All I Believe (Firsts and Forever, #10)(89)

Luca started to look tired after about an hour, so we said goodnight to everyone and went outside to hail a cab. The fall night was brisk and foggy, and I gathered Luca into my arms to keep him warm as we waited for a taxi. “Do you think it’s really over?” he asked as he rested his forehead against mine and wrapped his hands around my waist. “Dante basically just went in and chopped your cousin’s balls off. Is Jerry really just going to let him get away with that?”

“I don’t think he has a choice.”

“He could still carry out that hit, just out of spite.”

“He could, but I don’t think he will. Maybe I should make a call, just to be sure.”

I pulled out my phone, found a number in my contacts, and dialed it. When the call connected I said, “You’re a total f*cking *, Connie.”

“Ah, Darling Nicky.” I winced at the nickname. My brother had tortured me with it mercilessly when he’d discovered that Prince song during our childhood. “I’ve been expecting your call for days. I was beginning to think you didn’t love me anymore.”

“Oh, I don’t.”

“Now don’t be that way. I still love you, even if you did just call me at this ungodly hour! Do you realize what time it is in Rome?”

“You’re in Rome?’

“Did I not just say that?”

“In that case it’s nine a.m. there.”

“Yes! Like I said, ungodly!”

I fought back a sigh and said, “Did Jerry call you earlier tonight?”

“Why yes. Twice, actually. Once to tell me not to shoot your love muffin or his brother the antichrist, and again a couple hours later to tell me about the new world order. Or, the old world order, I suppose. Anyway, he told me Dante’s back in charge, and that he’s holding Jerry’s purse strings. I never liked old Jer, I’m glad he’s getting what’s coming to him.”

“If you never liked him, why’d you agree to do his dirty work?”

“Hey, a job’s a job,” my brother said.

“Asshole.”

He clicked his tongue and said, “You’re so foulmouthed these days! Must be the company you’re keeping.”

I frowned and asked, “Why are you in Rome?”

“Jer hired me to do a job, remember?”

“Andreo was there for a week. He even went by his brother’s apartment at one point to pack some clothes for him. Either you totally suck as a hitman, or you knew he was in town but couldn’t make yourself kill him.”

“Or maybe your future brother-in-law Fred Flintstone is stealthier than you’re giving him credit for.” I had to grin a little. That wasn’t the most off-base nickname for Andreo. A cab pulled onto the street just then, and I stuck my arm out.

As it came to a stop in front of us and Luca and I got in, I said, “Do you swear to me Jerry called off the hit?”

“Scout’s honor.”

“You were never a scout.”

“Fine, then assassin’s honor.”

“I can’t believe this is what you did with your life,” I said.

“So judgmental!”

I sighed at that as Luca gave the cab driver Nana’s address. After a moment I asked, “Are you really coming home for Christmas?”

“What?”

“You said something about that in Tahiti, after you got done pointing a gun at me.”

“Actually, I was pointing it at your snookie wookie. You just got in the way,” Connie said. “He’s a grade-A hottie, incidentally. You’ve done well for yourself.”


“What, no digs about him being a Natori?”

“Like I give a shit who his daddy was.”

“So you really were going to kill him just for the money.”

Connie sighed dramatically. “Oh. My. God. You’re the most judgmental person on Earth, Nicky!”

“And you’re a f*cking hitman!” That made the cab driver stare at me in the rearview mirror. I smiled at him weakly, then said into the phone, “So, are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Coming home for Christmas.”

“I am. I think it’ll be a hoot, don’t you? I haven’t been home in years, but something tells me this is the one not to miss.”

“Because Andreo will be here?”

“Ugh. He won’t really, will he?”

I said, “I don’t know. I’m just assuming.”

“Well, despite the potential presence of Wreck-it Ralph, I’ll still be there.” Again, not the most off-base insult.

“Alright. I guess I’ll see you in a few weeks, then.”

“I love you, baby brother,” he said cheerfully.

“You really are an *,” I told him before ending the call.

“So, all is well then?” Luca asked as I returned the phone to my jacket pocket.

“Yeah. I believe him about the hit being called off. So all I have to worry about now is getting you to rest and finish healing.”

“I’m totally healed. I was shot months ago!” That got us another glance in the rearview mirror from the cab driver.

“It was a couple weeks! I know you must still be in pain, even if you pretend you’re not. Plus, look how tired you got after an hour at that club.”