Page 81 of Time Served in New York
“What did you do with our father?” I asked after I’d looked around to make sure we weren’t close enough for anyone else to overhear.
“That’s a work in progress, little sister,” Rico hedged.
“He’s not just going to disappear, is he?” Rico smiled and shook his head. “That wouldn’t be . . . dramatic enough, would it?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh, I can’t wait.” I laughed for a second as I imagined what I would do in their situation and then decided to give my big brother a few suggestions. “You know women are more cunning and devious than men give them credit for, right?”
“Of course,” Rico agreed.
“I have a few ideas that I think would make a dramatic statement for any others who might be inclined to prefer the old ways.”
“Do tell,” Rico said with a laugh as he spun us around. “I’m all ears.”
“Well . . .” I paused dramatically and grinned. “My first idea is going to require some breaking and entering and quite a bit of stealth.”
“I’m afraid that your penchant for drama and revenge is wasted in Texas,” Rico said with a sigh.
“Oh no, big brother. I’ve had plenty of chances to use my gifts, and I’m sure I’ll have plenty more.”
“Then tell me, Paola, if you were in charge, what would you do?”
I giggled and then gave him a few ideas on how I’d let this situation play out. By the time I was finished, so was the song. However, it took a little while longer for his shock to go away. I knew he was going to take my suggestions to the other men of the Four Families.
I might not be part of this lifestyle anymore, but I hadn’t forgotten all the things it taught me. That was for damn sure.
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“Are you doing okay, Birdie?” I asked before I spun us around and then continued dancing while I waited for my girl to answer.
After a few long seconds with a hint of a smile, she stared up at me and said, “I couldn’t be any better.”
“I mean about earlier, sweetheart. How are your . . .”
“I knew what you meant, and I’m serious. It was terrifying, but I don’t have any regrets. I did what needed to be done to help my friends and make sure that Boo was safe. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t hesitate.”
“I was shaken to the core when Matalie showed up,” I admitted. “All the guys were, but there wasn’t anything we could do.”
“We took care of the problem. I know that if Jenn and I hadn’t been outside, things would have played out differently, but the girls seemed to have a plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“The way they were moving and getting his attention, it reminded me of that nature documentary we watched about lion prides and how they hunt.”
“I remember.” I nodded as I thought back to that night and the show we’d watched about the big cats. “The women made you think of that?”
“Yeah. The man . . . your uncle . . . was holding Boo under his arm. He was standing inside the living room, and they were fanned out in front of him. He had a gun, but he couldn’t really cover all of them at once. They were talking to him as they inched forward, keeping his attention bouncing from one to the other and off of Boo.”
“If you and Jenn hadn’t come in behind him, they would have surrounded him and pounced.”
“They would have,” Bernadette agreed. “They didn’t even plan it. They just did it . . . naturally.”
“None of them are the kind to cower. You’re not either. That’s why you get along so well with them.”
“They were flanking him and keeping his attention diverted.”
