Page 5 of Privilege

Her cousin lifted a single brow. “He’s working, which means you probably shouldn’t be around him, Lucia. I know how your father would feel to find out you were slumming it up with John while he was doing business.”

Frustrated, Lucia grabbed her bag and stood. “Thanks for nothing.”

“Hey, hey.” Andino stood from the table, reaching out to grab Lucia’s wrist.

“What?” she asked, snappier than she intended.

“What is up with you?” he asked.

“I want to see my brother. He doesn’t answer my phone calls, and he never comes around to the house, so I can talk to him there. I figured coming to see you would probably point me in the right direction. I’m not surprised it didn’t. All this family does is take care of business first, right?”

Andino’s gaze flicked away. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

“I’m sorry, Andi. I know I’m not allowed to be hanging around here. I shouldn’t have come.”

“It’s fine, kid. Just keep quiet to your dad, huh?”

Lucia nodded. “I will.”

“Where are you going after this?”

“I was going to go sit with Grandpapa while Grandmama ran some errands.”

Cecelia, her grandmother, always felt uncomfortable leaving her husband home alone when she left the house, for whatever reason. Lucia didn’t mind sitting with her grandfather. Then, he had someone watching him and someone to talk to. Antony, her grandfather, never minded.

Andino nodded. “All right. I’ll give John a call. Let him know where you’re going to be.”

Lucia’s anger ebbed away. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

• • •

“Are you sure you’ll be fine?” Cecelia asked.

“We’ll be perfect,” Lucia told her grandmother. “I’m sure he’ll get in to his usual trouble.”

Cecelia laughed, the lines around her eyes deepening in her joy. “Okay.”

“Don’t worry, Grandmama.”

“He’s been tired a lot lately,” Cecelia explained quietly. “I can’t help but worry.”

Lucia frowned, saddened over her grandmother’s concerns for her husband’s health. Antony Marcello always seemed to be the strongest, most formidable person in their family, but truth be told, he wasn’t getting any younger. A sharp tongue and a strong soul did not make for a healthy body.

“Just go do your stuff,” Lucia said. “He’ll be okay with me. I’ll put on his music, and he’ll be happy.”

Cecelia smiled. “Okay. Thank you for coming today.”

“I’ll always come, Grandmama.”

Her grandmother’s hand patted her cheek gently. The leathery feel of Cecelia’s palm reminded Lucia that her grandmother wasn’t a young woman, either.

“Our good girl, huh?”

Lucia batted her grandmother’s hand away lightly. “Go. You’re wasting time.”

“Going, going.”