Summer Kisses (199 page)

She was tempted to question Daniele about how Carlo’s men got him, but she didn’t want him to have to live through it again.

Frustration chewed at her stomach, making it difficult to eat when Angie brought in food from the local deli.

“I thought perhaps the little one would like chicken. All children seem to like chicken.”

“That’s fine.”

“And you,
Bella
, you eat something, too.”

“I’ll try.”

“No. You must remember the
bambino
.”

Sudden tears sprang to her eyes. If she died, there would be no baby. And Danny would without a mother. Perhaps without a father, too. An orphan. Or worse, what if Carlo kept him and raised him to be a crook? Unthinkable.

Angie’s brow knit in concern. “Look, just for you I order vegetables and juice.” He took the items out of the bag. “I remembered you don’t like milk.” For such a big man, he seemed awkward and eager to please. She wondered how he got involved in such a sordid life.

She sniffed away her tears. “Thank you.” Of them all, Angie seemed to care whether she lived or died. Of course, she could be hallucinating from fear and fatigue.

Once he left, she laid the food out on the desk and helped her son to eat. She ate a few bites herself, knowing she needed food now more than ever. For nourishment, but more importantly for stamina to face whatever would happen. There was bound to be an opportunity to escape again—even though Carlo thought that Danny would make her hesitate. If anything, having Danny made her more determined to get away. And she would need her strength to succeed.

She opened her mouth and shoved in another forkful of green beans.

Later, Angie brought in a cot, a couple of blankets and two pillows. Nia used the small office bathroom to wash Danny’s face and ready him for bed. She climbed onto the cot with him.

When Sandro wasn’t traveling, he tucked his son into bed at night, telling him some Italian fable or another. Nia wracked her brain to remember one of the stories.

“Where’s Poppa? Why aren’t we home?” Danny asked when she finished the story.

“Poppa’s gone right now. And we will be home soon.”

“Don’t like these men. Want to go home.”

“I don’t like them either, my sweets, but we’ll all be home soon and we can forget them then.”

After Danny fell asleep, she kissed him, then closed her eyes and prayed. “Let us all be home soon.” She had to believe. Soon. They would be together again.

~~~

The lock rattled. Nia tensed and sat up as the door opened and Angie walked into the office.

“You are still awake.”

“Are you alone?” Her gaze searched for any sign of Carlo.

“I am alone.”

She relaxed her guard a little.

“The
bambino
,” Angie said. “He is sleeping?”

She smiled down at her son, smoothed her fingers over his curly hair. “Yes, he’s sound asleep.”

“You should be, too.”

“I can’t sleep.”

Angelo nodded, looked thoughtful. “Wait here, I will be right back.”

“Not as if I could go anywhere, Angie,” she said after he shut the door behind him. When she didn’t hear him turn the lock, she considered grabbing up Danny and making a run for it. But no, he said he would be right back. She doubted there would be—

He opened the door again. Ideas of escape flittered away.

Angie had an old-fashioned boom box in one hand, a stack of CDs in the other. “Listening to music sometimes helps me sleep at night.”

“Yeah, I bet with all you have on your conscience, it is hard for you to sleep.”

Angie didn’t defend himself. He looked through the CDs. “Here, I like her. Do you?” He held up a Celine Dion greatest hits CD.

Nia’s heart clenched as memories hit her. She’d sung Celine’s songs at their restaurant. “Yeah, she’s okay.”

“Will it wake the
bambino
?”

“No. He can sleep through anything.”

Angie nodded. “The sleep of the innocent.”

Nia bit back another insult. Angie had tried to be nice, all things considered. She mentally shook her head. Geez, she must be losing it. Making excuses for a mobster.

Celine’s voice came softly out of the speakers. Angie settled his bulk in the desk chair. “I’ve heard you sing at the restaurant before. You are very good.”

“Thanks.”

“Why have you not gone professional?”

“I have soccer. And my family. There’s been no time to pursue a singing career. The music business is very demanding. Very competitive.”

“You are blessed with much talent. Perhaps after this next
bambino
you will think it is time to retire from soccer. Then you can sing.”

Nia gave a rude laugh. “You really think I’m going to be alive that long, Angie?”

A sad look filled his face. He ran his hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, obviously conflicted. “If I have anything to do with it,
Bella
, you will be alive. And so will your husband.”

Tears burned her eyes. She sniffed. “Thanks, Angie.”

He pushed his bulk to his feet and awkwardly patted her head. “Try to sleep,
Bella
.” He shook his head and muttered, “A bad business,” as he closed and locked the door behind him.

