Playing with Fire (16 page)

Yes
.

Immediately she called her sister on her cell. “Guess what.”

Maria said, “A conversation that begins like that can go one of two ways, and from recent events, I am a little worried about what you are going to say next. Make it simple for me, please. I’m having a Bloody Mary while sitting in a deck chair on the beach.”

However it had come about, Maria needed a vacation, so Reign was glad to hear she was making at least an attempt to relax.

She picked up a pen and drew a happy face on an invoice sitting on her desk. “I got the design job.”

Maria was silent for maybe a full minute.

“You still there?” Reign was flying high and a laugh bubbled from her throat. “Like … got it. They chose me.…
Me
.”

Then Maria said, “OMG. Are you serious? Don’t get me wrong, I never thought you couldn’t do it, I just figured it was a long shot at best.… Are you
kidding
?”

“I’m not.”

“So I think I know who is buying dinner the next time we go out. My treat. Confetti and champagne for everyone. Reign Grazi is on fire.”

Well, not completely. Maria had certainly been there for her all her life. “I’m buying for you, for sure.” Reign couldn’t quite keep the elation from her voice, but she glanced at the quirky clock on the wall. The hands were made from flattened spoons, but it had its own kind of charm, and her assistant had actually made it, so she’d hung it up, and truthfully, it fit the general chaos of material samples, scattered drawings, and paperwork. She needed to get going. “I had to tell you, but I’m going to go pick up Sal. They’re releasing him today. He called and asked if I’d come get him. He said he was worried if his mother and father came, they’d insist he come stay with them and he really just wants to go back to his apartment.”

“He’s okay then.”

“Apparently he’s recovering really well.”

“Apparently so. I’m glad.”

“I think we’re going to see Dad after that.”

“You and Sal?” Maria sounded dubious. “I don’t think he needs to leave the hospital and go straight to a prison, Reign. Besides, Dad is not going to want to see an Ariano, we both know that.”

“Not Sal. Nick and I.”

“Reign, you seem to be getting involved awfully fast and—”

“Save it. I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know enough about him.” She cut her off her sister’s protest. “But I like him. He asked to see Dad, and I said yes. We have a few questions.”

“Like what?”

Reign could picture her, curling a long piece of dark hair around her finger. Maria tended to do that when she was agitated.
How to do this
 …

“There have been a few incidents and Nick has wondered if they might be repercussions from the family’s past. I don’t know either way, and when he suggested our father as a source of information, I thought that might not be a bad way to go.”

“Do you know something I don’t?” Her sister’s voice was heavy with suspicion.

“Actually, no.” Reign consciously softened her tone. “Nick is going to help me. I’m doing this to protect you and Vince.”

“Vince needs you to protect him, I don’t.”

Reign took in a breath. “When will we all wake up and realize we all need each other? I could go wide and suggest that all of mankind figure that one out, but at this point, I am just going to say you and I might need each other and nothing will stop me from protecting my son. How does that sit?”

“Don’t be a bitch.” There was a hint of laughter in her sister’s voice, though it was low-key.

“Yeah, well, don’t make me be one.”

“Do me a favor?”

Oh perfect
. Reign said, “Like?”

“Can you tell Dad I said hi?”

Considering the purpose of their visit, it was just as well Maria wasn’t able to join them.

“Of course.” Reign’s shoulders relaxed. “Mar, please.”

“It’s been a month since I’ve been there. I’ve let life get out of hand. Tell him I’ll see him next week.”

“I will.”

After she hung up, Reign called Nick. She’d never done it before and it felt a little strange, but then again, to each thing a season.

“Hello, beautiful.” His voice was smooth and mellow and deep.

“Right back at you.” Reign kept it light. “I’m heading to the hospital because they are releasing Sal today. How about when he’s settled in, we’ll go on our visit, and later, out to dinner? My treat.”

“I never let a lady pay.”

“Then I’ll invite someone else.” Her voice was silky smooth. “My invitation, my party.”

“Maybe I can make an exception just this once.”

“For me? I’m flattered.”

“What are you in the mood for?”

“Are we still talking food here?”

Reign had to laugh. “Yes, still talking restaurants.”

