the love of your life?”
Toni tilted her head, opening her mouth as though she couldn’t believe I hadn’t connected the dots yet. “Oh, cara…but he is. Of course he is.” She looked back across the room, catching the look Luca gave her, not smiling, her expression as blank, as neutral as the one he gave her. “Why do you think I’m still so pissed at my chooch brother? I can be thankful for what he did, but still pissed at him for doing it.”
“But can’t you and Luca…”
“It’s not that simple.” She finally looked back at me, closing her eyes one last time before she grabbed another napkin. “It’s all a mess now.”
Smoke had good intentions, but those good intentions seemed to always hurt the people who cared most about him.
“Fuck this,” she finally said, releasing a long sigh before she stretched toward the bar and grabbed a bottle of tequila.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to touch that bottle.”
“Like I care.” Toni cracked the paper seal and spun the cap loose, pouring two quick shots between us. “We deserve this shit tonight.”
“Enzo’s gonna kill you,” I heard, staring at the full shot glass as Toni held hers to her mouth. Dante approached and leaned behind his sister, cocking an eyebrow up as she threw back the drink. “That doesn’t go live for another month and they were planning this big…well, there she goes.” The youngest Carelli waved a hand, smiling as his big sister poured herself another shot and had it down her throat before he could finish speaking.
“Drink,” she told me, motioning to my full glass with her empty one. “You need this too.”
“Why does Maggie need a shot?” Dante asked, moving to stand between us. He glanced at my face, lowering his brows when I kept quiet. “Can’t be because your boy doesn’t have a solid bed. I made sure it was perfect.”
“Yes,” I said, picking up my glass when I caught Toni’s hardening glare. “And I appreciate that.”
“Don’t worry why she needs a shot,” his sister told him, taking an empty glass from the stack and filling it for Dante. “Just drink. We’re celebrating Pop tonight.”
“From where I’m standing, it looks like you’re trying to get shitty to forget whatever has your panties in a knot.” He looked at me, then to his sister, head shaking. “And I know more about Maggie’s reasons for drinking than you think…moony, girly ass woman.”
“Drink, baby brother,” she demanded, ignoring his answer before she knocked her glass with his. Then, the woman moved her chin, squinting at my glass like she wouldn’t rest until I had the tequila down my throat. I wasn’t going to take it.
Mateo was still my responsibility, no matter how many Carelli aunties and cousins looked after him. Besides, I avoided shots at all costs. But when I thought of a good explanation to give Toni not to drink, readying the lame excuse of a sore stomach, Smoke made his entrance into the restaurant. He looked fit, his suit pressed and tailored like it had been sewn right over his beautiful, cut frame and I lost all hold on my good sense. But there was a cut along his chin and a small purple bruise near his cheek that had me staring, had me worried. I dropped my gaze, looking at his hands, spotting his hand, the bandaged knuckles and my stomach curled.
Toni leaned next to me, her attention on my face, then at her brother before she whispered in my ear. “It’s…just business, cara,” she said, shooting back another shot with Dante before refilling their glasses again.
“You have to decide, Maggie, if it’s worth the risk.”
Could I?
“Dios,” I said, not looking away when he walked to his father, kissing the man on the cheek. Then he picked Mateo up, holding my son in his arms.
The baby squealed, his face lit up like he knew exactly who Smoke was.
He patted Mateo’s back, kissing his forehead. His attention moved around the room, looking over the crowd. He nodded and returned smiles when he met welcomes and then his attention stopped right on my face when he found me.
I took three small seconds to look back at him, practically feeling that searing gaze of his, how it dipped to his brother and sister downing shots next to me, then to the full glass in my hand before I curled my fingers around the shot and threw it back, polishing it off in one swallow.
“Excellent,” Toni said, refilling my glass.
Smoke