direct answer to Donnie’s question. It was a denial of an answer, and a warning.
Angie was a Sacco man now, and would not give them any insights into the plans or thinking of his wife, who was also his don.
A few minutes earlier, Nick had stood here with his dearest friends at his sides and thought it was almost as if things hadn’t changed among them.
But they had.
~oOo~
After dinner, gifts were exchanged. Nick, Beverly, and the children would have their Christmas morning, but in the time between dinner and Mass here on Christmas Eve, they shared small tokens with this group of extended family and close friends.
Nick noticed that Alex, again, gave Lia a gift of jewelry—this time a silver necklace with tragedy and comedy masks etched on a small heart—and felt the surge of wary irritation that was becoming his primary feeling for the boy. Gifts of jewelry were too romantic, conveyed too much feeling, for a relationship so new between people so young.
But then he reminded himself that he wanted that bond between them.
Lia gave Alex a set of cooking supplies, which Alex seemed to find surprisingly romantic as well.
After the gifts, it was time to head to Mass. Everyone was going, and they formed a small army of men and women and children, all heading out together to the street, where a cavalcade of vehicles and an actual small army of guards waited for them.
Every year it was like this, and it was a highlight of the evening for Nick. At few other times in his year did he feel so keenly how many people he loved and loved him.
He enjoyed the friendly chaos of all his dear ones clamoring together in the crisp air of a dark Christmas Eve, herding the children, bobbling their new gifts as they closed coats and pulled on gloves, chatter and laughter winding down as they moved toward their cars. He liked the way the cars all started up and headlights popped on, everyone moving in concert, in the bright, rhythmic patterns of shared tradition and fellowship.
He was not a man who trusted easily, and he held himself a bit off from most of these people on his lawn tonight, but he felt the shared love nonetheless, and he needed these moments in his life to refresh him.
Beverly, Elisa, Carina, Ren, and Lia were all close enough that he could touch them, could have opened his arms wide and gathered them all close. He didn’t even mind that Alex, with his arm around Lia, was so close as well.
He set his hand at the small of his wife’s back, preparing to lead her to their Navigator, where Mel awaited. Lia and Alex sidled off a bit; they were going together in Alex’s car. Nick felt a small, sharp pang at that, but met Lia’s eyes and offered her a smile.
A hand slipped around his free one, and Nick shifted his attention. Elisa was right at his side, smiling at him without any of that fearful suspicion in her eyes. She felt the magic of this simple moment, too. Christmas Eve.
He smiled at his girl. “Buon Natale, signorina.”
Her smile brightened even more. “Buon Natale, Papa.”
As he drew his family toward the Navigator, Nick saw Angie on the street, opening the passenger door of his Hellcat. Angie did the protective turn of a bodyguard, checking his surroundings as he offered Giada his arm to usher her into the car. It was an ingrained habit in men like them, even here, where they were secure—well guarded, well monitored, and no way for an ambush to form.
Nick was just about to turn back to his own purpose and lead his family to his car, when the glass in the Hellcat’s passenger door exploded, and Giada dropped to the street between the car and the door.
Nick was already diving for Beverly and his children when Mel shouted, “DOWN!” and tackled him.
Several male voices picked up the same shout, and then a woman screamed, and another. Children were crying. Angie yelled, “Fuck no! NO! G!”
Then another male voice he knew yelled, “No, God NO!”
That voice was Carlo’s.
Nick lifted his head and tried to see, but he was buried under the heavy body of his guard. Beverly was awkwardly beneath him, her shoulder pressing into his chest in a way that made his lungs ache. She was trembling, but otherwise calm.
“Bella!”
“I’m okay,” she gasped.
He had to know his children were safe, and he had to understand what the