“The man’s in love,” Luke explained sourly.
“She doesn’t like him at all,” Saks said. “No way would she go to bed with him.” Saks' teeth clenched tightly. He didn’t like the turn this conversation was taking, and he glared at both men. Apparently, Luke took notice.
“We’re getting off topic,” Luke said. “The big question is what are we going to do now?”
“Why would you do anything?” Rob queried. “The man’s trouble. It’s best to steer clear of him.”
Saks watched how Luke glanced at Rob and how his eyes narrowed. His boss wasn’t buying Rob’s story, and didn’t like the conclusions the big man made. Despite the shitty way in which the day had started out, Luke had demonstrated he wouldn’t abandon his friend. He always had his back, and now, even though Luke clearly disapproved of Chrissy, he still stood by him.
“That’s probably true,” Luke agreed, on wanting to avoid Pearson, “but you all you have on him is suspicion and innuendo?"
Rob nodded. “We don’t have a goddamn thing on him. The man is a master of covering his tracks.”
“Besides,” Saks grunted, “the trail of bodies following him.”
“Thanks, Rob,” Luke interjected, with a sharp change of tone that signaled the end of the discussion. “How’s that Kawasaki coming?”
Rob groaned. “No Harleys today?”
“Nope, aside from taking the customers’ bikes out of winter storage and getting them ready for the road. So, let’s get that Kawasaki finished and start on those.”
“Sure,” Rob said with a disapproving shake of his head. He disappeared into the shop.
Luke turned to Saks immediately. “How much info do you think Chrissy can get on Pearson?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Wh
at’s going on, Gloria?” Chrissy walked with her sister toward the elevator, with the ostensible mission of grabbing coffee from the cafeteria.
“I just want to show you my ring.”
“Ring?” Chrissy repeated. “You told me that Mario wouldn’t go against Grandpa.”
“That was right after you left. But when Grandpa took off to go fishing, Mario rethought the engagement.”
She pulled out a chain she had under her blouse. “It was Mario’s mother’s.”
Chrissy stared at the ring, a symbol of a lifetime promise, but also a harbinger of trouble. Gloria chattered happily away, detailing the carat weight and shape of the emerald-centered ring. The details flew right by Chrissy, as she couldn’t help but feel uneasy over it and her talk with Saks.
“It’s beautiful,” Chrissy said, when she realized her sister had finished rambling. How angry would their father be once he realized that Mario had disobeyed their grandfather?
Gloria giggled happily. “How are things going with you and Saks?”
She saw Gloria’s game now. If Chrissy distracted the family with what was going on with Saks, Gloria and Mario could slide under the radar with their unsanctioned union.
“None of your business,” Chrissy admonished. She tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice, because that would only inflame her sister to more mischief. Whenever Gloria was up to something, it usually involved getting Chrissy into trouble. And Gloria Serafini’s eyes sparkled with the devil’s work right then.
Gloria leaned in close. “You didn’t come home last night.”
“As if you were home,” Chrissy responded, snorting.
“To tell you the truth, Mario has moved in a few of his things.”
“You’re playing with fire, Gloria. Are you telling me that you and Mario are living together?”
The elevator shot them to the main floor, and they walked off toward the cafeteria a few steps from there.