Page 26 of Blood Money
I sealed the last of the cookie order I was finishing up for a baby shower. It wasn’t a huge one, so I’d baked and decorated them in the wee hours of the morning when I’d gone downstairs because I couldn’t sleep. Nonna had made me go back to her apartment because I wasn’t sleeping well at the hospital. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it wasn’t the hospital—it was this city.
“Baby shower cookies are ready!” I called out as I slid the box to the side.
Ashley came back and grabbed them. Her big smile was infectious, and I grinned back at her. “Aww, these are so cute!”
“Thanks,” I replied as my face heated. I was terrible at taking compliments on my work too.
Ashley and Rosie were the two high school girls who worked weekends and covered the front for us. Saturdays were always busy, so they were a godsend.
I shook my head. No, they worked for mygrandmother,notus.
I glanced at the clock. I’d been there for ten hours, and I was dead on my feet. “Can you guys handle things? I’m gonna go upstairs for a bit, but I’ll be down to help you close.”
“We’ve got it. You don’t need to come back down. Rest and go see your nonna,” Tillie assured me.
She meant well, but it would drive me crazy if I knew I was up there sitting on my ass while they were cleaning and closing things up, so I gave her a noncommittal “Mmm.”
Exhausted, I dragged my ass up the stairs and collapsed on the couch. One leg hanging off the edge, I set an alarm and dropped my phone to the floor next to me. As I sprawled there staring at the ceiling, I lost myself in my memories—something I tried not to do often.
I blamed it on the stress of the Mafia trying to shake me down for Nonna’s money. It pissed me off that he could potentially be a part of that. Granted, I had no idea if he was still involved, but I couldn’t imagine he wasn’t. The De Lucas were like Mafia royalty, if there was such a thing. His childhood dreams wouldn’t matter to them—of course he would still be a part of it.
Forcing myself to leave my phone on the floor and not open my browser and do a search on him, I closed my eyes. His face plastered the insides of my eyelids, and I groaned, throwing my arm over my eyes as if that would keep him at bay.
When my alarm went off, I jumped and fell off the couch. It didn’t feel like I’d slept two minutes.
“Jesus,” I muttered as my heart slammed against my ribs and my eyes darted around wildly. It took me a minute to orient myself. Then I shuffled downstairs.
“Girl, I told you not to worry about coming back down,” Tillie admonished the second I stepped into the kitchen. “We have all of this cleaned up.”
“Then I’ll cut the girls loose up front and finish closing things down up there.”
She shook her head. “Stubborn woman. Wonder who you take after?”
I laughed as I went through the doorway to the storefront. The girls were chattering as they wiped down the cases.
“Hello, ladies. Get outta here!” I teased.
Their eyes went wide with appreciation.
“Are you sure, Miss O’Sullivan?” Rosie asked as she rinsed the rag she’d been using.
“Absolutely, and please call me Kendall,” I insisted for the fourth time that day.
“Thank you, Miss Kendall!” they cheerfully chorused, making me laugh.
Neither girl needed to be told twice. They went and clocked out, then came back up to grab their bags from under the register. I remembered all too well being their age. It was a Saturday night, and they deserved to go have a fun evening.
“Make wise choices tonight, girls,” I tacked on, just because it didn’t hurt to remind them.
“We will,” they both replied with giggles that told me they may or may not. Oh well, no one could say I didn’t at least try.
“You two can go as well. I’ll lock up. I doubt anyone will be coming in this late anyway,” I called back to Tillie and Paulie. I knew they were looking forward to getting home to their families.
“I’ll lock the back door on our way out,” Tillie promised as she grabbed her keys, her face bright.
“Thanks,” I told her as they stopped by the register.
“The front door isn’t locked since it’s not quite time. Mrs. Romano doesn’t like it to be locked until closing time on the dot,” Ashley explained, hugging her bag to her chest.