The Good Daughter (29 page)

Roberto shook his lawyer’s hand. Like all men high up in the Peruzzo family, the lawyer dressed well. Three piece designer suit, gold jewelry, manicured fingernails. Roberto had seen the lawyer at the office, but never had much contact with him. Roberto’s main focus was his job. He knew he worked for the mob, but he wasn’t involved with the seedier side. His job was to find legitimate investments and keep track of the money. The ethics never bothered him, and he never thought he’d be the one arrested when there were bigger crooks than him who worked with Peruzzo.

“
Why am I here?” he asked, when they took seats at the table, one on each side.

“
I don’t know,” the lawyer said. “They don’t have to formally charge you for seventy-two hours.”

“
That’s three days! I have to sit here that long not knowing why I’m here?”

“
Listen, Mr. Torino.” The lawyer leaned over the table, closer to Roberto. “I’ve seen this kind of thing before. I think they have you in custody to give you time to think.”

“
Time to think? What does that mean?” Roberto demanded.

“
Yeah, you know how it goes.” The lawyer sat back, shrugged. “You sit here, think, worry, get scared, and when they offer you a deal, you’ll be more willing to help.”

“
A . . . deal? You think they’re after Mr. Peruzzo then?”

The lawyer shrugged. “Or one of his associates. It’s possible.”

A chill skittered down Roberto’s spine. His job could be at risk. Worse, if he became a rat, his life could be at risk. But if not, could they keep him locked up? What did they have on him? His thoughts were moving at lightning speed with one scenario after another.

“
What can I do?” he whispered, fear stealing his voice.

“
Best thing is just to sit here and keep quiet. They’ll have to make a move soon, and then we’ll know what to do. I just came here to let you know that Mr. Peruzzo is thinking of you.”

Somehow, knowing that did not offer Roberto any comfort.

Chapter 24

Dave headed to the Crown Vic to get it warmed up while Sandro visited with his aunt and uncle. At Sandro’s insistence, Marisa waited inside until he was ready to leave. Dave supposed Sandro thought he was calling the shots now, but Dave didn’t see any reason to challenge him over Marisa waiting behind. There was no reason for her to be cold.

But Sandro was not going to steal another woman from him, Dave vowed, knowing Nia would have been his if Sandro hadn’t entered the picture.

At first, Dave believed Sandro was no more than a passing infatuation. It hurt to see Nia so obviously crazy for the guy. It hurt to think of her climbing into Sandro’s bed. Yet, Dave’s goal had always been long term, and he could live with a passing fling.

After the World Cup, Sandro would return to Italy, this time for good--and Nia would return home heartbroken. Dave had planned to be there to comfort her. Which was exactly why he had taken more vacation time at the end of the World Cup games that summer, prepared to be the shoulder that Nia would need.

Only Sandro hadn’t returned to Italy alone. He came to the States, and then he took Nia home with him.

Just remembering made Dave’s heart hurt. He had never expected her to leave her family, school, the United States. Although she hadn’t given up her spot on the national soccer team. She flew in for training and games.

But that fateful summer before she left for Italy, Nia had come back to Dallas after the World Cup, and Dave was prepared to step into his role as comforter. Only she was still holding him at arm’s length. Given time, he was confident she would forgive him for what had happened by the pool over the Easter holidays.

Especially now that she was home--alone--and after Sandro had missed that final, all-important penalty shot to send his country home in defeat. Dave gloated, knowing Sandro’s pedestal would be crumbling and quickly crashing.

The jealousy, the envy, the enjoying someone else’s downfall was not normally in Dave’s personality, but when it came to Sandro, Dave couldn’t help himself. His need for Nia was an insidious thing, truly awakened only when he realized he might lose her. He had taken her for granted, he realized. But now, he could make it up to her. Help her past her heartbreak and turn her love toward him.

But days past, and she refused to see him. With his vacation days slipping away, hoping to prod her, he called and invited her on a picnic at the lake. While she took the call, at least, she turned him down, claiming she had errands. She left soon after, driving off in her little yellow Volkswagen bug.

A couple of hours later, Nia pulled back into her driveway. Much to Dave’s shock--he’d been outside kicking a soccer ball with Nia’s two younger brothers--Sandro had climbed out of the passenger seat.

“
Wow, Sandro’s here.” Nia’s brothers ran over to greet him. Dave hadn’t realized they knew Sandro.

Laughing and shooing her brothers away, Nia took Sandro’s arm and led him over to Dave. “Hey, Dave, I’d like for you to meet Sandro.”

It was a clear message.

Reluctantly, Dave stuck out his hand and said the first thing that came to mind. “Sorry about the World Cup. How’s your leg?” Sandro had played over two hours on a severely injured hamstring muscle during the last game. The injury no doubt played a part in the missed goal.

“
It will heal.” Sandro’s words were given in an offhand manner, while his gaze intently probed Dave’s.

In that moment, he knew Nia had told Sandro what he’d done. Told that he’d pushed her to have sex that one crazy night. Dave refused to drop his gaze, yet he felt the bitter sting of shame all over again.

“
Sandro, how long are you going to be here?” Nia’s youngest brother asked.

“
We’ll talk about it later, brat,” Nia said. “Go inside and tell mom we’re home.” She turned back to Dave. “Sandro’s got a few days before he has to head back to Italy. I’m going to show him around town. Maybe take him to Six Flags.”

Dave mentally collected himself, forced a smile. “Sounds great. Enjoy your stay.”

“
Grazie
,” Sandro said before Nia said their goodbyes and led Sandro to her house.

Dave’s fake smile faded from his face.

For three days he watched Sandro and Nia come and go. One day she and Sandro came back loaded with sacks from the mall. Dave was on his way out.

