I glanced at Dante who pinched the bridge of his nose and then ran a hand through his short curly hair.
“She’s smarter than I give her credit for, you know,” Grandma Maribel said as she appeared in the doorway. The woman had changed into a black dress with intricate pleating and layers.
Dante and I scanned her immediately. She most definitely was carrying but I wasn’t sure exactly where –I doubted Dante was either. “When I said I was sick, I meant very sick. Mo will take over business proceedings whether she likes it or not.”
“I don’t like it.” The younger woman’s eyebrows pulled together as she sighed and ran a hand through her long wavy hair. “I didn’t ask to be a part of the ridiculous–”
“No one asks for their lives, Mo,” her grandmother cut her off. “I didn’t ask for it either. You inherit it and you run with it.”
“I’m not made for”–she waved at me and Dante–“dealing with suits. I just want to run the food truck and…”
She stared at her grandma. Maribel’s eyes glistened and she rubbed her chest. Her other hand held the back of one of the wooden chairs so tightly, her knuckles turned white. “It’s just a few other loose ends, Mo.”
“I’m sorry, Grandma. I’m sorry. It’ll be fine.” Morina went to her side and put an arm around her. They stood with their heads bowed for a moment.
I was born into the business. I didn’t have the love they shared. Yet, I understood Morina’s struggle. I’d never wanted the business handed to me either.
I’d taken what was mine in the end though. I accepted that I’d been born into a life of sin and greed. I figured I’d change what I couldn’t live with and learn to live with what I couldn’t change.
I cleared my throat, and Morina glared up at me. “You’ve done this to us.”
I crossed my arms and studied her. “Your disrespect and accusations aren’t exactly the way to start a welcome meeting.”
“You’re not here to be welcomed.” Morina leaned her head on her grandma’s shoulder and dragged her eyes over both of us. “You don’t want a friend. You want a business transaction.”
I rocked back on my heels. She wasn’t wrong. Yet, most of my father’s business partners had taken kindly to our partnerships with no need to force their hands. I’d made a lot of alliances where my father couldn’t because I was strategic in dealing with families.
I treated everyone as one of our own.
Even if they weren’t.
“I’m under the impression you’d both like to continue a partnership with the Armanelli family.”
“Do we have a choice?” Morina raised an eyebrow.
Her grandmother chuckled and patted her cheek. “You’ll be fine when I’m gone, I think. So much fire in you even when you let the wind and water take your mind away half the time.”
I didn’t understand what she was alluding to. Nor did I care. Morina needed to be present and available for business proceedings for us and that was it. Outside of that, I didn’t care what the girl did. “Just make sure you hold up your end of the bargain, Maribel. I don’t know what’s going on with that food truck.”
“It will be done with. Everything else will stay the same if that’s done with, right? When I’m gone, Mo will need protection too.” Maribel raised her eyebrows, hopeful.
“I don’t need protection,” Morina pushed back. “No one cares about me. I’m secure enough with the sheriff and police around town.”
Grandma Maribel coughed and the sound almost shook the room. Instead of clearing her throat, though, the congestion rattled around and caused a fit of sorts. She gasped for air as Mo pulled out the seat for her to take at the table. Her skin grayed, paler than before.
She gripped her granddaughter’s hand and wheezed out, “No one’s safe around here once I’m gone.”
Morina glared at us like the coughing fit was our fault and rubbed Maribel’s back.
Dante spoke up from behind me. “Can I get a cup of water for you, Maribel?”
Pointing toward one of the pine cupboards, she nodded. Dante always wanted a balanced atmosphere. He said when the energy of the room was off, explosive things happened.
In a weird way, I agreed with him. “We’ll secure the area, Maribel. Same stipulations.”
“It won’t be enough,” she murmured and that one soft comment had me sitting down at the table.
I needed all the information if she expected me to help her. “What won’t be enough?”