Climbing into the cab, I reach into the middle console, grabbing out one of the chewy bones I keep for him. Handing it over to him, I rub his ears as I back out of the lot. “Try not to drool all over the seat this time, I might have Laney in here and I don’t think she’d appreciate it.”
He ignores me, drool already dripping all over the place and I laugh, patting his side. “Fine. I’ll just have to throw my sweater down.”
It only takes twenty minutes to get to Mamma’s, missing most of the traffic, and I smile to myself when Duke starts wiggling in his seat at the sight of Rosa. Getting out I walk to the other side to let him out, his feet on the driveway almost as soon as his door is opened.
Running over, Rosa giggles as Duke gives her face some love. “Can you tell Mamma I’ll be back to pick him up tomorrow morning?”
Rosa smiles at me, picking up a ball from the lawn for Duke. “You’re not staying?”
I shake my head as she holds the ball above her head to keep it out of reach. “Tell Mamma I’ll visit in the morning. I have to go now though.”
She’s running around the yard now, throwing the ball a second before Duke gets it from her. “Okay, bye Jessie!”
Jumping back into the SUV I wave out the window. I need to leave before Mamma comes out and makes me late. I have to talk to Malcom at the docks before Laney gets there.
Getting to the docks, I have fifteen minutes before Laney is supposed to show up which should be fine. I really just need to fucking tell her what I do already, and this wouldn’t even be an issue.
Malcom is waiting for me when I get there, smoking what looks like a joint in one hand and a burger in the other. “You want a bite?” He asks as I get closer and I laugh, shaking my head at him.
“Absolutely fucking not.”
Malcom was a rookie cop when my dad still worked for the force. He still works with them now and also as an associate for the Famiglia. He’s a good decade older than I am, but he definitely doesn’t act like it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he never settles down, and forever lives the bachelor life fucking hookers and smoking pot off duty.
“I saw you with the younger Luciano a few weeks back.” He raises his brows at me around the last bite of his burger, smiling as he chews.
“And? My personal life is none of your business.” He just chuckles at me, scrunching up the burger wrapper in his palm. “Were you able to pull the file on Fontana?”
Wiping his mouth he nods, “I was, but all I could see was that she’s been to the clinic twice and can’t access what she’s going in for. It’s a general practitioner, so it could be anything.”
I have a good suspicion I know exactly why she’s visiting the clinic, but I’ve learned from experience not to make a solid assumption without proper proof. “Okay. Try to get your hands on the actual visit and also copies of the camera footage of her being there. Buy it if you need to.”
I can see Laney’s car pulling in, watching her park near the back lots. “Sure thing.” Malcom takes a puff of his joint, squinting at me through the smoke. “Why do you care so much if you’re messing around with that cute leggy one?”
“Do your job and worry about yourself.” Laney smiles once she sees me. The sundress she’s in swishing around her ankles as she walks my way. “Now leave.”
“Well I might as well introduce myself, she’s already here.”
“I swear to fuck, if you say anything about the Famiglia I will burn your house down while you’re still in it.”
“You’re kind of a rude guy.”
Pretending I don’t hear him, I smile at Laney as she steps up to us. She’s eyeing Malcom and I know it’s because she recognizes him from the pier. “Hey.” It’s said to me, but she’s already looking at Malcom, her hand coming up to brush some of the loose hair from her bun out of her face. “Do I know you?”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off, drawing her big browns to me. “He was at the pier a few weeks ago, the pervert standing by the slushie stand.”
She smiles, nodding as she remembers. “Well pervert or not, I’m Delaney. It’s nice to meet you.”
She doesn’t extend her hand and I’m grateful for it, this schmuck doesn’t need to be touching her. “Pleasure is mine, darlin’.”
Her eyes come back to meet mine, slightly widening like she’s mentally calling him a freak, which she wouldn’t be wrong. “How do you know each other?”
I speak up before Malcom, my eyes glued to the gloss on her lips. “Business associates.”
“Ah, the mysterious business you won’t talk about.” She’s smiling and I can see she’s working up a plot in that beautiful head of hers to get information from Malcom.
“We should leave. Bye Malcom.” I lightly grip her arm, ushering her away.
“Leave? I literally just got here.” She’s frowning at me, but the dimple in her cheek says she’s not actually annoyed.
“Till next time, Wolf.” I raise my hand in acknowledgment, opening my SUV door for Laney.
“Wolf? Why did he call you that? And again, where are we going?” She starts to climb in and I hurry to stop her, remembering the slobber from Duke.
“Wait! Let me throw something down, Duke was up here with a bone.” I reach around her grabbing a hoodie from
