by Lynn, JB
“I heard Herschel was sick, so I brought him some honey. When I was a kid, Thurston used to give me tea with whiskey and honey whenever I had a cold.”
“Did it help?”
Ian laughed. “It helped me sleep, but that may have had more to do with the whiskey than the honey, but I figured it couldn’t hurt. Susan invited me to stay for dinner.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her I’ll come back,” he said. “I’ve got some things to take care of, first. Do you think I should bring dessert or something?”
I shook my head. “No. If she invited you that means she wants to cook for you. Don’t insult her by bringing food.”
“Fair enough. Archie would like to see you.”
“Is he okay?” I asked worriedly.
“Yeah. I think the constant bickering with his brother is strengthening his resilience.”
I chuckled at the idea of my dad and Thurston arguing.
“He seems…different,” Ian said slowly.
“Different how?”
“He seems appreciative. He thanked me three times for making him a cup of tea this morning.”
“Huh,” I murmured. “Maybe it’s some weird side effect of his near-death experience.”
“Maybe.”
I squinted up at my brother. “Something else on your mind, Ian?”
He glanced around to make sure he wouldn’t be overheard before he confided, “Matty says men keep circling my house.”
“Does she?” I had no doubt that Matty, his opossum, would know that kind of thing.
“Do you think they’re after Archie?”
“Could be,” I answered carefully. It wasn’t like there was no chance someone was after my dad. He did have a lot of enemies. But I also knew that Gino kept Ian under surveillance. Then again, maybe Ms. Whitehat did, too. “Or it could be they’re some sort of protection force?”
“A protection force?”
I frowned, knowing I was walking a fine line. “Let me ask around and I’ll let you know at dinner if there’s anything you should be worried about.”
Ian stared at me for a long moment, before finally nodding. “I’ll see you later.” He gave me a peck on the cheek and trotted down the stairs toward where his truck was parked.
“A protection force,” God mocked from my shoulder. “Is that like the Space Force?”
Ignoring him, I headed inside to see how my nieces were doing with their brownies. The house smelled like warm chocolate and the giggling of the girls filled the air. I paused to soak in the happy normalcy.
“It’s moments like these that remind you why you do what you do,” God whispered.
I could hear the smile in his voice.
For a few seconds, I was blissfully at peace. Then, the yelling began.
11
“Bad dog!”
I flinched as Leslie yelled at DeeDee, more because my aunt almost never raises her voice, rather than the tone of it.
DeeDee came streaking past, almost knocking me over in her haste to crawl behind the couch.
As I stumbled, trying to stay upright, God screamed in terror as my momentum knocked him off my shoulder. Thankfully, he caught some of my hair and managed to pull himself upward like a rock climber, all the while muttering about how I was trying to kill him.
Just when I’d regained my balance, Aunt Leslie came barreling through, brandishing a wooden mixing spoon.
“Bad dog!” she bellowed again.
“Hey,” I said, grabbing her raised arm before she could take a swipe at the Doberman. “What are you doing?”
“She ate the roast!” Leslie wailed.
I turned my attention to the dog. “Is that true?”
“Good it was,” she panted, licking her chops even as she cowered behind the furniture.
“Susan is going to try to kill me,” Leslie complained.
“There’s a lot of that going around,” God muttered from the nape of my neck.
Leslie glared at the canine thief. “I put it on the counter for just a moment, because I was looking for semi-sweet chips, and that one stole it.” She pointed the spoon at the dog.
DeeDee had the good sense to lower her head and look guilty.
Her voice shaking, Leslie accused, “She ate the whole thing.”
“That’s a good thing,” God opined. “It wasn’t like anyone would want to eat anything she’d drooled on. That would be disgusting.”
I secretly agreed with him but couldn’t acknowledge his point. “I’m sure—” I began.
“Susan was specifically making a roast for Ian.” Leslie stamped her foot childishly. “She’ll blame me for this.”
I didn’t point out that it was partially her fault for leaving the meat unattended. Instead, I pulled the spoon from her grasp and soothed, “We’ll get another one.”
Leslie stared at me wild-eyed. “Where?”
“We’ll slaughter a cow in the stall beside Irma,” God mocked.
“The store,” I told Leslie firmly. “I’ll go to the store and get another one.”
“Shotgun!” DeeDee barked excitedly at the prospect of going for a ride.
I shot her a dirty look. “Quiet!”
“I’ll get another roast,” I repeated to my aunt. “You go help the girls finish the brownies.”
Leslie considered the instruction for a long moment, then nodded and turned toward the kitchen.
“And, Leslie,” I added sternly.
She glanced back at me.
“I don’t care what she does wrong. Don’t you ever even think about hitting my dog,” I warned.
She nodded and shuffled into the kitchen.
“Maggie, thanks!” DeeDee panted, bounding out from her hiding spot.
“And you,” I warned. “You’re in trouble. You can’t go stealing food. No ride for you.”
I put the dog in my bedroom, placed the lizard in his terrarium, and left the mouse back in his box. Then, blessedly alone, I headed out in search of a hunk of raw animal flesh in order to prevent my aunts from losing their respective minds.
