Strictly Need to Know

by MB Austin

  “He is. But if Sirko got what he wanted, who do you think Khodorov would blame? Sirko? No. He’d take it out on my people. My family first, then my guys’ families, then my guys, then me. That’s his thing.”

  “Shit,” Maji exhaled, looking past Gino to the painted horizon. Angelo wondered if she noticed the beauty.

  “Yeah, fucking right, shit. So don’t take it personal if I don’t prioritize a couple girls with attitudes over my whole Family. Capisce?”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. B,” Maji said, looking at him again. “I totally get it now.”

  Angelo kissed his mother good night at the Big House door and headed back into the living room. Uncle Lupo and Gino had the two armchairs, and Ricky sprawled on the couch as usual. Over by the picture window, Nonna snored in the last armchair. So he’d have to move her, or share with Ricky.

  “You want me to take Nonna to her room before we get started here?” he asked.

  “Nah. Let her sleep. She turns those damn ear bugs off, she’s out,” Gino responded.

  Angelo motioned for Ricky to give him some space and got a percentage of the couch in return. “So, what’s so important we get the pleasure of your company at Sunday dinner?” he asked Uncle Lupo. His grandfather’s old friend and consigliere hadn’t socialized with them much since Max, and then Gino, had inherited his services.

  “I should come more often,” Uncle Lupo conceded. “Not just when there are Family issues to discuss.”

  So Khodorov had brought up Vienna already. Excellent. Angelo put on a wary face. “Issues that concern me?”

  “Relax,” Gino said. “You’ll be flattered.” Ricky snorted, and Gino gave him a glare. Looking back to Angelo, he announced, “They want to buy you from me.”

  “And I should be flattered by this? That I can be traded, like a ball player? I’m not some schmuck wiseguy on one of your crews. I’m blood.”

  Lupo opened his hands, showing his palms in a placating gesture. “And so here you are, at the table. Think about the business side, for a moment. After this project, what do you have in the works?”

  Angelo shrugged. “I’d come up with something.”

  “And your girlfriend?” Gino asked.

  “Ri? What about her?”

  “You stay under my roof, it’s time you settled down,” Gino said. “You could do better, but she’d do.”

  Angelo flushed. “Ri’s just visiting. And no offense, G, but I know how you feel about spics. So what am I missing here?”

  He looked at each of the three men, all of whom seemed reluctant to answer.

  Finally, Uncle Lupo spoke up. “Khodorov offered to move you to Vienna, where he has a base. And he intimated that your continued partnership with Sander wouldn’t cause a problem for you there. He used a word we didn’t ask him to translate.”

  Angelo paled. Yuri had outed him? “He thinks I’m…sleeping with his son? Jesus.”

  “What’d you think people would think?” Ricky piped in.

  “Fuck you,” Angelo shot back at him. “People who know me know better, people who don’t—don’t count. Besides, practically anybody a Russian likes is a partner. And I am making them a pile of money. I rank.”

  “We know you,” Gino said. “But the rest of my associates? They only know what they see.”

  “And the longer you work with that fag, the more they see…you know,” Ricky added.

  Angelo and Gino both glared at him. Lupo sat back, watching the three. Angelo broke the tension. “G, are you saying I’m not safe here? ’Cause of this…misunderstanding?”

  “Vienna is a lovely place to live. Your mother might like to visit,” Lupo said.

  Angelo looked at Gino’s mask of a face, Lupo’s faked serenity, and Ricky’s thinly suppressed glee. “So this is a done deal then?”

  “We will let you know our decision tomorrow,” Gino replied. “And you will abide by it.”

  Dismissed, Angelo stood. “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  With no one leaving the estate, Monday was designated Pesto Day. They took their stations around the kitchen, with cutting boards, large knives, and the food processor standing by to turn the piles of raw ingredients into green gold. Maji tapped her large knife restlessly against the board, anxious to get busy.

  Angelo put on a demo CD of the Cuba Libre band, and Latin rhythms filled the room.

  Sienna leaned in close to Maji and whispered in her ear. “Maybe now Nonna won’t hear so good. When you don’t want her to, then it’s every word you say.”

