Emilia: Part 1 (Trassato Crime Family Book 3) by Lisa Cardiff

Author:Lisa Cardiff [Cardiff, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-05-16T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

Two things happened recently to ensure tonight would be the best Christmas Eve party my father ever had, at least from my perspective. First, Marcello canceled his plans to visit yesterday, claiming he had a family emergency. He rescheduled our engagement announcement for Easter, which was a little over three months away.

I hemmed and hawed, rolled my eyes, and made plenty of snide remarks, not wanting my father to know I didn’t give a crap. Sal and I had a plan. We were getting out of here in less than four months. While I wished we could push up our departure so I’d never have to meet Marcello Masciantonio, we wouldn’t have enough money by then.

The best part of tonight was the game I came up with. I stashed mistletoe in out of way places all over my house. When everyone reached the tipping point between tipsy and drunk, the game would start, which should be any minute now.

I circled the perimeter of the great room, my shoes clicking over the hardwoods. The traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes for La Vigilia was artfully displayed on the large family style table between the kitchen and great room. Stuffed clams, fried anchovies, baccalà alla vesuviana, pasta with various shellfish, baked eel, marinated shrimp, and more.

The house smelled like a combination of pine needles from the greenery delivered this morning, garlic, and basil. The alcohol flowed freely from an impromptu bar set up near the precast fireplace manned by Tony in his Santa suit.

My brain was foggy from indulging in more than one glass of Prosecco, and I couldn’t reverse the smile on my face if I tried, not that anyone noticed me. They were wrapped up in their conversations, the chatter going from a hum to a roar spiked with laughter in the last twenty minutes.

Sal had a tumbler of whiskey in one hand and his other arm around Gian’s shoulder. Nearly the same age, it was natural for them to be friends. And as much as I rebelled against everything to do with my family, I didn’t dislike Carmela or Gian. Truthfully, I was so dead set on wallowing in my misery, I never gave them much of a chance, and now that I was leaving, having a relationship with them would never happen.

When I snagged Sal’s gaze, I lifted my champagne glass to my lips and tipped my head to the side. The light bubbles fizzled on my tongue all the way down my throat to my belly, mixing with the jumpiness already tumbling around in there.

Sal shot me a cocky grin, then dropped his arm from Gian’s shoulder. Without waiting to see if he followed, I placed my empty glass on a nearby end table and made my way through the kitchen to the mudroom, closing the pocket door behind me. A tiny sprig of glossy green leaves with a burst of red berries dangled from the domed polished nickel light fixture.

I stood directly beneath it, waiting for Sal to join me.

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