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  Disgusted, Nicholas walked around the kid. He was reaching for the door when a large man stepped out from the shadows and into his path.

  “He asked you a question.”

  Nicholas glanced up at the skyscraper with feet. The man folded beefy arms over a chest so wide that off-the-rack shirts could be considered a handkerchief.

  The attempt to intimidate him nearly had Nicholas doubled over with laughter. Did the man really think he could not be taken down?

  Nicholas did not have time to deal with either man. He needed to get inside and speak with Georgia. In the past, they’d had their share of arguments, but never anything that lasted more than two weeks like this one had.

  Before he had the chance to demonstrate skills he had learned from years of watching over Georgia and Celeste, the door swung open and slapped the giant in the back. The man growled. His frown shifted to a leer as Celeste stepped outside.

  She wore a sleeveless silver evening gown with a violet scarf around her neck. And, though Nicholas would agree she looked like a starlet, he did not appreciate the way the other man stared at her.

  “Where have you been?” Celeste pushed past the big man in her way.

  Nicholas shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

  “What are you doing? It’s not that cold out here.”

  “I’m preventing a fight.” He nodded toward the goon.

  Celeste glanced up at her admirer and rolled her eyes. “Forget him.” She turned back to Nicholas. “Where’s Georgia?”

  “I assumed she was here.”

  “How could she be? You just got here, Nicky.”

  “I figured her man would bring her.”

  “Georgia’s not seeing anyone.” Her eyes widened. “Is she?”

  Nicholas took Celeste by the elbow and led her back inside Gracie’s. The punk and the goon were too busy staring at a buxom blonde to harass them. He escorted her to the office, where they’d be able to talk without being disturbed.

  Celeste sat on the edge of the sofa. “So, who’s this guy Georgia’s seeing?”

  “Someone her father set her up with.”

  “You’re wrong. She’d never go out with someone her father set her up with. He tried it once before, and the man bored her.”

  “There must be something about this guy. I’ve seen her with him more than once.”

  “When?”

  “Two days after you ran off with Gianni. I’m surprised Georgia didn’t tell you.”

  Celeste glanced at her hands in her lap. “We haven’t actually spoken since right after I got back.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  Nicholas could not believe his ears. The two women had never gone that long without communicating. When Georgia visited her relatives in the country, Celeste and she wrote so many letters, posts were still being delivered days after Georgia returned.

  “No, you’re wrong.” Celeste shook her head. “Georgia’s at home, waiting for you to pick her up.” She shot off the sofa. “I bet if you call her, she’ll not only answer the phone, but she’ll fuss at you for being late.” She reached around him and picked up the handset. “Go ahead, call her.”

  Though Nicholas suspected otherwise, he prayed Celeste was right. Georgia fussing at him would be better than the alternative.

  Nicholas reached back and dialed the number to the Collins apartment. As the dial rotated back to its original position, he took the handset his sister held to her chest.

  After twenty rings, he shook his head. Celeste reached around him and disconnected the call.

  “That doesn’t mean anything. She’s probably waiting for you in the bar.”

  Before she could beg him to, Nicholas dialed the number to the bar. The phone rang twice before he heard the murmur of voices rising to be heard over Sammy Davis Jr. “Sugar’s.” He recognized the voice of Raymond Torres, who tended bar part-time.

  “May I speak to Georgia?”

  “Hey, Nick. She left out of here an hour ago with her date.”

  “Did she say where she was going?”

  “I overheard him mention a church social to her father.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  “You want me to tell her you called?”

  “No, I’ll get in touch with her later.”

  Nicholas dropped the handset onto its base. He would never have thought Georgia would take her objection to Celeste’s marriage that far. It was one thing to distance herself from Gianni, but another to turn her back on her friend.

  “She’s not coming, is she.” Celeste’s voice cracked. Her bottom lip trembled and tears gathered in her eyes.

