Page 83 of Mafioso's Muse

‘Vaughn?’ his mother said loudly.

He looked up and found all three of them staring at him. ‘What?’

‘Did you hear any of what I just said?’ Paula asked.

Not one word. ‘Something about sausages…’

Salvatore shook his head. ‘When you’re at work, your mind should be on work. When you’re here, your mind should be here with your family.’

Paula’s face filled with sympathy, like she knew exactly where his mind had been. ‘I don’t think his mind is on work.’

Setting his knife and fork down, Salvatore asked, ‘Is this about the dancer?’ with his usual amount of tact.

Vaughn rubbed tiredly at his forehead.

‘She looks as sad as you every time I see her,’ Antonio said. ‘Why not just call her and fix things?’

Vaughn met his gaze. ‘“Fix things”? You mean, ourfamily? Thislife?’

‘She shouldn’t have been at your bar that night’ was Antonio’s reply. ‘If you poke around in dark rooms?—’

‘Careful,’ Vaughn warned.

Paula looked between her sons. ‘What’s gotten into the pair of you tonight?’

Salvatore picked up his fork and waved it between them in warning. ‘If there’s a problem, you sort it out before coming to the table.’

Vaughn nodded. ‘You’re right. Sorry.’

Paula sighed and watched him for a moment. ‘It was real. It’s supposed to hurt. I’d be worried if it didn’t.’

‘I think you both did the right thing,’ Salvatore said before putting a loaded fork into his mouth. ‘Your life is complicated enough. There are plenty of suitable choices. If you’re ready to settle down, we can find you a nice girl.’

Vaughn blinked slowly. ‘You do realise how ridiculous that advice sounds coming from you, right? You married a nurse who had no idea there even was mafia in our city.’

Salvatore swallowed his food, fork waving once more. ‘Your mother had set my nose and stitched me up enough times to know what she was getting into.’

‘You were in that emergency room so often, I was beginning to think you were punching yourself in the face in order to see me,’ Paula said. Then, looking at Vaughn, her expression softened. ‘Sometimes it isn’t a choice. Sometimes you can’t let a love like that walk away.’

There was a tightness in Vaughn’s chest that was becoming unbearable. ‘I should go,’ he said, pushing his chair back and rising. ‘I’ve got a meeting with a supplier at Titian.’

Paula looked down at his plate. ‘But you’ve barely eaten anything.’

‘It was delicious, thank you.’ He went to kiss her, clapping Antonio on the arm as he passed him. ‘See you, Pa,’ he said, patting his shoulder on his way out.

The sound of his mother’s chair scraping followed by footsteps had him closing his eyes.

‘Vaughn,’ she called.

He was only a few strides from the front door but couldn’t walk out on his mother. He turned, waiting for the barrage of words.

Paula searched his eyes, her own filled with worry. ‘Your father deserved to be happy, and so do you.’ She paused. ‘And so does Willow.’ A weak smile came and went on her face. ‘I knew what I was getting into. I knew this wouldn’t be an easy life, but a lifewithoutSalvatore Gallo? That was not a life I wanted.’ She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. ‘Make sure you get some proper sleep—in your bed.’

Nodding, he left before she could say anything else.

Outside, Finn was leaning against the car, on his phone. He shoved it into his pocket the moment he spotted Vaughn, then opened the rear door. ‘That was quick.’

Vaughn nodded and climbed in. ‘Going to Titian.’ He waited for Finn to get in. ‘I need Liliana Chén’s number.’