  After a few minutes, Maji’s feet and hips moved of their own accord to the music. She gave Sienna a little hip check. Sienna bumped her back.

  “I wish I could move like you,” Sienna said, back to the leaning in but no longer whispering.

  “It’s in the genes, maybe,” Maji said. “But you can learn.”

  Ang pointed his knife at Rose. “Rose did. You took classes, right?”

  Rose colored. “If you count Latin ballroom, I’m not bad. But nothing club style.”

  “Your dance card’s gonna be full at the Hotel Nacional party, anyway,” Angelo said to her. “Even Nonna’s gonna have guys lined up to spin her around the floor. Right, Nonna?”

  “What?”

  Angelo took Maji by the hand, and they fell into step together like they had many times before. Whenever they prepped for an op in Central or South America, they practiced whatever was current in that arena. The dance floor was an excellent place to pass information without being overheard.

  The floor here was a bit tight, however. Sienna and Jackie moved back to give them space, but Nonna just scowled. “If you’re not going to help—”

  “Get out of my kitchen!” Maji and Angelo said along with her, grinning at each other.

  Angelo switched the stereo settings to pipe into the living room and took Maji by the hand again. “Oh, come on,” he said in response to her look. “We’ll be back to earn our share. You will not miss the world-famous, orgasmic Benedetti secret family recipe pesto.”

  Sienna followed them into the living room, looking envious. She plunked herself onto the couch. “Ricky never takes me dancing. How am I going to learn before the party?”

  “Does he know how?” Angelo asked. When Sienna waved a hand to indicate her husband was only so-so, he added, “So go get him. He better brush up, too.”

  “He’s out.”

  Angelo’s face lit up. “I gotcha covered.”

  He disappeared into the kitchen and returned with Rose in tow, protesting as she wiped one hand on her apron.

  “You lead, or follow?” Maji asked, looking at Rose skeptically.

  “Ri!” Sienna said, clearly enjoying the scandal.

  Rose gave her a rare patronizing look. “That’s not an offensive question. Women still need one of each, when they partner dance.” She turned to Maji. “And the answer depends on the dance. What have we got?”

  “Salsa, rumba, Latin swing, merengue, and tango.”

  “Oh. Well, if we stick to ballroom, I can lead the salsa. And a waltz. I can follow tango. But I don’t know the rest.”

  “You two are in luck,” Angelo said. “Ri grew up with all of those. We can show them, right?”

  Maji frowned at him, wondering what his agenda could be.

  “Jeez, Ri,” Sienna said. “I can’t believe he has to talk you into dancing with him. I’ll trade you Ricky, and throw in his Corvette.”

  Maji rolled her eyes and shook her head, smiling. “Whatever. At least it’s exercise.”

  Angelo kept the music loud enough to feel the rhythm, but low enough to talk over. He and Maji demonstrated their version of the salsa, while Rose led for Sienna, showing her the more basic moves.

  “You’re so good,” Sienna said to Rose. “How did you learn to lead?”

  “Classes,” Rose answered.

  “Yeah, but…”

  “She’s from California,” Maji offered. “They got same-sex classes, dance parties, even clu
bs. Just like New York.”

  “For guys, yeah. I been in a gay bar. I didn’t see any women dancing.”

  “You just went to the wrong place,” Maji insisted. “I been to places you’d love.”

  “You have?” Sienna asked. “Why?”

  “No guys hitting on you,” Rose said. “Just dancing.”

  Sienna stepped on Rose, and swore. She stopped and looked down at her feet, clearly embarrassed and frustrated. “I’m sorry. You’re good, I’m just…”

  “A beginner,” Rose said. “You’re doing fine.”

  Sienna looked uncertain. “Ricky don’t like it when I dance with other guys.” She looked to Rose, then Maji. “Can we go on a girls’ night to the city? You know, after.”

  “I guess.” Rose gave Maji an uncertain look. “You said you know places?”

  “Yeah. But if you want to impress the ladies there, you’re going to need to up your game.” Maji grinned at Angelo. “Show her the good moves.”

  Angelo shook his head. “Sienna needs me more.” He cut in on Rose, offering Sienna his hand. “C’mon, let’s make you look good for the party.”

