Miles Away (Carrion #1)(10)

“Mr. Capadonno,” Rita Marone said in a thick South Philly accent. She looked surprised to see Miles. “What a pleasure seeing you here!”

The look of trepidation in Rita’s eyes didn’t match the warmth of her voice.

“It’s Cormack now, Mrs. Marone,” Miles said, correcting her gently. Nodding her head, Rita’s expression changed into one of deep approval.

“Good for you, Miles,” Rita said as she placed a hand on Miles’s arm, partially covering the skull on his sleeve tattoo. “Your mom and I, we go way back, you know.”

Miles nodded politely as he stepped out of the doorway to let Landon through.

“Do you remember my kid brother, Landon?” Miles asked as he pointed towards the kid. In typical Landon fashion, he grinned from ear to ear. As Miles watched Landon grin at Rita, he began to wonder if the kid’s got even a drop of Capadonno blood in him.

My mother must’ve had some side action. For all I know, Landon could be the mailman’s kid.

“Oh, yes! I remember Landon!” Rita gushed. “You were just a baby when I saw you last…”

“Hi, Mrs. Marone,” Landon said with a wave of his hand.

Rita glanced at Landon, then back at Miles. She continued to compare their faces with her eyes until a wicked smirk formed on her face.

“What?” Miles asked as a smile grew on his own face.

“He’s so….bianco!” Rita said with a laugh as she continued to compare the two Capadonno brothers.

While Landon peered at Miles and Rita in utter confusion, laughter ripped from Miles’s mouth. Miles’s eyes watered, his belly hurt and he couldn’t stop laughing.

“Bianco? What’s bianco?” Landon demanded to know with wide eyes and a self-conscious look on his face.

Mrs. Marone was still laughing, so Miles acted as her proxy and replied for her.

“She said you’re so white…” Miles replied as he wiggled his eyebrows teasingly at Landon.

The kid stood there with a nonplussed look.

“Ummm…” Landon said in a confused tone of voice, “thanks. I guess.”

Miles elbowed Landon in his gut and explained, “His Irish American side is much more prominent.”

“I see! I see! I hope you’re staying out of trouble!” Rita said as she pinched Landon’s rosy cheeks.

“I am,” Landon replied as he broke away from Rita’s clutches.

“He’s a good kid,” Miles confirmed. “He’s my buddy.”

Rita smiled in approval as she grabbed two menus.

“Follow me, gents,” Rita said as she led the way through the dining room.

The light atmosphere faded as Miles and Landon followed Rita into the dining room. The patrons continued to stare. They were watching Miles’s every move, like a hawk stalking its prey. Landon noticed it too. He whispered in Miles’s ear, “We should go.”

Miles rolled his shoulders as he let his stress roll down his back.

“Chill,” Miles spat through his teeth.

It wasn’t a request. It was a straight up f*cking demand. Don’t act like a * in the heart of South Philly. You’ll be forever known as a chump. Around here, respect is everything, and once you lose it, it’s gone forever.

Dante Sabotino glared up from his seat at Miles. With sneaky eyes and well-gelled hair, his appearance was as slippery as his personality was. Dante’s cousin, Vinnie “The Fish” Moretta, wasn’t much of an improvement. His rounded belly threatened to pop the buttons off his striped button-down shirt. His terrible comb-over damn near made Miles laugh. Damn near, but he didn’t.

I might not be scared of these idiots, but the last thing you want to do is disrespect him in his own backyard. Vinnie ran the blade of his butter knife over his finger nail. Now that actually made me chuckle. I guess that shit was supposed to scare me. A dumbass with a butter knife. I’ve created weapons more threatening in the confines of my cell. Shaking my head as I walk by, I decide not to give Dickhead Dante the time of day.

“Here ya are, fellas. What can I get ya?” Rita asked as she slipped on a pair of reading glasses and whipped out a notepad to write upon.

Miles ordered first. It’d been forever since he’d had a decent meal, and in his eagerness, he accidentally cut off the kid. Landon looked like he understood, so Miles wasn’t too embarrassed.

“Putanesca with some of those garlic knots,” Miles told Rita.

I can almost taste it now. My favorite dish. Angel hair pasta, extra virgin olive oil, capers, olives, fresh tomato and basil. Delicious, Miles thought.

“That meal comes with a salad. Do you want chef, Caesar or garden?” Rita asked.

“Chef,” Miles replied quickly.

“White wine or red wine?” Rita asked.

Miles shook his head. “Tall glass of ice water. I have to drive back to Jersey tonight.”

“Very good, and Landon, what can I get ya, hun?” Rita asked as she scribbled Miles’s order down onto the notepad.

“Cheesesteak provolone wit’… and an order of fries,” Landon said as he handed over his menu, ordering in the local lingo which meant that Landon wanted a cheesesteak with fried onions and provolone cheese.

“And to drink?” Rita asked.

Landon gave Miles a crooked glance. The kid wore his heart on his sleeve. Miles could immediately see right through his brother’s facade. He was going to try to play his hand. He wanted to see how far Miles would let him slide.