I nodded curtly and tried to stifle my temper. Reaching for her hand, I kept her close as we began to follow the man across the park to the restaurant.
“Ah.” She held up our linked hands to question my public display of affection.
“He’s out of it, and I don’t care anymore.” I helped her through the crowd of happy people enjoying their day, most totally ignorant of the dangerous people among them.
“Only you would wear heels to a grassy park,” Vinni joked, trying to lighten the mood once we got to the pavement.
“Think of it as aeration,” she scoffed and glanced at me.
I smirked, remembering when I’d said that to her not long ago and what happened afterward. I will never look at a mausoleum the same again.
Once inside, I spotted my parents at a table in the corner with the DeSimones, my uncle Bosco, Aunt Noemi, and Francesco. Mama stood and looked like she was about to come over, but I held up a hand to stop her, knowing that she’d make Sienna emotional. Papa understood and encouraged her to sit back down.
Mycapo, Donatello, and soldier, Gain, joined the four of us at our table while my other three soldiers, Ernesto, Brando, and Niccola’s good friend, Harris, covered both entrances.
“Niccola,” Sienna nodded over his head, “why does that woman look so familiar?”
“Vinni’s birthday present.” He winked, and I was impressed with how calm she was being, given the situation at hand. “She was a solid eight.”
“Seven,” Vinni corrected him.
“No way. She does yoga and can fit her legs like a pretzel over her head.”
“True, but she also does this thing to your balls—wait, how did you know that?”
“How do you think I chose her?” He chuckled.
“You test drove my birthday present?” Vinni looked like he might be sick.
“Seriously? I had to get you back!” Niccola tossed his hands up. “Does the summer of 2018 ring any bells?”
“I thought he was a girl!” Vinni yelled, which caused Donatello to burst out laughing and brought Sienna nearly to tears. “Shelooked perfect for you.”
“Did his stubble not give him away?”
“His eyes were very deceiving.”
“But the bulge between his legs wasn’t?”
“He tucked it!” He slammed his hands down on the table, trying to defend himself. A few people around us looked over, and I rolled my eyes. They never stopped. Ever.
“So, tell me this,” Sienna piped up, “how are you ranking the girls? Like, what makes you a solid ten? Or is there even such a thing?”
“You know what I like about you?” Gain leaned back in his chair while he scanned the room. “That you didn’t take offense to that.”
“You are men, you rank. We do, too, just in a different way.” She stopped to think. “We’re just a little less crass about it.”
“I respect that.” Gain nodded.
“There’s a few steps to the ranking,” Vinni explained like he was in a business meeting. “Is she a good kisser? How flexible is she? Does she talk too much? Her sex sounds—”
“Oh, yeah, that’s an important one,” Niccola added. “Remember the winter we spent in the cabin and that girl with the big lips?”
“Yeah!” Vinni pointed to him, looking at Gain then Sienna. “She was the soundtrack to a perfect sexual experience.”
“Well, wait, what’s a good sex sound?” Sienna seemed to be enjoying herself as the waiter poured our wine.
“Some women can be too throaty when they moan, so it can feel like you’re with a man,” Vinni quivered, “or they can be too dominating with their words. I like a woman with some fire outside of the bedroom, but I need a submissive one inside the bedroom.”