  Rose and Maji looked at each other. “Don’t be shy,” Angelo called over, never missing a step as he led Sienna through a basic set.

  “Can you lead?” Rose asked.

  Maji gave her a wicked grin. “This is my soundtrack since I could walk. On the dance floor, I can do anything you want me to.”

  “Ri, play nice.” Ang gave them a wink, and Sienna giggled.

  Rose blushed deeply, and held out her hand. “Fine. Be gentle.”

  Maji took the lead and was pleased with how easily Rose kept up. She was a relaxed follow, keeping her left hand light on Maji’s shoulder and maintaining eye contact. Just a small tug on their joined hands or a gentle press of the hand on Rose’s back was enough to communicate. Maji didn’t smile—if she did it would morph into a stupid grin. Instead, she let the warmth radiating between them sink into her already sinuous hips. When Rose missed a beat, Maji glanced over her shoulder and saw Ricky standing in the doorway, enjoying the show. “Ignore him. Please,” she said.

  “With pleasure,” Rose said and found the rhythm again.

  Angelo, too, noticed Ricky taking in the little party. Sienna waved him off and just kept practicing her new moves with him. So Angelo danced Sienna over closer to the door. “Wanna cut in? Assuming you can handle a woman this hot.”

  “Ha-ha. Some of us got work to do.”

  Angelo stopped and gave Sienna an apologetic look. “You excuse us for a minute?”

  Sienna looked disappointed, but Angelo knew she was used to being displaced for business.

  He waited until she’d found a spot to watch her new buddy Ri and her cousin. “Seriously, Rickster. Where you been?”

  “Out.”

  “You’re going out when the rest of us are on lockdown?”

  “Sure. Nobody’s enough of an idiot to mess with me.”

  Angelo snorted. “Or Sirko knows nobody’d trade anything of value to get you back.”

  “Fuck you. Where’s your boy genius at?”

  “My house—working.”

  “Alone? Since when do you trust him?”

  “My guys are in the house. Besides, what’s he gonna do?”

  Ricky’s face fought to hold back his thoughts. “He won Nonna over. He’ll steal your mother next. It’s what they do.”

  Angelo’s bark of a laugh caused a halt on the dance floor. “So what if he does? They’ll have someone to dance with at the party. Like your wife.”

  As he spoke, Sienna danced by herself, imitating as best as she could on her own.

  “Fuck me,” Ricky whispered, his eyes glued to Maji and Rose. “You and Ri ever…you know. A three-way?”

  “No.” Angelo paused. “And if you have, I don’t want to hear about it.”

  “Those two could put on a show for me, though. Come on, don’t you see it?”

  Angelo bumped him, hard. “She’s my cousin!”

  “She ain’t mine. Hell, even Carlos wanted a piece of that. What a waste, huh?”

  Angelo pushed him out the door. “Get. Just get out of here. Go.”

  “Fine. I gotta take care of something, anyway.” Ricky grabbed his crotch as he spoke, then scooted through the door before Angelo could reach him.

  “He’s such an ass sometimes,” Sienna said, taking Ricky’s place beside Angelo. “Maybe I better go check on him.”

  Angelo thought she looked more hopeful than actually annoyed with Ricky. Not for the first time, Angelo wondered about the two of them. Straight couples would always be a mystery.

  When Angelo returned from checking on Sander’s progress, the whole pesto crew was just sitting down to plates at the Big House patio tables. The Sound looked smeary in the distance, the humidity hazing up the view. “You’re going to be so glad you helped in the kitchen,” he told Maji, with a wink.

  Maji took her first bite of pesto on homemade pasta and said something unintelligible but nearly ecstatic before swallowing it. She mouthed “Wow,” at him, her eyes wide.

  “Told you,” Angelo said. “Don’t I always look out for you?”

  “I take back everything I said about you before,” she deadpanned. “For this, I would actually think about marrying you.”

  “Me? It’s Nonna you should marry—you want the family recipes.”

  Maji extended a hand dramatically toward Nonna and spouted flowery Italian in her direction.