  Nicholas pulled his sister to his chest. The last time she had been that miserable was her sixth birthday party. She cared nothing about the elaborate celebration their father had planned or the expensive presents the guests had brought her. All she wanted was to spend the day with her friend.

  He wanted to hate Georgia for the slight, but his heart could not let him. Instead, he needed to find a way to repair the rift in the relationship…for Celeste’s sake and his.

  Chapter 10

  Everything about the house was wrong.

  Nicholas’s ears were not assaulted by high-pitched giggles. The aroma of spicy meats and sweet pastries did not drift from the kitchen. And bodies were not sprawled across the furniture. Instead, the scent of pine cleaner hung in the air, the tick from the second hand in the grandfather clock broke the silence, and the furniture was void of bodies that made the house a home.

  He caught the door before it collided with the frame. A lively entrance felt out of place.

  “Anyone home?” he called out as the door softly closed behind him.

  “Who’s there?” his father’s voice drifted from upstairs.

  He jogged up the steps, two at a time, to the second level, shared by his father and grandmother. He strolled down the carpet-lined hall and stopped on the threshold of the master bedroom.

  “It’s your son.”

  “I forgot I had children.” The older man glanced at Nicholas’s reflection in the mirror before refocusing his gaze on himself. “Happens when no one visits me for a month.”

  “I called you.”

  “A thirty-second ‘Hey, Pops, just calling to see what’s up’? At least your sister has a good excuse. She’s adjusting to marriage. But you—you’d think you could pull out and zip up long enough to visit your old man.”

  “I also work.”

  “Taking bets and breaking bones? When are you gonna get a real job?”

  “When you do.”

  The older man faced him. “Don’t look down your nose at what I do. I’m in the business of helping people.”

  “For twenty-five percent interest or fifty percent of the profits. Whatever’s greater.”

  His father’s eyes narrowed. “Watch it. I can still beat you.”

  Nicholas sighed. He woke up that morning feeling as if something was missing. Whenever he felt out of sorts, a trip to his childhood home brightened his mood. For the first time, however, it was not working. Instead of arguing with his father, he needed to get things back to normal.

  “Listen, Pops, I’m here now. Why don’t we go to the kitchen, and you can fix some sausage and peppers. I’ll knock on Nonna’s door and tell her you’re cooking.”

  “You can knock all you want, but she won’t answer.” His father turned back to the mirror. “She went out with a couple of women from her church.”

  “So it’ll be the two of us.”

  “No, it’s just gonna be you. I’m going out.”

  Nicholas took in the other man’s suit and for the first time recognized the aftershave his father only wore on special occasions.

  “You’re dressing kind of fancy for a poker game with the guys.”

  “I’m not playing tonight.” He adjusted his tie. “I’ve got a date.”

  “You have a date?”

  “Whaddaya think? I’m too old to go out?”

&nbs
p; “No, I just never thought about you dating.”

  “There’s nothing for you to think about. It’s none of your business.” His father reached for the jacket lying on the foot of his bed. “Instead of standing there interrogating me, why don’t you go out there and find a decent dame and make an honest woman out of her?” He shook his head. “What am I asking? Why should I be lucky like James?”

  A flash of red clouded Nicholas’s vision. His father did not need to elaborate. He realized the older man was referring to the guy Georgia was seeing.

  “By the way, do you know why Georgia missed your sister’s party?”

  As with his uncle, he did not want to discuss the woman. However, feeling he had already antagonized his father enough, he decided to give him the bare details.

  “Georgia and I had a misunderstanding.”

  “Meaning someone said something he shouldn’t.” His father shrugged into his jacket, then turned back to the mirror to smooth the lines. “What did you say?”

  “Why does it have to be my fault?” He hadn’t been the one making accusations about others.

  The visit was not turning out the way Nicholas had expected. Maybe he needed to take his father’s advice…or at least part of it. He was not ready to marry, but he could find someone for the night.