~~~

A federal agent led Roberto out of the holding cell to a secure meeting room. His lawyer, waiting at the table, stood when Roberto entered. Roberto had an odd sense that he was on a television drama, because this stuff only happened on crime TV. But there was no bright lights and cameras, just a security camera mounted high in a corner. Strangely, it did not make him feel secure.

Roberto shook his lawyer’s hand. Like all men high up in the Peruzzo family, the lawyer dressed well. Three piece designer suit, gold jewelry, manicured fingernails. Roberto had seen the lawyer at the office, but never had much contact with him. Roberto’s main focus was his job. He knew he worked for the mob, but he wasn’t involved with the seedier side. His job was to find legitimate investments and keep track of the money. The ethics never bothered him, and he never thought he’d be the one arrested when there were bigger crooks than him who worked with Peruzzo.

“Why am I here?” he asked, when they took seats at the table, one on each side.

“I don’t know,” the lawyer said. “They don’t have to formally charge you for seventy-two hours.”

“That’s three days! I have to sit here that long not knowing why I’m here?”

“Listen, Mr. Torino.” The lawyer leaned over the table, closer to Roberto. “I’ve seen this kind of thing before. I think they have you in custody to give you time to think.”

“Time to think? What does that mean?” Roberto demanded.

“Yeah, you know how it goes.” The lawyer sat back, shrugged. “You sit here, think, worry, get scared, and when they offer you a deal, you’ll be more willing to help.”

“A . . . deal? You think they’re after Mr. Peruzzo then?”

The lawyer shrugged. “Or one of his associates. It’s possible.”

A chill skittered down Roberto’s spine. His job could be at risk. Worse, if he became a rat, his life could be at risk. But if not, could they keep him locked up? What did they have on him? His thoughts were moving at lightning speed with one scenario after another.

“What can I do?” he whispered, fear stealing his voice.

“Best thing is just to sit here and keep quiet. They’ll have to make a move soon, and then we’ll know what to do. I just came here to let you know that Mr. Peruzzo is thinking of you.”

Somehow, knowing that did not offer Roberto any comfort.

Dave headed to the Crown Vic to get it warmed up while Sandro visited with his aunt and uncle. At Sandro’s insistence, Marisa waited inside until he was ready to leave. Dave supposed Sandro thought he was calling the shots now, but Dave didn’t see any reason to challenge him over Marisa waiting behind. There was no reason for her to be cold.

But Sandro was not going to steal another woman from him, Dave vowed, knowing Nia would have been his if Sandro hadn’t entered the picture.

At first, Dave believed Sandro was no more than a passing infatuation. It hurt to see Nia so obviously crazy for the guy. It hurt to think of her climbing into Sandro’s bed. Yet, Dave’s goal had always been long term, and he could live with a passing fling.

After the World Cup, Sandro would return to Italy, this time for good—and Nia would return home heartbroken. Dave had planned to be there to comfort her. Which was exactly why he had taken more vacation time at the end of the World Cup games that summer, prepared to be the shoulder that Nia would need.

Only Sandro hadn’t returned to Italy alone. He came to the States, and then he took Nia home with him.

Just remembering made Dave’s heart hurt. He had never expected her to leave her family, school, the United States. Although she hadn’t given up her spot on the national soccer team. She flew in for training and games.

But that fateful summer before she left for Italy, Nia had come back to Dallas after the World Cup, and Dave was prepared to step into his role as comforter. Only she was still holding him at arm’s length. Given time, he was confident she would forgive him for what had happened by the pool over the Easter holidays.

Especially now that she was home—alone—and after Sandro had missed that final, all-important penalty shot to send his country home in defeat. Dave gloated, knowing Sandro’s pedestal would be crumbling and quickly crashing.

