owner, had created in his kitchen to serve before his simplistic bar-style foods. The lunch room was almost at full occupancy, but Vienna had called ahead of time and Alek had saved them their spot, even though he didn’t take reservations in the bar.
“I’m not good at turning anyone away,” she admitted. “And Mr. Rossi being a relative of yours made it even more difficult. He was very polite. Raine was with me and I kept Bailey in the room the entire time. I didn’t text you that he was there because I knew what you were doing was dangerous, or I would have. I wasn’t trying to keep anything from you.”
“I’m aware of that, Stella.” He waited, his eyes on her, trusting her to let him know what his father had said to her.
“He told me he’s retiring, and that he’d like to live closer to you. He said he wanted me to come with you when you go to talk to him in order to keep you calm.”
Sam’s expression didn’t change. He kept his gaze fixed on her face. “What do you think?”
“I don’t think, I know you don’t need me to keep you calm, Sam, and I told him that. I don’t go behind your back. He might really be ill. He said he’d had a heart attack. I don’t know him well enough to know what’s true and what isn’t, you’ll have to determine that for yourself.”
“Did he scare you?”
“Not at all. He was very polite. Very charming. He had another man with him. Lucio Vitale. Do you know him?”
“I knew him back when we were both kids. He was from a very poor family. Had to work his way up. His father and two brothers were murdered. He was responsible for his mother and a sister, I think, from a very young age. He fought his way up the ladder, and I mean that literally. It wasn’t easy for him. I wasn’t that surprised to see he’d made it all the way. My guess, he’s an underboss or capo, not Marco’s bodyguard, although they introduce him that way.”
“You took his weapon.”
“Marco handicapped him by telling him he didn’t want me shot or killed. There’s that. There’s also the fact that I spent most of the intervening years fighting for my life. Lucio didn’t. He might train, but when your life is on the line every day, you keep your skills honed. Don’t underestimate him for one moment.”
“I wasn’t underestimating anyone. They did help to pass the time. And Raine was with me. She had known Lucio in New York apparently. Her father was in the Irish mob. He supposedly retired and moved to California but someone put out a hit on him anyway and he was killed. Her family blames her and she’s dead to them. Literally. Your father knew her father.”
Sam shook his head. “This is getting complicated, Stella. I’ll go talk to him, but I’d rather you keep your distance until I find out what he’s really doing here.”
“I have no problem with that.” Having a serial killer around was enough for her to contend with.
Zahra inserted herself between the bar and Stella’s barstool. “What are the two of you whispering about? Sam’s looking very serious and dictatorial.”
Stella studied his expression carefully. “You could be right, Zahra.”
Sam’s eyebrow shot up. “I look dictatorial? What do you mean by that, Zahra?”
“I mean exactly what it sounds like, Sam, that you look like you have a tendency to tell people what to do in a tyrannical way.” Zahra gave him her impish smile. “Fortunately, you never speak, so you can’t actually be bossing Stella around. You just look like you are.”
“That is fortunate,” Sam murmured.
Harlow draped herself over Stella’s shoulder. “You three are looking cozy over here. Stella, you’re not drinking your mojito.”
“It’s all yours.” Stella indicated the drink. “I think my beloved coffee will do today. It always feels so weird drinking alcohol at lunch.”
Harlow picked up the drink and took a healthy swallow. Zahra watched her, a little frown on her face. She suddenly reached out and took the glass from Harlow.
“Babe, what’s wrong? You don’t drink in the afternoon either. Not like this. Do you want to go to a table?”
Harlow looked stricken. “I’m just upset for you. Worried. I don’t know what to think. Have you been following the news? The war started up again between Azerbaijan and Armenia for that strip of land.”
“The president signed a deal to stop the