.” He sighs and rubs his forehead.
“Who knows about the safe?”
“Just the employees. They know I keep all the cash in there before I pay the bills.”
“But everyone is family.” Something in his eyes shifts and I narrow mine. “Everyone but the new kid you hired. He’s only been there a few weeks.”
“He’s a good kid. He just needed a chance.”
“Yes, a chance to rob you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re too nice sometimes, nonno. And no, I don’t know it was him for sure, but I will be passing his name along to the police.”
He sighs again and closes his eyes.
“I don’t want you to stress about it, though. I’ll handle everything. You just focus on resting up and not giving the doctors and nurses here too much trouble. As long as you’re okay, everything else is okay.”
“I love you, Alexis. You’re my favorite granddaughter.”
“I’m your only granddaughter.”
“That doesn’t matter. I could still say you’re my least favorite, but you’re not. You’re my favorite.”