  After wishing the older man well, Nicholas drove to Gracie’s. He hadn’t been to the venue since Celeste’s party two weeks earlier. Every time he thought about that night, he got heated. How could Georgia skip her friend’s party? Even if she did not like Gianni, she could have avoided the man.

  Nicholas had meant to confront Georgia about her slight. With Gianni no longer working with him, he could not easily get away during the day. By the time he was free, it was too late to visit her. Deciding the argument had gone on too long, he made a note to get to her apartment before she left for the diner in the morning.

  Remembering the lack of valets during the birthday part, Nicholas parked in an empty spot around the corner from the club. After raising the top and locking the doors, he strolled back to the front.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” The goon who had confronted him outside the party stepped in front of the door.

  Nicholas was getting annoyed. As he sized up the man to figure out the best way to bring him to his knees, the younger punk draped an arm around Nicholas’s shoulders.

  “It’s all right. This is Nicholas Santiano. He’s Mr. Acardi’s brother-in-law.”

  Nicholas wasn’t sure what bothered him most—the kid’s chumminess or the stench from his uniform.

  He plucked the punk’s arm off his shoulder. He then reached for his wallet, pulled out a couple of bills, and shoved them into the kid’s front pocket.

  “Get that uniform cleaned.” After a second, he shoved a couple more bills into the pocket. “Better yet, go get a uniform that fits.”

  The giant eyeballed the wallet. If he was expecting a tip, he had a long wait ahead of him. Nicholas sneered at the other man before he headed into the club.

  Nicholas searched the crowd for Alton, but he did not see the familiar face. The stench of cheap cigars and perfume hung in the air. Instead of a melody from the house band, raunchy conversations and boisterous laughter echoed through the building.

  Around the dining room, men who looked like they would be more comfortable ogling a performance at a two-bit dive knocked back drinks. The women with them looked like the type he’d pick up outside the dive…for a price.

  Across the room, Gianni stood by the bar talking to a man who had probably seen better days a decade earlier. His hand shook as he held it out. Gianni slid one palm over it. His other hand slipped into the man’s coat.

  The man nodded as he stepped back from the bar. With a smile, Gianni patted the man’s shoulder. He then turned to the bar and passed the bartender the wad of cash he had taken out of the other man’s hand. As he spoke, a young woman Nicholas had gone out with several times moved to Gianni’s side. She leaned toward him and whispered in his ear.

  Gianni completed his conversation, then turned in Nicholas’s direction. He held out his hands and maneuvered around the tables.

  “What brings you by?” Gianni grasped Nicholas’s hand and pulled him into a quick embrace.

  “Figured I’d stop by and hang a bit.”

  “Come, have a drink.” He draped a hand on Nicholas’s shoulder and led him to the bar.

  Nicholas spotted the man he’d had a confrontation with at his grandmother’s party. A woman who was nearly hanging out of the top of her dress was draped over him. This was not the same club where they’d celebrated his Nonna’s birthday or where he’d teased Georgia as he held her close to him on the dance floor.

  “The place looks different.” Nicholas did not recognize any of the staff. “Where’s Alton?”

  “Things didn’t work out. But, you know…that’s how things go.”

  Nicholas wasn’t so sure. As far as he knew, Alton got along with everyone. That’s what made the man good at his job. He could charm a disgruntled customer into being his best friend.

  “What’s the deal with the goon outside?”

  “Relax.” Gianni rapped his fist on the bar. “Give him a shot of the good stuff.”

  The bartender placed a glass on the bar and poured the drink. Nicholas saluted him with the glass, then threw back his drink.

  Tears formed in his eyes. He was certain turpentine was better than what he had been served. If that was the good stuff, what the hell was his friend serving to the customers?

  “This is not what Pops intended when he opened the club,” Nicholas said once he regained the ability to speak.

