Surviving Mateo (Morelli Family 2)

She’s still frowning, and now looking up like she’s reviewing her own thoughts. “I… I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him legitimately angry. I definitely don’t ever want to.”

Shrugging unapologetically, I say, “I’m kind of mouthy.”

“You really shouldn’t be trying to date him,” she states, shaking her head. “You’re a match made in hell.”

I grin at her. “Can you follow me? I’m really hungry. Want me to fix us some lunch?”

“I’ll help,” she says, following me. “But seriously, is it too late to reconsider? I really feel a strong preference that you continue living, and I’m not sure you’re gonna survive Mateo.”

“I’m doing okay so far,” I assure her. “Besides, I’m not really trying to date him; we’re just… having fun.”

“What made you want to work for him, anyway?” she asks.

I open the fridge, grabbing ingredients to throw together some sandwiches. “I wouldn’t say I had a lot of other options.”

“Ah,” she says, her nod knowing. “The Morelli trap. Been there.”

“Yeah?” I ask, curiously. “How did you meet Vince?”

“We went to the same high school. And then other Morelli trap things happened, and I also didn’t have a lot of other options. Only one, in fact,” she says, jerking her thumb in the direction of Mateo’s study. “And far less stable.”

“Gotcha,” I say, reaching into the cupboard for plates. “Well, you’re probably not wrong. Stable is not one of the words I would use to describe Mateo thus far, but I don’t know, I kind of like him. I’ve never met a man so observant; I could’ve spelled out what I was doing for my husband—did, in fact—and he would still have no idea. Mateo, he pays attention to everything.”

“Because he’s trying to catch you in a lie,” she points out.

“Sure, if we’re splitting hairs, but that’s still pretty cool. This is not a guy who’s ever going to forget a birthday, I’d bet on that. His mind is a steel trap. I love it.”

She’s staring at me like I’m an animal on display at a zoo, but she’s nodding, like she kind of digs it. “Okay… so, you actually like his crazy, paranoid, suspicious tendencies.”

I put my hands out like scales. “Paranoid suspicious tendencies, rapt interest…. Who’s to say where the line is drawn?”

Still a little perplexed, she shakes her head. “Did you say you’re married?”

“Widowed.”

Gasping, she says, “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry. You’re so young.”

I’m a few years older than her, but I get what she’s saying. I am young to be a widow.

“Do you mind if I ask what happened?”

Grimacing, I grab a slice of cheese and layer it on top of the meat. “I mean, I’ll tell you, but if I do it’s just going to further your belief that I’m crazy. Maybe we should leave it?”

She grabs the mayonnaise, shaking her head. “Now you have to tell me.”

Well, I warned her. “He was a gambler. Racked up a lot of debt with a lot of dangerous people. Mateo was one of them.”

Her eyes widen at my implication, and I nod. “Wow.”

“Am I too crazy to be your friend?” I ask, offering her a faint smile. “I’ll understand if I am.”

“Just crazy enough, I think,” she says, but she’s still shaking her head in disbelief. “Did he know you? Did Mateo… like, did he just want to free you up?”

“Oh, God no. No, I don’t think he would…” I pause, rocking my head back and forth. “Well, maybe he would do that.”

“He would,” she says, not even conflicted.

“Well, in this case he didn’t. No, we met after. And now I’m here.”

“And you don’t hate him?” she questions.

“My husband was a train wreck. I’m not glad he’s dead, obviously, but…”

I’m just planning to eat here in the kitchen like I usually do, but Mia heads for the dining room. When I don’t follow, she turns back and says, “Come on.”

I follow her, but without a lot of confidence. “I don’t think I’m supposed to eat at the table.”

Unconcerned, she takes her usual seat. I sit down across from her. If Mateo was here, we’d be on either side of him.

I smile a little at the thought. “So, you and Vince used to live here together, or just you, or… how’d that work?”

“Vince lived here, then when Mateo found out about me he moved me in.”

I quirk an eyebrow. “When he found out about you? Were you a secret?”

Mia rolls her eyes. “It’s a long story. He drove Vince crazy, and eventually he let us move out. It’s been a lot better since. I mean, no pool and fewer pretty dresses, but a worthwhile trade-off. What about you, what were you doing before you got mixed up in all this?”

“Bookkeeper. Super boring, but I like numbers. I was also waiting tables through last Christmas, but that didn’t leave pretty much any time to spend with my daughter.”