  Nonna kept a straight face, but not without visible effort. “I’m too old for you, bambina. ’Sides, it’s Rose been writing all my recipes down. Work on her.”

  Maji grinned and turned to Rose, reaching for her hand. But before she could unleash more Italian, Rose raised a hand. “I’m pretty sure the Army would object.”

  “For this pesto, I would go AWOL.”

  “If Rose wanted a ring on it, it’d be done already,” Sienna piped in. “Right, Rose?”

  Rose gave her cousin a look of appreciation. “Thank you.”

  “So why don’t you?”

  “Why don’t I what?”

  “Have some woman wearing your ring,” Sienna said. “You’re gorgeous and nice and smart. You got a good job. There must be a lineup, back home.”

  “Well…” Rose looked genuinely uncomfortable.

  “I know, I know. You were really down last summer over that one. But you must have had dates since then.”

  “She doesn’t need to date—she only needs to cook,” Maji quipped. “Lesbians love potlucks, right?”

  Rose gave her a cold smile. “You tell me. You seem to be the authority. Excuse me.”

  Sienna turned to Maji as the screen door banged shut. “Now you went too far, Ri.”

  “With what?”

  “The flirting. Can’t you tell she has a crush on you?”

  “No.” Maji looked toward the screen door. “She does not. Besides, we’re just kidding around. Don’t you and your girlfriends kid around?”

  “Sure, but we’re all of us straight. Nobody’s feelings get hurt.”

  “Shit. You really think I—”

  Conversation paused as the screen door swung back open. Rose came through, holding a baking pan in both hands. “As I recall, Ri, you like tiramisu almost as much as pesto.” Rose began cutting pieces and scooping them onto dessert plates.

  Maji looked wary. “It may be a tie.”

  Rose served all but Maji, as the others held their tongues in anticipation. She set her piece aside and scooped a large helping onto the last empty plate. “So,” she said, “what would you bring to the table? You know, as a dowry.”

  Sienna and Jackie and Angelo looked at each other, sharing their amusement.

  Angelo grinned. “You’re the one started this, Rios. Put up or shut up.”

  “I have a great sense of humor…” Maji’s voice rose as it trailed off.

  “That sounded more like a question than a statement,” Rose noted. “What e
lse have you got?”

  “Um…”

  Sienna looked both delighted and sympathetic. “Help her out, Ang. She’s your girlfriend!”

  He looked Maji over, with a smile that said he was playing along. “Okay, well, she’s good at doing dishes. A real trouper.”

  “I have a dishwasher. And it’s very quiet.” Rose looked thoughtful. “Will you teach me to merengue?”

  Maji blinked. “Sure.”

  Rose offered a forkful of tiramisu to Maji, who leaned hesitantly forward and let Rose feed it to her.

  Maji groaned, shutting her eyes in bliss, apparently oblivious to the chuckles of the others. She opened one eye and looked at Rose, as if gauging her mood.

  Rose took another spoonful but held it back, one eyebrow arched. “Will you teach me the tango?”

  Maji looked crestfallen. “I only know the follow.” She perked up slightly. “How ’bout the rumba?”

  “You’re not selling it,” Rose said, giving her another forkful anyway.

  As Maji sighed through the next ecstatic mouthful, Angelo said, “Jeez, Ri, just learn how to cook, already.”

  Maji pulled herself up and called him an idiot with her face alone. “As if.”

  “Oh, here,” Rose handed her the whole plate, “knock yourself out.”

  Maji took the plate without a word and disappeared into the kitchen, the sound of laughter behind her.

  Angelo followed her in. She defended her plate with a raised fork and a steely look.

  “You’re finally having some fun, huh?”

  She stopped playing and just looked at him. “What are you setting Rose up for?”

  “I’m not. I’m letting her off the hook.”

  “By making her look like an unrequited fool? You been pushing us together all day. It’s not fair to her.”

  “To her? Look, anybody catches her looking at you funny, word’s already out she’s got a crush. You hold your side together, they’ll think that’s all it is. And when you do get together later, it won’t be such a shocker.”

  “Later? There’s no later for Rose and me. And you know why.”

  He gave her a funny look. “Well, there’s enough questions floating about me, as it is.”