June 19, 1933
Later that day...
If Tommy hadn't told him that Anet was alive and back in town, Nick would've thought he was seeing her ghost as she waltzed into the Daisy-Chain.
The sight of her still stunned him.
"Why Nicolas De Rosa! You sweet, intoxicating flirt!" she stood across the bar. Hands on those hips. Cocking that brow. "You gonna stand there with your kisser hanging open all day? Or're you gonna get over here and greet me like a proper semi-gentleman?"
"Brownie!"
"Perhaps your feet are cemented back there. You gonna come out and wrap those arms around me before I disappear again?"
That star-studded smile always got him.
His goofy grin, "Absolutely!" he circled the bar. The two friends embraced. "Yep!" he laughed, swinging her around once. "It's really you!"
"Hard to believe, I know." wink. "The way Vic tells it, I hardly believe it myself!" she takes a seat as he resumes his post.
"It was pretty bad what happened to the Angel Club. It was a miracle if anyone survived."
"Hey, Nick!" a patron called.
Nick grabbed a bottle. Poured a glass. Slid it down the bar.
"I see my old family hooch is still flowing." she held the dark bottle "Clever logo. Hooch pouring from the rock. Like my old man was some Moses for Prohibition."
"Fancy a shot?"
"No thanks. Never indulge in your own product."
"Coke with a cherry on top?"
That smile. "You remember."
"'Course I do." Wink. "So. What're your plans now that you're all livin' again?"
"Not sure yet. I'm still coming to grips with the Angel Club being lost."
"Yeah, I know good Ol' Vince would've taken you back in a second."
"How is Mr. Valentino these days?"
"Oh—Brownie Baby... you didn't hear?"
"...No." Eyes began glossing over, reddening at the edges. "No, not Vince."
Nick circled round. Wrapped the crying angel in his arms. "I'm sorry, Brownie." she didn't make a noise, but he could feel the small stream of tears soak through his sleeve .
"'The hell is this?"
Nick felt all softness leave Anet at the sound of the hood walking onto the scene.
"Nuthin'. Go sit down, I'll get you your beer." he didn't let Anet go, knowing what the dirty rat had once tried on her.
"Say it like that again, but this time shove off the lady armor."
Anet laughed, wiping her tears. Pulled away. "Since when did Lorenzo Torelli become so soft toward women?"
Nick never saw Torelli look so surprised.
"Y- you—!"
"Yeah. Me! Thought I was a pile of ash did ya? You and everybody else! The look on your ugly mug is priceless!"
"Does Vic know you're alive?"
"Are you sore he didn't tell you first?" she mocked him with a pout.
Torelli took a step close. Nick took a step between.
"You sweet on her De Rosa? "
"The Daisy-Chain ain't a beef-sorting joint. Everyone knows everyone here, anyone has a problem, they leave it at the door and they can pick it back up when they leave. That's the rule and you know it."
YOU ARE READING
Through Time Again
Science Fiction((SEQUEL to Through Time She Came)) "Our family was always important to the Maggios, Anet. In your timeline, we had managed to stay well-hidden. Something changed and brought us back out into the game." 2010 is not how she left it. The Maggio and th...