The jealousy, the envy, the enjoying someone else’s downfall was not normally in Dave’s personality, but when it came to Sandro, Dave couldn’t help himself. His need for Nia was an insidious thing, truly awakened only when he realized he might lose her. He had taken her for granted, he realized. But now, he could make it up to her. Help her past her heartbreak and turn her love toward him.

But days past, and she refused to see him. With his vacation days slipping away, hoping to prod her, he called and invited her on a picnic at the lake. While she took the call, at least, she turned him down, claiming she had errands. She left soon after, driving off in her little yellow Volkswagen bug.

A couple of hours later, Nia pulled back into her driveway. Much to Dave’s shock—he’d been outside kicking a soccer ball with Nia’s two younger brothers—Sandro had climbed out of the passenger seat.

“Wow, Sandro’s here.” Nia’s brothers ran over to greet him. Dave hadn’t realized they knew Sandro.

Laughing and shooing her brothers away, Nia took Sandro’s arm and led him over to Dave. “Hey, Dave, I’d like for you to meet Sandro.”

It was a clear message.

Reluctantly, Dave stuck out his hand and said the first thing that came to mind. “Sorry about the World Cup. How’s your leg?” Sandro had played over two hours on a severely injured hamstring muscle during the last game. The injury no doubt played a part in the missed goal.

“It will heal.” Sandro’s words were given in an offhand manner, while his gaze intently probed Dave’s.

In that moment, he knew Nia had told Sandro what he’d done. Told that he’d pushed her to have sex that one crazy night. Dave refused to drop his gaze, yet he felt the bitter sting of shame all over again.

“Sandro, how long are you going to be here?” Nia’s youngest brother asked.

“We’ll talk about it later, brat,” Nia said. “Go inside and tell mom we’re home.” She turned back to Dave. “Sandro’s got a few days before he has to head back to Italy. I’m going to show him around town. Maybe take him to Six Flags.”

Dave mentally collected himself, forced a smile. “Sounds great. Enjoy your stay.”

“
Grazie
,” Sandro said before Nia said their goodbyes and led Sandro to her house.

Dave’s fake smile faded from his face.

For three days he watched Sandro and Nia come and go. One day she and Sandro came back loaded with sacks from the mall. Dave was on his way out.

“You buy out all the stores?” he teased. When he ran into them he always made a point to be friendly, even though inside he was burning. His vacation days were drawing to an end, and frankly he was glad. It was torture staying around, watching the woman he loved with another man. No matter how temporary the situation might be.

“Guess what? I’m going to Italy!” Nia announced.

All the air sucked out of Dave’s lungs. “Great,” he somehow managed to say.

She turned to Sandro. “I’ll shower first. Then you. We’ve got to hurry though, we’re supposed to leave for dinner in an hour. Bye, Dave.” She waved at Dave over her shoulder.

“Sandro, wait,” Dave said, knowing on a deep level that what he was about to say was none of his business, yet he knew he was going to say it, regardless.

Throwing a puzzled look Dave’s way, Nia kissed Sandro’s cheek and went inside.

Dave waited until Sandro approached him, then he plunged right in. “I know this is none of my business, but you’re dragging this out aren’t you? Wouldn’t it be a cleaner break if you just cut it off right now?”

Sandro frowned. “I don’t know these terms “cleaner break” and “cut off”.”

“It means why continue this affair? Why not leave her now and go back to Italy alone so she can start to get over—I mean so she can forget you.”

“Why would I want her to forget me?”

“You can’t mean to have a long distance affair? That wouldn’t be fair to her.”

“Long distance?”

“You know, with you living in Italy while she lives here. It’s hard to keep a romance going like that.”

“
Si
, I agree. These past few months were difficult for us.”

“Then let her go. Let her move on with her life.”

“Ah.” A knowing look came into Sandro’s eyes. “You want me out of the way. But do you not live out of town, too?”

“There’s a little difference between Washington D.C. and Ita–”

“I intend to marry her,” Sandro interrupted. “There will be no trouble with our romance. The next time she comes home to visit the United States, she will be my wife.”

“Your–” Dave couldn’t say it. The words felt like bullets ripping through his body.

“You love her,” Sandro said, nodding as if just reaching the conclusion.

“Yes,” Dave admitted, in too much shock to protect himself.