The second I pulled out of the driveway, a car pulled up behind me and honked its horn. Glancing in my rearview mirror, I saw Patrick indicating I should pull over.
I sighed, wondering why the men in my life couldn’t seem to manage the art of a phone call.
I steered my vehicle onto the shoulder of the road and he parked behind me.
He was out of his car and striding toward my passenger door before I’d even unhooked my seatbelt.
I unlocked the door the moment before he reached for the handle and slid into the seat beside me.
“Have you talked to Griswald?” Worry glowed in Patrick’s green eyes, making them appear darker.
I had a sudden craving for green olives.
I shook my head. I hadn’t spoken to the man. Sure, I’d seen him and tailed him, but, technically, I had not had a conversation with him. “What’s wrong?”
“They had to evacuate the courthouse because of a bomb threat.”
I blinked, unsure of what that had to do with Griswald. “Was he there?”
Patrick shrugged. “I don’t know, but considering someone is after him, an evacuation might be a good way to flush him out into the open.” He leaned closer to me and I could smell the remnants of a Wintergreen Lifesaver on his breath. “Unless your ninja friends have him in protective custody.”
“They’re not exactly my friends,” I answered carefully.
“Well, who are they, Mags? Because they don’t work for Delveccio.”
“Professional associates?” I squeaked.
Patrick’s gaze narrowed. “Fine. Don’t tell me. But you’d better hope someone has Griswald’s back.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. His concern for the U.S. Marshal’s safety was making me anxious.
“Be careful, Mags,” he warned. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Do we even know what this is?” I asked quietly.
He shoo
k his head. “All I know is that it’s bad. Bad and dangerous.” He tossed a disposable cellphone on my dashboard. “Call if you get in trouble.”
Then, as quickly as he’d jumped into the car, he was gone.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked aloud.
But for once, there was no one there to answer me.
I bought a replacement roast and a trio of happy face balloons that I shoved into my trunk before they could float away, all the while trying to figure out what Griswald had gotten himself into.
As much as I wanted to help him, I had to remember that I had a job to do. I needed to go to this party and steal a teddy bear.
12
Gino was waiting for us when we pulled up to the Delveccios’ place. He smiled and waved for the girls’ benefit.
“What if he doesn’t like me?” Alicia asked for the third time from the back seat.
“He’ll like you,” Katie replied with exasperation. “Otherwise, I won’t be friends with him anymore.”
I bit back a grin, admiring her loyalty to her cousin.
Gino opened Katie’s door and helped her out of the car, while I gave Alicia a hand.
“He’s a very nice boy,” I whispered to the little girl. “But if you decide you’re not having fun, just find me and I’ll take you right home.”
She nodded, biting her lower lip nervously.
Meanwhile, Katie was prattling away. “We made brownies,” she told Gino cheerily. “Do you know what you need to make brownies?”
“Chocolate?” the mobster’s bodyguard guessed good-naturedly, winking at me over the top of the car.
“Heat,” Katie corrected.
Gino grinned down at her. “Yeah, I can see how you’d need that, too.”
“Dry heat,” she specified.
While she talked to him about the day’s science lesson, I pulled the platter of brownies from the front passenger seat.
“And we decorated them with sprinkles,” Katie added self-importantly. “That will make them taste better. Sprinkles make everything better.”
Gino nodded, seeming amused as she took his hand and began leading him up the stairs and into the mansion.
“Dominic gets first pick cuz he’s been sad,” Katie declared.
Alicia grabbed my free hand and we followed them inside the house.
“Dominic!” Katie yelled as soon as she’d crossed the threshold. Dropping Gino’s hand, she ran toward her friend and enveloped him in a hug.
Dominic looked a little stunned by the greeting, but then he grinned and squeezed her back.
Meanwhile, I had to physically tug Alicia through the doorway.
Gino knelt down so that he was eye-level with her. “Hi,” he said softly. “I’m Gino.”
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“You’re Alicia, right?”
She nodded.
“Did you help make the brownies?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me which one you decorated?” he whispered.
“The ones with the star sprinkles,” she confided.
“Well then, that’s the one I want to try,” he told her with a warm smile, offering up his palm for a high-five.
My heart went as gooey as a middle-of-the-pan brownie at his kindness. And I wasn’t the only one who was charmed by his sweetness.
Alicia grinned with delight at his proclamation and let go of my hand to slap his.
Katie, dragging Dominic with her, came running over. “And this is my cousin, Alicia! You better be nice to her.”
“Okay,” Dominic agreed easily and then smiled up at me. “Hi, Maggie.”
“Hi, mister.” I ruffled his hair affectionately.
“Maggie’s going to bring the brownies to the kitchen,” Gino told the boy. “You go introduce your new friend to your grandfather.”
Dominic nodded and grabbed Alicia’s hand, and the three kids, forming a human chain, rushed off in the direction of the game room.
I hesitated, unsure if I should follow.
“They’re perfectly safe, Maggie,” Gino assured me. “C’mon.”
I followed him into the kitchen. “Do you have men patrolling Ian’s place?”
