"I'd have lost track of my dick lately if it weren't attached to my body."
"You used to lose track of what you stuck it in even though it was attached."
"Ha-ha." He climbed to his feet, swaying. "Where's my other shoe?"
Rolling her eyes, Genna grabbed his discarded shoe from the doorway. He slipped it on, not bothering to tie the laces, and wandered out of the office.
Genna trailed him, watching him stagger. "Are you still drunk?"
"Probably."
Laughing, Genna followed Dante outside, damn near running right into his back when he stopped in front of the house. "A Lincoln Continental?"
Genna slipped past him as he stared at the car. "You like it?"
His gaze shifted her way. "It's yours?"
Grinning, she pulled out the key, dangling it in front of his face. "It wasn't even running when I found it. I spent the past few months working on it. Impressed?"
"Absolutely," Dante said, approaching it. "Not really surprised, though. You gonna let me drive it?"
"Nope."
"Then I'm not impressed anymore."
Genna rolled her eyes, looking around. "Where's the Mercedes?"
"Got rid of it."
"How are you getting around?"
"I got a new car. It's parked somewhere. Hopefully."
"And that is precisely why you're not driving my Lincoln," she said. "Another thing you'll lose track of. But anyway, I'm guessing Matty's still at your apartment. Ugh, it's weird that you have an apartment. You have a girlfriend."
"Says the girl who's having a baby soon."
"Okay, this?" She waved at her swollen stomach. "This was a happy accident. But that?" She waved toward him. "That is you being a mature adult."
"A mature adult."
"Yes."
"Did you know she was my nurse? That I met her at the hospital? That I showed up at her apartment one night, bleeding, and asked her to fix me, and then I kind of just kept going back, because I had nowhere else to go by then? That's not a mature adult. That's a fortunate degenerate."
Genna laughed. "She actually put up with that?"
"She almost shot me once when I broke in, but otherwise, yeah."
"You know, the more I hear about this girl, the more I like her. I need you to get your shit together and work that out."
"I hear you."
Genna grabbed her brother, pulling him into a quick hug. "I'll see you in a bit, don't worry. Just, like, take a shower or something. You reek of alcohol."
"Yeah, yeah, get out of here," he grumbled. "Go see your precious Matteo."
Genna scowled, sticking her tongue out at him before getting in the car and driving away. She headed back to Little Italy, approaching the building just as someone opened the door. She slipped around them and trekked upstairs, drained by the time she reached the top floor. Her stomach cramped, tightening, and she clutched hold of it, grimacing. "Not yet, kid. Not yet."
Genna knocked, hearing movement inside, the sound of high heels approaching before locks shifted, the door opening. Gabriella stood in front of her, wearing a long sleeved black dress and heels.
"Hey, come in," she said, stepping out of the way. "Matty just fell asleep."
Genna glanced toward the couch, seeing Matty curled up. "I'm guessing he was up all night."
"You guessed right."
"Figures." She looked back at Gabriella. "Nice dress. You got plans or something? If so, you know, we can get out of your hair."
"Oh, no, I've just got a meeting this afternoon. By all means, stay. I know the apartment is small, but you're welcome here for as long as you want."
"I appreciate that," Genna said.
Gabriella ran her fingers through her curled hair. "So you saw him?"
"Dante? Yeah."
"And he's okay?"
"He was drunk as a skunk and about to fall off the balcony railing when I got there, but he seems better today. Hungover, but okay."
Gabriella nodded but said nothing, heading into her bathroom.
Genna strolled over to the couch and whispered, "Matty?"
The second his name came from her lips, he shot straight up. "Genna."
She plopped down beside him, shoving into his arms as he relaxed again. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head, his hands caressing her stomach as he held her.
"Did you save me some pizza?" she asked.
"Of course."
"Does it have pickles on it?"
"You know it does."
Smiling, she closed her eyes. "You're too good to me, Matty-B"
He nuzzled against her, humming in her ear, "Never good enough, Princess."
Chapter Twenty-Four
Fresh out of college with a bachelor's degree in nursing, the first place Gabriella applied for a job was Presbyterian. She figured it a long shot, being as she was inexperienced, but they took a chance on