Gloria gave a little half-shrug, a glint in her eye. “You left me alone in that apartment. I didn’t want to stay by myself. And Mario was glad to get out of his parents’ house.”
“Mama mia,” Chrissy huffed. Now she knew why Mario rethought the engagement. “So, I’m paying Mario’s rent?”
“Hey, that’s not how it is.”
“But I’m still paying for my half. And Mario pays what?”
“Things are tight for Mario since Grandpa left on his fishing trip. He’s not driving for him, and Dad won’t pay him.”
“Why not?”
Gloria’s jaw tightened. “He wasn’t happy that Mario asked me to marry him without getting his permission.”
“You told him?”
“He saw the ring and put two and two together.”
So, Gloria and Mario were suffering blowback already. How much worse would it get if Grandpa and Dad found out they were living together? Old-fashioned wise guys didn’t like that. They could rob, cheat, and steal, but their little girl putting out? A father like theirs would end lives if it meant protecting his girls.
“What? When?”
“That day we went to the airport to try to stop you.”
Chrissy’s eyes grew wide. All that was going on, and she didn’t know?
Why would you know? You’ve had your head all into James Pearson’s business instead of your family’s. Could she be any worse a daughter or a sister?
No. I did what I needed to keep Saks safe from my family... And then ran away to avoid the consequences of loving a man my family did not approve of. At least Gloria stayed and faced them.
Sort of. Except that he’s hiding out at our apartment. And now I have to deal with that.
“Why would Mario do that?”
“Perhaps he was sure of the answer. Mario is more Grandpa’s man that Dad’s. He was hoping to get in a good position before Dad became the big boss.”
“Oh, Gloria,” Chrissy moaned.
“And now with Grandpa gone fishing, Mario’s position in the organization is a big question mark.”
Unfortunately, that meant he wasn’t in good with any of lieutenants and he wasn’t earning a dime.
Terrific, thought Chrissy. And now my sister is supporting him. Well, me too. “And why didn’t Grandpa take Mario with him?”
“He thought that Mario would help Dad, but Dad’s pissed off because he won’t stay away from me. He’s too stubborn to take Mario’s help.”
“And who’s keeping the lieutenants in line with Dad in the hospital?”
Gloria shrugged as a distressed look descended onto her face. Unfortunately, their father was too goddamned stubborn to use Mario, when he was in no condition to do the job of heading the organization.
“This is a freaking mess, Gloria.”
“Yeah, I know.”
They stood in the middle of the cafeteria with visitors, staff, nurses, and doctors swirling around them.
“Get the coffee,” Chrissy instructed. Her tone was no-nonsense, but she was thinking hard. If no one was taking Mario under their wing, and no one was stepping up to help their father, then there was also the worry of what else they’d all be up to. These would be the sorts of things that would get them into a world of hurt when her Grandpa returned. Plus, it was exactly the kind of situation another crime family would take advantage of to usurp the Serafinis’ position.
Gloria returned with a tray filled with coffee cups.