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Matteo’s brows lift and he glances at me. I shrug.
“We’re expecting,” Elio says.
“Expecting what? Trouble?” Matteo jokes again.
“A baby, you knucklehead.” Elio shakes his head.
Elysse bounces in her seat. “I’m going to have a brother or sister.”
“Do you just share the air and get knocked up?” Matteo bites the roll Elio had thrown at him.
Elio clears his throat and Piper again blushes. I roll my eyes, pushing the food around on my plate. The jovial mood is grating on me. I can’t shake the image of Detective Lutz's piercing gaze, or the constant threat his investigation poses to our family.
Clearing my throat, I turn to Elio. "Have you spoken to Vincenzo Rinella yet?"
The chatter at the table dies down. Matteo looks at me like I’ve gone mad.
Elio's smile falters, his expression turning cold. “Thank you for your congratulations, little sister.”
Dammit. I’m the worst. “I’m sorry.” I turn to Piper. “My mind has been preoccupied. Congratulations.” I poke at my food again, the silence at the table growing awkward.
Finally, Elio says, "We just got back. I’ll reach out tomorrow."
I set my fork down with more force than necessary. "We don't have the luxury of time, Elio. These anonymous tips are becoming more frequent. We need to smooth things over with the Rinellas before this escalates further."
Matteo nods at Elio, his earlier playfulness replaced by concern. "She's right. We can't afford to have both the cops and the Rinellas breathing down our necks."
Elio's jaw clenches. "I'm aware of the situation. I'll handle it."
"When?" I press, ignoring the warning bells clanging in my head. Elio is the head of the family. He controls my involvement in the business as well as much of my purse strings. He could toss me out of the business, the house, and out of my allowance. Then what? And yet, that doesn’t make me shut up. "While you've been off enjoying your honeymoon, I've been running myself ragged trying to keep this family afloat."
"Lana. Could you discuss this after dinner?" Piper glances at Elysse. In the past, we talked about business all the time at dinner. I guess now with a child at the table, that is going to change. But why? My dad talked business all the time when Elio, Lazaro, and I were kids.
I turn to her, my frustration bubbling over. "With all due respect, Piper, this is family business."
The hurt that flashes across her face makes me regret my words instantly, but I can’t back down now.
Elio's eyes harden. “You forget yourself, Lana. You will not disrespect Piper.”
I start to open my mouth, but he shuts me up by raising his palm toward me in a “stop” gesture. “If this is too much for you to handle, there is a solution.”
He’s threatening to kick me out of the business.
“I didn’t mean disrespect. But maybe you’re the one who’s put the business on the back burner. We could crash and burn, and you’re lost in your bubble of love.”
“Let it drop.” Elio’s voice dips into lethal darkness.
“Let it drop? Are you serious right now?"
"For Christ's sake, Lana. Can we not have one meal without your self-centered drama?"
I feel his words like a punch in the gut. I push my plate away. "Drama? Any moment, you could be arrested.”
Elysse’s eyes water. “Is Daddy going to jail?”
Piper gives me a scathing glare. Deep inside, I know I’m off the rails, but I can’t seem to rein myself in. I understand the meaning of “to snap”.
“Why am I the only one who cares about this?” I demand.