“We’ll discuss when I pick you up, okay?”

Almost … almost, she insisted she would drive, but he did have a very beautiful car and she could leave her vehicle at Sal’s complex, and besides, independent was fine, but militant was unnecessary, in her opinion. She said, “I’ll call with the address.”

*   *   *

Sal sat on the edge of the bed.

The nurse had given him a bunch of instructions that he duly noted and signed the papers that verified he’d been told, but he was pretty grateful when Reign came into the room. “Here,” he said, “if you don’t mind, read this over and remind me once we are out of here what I’m supposed to do. I’m crawling up the walls. The doctor just has to come in and sign me out.”

She took the papers and her eyes were amused. “I thought paperwork was your thing, Counselor.”

“Don’t laugh at me. I’m still pretty sore.” Luckily he’d remembered to ask his mother to bring him some clothes that were not covered in blood before her visit the day before, and he was about the same size as his father. Currently it looked like he belonged to a very prestigious country club from the insignia on the shirt he wore, and though he would never have chosen the khaki slacks himself, it was still better than his other option.

“I’m sorry.” Reign brushed back her hair in a movement he recognized. Her green eyes did hold regret. “There’s a part of me that wonders if somehow this isn’t my fault, but I don’t see
how
.”

Today there was no form-fitting blue dress, but she wore a lacy blouse of some kind over a camisole and white skirt, and the contrast to her dark coloring was striking, but she always seemed to be able to pull that off, which just might be why she was in fashion. A career very important to her. He was starting to realize—in his heart of hearts—that what he wanted was not what she wanted. It was painful, but sometimes staring at the truth was better than pushing it aside.

The phrase “love hurts” wasn’t exactly comforting, but it had been coined by a realist somewhere apparently.

“Mr. Ariano. Good morning.”

Sal tore his gaze from Reign’s poignant expression and tried to be at least a little smooth when the doctor walked into the room. “Dr. Altea, thank God. They have actually promised I’m getting out of this joint.”

Today she was back to the scrubs and no-nonsense ponytail, which was a far cry from the last time he’d seen her, but she had a wholesome beauty he found attractive.

“Interesting choice of words.”

She didn’t like his ties to organized crime. Fine. He hadn’t asked for her approval. But she did have a nice body. A little on the tall side maybe, but firm and athletic and her hair held an unusual sheen of gold with the brown.

“I’m going to write you a conservative prescription for pain medication.” She sat down with a clipboard in a bedside chair. “I want to see you in a week for a follow-up so the wounds can be supervised and cleaned, and unless you have other concerns, I believe I will sign this release.”

“What about sex?”

“Excuse me?” Dr. Altea looked startled.

Sal had to admit his head also swiveled on that one, since he wasn’t the one who’d spoken.

Reign, still holding the papers he’d handed her, just looked bland. “I meant … can he?”

“I suppose so, if he feels up to it.” Dr. Altea clicked her pen and set it aside. “There’s nothing wrong with that part of his anatomy, but he might still be a bit weak. Just don’t get too carried away.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean me and him.… Is that proper English? I think it is. I meant him and you. Now that just doesn’t sound right either. Pronouns are annoying.” Reign waved a hand. “It doesn’t matter, I suppose. Are you interested? It kind of seems to me like you are, and while I was waiting, one of the nurses got a little gossipy. She seemed to think you’d be pleased to know Sal and I are just friends.”

The two women eyed each other and suddenly—it was like an out-of-body experience—Sal felt like he was not in the room.

He muttered in protest and nudged her. “Reign, what are you doing?”

They ignored him, still looking at each other.

“I don’t know. Is he a good lover?” Dr. Altea—he didn’t even know her first name—smiled with a hint of challenge, apparently picking up the gauntlet.

“Oh yeah.” Reign smiled back, her green eyes narrowed. “Very good.”

That he was currently speechless in this conversation didn’t escape him, but he really couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

He’d just strangle Reign in the car on the way home.

“Scale of one to ten?” The doctor raised her brows. They were nice too. He didn’t like them plucked down to a line, but untidy wasn’t his thing either. Hers were just right: finely arched but visible.

