Page 8 of To Have and To Hold
Rei answered, “She and her cousin, Giorgia, took him upstairs to feed him and get him down for a nap.”
His answer made me smile. “You’re getting the uncle thing down.”
Dante lifted his glass filled with two fingers of an amber liquid. “To uncles.” He lowered his voice. “All the fun without losing sleep.”
We clinked glasses and emptied our tumblers.
Dario and Jano were focused on their own conversation. Rei leaned forward. “We waited to tell anyone until after we told the capo.” He paused. “Jasmine and I are adding another baby to this alliance.”
Dante’s grin grew from ear to ear. “Fuck, my brother’s going to be a grandpa.”
We all laughed.
“That title is his for the taking,” Rei said. “To be honest, it would mean the world to Jasmine if he used it or anything similar—abueloor evennonno. But we’re talking about the capo, so who knows?”
“Were you nervous about telling him?” I asked.
Rei stood tall, pressed his lips together, and shook his head. “Me? No. You know me, Em. I’m never nervous.”
“You were armed, admit it,” Dante said as he refilled our glasses.
“I still am.”
We all were.
I turned to Dante. “Do you think Carmine would have allowed Rei to marry Isabella?”
Rei lifted his hands. “Wasn’t interested. Not interested now.”
“I know, but…?” I looked again at Dante.
His eyes narrowed. “Is there a particular reason you’re asking?”
“Maybe. I should talk to the capo.”
Rei shook his head. “No,hombre. If you want to pursue Isabella or anyone, you go through Jano.”
“Fuck.Sí. I wasn’t thinking. You’re right.”
“Wasn’t thinking about what?” Dario asked, he and Jano coming toward the bar.
“Pour me one of those,” Jano said to Dante.
Chapter
Four
Isabella
A month later
Outside the windows, the Kansas City summer sun baked the ground, turning the green grass to brown. If I wasn’t planning a trip, I’d be outside in our pool or lying in a chair on the pool’s deck. Instead, here I was in my bedroom. “I can’t believe they’re making me do this,” I moaned as I filled my suitcase with whatever I thought I might need for a month’s stay in San Diego.
Noemi sat cross-legged on my bed beside the suitcase. “It could be worse. You’re not getting married, just going to help Mia.”
I sank to the floor, wrapped my arms around my legs, and tucked my knees beneath my chin, fighting the chill of the air conditioning on my bare legs. “I’ve tried everything to get Mom and Papà to change their minds.” I shook my head. “I can’t even look at Papà. He’s being completely unreasonable.” I lifted my chin, staring up at my sister. “Did I tell you what he said when I told him I didn’t want to stay with Mia andel Patr?n?”
Noemi shook her head.
