“You say that now,” she mutters. “Let me know if it changes. Bash bought me a new gun I’ve been itching to try out.”
Just like that, she changes the subject and lifts my spirit.
“I will. Should we check on dinner? I won’t lie. I’m dying of hunger.”
“Oh, that’s your stomach I hear? I thought a beast was sitting outside the window.”
I smack her as she jumps up to run away. I follow her as we race to the kitchen. It’s what I love most about Sofia. She can be serious, but she’s also a big kid at heart. I can get her to act silly with me at any time. Izzy does sometimes too, but she’s the most serious of all of us. She’s the mother of our band of misfits.
I pass Sofia and a chuckling Carlo as we round the corner into the kitchen. I slide inside and slam into Lo in front of Sofia, who in turn slams into me. Lo steadies us as Sofia straightens away, but I stand in his embrace a moment longer.
“Beat you!” I stick out my tongue as she scowls.
“You cheated!”
I roll my eyes. “How? By running faster than you? It’s not cheating. It’s just being superior,” I deadpan.
She walks to Bash, and he wraps her in his arms and consoles her wounded pride. I smirk. She isn’t really upset, but I know she isn’t going to turn down a cuddle from her man.
“You okay, Mia?”
I look up and realize Lo still has his hands on my shoulders and I haven’t moved. I smile up at him, and for a moment I think he’s going to kiss me, until Bash ruins it by opening his mouth.
“Let’s go to the dining room. Nonna is almost done here.”
I look over my shoulder at Nonna, giving a warm smile as she plates the food. Bash and Sofia walk past Lo and me, and I don’t miss the look Bash gives Lo. It makes me wonder if Bash has something to do with the fact the Lo doesn’t want more with me.
“Come on,mio piccolo Angelo. Let’s go eat.”
He trails a hand down my arm and laces his fingers in mine before pulling me out of the kitchen and toward the dining room. Once there, he drops my hand as he leads the way over to the table. I try not to let disappointment set in at the fact that he let my hand go, but I know I failed with Sofia gives me a look of pity.
Lo stops behind a chair and pulls it out. “Have a seat.”
Someone rings the doorbell then. Bash waves Sofia back into her seat as he stands up to answer it. Lo takes a seat beside me as Bash walks back in the room with Dr. Fields, the family doctor.
“Have a seat, Dr. Fields.” He walks her over to Sofia and holds out the chair next to hers before taking his place at the head of the table again. Just then, Nonna and a couple of guys come in with the food, placing it on the table. Nonna goes around and fills all of our glasses with the wine that had already been set out to breathe then bows slightly before leaving the room again.
“Let us say grace,” Bash commands.
“When did we start saying grace?”
I flinch at Lo’s words. No one contradicts Bash. Instead of being angry, Bash smiles.
“Since the Lord blessed me with mytesoro.I have renewed my faith in the big man.”
Lo chuckles and reaches over to grab my hand as he also leans across the table to grab Dr. Fields. Bash holds out his hand to me, and I hesitate for only a moment before placing my hand in his. Then I bow my head as he prays.
“Lord, I thank you each day for the blessings in my life. Thank you for Nonna and this wonderful food she prepared for us. Thank you for mytesoro. Thank you for Lorenzo and Mia and Dr. Fields. These are the little blessings in our lives that we will forever be grateful for. In your name we pray, amen.”
I mumble my amen, but notice Lo stays silent. I wonder if he’s the religious type. My heart says no, and it saddens me. I’m not overly religious, but I do believe there is a God and he watches over us. Knowing Lo’s soul isn’t saved hurts my heart.
“Let’s eat.”
Food’s being passed around the table, and it doesn’t escape my notice that Lo has already started piling food on my plate. Each dish passed our way, he places a spoonful on mine before placing two on his own. Once we all have our food, we start to eat.
Conversation flows easily as Dr. Fields shares stories from her work. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been interested in the medical field. I wanted to go to college for it and was all set to until my father died—or at least I think he died. Truth is, he left one day on a job and never came back. We had to move and change our names in order to stay safe. Our contingency plan was put into motion ages ago. I can’t deny the warmth I feel listening to Dr. Fields’s stories. If life were kinder, I would be in her place right now and not at dinner with the mafia.
I look over to Sofia then to Lo.