“Really up there, and I’m a pretty tough judge.” Reign was never one to let something go. “I don’t need to ask if you are interested, since I already know you are. Take him out for a test drive sometime.”

“For some reason, I thought you two might be involved.”

“Were.
Were
involved. So I can speak with some authority on the subject.”

It cut, but then again, he’d known in myriad ways it was over. That, and for her general safety, was why he’d advised that she stay with Fattelli. He tried again, “Can I interject something here?”

They answered in sync. “No.”

The doctor asked, “He put the lid down?”

Reign said with a slight hint of sardonic amusement, “Not reliably, but he always flushes and washes his hands, and truthfully, he doesn’t snore.”

“That’s huge right there.” Dr. Altea laughed. “I’m considering it.”

Reign’s voice changed tone. Quietly, she said one of the most bittersweet things he’d ever heard in his life. “Sal is a true nice guy. Thoughtful, sweet, handsome … he’s every girl’s dream—but we all look for our perfect fit, and sometimes it isn’t that perfection we dream of.”

“Very eloquent, Ms. Grazi.” The doctor gave Sal a brief glance that he fully returned. “In the meantime,” she added in measured tones, “he needs to rest and not overly exert himself and take the wound-care instructions seriously.”

“He takes everything seriously.” Reign got up and slipped her purse under her arm. “I’m going to wait outside while you wrap this up. I assume he’s leaving by wheelchair, so I’ll bring the car around. This might be time for the two of you to decide what happens next.”

There was, beyond a doubt, a somewhat awkward silence once Reign left. Sal finally said, “She has a slightly unique personality.”

“Slightly?” Dr. Altea added on a dark murmur, “And the nurses around here have big mouths.”

He lifted his shoulders. “I don’t even know what kind of comment to make, so maybe we should just let it go.”

“Or talk about it.” Dr. Altea took in a breath. “I honestly can’t think of a less likely couple than a third-year resident in a prestigious program at one of the best hospitals in the country and a lawyer that I am fairly sure is going to use his skills to help out his family with organized-crime charges. It’s ridiculous. It takes it to a new level. I’m from Minnesota.”

Sal burst into laughter and it hurt. He clutched his side. “Minnesota? What does that have to do with anything?”

Her lips were pink with only a hint of gloss and very tempting. She laughed with him. “I’m not sure, but St. Paul is not New York City.”

“Like that is new information.”

She sobered and sighed. “I do think you are an attractive, nice guy. The mob tie sets me back, and my schedule is so crazy it turns off almost every single man I meet. I don’t know if I can do anything besides sign off on your release papers and pretend I never met you.”

“Or just have dinner with me.”

“You are hardly up for a night out. Clear liquids and—”

“I couldn’t agree more. In the future?” He was tired and hardly dinner-partner material, but things were looking up. Maybe not with Reign, but he knew some time ago that ship had sailed.

“Maybe.”

Not a “no,” anyway.

Her eyes were such a lovely shade of topaz. “I’m looking forward to it,” he told her.

“I’ll write my cell number on your release orders. Call me when you feel up to it, but not before, got it?” She stood.

He said, “I got it.”

Chapter

F
IFTEEN

It was jarring with the clanging doors, guards, and institutional paint.… Reign hated it. She liked to make the world beautiful. Her house was decorated in rich tones: reds and browns and deep blues, and a touch of amber here and there. This would drive her over the edge.

Her father looked maybe a little older each time, but just as handsome as ever and his smile was the one Reign remembered from childhood, warm and charismatic. They faced each other through the glass and she picked up the phone. “Hi.”

Very father-like, the first thing he said was, “Who’s your friend, sweetheart?”

Was it parental concern or perhaps self-preservation? She couldn’t be sure.

“Nick Fattelli.” She said it succinctly. “He says you’ve never met.”

“True. But I think I’ve heard that name before.”

“He’s got a few questions, and by the way, before I forget, Maria says hi. She’s coming to see you next week.”

Reign adored her father. For whatever his faults—and every single person had them—he was genuinely a caring man. “I’ve missed her,” he said, his voice a wisp. “Where’s Vince?”

“Out of harm’s way. On Long Island with friends. Talk to Nick.”