“
You buy out all the stores?” he teased. When he ran into them he always made a point to be friendly, even though inside he was burning. His vacation days were drawing to an end, and frankly he was glad. It was torture staying around, watching the woman he loved with another man. No matter how temporary the situation might be.

“
Guess what? I’m going to Italy!” Nia announced.

All the air sucked out of Dave’s lungs. “Great,” he somehow managed to say.

She turned to Sandro. “I’ll shower first. Then you. We’ve got to hurry though, we’re supposed to leave for dinner in an hour. Bye, Dave.” She waved at Dave over her shoulder.

“
Sandro, wait,” Dave said, knowing on a deep level that what he was about to say was none of his business, yet he knew he was going to say it, regardless.

Throwing a puzzled look Dave’s way, Nia kissed Sandro’s cheek and went inside.

Dave waited until Sandro approached him, then he plunged right in. “I know this is none of my business, but you’re dragging this out aren’t you? Wouldn’t it be a cleaner break if you just cut it off right now?”

Sandro frowned. “I don’t know these terms “cleaner break” and “cut off”.”

“
It means why continue this affair? Why not leave her now and go back to Italy alone so she can start to get over--I mean so she can forget you.”

“
Why would I want her to forget me?”

“
You can’t mean to have a long distance affair? That wouldn’t be fair to her.”

“
Long distance?”

“
You know with you living in Italy while she lives here. It’s hard to keep a romance going like that.”

“
Si
, I agree. These past few months were difficult for us.”

“
Then let her go. Let her move on with her life.”

“
Ah.” A knowing look came into Sandro’s eyes. “You want me out of the way. But do you not live out of town, too?”

“
There’s a little difference between Washington D.C. and Ita--”

“
I intend to marry her,” Sandro interrupted. “There will be no trouble with our romance. The next time she comes home to visit the United States, she will be my wife.”

“
Your--” Dave couldn’t say it. The words felt like bullets ripping through his body.

“
You love her,” Sandro said, nodding as if just reaching the conclusion.

“
Yes,” Dave admitted, in too much shock to protect himself.

“
I thought so.” Sandro paused. “You must let her go for her own happiness.”

“
Have you asked her then? Has she said yes?”

“
No, I have not asked her. I will ask her in Italy, after she has a chance to fall in love with my country. Ah, I see hope in your eyes. Do not get hope, Dave Armstrong. She will marry me. And she will be very happy.”

From that moment, Dave hated Sandro with a smoldering rage.

In shock and despair, he retreated to his house and started drinking, although the last time he drank too much, he had made that colossal mistake with Nia at the pool.

The bourbon bottle was nearly empty, but that didn’t stop him. When he drank the bottle dry, he moved on to tequila. The old song
Wasting Away In Margaritaville
came to mind, but he was too intent on getting drunk to waste time making margaritas.

When his brother came home about ten o’clock, Dave was sitting on the couch, crying. He hadn’t realized he was crying until Jared said something.

“
What’s wrong with you, man? Someone die?”

Dave mumbled an answer.

Jared knelt down in front of him. “What’d you say? Something about Nia? Is she okay?”

“
No, sheeee’sss not ’kay. She’s gonna be Italian.”

“
Man, you are making no sense. I’m calling her to see what’s going on.”

“
No. Don’t. She doesn’t know.”

Jared only raised an eyebrow and picked up the phone. “Oh, you’re going to Italy. That must be it,” he said a few minutes later. “I just thought something had happened to you the way he’s bombed out of his mind over here.”

“
Shu’ up, ’sshole,” Dave demanded.

“
Yeah, that might be a good idea. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

It seeped through Dave’s soaked brain that Nia was coming over. “No!” He tried to stand up, but his legs collapsed and he fell back on the couch.

Moments later, the doorbell rang. Jared let her in. “He’s in there.”

Dave closed his eyes, tried to will himself away since his legs weren’t working.

She touched his knee. “Dave? Geez, what have you done? You smell awful.”

He opened his eyes and she gasped. “Look at your eyes.” She gazed around and found the empty bourbon bottle and near-empty tequila bottle. “My, God, did you drink all this? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

“
Don’t leave me, Nia.”

“
God, Dave, why are you crying?” She knelt in front of him and wiped at his face. “I’m just going to visit. I’ll be back.”

“
No, you won’t.”

“
Of course I will.”

“
Don’t go.”

Finally, he got to hold her. But she was the one offering comfort, not him. “I know it’s not the smartest thing in the world for me to go, Dave. I know I’m gonna be hurt when I have to come back. But I have to go. I love him.”

Dave buried his face in her neck, a part of him mortified that he’d turned into a sniveling fool, but unable to help himself. “I know you love him. That’s what he told me.”

She hesitated. “Is that what has you so upset?”

Dave shook his head, then wished he hadn’t, belatedly realizing she was going to probe for more answers.

He was right.

“
What, then? What else did he tell you?”

Dave pulled away from her, lay his head back against the couch and refused to answer.

“
Is Sandro the reason you’re drunk? What did you say to each other?” A noise behind her caught her attention. Sandro had followed her apparently. He and Jared stood side by side. “What did you say this afternoon, Sandro?”

Sandro stared at her without answering. She turned back to the couch. “Dave? What?”

“
I can tell you what they said, and I wasn’t even there,” Jared offered. “They were both staking a claim.”

“
A claim? Over me? Dave, I told you last time--”

“
Go home, Nia. I didn’t call you.” Dave couldn’t take one more moment of humiliation. “Take him with you.”

Sandro touched her shoulder. “Come,
cara
.”

She bit her lip, touched Dave’s knee again, sadness in her eyes. “God will bring someone special for you one day.” Then she stood and took Sandro’s hand.