Page 192 of Made in Love and Blood

“Whore,” Frankie interrupted, her smile turning deadly. “Yeah, I’ve heard.”

Mina’s mouth dropped open and that was their cue.

Marco now headed their way, finally out of Giorgio’s clutches. Nico quickly gave Mina a passing nod as he directed Frankie through a group of guests that began exiting the dining hall at just the right time. It allowed them to bypass Marco, while they made a beeline for Salvatore who stood next to Nico’s father.

Giorgio sat comfortably in his chair with a glass of spiked eggnog. It was the only time he drank something other than cognac.

“That was fucking terrible,” Nico told Frankie, “and I loved every second of it.”

As they approached the table, Giorgio’s attention drifted from them to something Salvatore said. Frankie tugged at Nico’s lapel. He bent down so she could whisper in his ear. “If that bitch calls you baby one more time tonight,” she said, her lips grazing his ear as she spoke and the hissing words sending shivers racing through his nervous system, “I’m tearing the fucking skin from her face.”

He failed badly at holding the laughter in.

“Quite a sight, you two,” Giorgio praised when they finally stopped at the head of the table. “What’s so funny?”

Nico didn’t know what to say.

Frankie saved the day. “Nothing, really. Just...exes and oh’s.”

Giorgio seemed to understand as his gaze traveled beyond the two of them to something—or someone—across the room. Nico didn’t need to check to see who was likely standing there, watching them. “Yes, I saw someone saying hi.”

His gaze cut to Nico.

“Merry Christmas, Dad.”

“It looked like you handled that well, son.”

“I tried.”

Just slightly behind his chair, Salvatore cleared his throat. “That wouldn’t happen to be the girl Marco almost got charged with statutory—”

“One and the same,” Giorgio interjected through clenched teeth, stopping his right-hand man from saying more. “At least she’s old enough now.”

“Did you know he planned to bring her?” Nico asked.

“I didn’t.”

“Did you ask him to take her home once you knew?”

Giorgio’s lips flattened into a grim line. “Why, to make the night better for you? Honestly, you could do with a little irritation. You work better that way, son. Speaking of which...well done with Big Mike these last few months, Nico. I’m impressed. We haven’t discussed work much, but people have kept me informed all the same.”

That was probably as close to an I’m proud of you as he would ever get from his father. For years, that’s all he wanted to hear. But he didn’t care to hear it now.

“That’s it?” Giorgio asked him sharply. “I tell you I’m impressed, and you say nothing?”

A tic formed in Nico’s jaw. He still didn’t reply.

“Slightly less impressed that Mike’s been feuding with Anthony Carcoli ever since you joined the crew, but—”

“That has nothing to do with me at this point,” Nico interjected. “I don’t touch Carcoli’s territory.”

“Mmm.”

That was all Giorgio did. Just a noise.

Nico couldn’t even distinguish if it had been a bad one.

“I heard something about your money coming out of Chicago lately,” Giorgio noted. “A million to you a month, not bad. Keeping out of trouble while you’re there, I hope?”