My mouth fell open, and my eyes raced to Sal. Is that what he taught her? Her scars were signs of strength?
He dipped his chin to me.
Sal Rossi was one of the most giving and thoughtful killers there ever was.
He told Scarlett, “The downfall with tattoos is that they are forever. They don’t come off. You want to be sure what marks your skin is something you truly love.”
Setting the coffee mug down on the table, she grabbed her pad and ripped out the page. Sal and I watched intently as she laid the piece of paper over the lower half of her arm. “Like this. This would be beautiful forever because it reminds me of all that makes my heart beat.” She tapped her chest. Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
Sal’s lips pursed and awkwardly moved about as he fought emotions, now seeing her drawing of his eyes on her arm. I was grateful to be behind her so she couldn’t see my eyes well with raw honor.
Sal tried again, “That… I, uh… Scarlett Giordano, that would be the most beautiful tattoo I have ever seen.”
Her voice cracked, “Promise?”
He swallowed over and over. “Promise.”
When I heard a car pull into our driveway, I tapped the side of Scarlett’s thigh. “Mae is here.” Mae had claimed to have a package for me. I was hoping that wasn’t code for the Hell Furies were back in town.
Scarlett moved closer to Sal so I could get up.
Heading toward the door, I felt for my guns. Habit.
They were easy to grab since Scarlett detested our jackets as of late.
Opening the front door, I was stunned to see Mae standing there with an actual small yellow package in her hand. I quickly shut the door behind me after stepping outside.
Mae nodded. “I didn’t think this was good news.”
“Where did this come from?” The package read: To the Angel of the Night.
She sighed, pointing at the address. “It was in this house’s P.O. Box. I told Bertha at the Post Office we had a movie producer staying here.”
“Damn. You’re quick on your feet, Mae.” I pulled out five-hundred dollars from my wallet. She tried to refuse the tip, but I insisted. “Buy your granddaughter a present.”
“Presley. Her name is Presley.” She handed me the package.
My ears pounded with adrenaline. The package was from Italy, but an address I didn’t recognize. “That sounds like a strong name for a little girl. I bet she is as strong as her grandmother.”
I just wanted back inside.
“She sure is. Be safe, Angel.” My eyes ripped from the package and snapped to hers. “That’s some nickname you have.” She winked and headed to her car.
My heart raced as I looked back to the package while Mae drove away. A knock on the window next to me made me jump. Sal lifted his chin.
Back inside, we all stared at the package I had placed on the kitchen island. It was like we were too shocked and scared to proceed. Would it be a warning from an enemy? Was it from family? Did we need to run? Who had found us?
Reaching around Scarlett, Sal tapped the tip of Tesla’s barrel to the package. “I’m antsy as fuck. Open it or I’m shoving her in the car and slamming down on the gas. Not fucking around, Angelo.”
Scarlett, over her shoulder, had scared eyes as she peered up to Sal.
Setting my own gun on the counter, I wiped a shaky hand down my trimmed beard. “Fuck.” I gazed at Scarlett but told Sal, “I’ll open it on the balcony. Take this beauty into my bedroom and shut the door.”
Scarlett was pale. “What did you say?” She looked back at Sal. “What did he say?”
Sal pulled her closer to his chest, ignoring her. “You think it could be an explosive?”
Anything was possible at this point. “Our family felt we were in so much danger they preferred we break all contact. You tell me.”
After a silent moment, he pushed Scarlett toward me. “You take her. I’ll go open it.”
Never going to happen.
In case this was my last time holding her, I kept Scarlett tight against my chest while demanding, “Sal, as your superior, I am giving a direct order.”
An ugly laugh burst free. “Fuck you. Give me the Goddamn package.”
I loved my best friend.
My voice softened, “As my brother, I am asking you to protect her.”
His mouth fell open. I’d never called him that before. He had a brother. I never wanted to replace him, but Sal was indeed family to me.
“Angelo… I can’t.” He appeared tortured. “My dream.”
My ears began to ring again. “What about it?”
His shoulders sagged. “A son. She will give you a son.”
Everything went still. Every single fucking thing.
My dream. The one of me lifting a box and finding a baby with blue eyes. It wasn’t Scarlett at all. It was my son.
With immense sympathy, Sal nodded, holding out his hand. “Give me the package.”
Now knowing Sal was never going to willingly let me go onto that balcony, and I could never send him into avoidable danger, I kissed Scarlett, hard, then spun her around and shoved. Before Sal knew what was happening, I had my gun aimed at his head, right above Scarlett’s. She screamed, “No!” Her back was to Sal’s chest. “Angel! No shoot! No shoot!”
A tear slipped down my face. “Then make him go to my room, baby. Now. Go.”
“Okay. Okay.” She turned in her little pajamas and placed her hands to his chest, then pushed. With all her sweet courageous might, her bare feet gripped the floor and shoved. Struggling, she asked, “Angel, are we okay?”
More tears fell from my face. “We’re fine.” I love you. “Keep pushing.”
Keeping my gun pointed, I backed toward the balcony door. As Sal grudgingly allowed himself to be pushed toward the hallway, his stare locked to mine. He was so livid, the muscle under his eye twitched. “You better stop what you’re doing. Right now, Angelo.”
“Push him, Star. Push him hard.”
She grunted. “Okay, Angel.”
I knew she would. Her innocence had her following me, even when I was forcing her away. All the while, I prayed, Let me hold them again, God. Let me hold them both so fucking tight. Please.
I told Sal, “The keys are on my dresser. If I blow, run with her.”
I was confident whoever put my name on the envelope wouldn’t blow up the whole house and get the FBI involved. They would want a clean, simple kill. It’s what I would’ve wanted had I been the one setting the trap.
The muscles in Sal’s jaw kept popping as Scarlett got him into the hallway. “And your fucking son?”
“If he already exists, he’s yours now.”
Angry tears fell. “You. Fucking. Coward.”
I blew out a shaky breath, confident he would forgive me and understand someday. “I love you, too.”
They disappeared. My bedroom door shut.
Once I was past the balcony’s glass door and it was closed, I set my gun on the large dining table next to the grill. I then wiped my face and set down the package. I double-checked that Sal and Scarlett were gone before opening it. I was cautious as I pulled out a white box that read:
Open me, Angel.
I nodded. Whoever it was wanted my attention, or my death.