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“Do I have until after the New Year?”
“No, maybe Christmas, but some of those assholes would love to ruin that for you and your family. So be mindful.”
I nod and rub my fingers over my lips. That only gives me a week at most. I lift my gaze and find Carleen. She’s with her aunt and uncle laughing. My world is squeezing me and she’s about to pop right out of my grasp.
When her father moves to their little group, I groan. I don’t know why the man hates me so much. It wasn’t always this way. Mr. Mitchell and I used to have a mutual respect.
“I don’t want her involved. I’ll leave.”
Chapter 22
Change of Plans
Carleen
“You look stunning. You have a glow about you,” my mother coos as she walks over to me.
I’m trying to make an escape. Dario looks like something is wrong, but I haven’t been able to make my way over to him because my auntie was chewing my ear off.
I stifle my groan and give my mother a smile. She reaches to pinch my hip. “You want to be careful you don’t start to spread too much.”
And just like that, my mother displays my family’s ability to boost your ego and shoot it back down in the same breath. There’s always something, no matter how hard you try to be perfect.
Mind you, my mother is as tall as I am, and you can see her booty from the front and her hips match. She’s a doctor, she understands how genes work. Lord forgive me if my ass and hips are wide and curvy.
I wasn’t going to remain rail thin my entire life. That went out the window at sixteen.
“Ugh, finally,” Toni says as she comes over with two champagne glasses. She hands me one. “Two people I’m willing to talk to. I wasn’t coming near you while you were talking to Uncle Kurt and Auntie Judie.”
My mother tries to hold in her laughter. I shake my head at my cousin. Toni rolls her eyes, sucks her teeth, and places a hand on her hip.
“What? Where’s the lie? All these people here are looking for the next favor and Auntie Judie doesn’t know how to shut the fuck up.”
“Toni,” my mother groans.
Toni smirks and holds up her glass. “To intelligent women who make things happen,” she says.
“I’ll drink to that,” my mother says.
I pretend to lift the glass to my lips and turn away. Damn it. I’ve lost sight of Dario again.
“Oh, you girls excuse me, I see someone I need to talk to. Carleen, you and Dario should stop by the house soon, as the couple you’ve become.”
“Yes, Mommy,” I reply, hearing her words for the command they are.
I turn to Toni and she has her eyes narrowed on me.
“What?”
She moves closer. “Your ass is pregnant. Pushing away your lunch, not drinking with us. Now that fake ass sip you took of that champagne.”
“Shh,” I hiss.
“What? You don’t want Uncle Percy to know.”
“No, and the father doesn’t need to know either. I’ll tell him when he comes back from his trip.”
A look comes over Toni’s face. I’m surprised when she moves on to a new subject. It’s out of character for her. I think back to our lunch and the exchange between her and Gio.
Umm.
Dario
I’m stopped for the millionth time as I try to make my way back to Carleen. Everyone wants something—reservations, a private table for an anniversary, catering for some event.
Normally I would work the room for the business and connections, but I need to be near Carleen. So much is going on in my head. What could the feds have that they would come for me? Other than my brothers, Apollo, Jace, Mitch, and Anthony are the only ones who could point a real finger.
Anthony is our little cousin. Apollo’s father was a good friend of ours and they’ve always been loyal. Apollo’s father stepped up in Papa Esposito’s place.
Mitch is another cousin of ours and Jace is as good as Gio’s twin. I know I can trust them all.
Bethany. Son of a bitch.
“You okay?” Gio asks as he plants a hand on my shoulder from behind. I turn to find him and Jace.
I frown and shake my head. “No, I need to talk to Nonno.”
Gio searches my eyes. “He’s here. Let’s find him and a private place to talk.”
I nod and follow him. We find Nonno talking with the senator. Nonno has a big smile on his face until he sees me. He excuses himself and we all exit the party to find the SUV they came in. Climbing inside we settle in the back seats.
“What’s this face? It’s a nice party, no? I’ve eaten the food. My father and his father would be proud, Dario.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that. Uncle T says I have a problem. The feds have been talking about me and he believes they’re coming for me soon.”
