Luke nods. “The Morettis.” He looks to Carlotta and me. “That’s what this meet and greet was about. We’re getting ready to handle them. And as soon as we do, the hit is back on.”
“Et tu, Papa Lazzari?” I ask and he offers an apologetic shrug.
“If we don’t look out for our family, who’s gonna do it?” he counters.
I gag on my next words. “So help me God, Jimmy, if I turn out to be your daughter, you had better call off that hit or there’s going to be a bloodbath in the Canelli family by one of their own.”
Jimmy’s ears pique with amusement as both Jimmy and Luke burst out in a belly laugh.
“That’s my kid talking.” Luke wags a finger my way.
“That’s my kid.” Jimmy winks over at me. “Tell you what, Carlotta Junior. You turn out to be my kid, I’ll call off the hit. But in retribution for doing who knows what with Florenza’s dead body, I expect a pass for my men when they filter through his courtroom. Unless, of course, he heads to the clinker. In that case, you might want to keep the hit. It might be easier on him.”
“Duly noted.” I’m suddenly elated about the idea of becoming a Canelli.
Luke touches his finger to the side of his nose. “Tell you what. If you’re my kid, I’ll put out a hit on old Jimmy here. Once Jimmy kicks the bucket, all hits are null and void.”
“Duly noted again.” All sorts of crazy thoughts start going through my head.
“You’ll both have to be at the studio this Friday for the results if you don’t mind. The show tapes at one in the afternoon. I can hardly wait to see which Italian stock I come from.”
“I’m busy.” Jimmy is the first to renege.
“Same goes for me.” Luke follows suit. “But fill me in as soon as you can.”
Carlotta jumps in front of me and pulls her shoulders back. “You’ll both be there or you’re never getting another bite of this.”
I’d laugh, or swat Carlotta, but both Jimmy and Luke seem to be taking the bait.
“I’ll be there with bells on,” Luke says while doing this weird thing with his upper lip.
“I’ll be there first, hot stuff.” Jimmy winks her way.
“Come on, hot stuff,” I say as I give the men a wave. “We’ve got to hit the bakery and then the Wicked Wok.”
“Gotta run, boys!” she shouts after them. “We’re having a last supper at the house tonight.”
“Those are the best,” Jimmy calls out.
“Have a good time.” Luke gives a friendly wave.
“Half of that B&B is as good as my mother’s,” I pant as I speed us through the seedy establishment.
“I’m rooting for Luke,” she says.
“Carlotta, if anything, you should be rooting for Jimmy. He’ll call off the hit on Everett.”
“Face it, Lot, Jimmy is right. The hit will be a mercy killing where he’s going.”
“Everett isn’t going to prison,” I hiss as if trying to convince myself in the process.
Mayor Nash runs through my mind and I feel a pang of guilt.
But I push all of my prospective fathers out of my mind for now.
The only father I want to focus on tonight is Everett.
Here’s hoping we’re not about to celebrate his last supper.
Noah
Jimmy Canelli.
After work I head straight to Red Satin and I don’t get five steps out of my truck before I see a couple of familiar faces heading this way, and one of them lights up my face the only way she knows how.
“Freeze,” I say. “You’re both under arrest.”
No sooner do the words leave my lips than both Lottie and Carlotta scream as they toss up their hands.
A laugh bumps from me. “Sorry, girls. I couldn’t help it.” I head over and pull Lottie in and sink a kiss right over her forehead.
“Noah Fox, you are the worst!”
She swats me so I go for another kiss, this time on her cheek. Lottie always holds the scent of vanilla whether or not she’s in that bakery and I let the scent permeate my lungs for a moment.
“What are you doing here?” she asks with a look of suspicion in her eyes.
“You first. And where’s Lyla Nell?” I’m suddenly fearing for my baby daughter, and no matter what that test says she’s exactly that.
“At home with Everett.” She frowns a little as she says his name. I know she’s worried about him. Heck, I’m worried about him.
“Yup.” Carlotta slaps me on the shoulder. “Sexy’s imprinting himself over her gray matter in hopes she’ll remember him once he’s at Club Fed.”
I wince just hearing it. “He’s not going, Lot. Don’t worry.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Carlotta says. “We’re still throwing him a last supper get-together. Be there or go hungry, Foxy. We’re on our way to pick up the goods right now.”
“I’ll be there in a bit. I just need to run in. I’m working on a little business for the department.”
Carlotta reaches into Lottie’s purse. “Here you go, Foxy.” She lands a fistful of dollar bills in my hand. “Make it rain while you’re in there. Those girls work hard for the money.”
Lottie makes a face at her. “Noah, if you’re looking for Jimmy, he’s in the casino with Luke Lazzari. I’ll make sure I have a box of chocolate chip cookies waiting for you at home. Don’t be long.” She gives me a quick embrace. “I know what you’re doing here,” she whispers. “You want Jimmy to call off that hit. Just know I appreciate it.”
They take off and I duck inside. I bypass the girls shaking their goods and say a quick hello to Meg as I make a beeline to the underground casino, past the slot machines and bingo.
“Jimmy, Luke.” I nod their way. “Plotting the demise of the Morrettis, I take it?”
Jimmy leans back and gives me his hand and I shake it, then Luke’s.
“I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” Jimmy chuckles, but I’m not laughing.
I have a feeling he might just go for the deadly gold anyway.
“What’s going on, Detective?” Luke is suddenly pensive. He looks weary as if he’s well aware he’s getting too old for this junk.
“What’s Manny Moretti doing in Vermont?” I ask, getting right to the point.
Jimmy shrugs. “We think he’s gunning for us. The Morettis are greedy. They want a war. Just like your father.”
“My father.” I inch back and it takes less than a second for the facts to shake out in front of me. “He borrowed money from you, didn’t he?”
Jimmy gives a slow nod. “You don’t think the dead simply roll into town without a little financial help, do you? He said he’d pay it back with interest within a year and we’ve bypassed that deadline and then some. He owes me cash. Lots of it.”
“He had Miranda sell the B&B. That must have covered it.”
“It put a nice dent in things, but you know, interest tends to add up.”
Luke bumps his shoulder to Jimmy’s. “Especially when you’re charging thirty percent.”