Rooted (Pagano Family #3)(33)

“Don’t worry about how it works. Worry about whether you want it to work. You started by saying that Eli is what you want. Then go for it. If you both want it enough, you’ll figure out the how.”

“Pop would kill me if I moved.” Now Rosa was contemplative rather than combative.

But wow. That was a big jump. “Well, baby steps here, hon. But if it comes to it, maybe he moves. He’s between jobs, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true. He could find something in Providence. Maybe Uncle Ben knows—”

“No, Rosie. Don’t even let that thought take root. No.”

She sighed. “Yeah, okay. Can I have my phone back?” Carmen handed it over, and Rosa tapped on the screen. “Don’t have a coronary, okay? I’m just saying something to make him feel better. I know what it’s like to be left hanging, and it sucks.”

“He calls you Rhody?”

“Yeah. I told him I didn’t like him calling me Jersey Shore, and that my accent wasn’t even Jersey. Then there was a thing about my name—Rosa, Rosie, Rhody—and then I had a nickname. It’s fine. It’s cute. Lame, but cute.”

“Yeah. Lame but cute seems to run in that family.”

With a final tap, Rosa put her phone away. She took a sip of her soda and then gave Carmen a long look. “Thanks, Carm. That was only minimal bitchiness on your part.”

Carmen smiled.



oOo



When they got back to Paris, the Wilde men were waiting for them at the station, and they fell right back into their intensity. Eli and Rosa were suddenly a bona fide couple. Carmen had done some thinking, and she felt some envy, but she knew that what was going on with her sister and Theo’s son could not be replicated between her and Theo. Too much history, too much baggage. But the week away had refreshed her resolve, given her the distance she’d needed. She had her heart in hand again and could let herself do the thing that felt good.

One night, while she was sleeping in Theo’s arms, her phone rang, playing a Van Halen song. Luca was calling. She’d just spoken to him the day before, catching up on family news, so she knew instantly that the call meant trouble. Her phone was in the living room, and she scrambled to get it before it went to voice mail.

She didn’t make it, but she called him right back, not bothering to wait for the message. He answered on the first ring. “Carm.”

“What’s wrong? Is it Pop?”

“Nah. Pop’s good. Well, healthy. But I got news. I didn’t think about how late it would be for you, though. Sorry.”

“It’s fine, Luc, it’s fine. What happened?”

“Fire at a job site.”

“Fuck! John’s okay? Joey? Everybody’s okay?”

“Yeah. Family’s fine. But the fire wasn’t an accident. One of our guys is dead, too. Tied to a support beam and burned in the fire.”

Carmen sat on the floor, falling in a heap. “Jesus. Who was it?” Theo came out, naked, as she was. When he saw her on the floor, his expression went immediately to concern, and he sat down at her side and put his arm around her. She resisted the urge to shake him off.

In her ear, Luca answered her question. “Norm.”

Norm had worked for Pagano & Sons Construction for at least two decades. “Shit. What are you talking about? Why Norm?”

“I don’t think there was a particular reason. Just the first of our guys they found.”

Carmen suddenly understood. If Luca hadn’t roused her from a deep, spent sleep, she would have caught it more quickly. “This has to do with the Uncles.”

She could hear Luca sigh. “Yeah, I’d say so.”

“Jesus, Luc. You want us to come home?” Theo’s arm tensed at that.

“No! God, Carm, no. Stay where you are. You’re safe there. Except—maybe don’t do the trip to the motherland, okay? Who knows if this is just something local or how deep it goes. Whoever it is isn’t making a distinction between sides of the family. Things are getting all snarled up. Stay where you are, have your vacation. We’re good here. I’m sure the Uncles are on it, and you’re safe where you are. I just wanted to let you know, ask you to cancel Italy. Okay?”

Carmen rubbed her eyes, feeling sad and weary. “Yeah, okay. How’s Pop holding up?”

A long pause told Carmen more than Luca’s words would. “He and Norm went way back.”

“I know.”

“He’ll be okay.”

“Yeah. Tell him I love him, okay? Tell him we’re good.”

“Okay. Go back to sleep, sis. I love you.”

“Love you, too.” She ended the call and set her phone on the nearest table.

“Carmen, something’s wrong.” She turned and considered Theo. She liked that he hadn’t asked an obvious question. He’d made a statement. Now that the call was over, she didn’t want to shrug him off anymore, so she laid her head on his shoulder.

“Yeah. Family stuff. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Are you leaving?” She wondered whether she’d imagined the subtle break in his voice.

“No. Not earlier than planned, anyway.”

He kissed the top of her head and left his lips there to linger. “I’m here if you want to talk.”