He stopped and turned back, almost causing me to plow into him. As I struggled to remain upright, he grabbed my waist, steadying me.
Our eyes locked and I’m pretty sure I blushed. Suddenly, I forgot what I’d been saying, why I was even there.
“You were saying?” Gino asked, huskily.
“I…I…” I stammered.
“Ian’s place,” God reminded me from my bra.
Gino’s gaze twinkled mischievously. He leaned forward, trying to look down my shirt, as though he was searching for the source of the squeaking.
Now, I really did blush, a full-body wave of heat coursing through me. I gave him a gentle shove away.
“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he murmured with a wink, even as he respectfully took a step back.
“Ian’s place?” I choked out, trying to get control of the direction of our interaction. As much as I enjoyed his flirtation, I had important things to do, like figuring out who was watching my dad. And stealing a toy.
“Yeah, we’re keeping an eye on things there,” Gino said, turning to head into the kitchen.
“Why?” I asked.
“They’re your family, too, Maggie,” he replied.
“Oh.”
The kitchen, when we stepped inside, smelled like garlic and rosemary.
Gino glanced at the backpack I carried. “You’re not usually the big purse kind.”
My stomach clenched. “You never know what you’re going to need when you’re taking care of little girls,” I said, trying to sound flippant.
Gino’s gaze flicked over me, and I nervously wondered if he’d detected my lie.
“Hush,” God whispered. “You’ll just make things worse.”
I heeded his warning and stayed silent.
“The boss wanted to meet the little girl,” he explained, pointing toward a camera monitor.
I held my breath as I watched Delveccio and Alicia talk. The child didn’t seem to be the least bit intimidated by the mob boss. In fact, he soon had her laughing.
“Hungry?” Gino asked, taking the platter of brownies from me and putting it down on the counter.
I shook my head, not wanting to ruin my appetite for Susan’s dinner.
“Coffee?” he offered.
“Please.” I hadn’t taken my eyes off the monitor and was surprised when Gino stepped up so close behind me that I could feel his breath on the back of my neck.
“You still owe me a date,” he whispered.
I swallowed hard, wondering what he was doing. No doubt this room, like the rest of the house, was monitored by cameras.
He inched closer, mere millimeters separating us.
“Are you trying to get us both killed?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“I turned off the cameras in here.”
I glanced back over my shoulder to see if he was telling the truth, the action causing my shoulder to bump into his chest. I froze at the touch, his warmth searing me.
Only millimeters separated our lips.
“Date?” he prompted, his gaze boring into mine.
I nodded wordlessly.
A pleased smile stretched across his face, then he backed up a step. “Boss is coming,” he said, jerking his chin toward the monitor.
I blinked, disconcerted by how quickly he switched from personal to professional mode.
He busied himself with making coffee as I prepared to meet with Delveccio.
“Cute kid,” the mobster said as he strolled in, pinky ring glinting and buttons straining to contain his belly.
“She is,” I agreed, hoping my face wasn’t as flushed as I felt.
“You did a good job with that Leo the Lion thing,” the mobster said, swinging himself onto a stool at the table.
I shot Gino a nervous look, but he h
ad his back to me.
“Can’t believe you managed to slide that bag of bills to Gino in the middle of the cops busting in,” Delveccio continued.
I nodded, having no idea what he was talking about.
The mobster motioned for me to join him at the table. “I mean, it wasn’t everything he owed me, but it was a sizable chunk and you managed to sneak it away before it blew up in that plane of his…impressive.”
I sank weakly into a seat.
“Told ya, boss,” Gino said, placing a cup of coffee in front of him. “She’s resourceful.” He met my gaze, his steady and reassuring.
I offered a grateful smile, knowing that he’d covered for me with his employer.
I’d never seen Gino at Leonard Klugman’s warehouse. As far as I had known, his only involvement had been saving Patrick from the two henchmen who were supposed to kill the redhead. I hadn’t realized he’d somehow managed to save my reputation with Delveccio, too.
He is a man I owed multiple debts to.
The mob boss sipped his coffee before asking, “How’s your dad?”
“Recovering,” I answered carefully, knowing he was monitoring Archie.
“And your U.S. Marshal?”
“He’s not my Marshal,” I told him quickly. “He’s married to my aunt.”
“Which makes you responsible for him,” Delveccio declared.
Gino slid a steaming cup of coffee in front of me. “The girls made brownies for Dominic.”
“I heard,” Delveccio said. He frowned at his bodyguard. “You’re the one who told me Griswald wouldn’t be a problem.”
“He won’t be,” Gino promised.
My stomach fluttered nervously as I realized he was staking his reputation with a boss who hired assassins.
“If the cops come looking at me because something happens to him…” Delveccio let an unspoken threat hang in the air, giving his bodyguard a hard stare.
“Why would they do that?” I asked anxiously.
Delveccio turned his attention back to me. “They love the idea of a mob turf war.”
Before I could reply, three smiling, screeching children ran into the kitchen. I was pleased to see that Alicia seemed to be having just as much silly fun as the other two kids.
“Monsters!” Delveccio wailed, hiding his face behind his hands and cowering away. All three children howled with laughter.