“My question,” Niccola puffed on a cigar, “was how did they get in with their mark? Did he pop him over a thirty-five-foot fence then jump over after him?” He pointed the lit end of his Cohiba at me. “He had help.”
“Not one of our guys would risk such a thing.” My father shook his head.
“Yet this happened.” Niccola shrugged. He had a very valid point.
“We have twenty-nine cameras and eight more in the parking lot.” Francesco cleared his throat. “Did we check all the footage? Because one of those should have picked up something.”
He was right, and we knew it. We went back to playing the game and kept the conversation light for the rest of the evening. Every so often, I’d check my phone, but there was no word from Sienna.
I lasted until a little after eleven before I couldn’t get my head off the tapes. I gathered my winnings and left for my office.
I fell asleep on my couch that night, running through the endless footage of my dockyard, and woke to someone shaking my shoulder. In a heartbeat, I jammed my weapon in that someone’s face.
“Easy.” Mama pushed my hand to move the aim of the gun away from her. “Why are you here?”
“Jesus, Mama, I could have killed you.”
“Why are you on the couch?”
“I fell asleep watching the footage.”
She gave me a worried look as she clicked off the TV on the wall.
“I want to talk about Sienna.”
“Okay.” I sat up and massaged my sore neck.
“I’m really worried about her being with Mariano. He’s reckless, and from what your father said last night, he was out with some woman, and then Anna told me she is going out with him tonight? Do you know if they are…?” She trailed off and waved her hand. “I need to keep remembering she’s not ours anymore.”
The cold rush that burst through me was chilling.
“I’m working on that, Mama.”
“Good.” She kissed my forehead and stood with a smile. She seemed pleased about how the conversation went.
I sighed, leaning back into the couch, not at all sure I could do anything about Sienna.
“Son, we had to push her away, but somehow someone had other plans. You either fight for our girl now, or you will lose her forever this time. Third chances are like finding the end of a rainbow.”
“I know, and I am working on it.”
I flopped my head back when she left and knew I needed to get myself together before I headed out for the day.
It wasn’t until three in the afternoon that she finally called me.
“Good afternoon, Sienna.” I quickly moved away and held up a hand to silence Donatello. The man in his hold wiggled and bucked, which only excited Donatello more, but he caught my drift and pulled the guy back toward the far wall and stuffed a rag in his mouth.
“Hi.” Her voice seemed off.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she cleared her throat, “and if the invitation still stands, I would be happy to join you for dinner this evening.”
I couldn’t help the smile that raced across my lips, and I kept my back turned away from the men. I felt like I was a young boy again standing on the edge of the pond waiting for her to agree to visit my home.
“All right, I’ll pick you up at six?”
“Sounds good. What shall I wear?”