“No, but uh...he asked me out on a date.”
“Ooh!” Marie gives an exaggerated gasp. “That’s wonderful! Oh, he’s perfect for you, don’t you think?”
“Um…”
“He broke up with his girlfriend, Amelia, last Christmas,” Marie says, as if I know who Amelia is. She’s the Family gossip mill who always knows everybody’s business. “They were engaged, you know. She was just devastated—she’d already picked out a wedding dress. I guess he got cold feet.”
For some reason, I hate Amelia, even though I don’t know her.
“I think she believes he’ll come around, but if he asked you out…”
“Well, don’t tell her!” I exclaim. “It’s one date.” Technically, three, if he holds me to it. “To thank him for the tow truck thing. Nothing more.”
“You never know.” My aunt sounds delighted by all this.
I groan inwardly, realizing she’ll probably tell half the family about the date before we even go out. I don’t know why I called her, other than that I was all twitter-pated from seeing Joey and wanted to tell someone who knew him.
My mom is definitely not an option since she would freak if she knew I had contact with anyone. She doesn’t even like me having a relationship with Aunt Marie, my dad’s sister.
“You’d be a much better fit for him, now that I think about it,” Marie goes on. “Amelia wasn’t smart enough for him. He’s an actual CPA, you know. They say he’s the brains of the family. That even though he’s young, he’s more of aconsiglierethan Tomasso. Don Alberto gets his advice on things first.”
“Yeah, well…” I can’t exactly tell Marie my reservations—that I could never be in a relationship with a mobster—without insulting Marie and her husband, Tony. “I just don’t know if he’s my type.”
“Of course, he’s your type! He’s every girl’s type. Do you think he’s too old? He can’t be more than ten years older than you.”
My heart rate increases inexplicably. Why is his seniority in age titillating? Somehow it adds to his authority and power and makes him way more exciting as a date than any guy I’ve gone out with in recent years. Hell, he’s more exciting than any guy I’veevergone out with.
But that definitely doesn’t mean I’ll get involved with him.
ChapterThree
Joey
The next afternoon, I visit Sophie’s bank and pay off her car loan.
I love being able to take care of her this way. But I have to admit even more than that, Idolike having her owe me. Even if all I demanded was three dates. I get a copy of the lien release and text a photo of it to her.
Am I an asshole if I hope she’s grateful?
Definitely.
Thank you, Joey,she texts back.
I know it’s hard to tell tone from a text, but I hate her reply. It’s not friendly enough. No emojis. No blowing kisses or praying hands to say thank you. No, Sophie doesn’t like owing me.
She has a hard-on for the Family, the same as her mom had, and I intend to find out what it’s all about.
My next errand is to take care of the Stan Matranga situation. I drive to the address in Forest Hill Al gave me and park in the circular drive. No sense hiding my presence. I check my gun before getting out and putting it in my waistband.
Movement in the blinds of the window tells me they know I’m here.
Forest Hill is one of the nicest neighborhoods in the Newark area, and the brick house is stately and expensive with vines crawling up the sides and bushes cut into spirals. There’s a heavy brass knocker hanging from the door. I pick it up and slam it down twice.
Stan opens the door himself, blocking the entrance aggressively. He’s not the boss of the Matrangas, but he’s a capo, and his moving to Jersey doesn’t bode well.
“Stan.” I use a false-friendly tone. “Heard you moved to Jersey. Thought I’d stop by and welcome you myself.” I let the menace in my gaze show him my welcome is in the form of a threat.
Stan’s eyes dart right and left, verifying I’m alone. “Yeah, just getting settled,” he says.