“I think it will be a race to see who drives who nuts first.”
Lucia laughs and grips my hand a little harder. She runs her fingers over the ink on my arm and looks up at me as she smiles.
“I really am glad you’re back, Evan.” She takes a small step closer to me. “He needs you, you know.”
I don’t know how to react. It’s not the first time Lucia had made rather intimate contact with me. She’s never done that until recently, and I don’t know what to make of it. The way she and Beni were acting around each other a couple of weeks ago, I had been convinced they were an item, but maybe I was wrong.
Is it possible she and Beni are working together? Would she try to undermine her own father for the sake of taking over the business when he’s gone? She has to know he’s never going to seriously consider her to run his empire, but Beni is on the short list. If she thinks he will come out on top, she could be using his affections to get what she wants. They could be using each other to gain control of the family business.
Could she think I’m on the list as well and is hedging her bets?
She had never come on to me in all the years I’d been around her family. Not that I hadn’t been tempted myself—Lucia is a beautiful girl—but I’d never make such a move without Rinaldo’s explicit permission.
I place my hand over hers, smile at her, and then take a step back.
“I’ve got a lot to get done today,” I tell her. “Go spend some time with him. Maybe you can get him to eat something.”
“I’ll do my best!” Lucia beams at me, leans close, and kisses my cheek.
I watch her walk through the door to the private room and can’t help but stare at her ass as she goes. My imagination takes over for a moment, and I see her in my bed, up on her hands and knees, calling out my name.
Dismissing the thought, I turn and nearly run right into Nick as I walk out of the hospital.
“Hey,” he says as he tosses a cigarette into the gutter.
“What’s up, Nick?”
“I was just dropping Lucia off. I don’t know how long she’ll be, though. I guess Lele ran home to get the room ready for Rinaldo’s return.”
“Nice of you to give her a ride.” Nick and Lucia have always gotten along well though they are very different. I think Lucia liked the idea of having a sibling from the beginning even though they never acknowledge their relationship. “I have to get moving. Work to do, you know.”
“Mind if I go with ya?” Nick asks.
“I don’t really need the help,” I tell him. “It’s just research anyway. Nothing too exciting.”
“I gotta do something,” Nick says with a shrug. “I haven’t even seen my father since he was shot, you know that? And now that he’s headed back home, I won’t see him until he’s recovered. I don’t get any actual assignments, and I’m tired of just waiting for other people to tell me what’s going on.”
“Fine,” I say. I really do feel bad for the guy. He’s in a shitty position, and there’s nothing he can do about it. “Let’s go.”
We head out to the parking lot, and I open the door of the Camaro.
“Nice ride,” Nick says with a whistle. “When did you pick this up?”
“Not too long ago.” We both get in and start toward the warehouse.
Nick runs his fingers over the controls on the dash, admiring everything about the car. I didn’t realize he was such a fan of old classics, but he has a lot to say about it. It makes the drive quick, and I almost forget I’m running on empty.
“I need gas and smokes,” I say as I pull into a service station. “You want anything?”
“I’m good.” Nick leans back in the leather seat.
“Back in a minute.”
I fill up the tank and then head inside. I need to take a piss, so I get the key to the bathroom from the lady at the counter and head around the side of the building. When I come out of the bathroom, I recognize the homeless guy rummaging through the dumpster nearby.
“Hey, dude!” I call out.
He looks up and narrows his eyes at me, immediately defensive.