  “Your old man didn’t have the vision. A few changes and I’ve got this place packed and a line of people outside waiting to get in.” Gianni reached to his right and grasped a bottle. He poured the amber liquid into a glass, then knocked back his drink.

  “How’s Celeste?”

  “She’s doing good. Settling into married life. She’s doing fine keeping house, and she’s okay in the kitchen, but she’s still got a lot to learn in the bedroom.”

  Nicholas nearly swallowed his tongue. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.” There was some information about Celeste he didn’t need to know.

  “You forget she’s a married woman. No more blushing bride.” Gianni reached behind him for the woman who had been at his side when Nicholas walked into the club. “Speaking of someone who won’t be blushing on her wedding night, you remember Alice.”

  Up close, Nicholas quickly remembered what he had seen in Alice. Her low-cut blouse could barely contain the assets that made men drool, and her narrow skirt hugged long legs he had enjoyed spending time between.

  “Hey, Nicky.” Her low, breathy voice reminded him of a woman panting through an orgasm. The thought woke a body part that had not received the attention it deserved for a long while. It also reminded him of one of the reasons he had shown up at the club. “It’s been a long time.”

  He leered back at her, enjoying the view. “Yeah, too long.”

  “How’ve you been?”

  “I’ve been in search of some companionship tonight,” he confessed.

  “And Alice was telling me she wanted some attention.” Gianni patted their shoulders. “Why don’t you two enjoy a round of drinks on me while you get reacquainted?”

  After a quick nod to the bartender, Gianni rushed away and met a man halfway across the room. The new arrival sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. He exchanged a few words with the club owner before Gianni led him toward the kitchen. Two large men followed them out of the room.

  The encounter piqued Nicholas’s curiosity. However, a bold move by Alice convinced him to stay out of his friend’s business. The club had been given to Gianni as a wedding present since Nicholas never wanted any part of it. Therefore, who was he to butt into its affairs?

  Chapter 11

  The date was a failure.

  At the d
iner, William had taken the liberty of ordering a BLT that Georgia could barely finish without gagging. Afterwards, they went to a double feature. Having purchased the tickets in advance, he rushed her into the theater. It wasn’t until she was settled in the center of the row that she discovered what was playing. Not wanting to disturb the other moviegoers, she remained for the show.

  “Woman, I don’t believe you’re coppin’ an attitude over the movies,” William grumbled.

  When others were around, William was well spoken. He corrected the boys he mentored, telling them people were not only judged by the color of their skin but also by how they walked and talked. Lately, whenever it was just the two of them, he spoke like one of the creeps who hung out on the street corner, as if she wasn’t worth the effort to maintain appearances.

  “I told you I don’t like movies with killing. Geesh, I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again after that second movie.”

  “How was I supposed to know you wouldn’t like The Last Train from Gun Hill or The Man Who Could Cheat Death?”

  “I told you when you asked me about it last week. Come to think of it, I also told you I don’t like BLTs. You did everything without taking any of my feelings into consideration. How’d you like it if I ordered you a fried egg sandwich and made you sit through The Five Pennies?”

  “Not gonna happen. My dime, my say.”

  “Is that so?” Georgia’s eyes narrowed. “In that case, next time I’ll pay for my own ticket.”

  “Come on, sugar, don’t be that way.”

  “Why not? I don’t have a problem paying my own way. In fact, you don’t even need to pick me up. I’ll take the bus.”

  “Don’t be like that.” He grabbed her arm as she turned to the door. “You know I don’t like it when you’re upset.”

  “From the way you were acting tonight, I didn’t think you gave two hoots about me.”

  “You know that’s not true. I wouldn’t be by every night if I didn’t care.” He released her arm and reached up to stroke her cheek. “Listen, don’t you ever doubt my feelings for you.”

  His eyes dropped from her eyes to her mouth, cuing her in on what was about to happen. Despite Celeste’s insistence that men wanted her, Georgia had few experiences with the opposite sex. She had only been kissed once before.