He’s gone before I can protest. I consider joining him in the shower but my stomach grumbles. Next time, I promise myself. In the kitchen I’m seriously concerned about not being able to find a regular coffee pot. I have no idea how to work the tiny coffee pot Claudine uses to make coffee. Frustrated but starving, I crack a few eggs. I know Cesare likes scrambled eggs too, so I make enough for him. I’m separating the eggs on two different plates when Cesare appears. He’s wearing a plain white T-shirt and black sweatpants and he looks delicious. “Smells good. I do the wheat toast please, just one slice.”
I nod and grab one for him and two pieces of white toast for me and drop them in the toaster. “Do you know how to make coffee in that thing? I’m in serious need of caffeine but I have no idea how to work it.”
Laughing, Cesare nods. “I’ll do it now.”
“It can wait until after we eat. I’m starving. Let’s eat then do the coffee. I want to watch you do it so I can make it myself.”
As we sit down, I’m trying not to look at Cesare all gooey-eyed. It isn’t easy though. “So what are you doing home? Are you not going to work or are you going in later?”
“I’m not going in today. I figured I could work for a few hours in my office. There are a few things I need to do, they shouldn’t take too long.”
“I could help you, if you need me to. If you don’t think it would annoy Hannah.”
“There are some things you could do that would make the work go faster.” After eating he very slowly and patiently walks me through making espresso. Work ends up taking longer than he planned when a call comes in from a client asking about specific properties. I can’t help, so I check the clock to see it’s past time for lunch and leave his office for the kitchen.
While I’m defrosting chicken breasts, I get a text from Dante asking me if I’m busy and if he could come hang out. As I worry about cramping their relationship, Dante comes into the kitchen. “What’s the matter?”
I shrug. “Am I like, in the way or something?”
Dante grabs my shoulders, his face serious. “Don’t even think like that. I love you here. You are the answer to so many prayers I’ve had for Cesare. We’re close, yes, I probably spend way too much time over here because I’m bored and at loose ends. When I found out Che didn’t go into work today, I wanted to run over here and kiss you. Do you know how many years it’s been since he didn’t go into work on a Saturday? I can’t remember, I honestly have no memory of it. Don’t even go there.”
Relief fills me. “Okay, I won’t. I’m making lunch. Have you eaten yet?”
“Not in several hours. What are you making, do you need help?”
“I was thinking penne pasta with some pesto and chicken. You want to do the pesto?”
“Sounds good.”
We work together, with Dante’s usual teasing about me and Cesare. We’re almost done when I look up to find Cesare watching us from across the island bar. “There you are.”
“Here I am. Sorry about that. All work is done though. Lunch looks good. I’ll get the wine.”
Dante spots Grover, who is following Cesare. “Man, he is a little dog. I thought you were joking. Hey buddy, how’s it going, Grover?” I’m shocked Grover goes to Dante, who is kneeling with his hand out for Grover to sniff it. Grover allows Dante to pet him then whimpers. “I’m not giving you food, buddy. I don’t care if you like me. If you want food, Che is your man.” Grover shoots away from Dante to put his paws up on Cesare’s legs. “Smart dog.” Dante laughs as he goes to the sink to wash his hands.
“Food’s on.”
While our lunch is a lingering one, it’s over when Dante receives a text that has him leaving with a smile. I try to help clean up but Cesare refuses, pushing me toward the sofa to sit. Following orders, I go. Grover comes to get pets now that he knows food isn’t happening. There is an enormous television on the wall, only I’m not interested in watching television, I’d rather watch Cesare.
My heart sinks a little when Cesare’s cell phone goes off. I wonder if it’s more work. It only takes a few seconds for it to become clear it’s not work. He lowers his voice but I hear him say, “My uncle.” A shiver goes up my spine at what it could mean. Ending the call, he looks up at me.
Nerves stretched beyond bearing, I ask, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
>
Sighing, he crosses the room. With a quick movement, he scoops me up as he sits on the couch, settling me into his lap. “I had someone look into the Kelsey issue. My instincts were right: she wasn’t done with blackmailing your sister. She kept another file of your sister’s admission. While my guy was able to get to a file and corrupt it, we’re not sure if it was the only recording. If she was smart, it’s not. From everything he’s found, she’s not very bright. However, when it comes to cutting her off and getting your sister out of her sights, we can’t assume anything. Her father’s name sounded familiar, Phillip Kane owns the building my uncle runs what I guess you would call a brothel out of. Kane knows what’s going on and gets a cut as well as special privileges. They were able to get proof of this. I’m thinking we have Kane bring the hammer down on his daughter to verify there is no other recording and have her put Bethany in her rearview.”
With his arms around me, I lay my head on his shoulder. How did I get this lucky? Even as fear lingers over Bethany, the look in Cesare’s eyes has me now feeling a slight twinge of sympathy for Kelsey for what’s coming at her. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Bethany screwed up; it’s nothing all that different than what most kids her age might have done. You love her and want to protect her. I understand completely.”
“If you’re going to threaten Phillip with making the information public, you’re going to reach out to your uncle to let him know first, right?” I’m not exactly happy his uncle has a hand in the sex trade. It’s one thing to run numbers and gambling but something different to run people. I struggle to keep the distaste out of my voice.
He nods. “Since it won’t be a bluff, I need to warn my uncle. For the record, my uncle doesn’t run women they come to him. He provides a safe place for them to do business and gets a cut for that. If a woman wants to stop working, they stop. If they don’t want a particular customer, they don’t have to take him. I’m not defending him. I just want you to know the way he sees it, he provides a service to both the women and the men. It’s not just him exploiting women.
“I’ll admit it was a surprise when Diego told me. The last I knew, for my uncle and cousin it was strictly gambling and some loan sharking. Apparently a few women came to him asking for protection. Since they were women in the neighborhood, after making sure he wasn’t stepping on anyone he did it.”
Tension eases out of me. I can’t imagine a life where the only way to support yourself is to sell your body. I could imagine how terrifying it would be to not have anyone watching out for you. Shrugging, I press a kiss to his cheek. “I’m not in any position to judge anyone for the things they do. I need to call Bethany.”