I walked into Thrasher Development with a smile on my face. I hadn’t spoken to Uncle Joey or Jackie, his secretary and wife, since we’d come home, and I was pretty sure they’d be surprised to see me so soon.
In fact, it even surprised me that I’d voluntarily show up at the office of a mob boss. After everything I’d been through, I should know better, but, here I was with a smile on my face. What would Bob Spicer think about that? He’d probably want to commit me.
“Shelby!” Jackie exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you today. How are you doing? How’s the arm?”
“It still hurts a little, but it’s healing. How’s Uncle Joey’s shoulder? Did he ever get it looked at?” He’d gotten shot coming to my rescue… well… I guess it was more like a flesh wound. But a bullet’s a bullet, right?
“Yes, but only because I made him go in.” She shook her head. “That man can be so stubborn.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” Uncle Joey may be a mob boss, but he’d changed in the past year or so, mostly because of me… or at least that’s what I liked to think.
Since I’d met him, he’d made several discoveries. He’d found out Jackie was in love with him. They’d secretly married, but now everyone knew. He’d also found out he had a son, Miguel, who, at eighteen, had enough talent to become the lead singer in a Broadway musical in New York City. That musical was the main reason we’d all been in New York, but it had turned into so much more, and we were lucky to be alive.
“Joe’s in his office with Ramos,” Jackie said. “And I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you interrupted them.” She knew Joe would be happy to see me, especially since I’d come in all on my own. Ramos was half in love with me, so she knew he wouldn’t complain.
That was a sore spot for her, and she wished he’d get over it. I was a married woman, and she didn’t want him to destroy my life. But the way he looked at me even made her hot all over. If he kept it up, she worried that I wouldn’t be able to resist his charms. Of course, I’d kept my distance for over a year; maybe I was stronger than she thought.
As I walked down the hall, I fought the urge to turn around and tell her that she didn’t need to worry. Ramos and I had an agreement. He may tease me, but he didn’t want to ruin my life, so it was all good. Besides, even if I wasn’t happily married, he was a hitman and not relationship material… at least that’s what I told myself.
Uncle Joey’s office door was open, so I gave a slight tap on the door and stepped inside. Uncle Joey glanced up, and his eyes widened. “Shelby. This is a pleasant surprise. Come on in.”
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.”
Uncle Joey smiled broadly and came around his desk for a quick hug. “I’m glad you came. It’s good to see you.”
I met him halfway, surprised at the warmth I felt to see him again. “You too.”
While he returned to his seat, Ramos stood from his chair and looked me over with a wicked gleam in his eyes, thinking that he liked what he saw, especially the tight, black jeans and soft blue shirt that made my blue eyes sparkle like gems. “How’s the arm?” he asked, wondering if I was going to give him a hug, too.
Crap. Jackie was right. The intense way he looked me over sent tremors from my head to my toes. Of course, he’d do that to anyone, right? It didn’t help that he was dressed in his black hitman attire, and danger rolled off him like he was ready to kill someone. Why was that so attractive? Hmmm… what would Bob think about that?
Ramos’s lips quirked up in that sexy smile of his, and I picked up his satisfaction that he’d made me forget why I was even there. With a huff, I pulled up my sleeve and stepped close enough for him to examine it. “I think it’s getting better all the time, see? The bruises are even fading, and it’s not as swollen.”
Just looking at the damage to my arm made Ramos mad all over again. Satisfaction that he’d killed the bastard calmed him down. “Yeah, you’re right. It does look better.”
Standing so close, I couldn’t help taking a long whiff of his clean, woodsy scent. His dark, knowing gaze jerked to mine. Chagrined, I stepped away and quickly took a seat in the chair next to his, in front of Uncle Joey’s desk. With a smirk, Ramos sat back down.
“So, what brought you downtown?” Uncle Joey asked, picking up on our interaction and thinking that Ramos and I would never learn. It was like a game we played. As long as it stayed that way, he wouldn’t interfere, but if Ramos stepped over the line—
“Oh look,” I said, pointing at a photo framed on Uncle Joey’s desk. “It’s the photo of all of us at Miguel’s opening night in New York.”
“Yes,” he agreed, not missing my attempt at distraction. “I think it turned out pretty well.”
“It did.” We were all smiling, and everyone looked great, just like one big happy family. “I’d love a copy.”
Uncle Joey grinned, happy that I’d finally accepted that we were part of the Manetto clan. “Jackie thought you’d like one, so she had an extra copy made for you. It’s in your office on your desk.”
“Oh… that’s great. Thanks.”
“Of course. Now… as I was saying… what brought you downtown?” He was thinking about the task he’d given Chris this morning. Had I been to his office? Had Chris spoken to me?
What did he mean
