Falling For The Mob

21 Murder

Zoë

"What the hell is this?" Joey's amused eyes take in the black town car behind me as he walks up to me with open arms. Nico appears beside me with my suitcase, which he hands off without a word, then gets back behind the wheel and drives off.

I wasn't all too happy about the idea of being driven here, but upon realizing I would have to carry my bags on the train in this condition, I quickly changed my mind.

"Oh, will you just grab my things, you idiot."

His playful grin disappears upon coming in for an embrace and remembering my state. My entire family is very protective, but upon hearing about the attack, Joey seemed to have taken it harder. In school, our years were always close together, so when I was picked on, he was always there. He sees this as failing to protect me.

My mother had the exact reaction I expected from her. The spoon she was using to stir her tea drops to the floor as her tears begin spilling out, I regret not using more foundation to cover my bruised face.

I was prepared for her to be upset, but somehow I had forgotten how much I hate seeing my mother cry. It takes both my dad and Joey to peel her off my shoulder. So far, all they know is that my ex-colleague attacked me at work one night and that he was taken into police custody.

I explain everything that happened in the months leading up to the attack but choose not to tell them about Henry's escape yet. I hope Addy was right when she said that he probably fled the country, even if I never see him again, it would be too soon.

A knock on my bedroom door pulls my eyes from an old book I was reading for the second time. There isn't that much to do here anymore, and after two days, I am willing to take any distraction.

Not waiting to be invited in, Joey pops his head in through the crack of the door. "Ma sent me to get you for dinner."

After giving him a nod, I slowly shift myself out of bed and make my way towards the door to find him staring at me mischievously. "There is something you should know, she invited Bob and Martha, they are downstairs in the living room."

He releases a small laugh at my expense, then sprints down the stairs, not wanting to face my frustrations.

Why am I even surprised? Since I last saw Vincent, my mother has brought him up in every conversation we've had. I can't even come home for a week without her trying to put some terrible plan into motion.

I try to collect as much patience as possible before walking down the stairs.

Letting my foot barely reach the bottom floor, my entire body is engulfed in the arms of my ex-boyfriend's mother.

I wince, to which Joey quickly peels her off me. I try smiling through the pain so as to not make her feel worse, but it does not lessen the look of regret.

The night goes by just fine, with my parents spending most of their time talking to our guests, while Joey and I attempt to attack each other with the peas off our plates. So far, they haven't brought up their son, and I am beginning to think that maybe I was too quick in becoming defensive. I often forget that for a long time she was like a second mother to me, so her concern could be genuine with no hidden intent.

My naivety quickly gets corrected as my mother clears her throat with a playful grin.

"Martha, we are about to have dessert, didn't you say Vinny was working on a project close by? Maybe you can invite him to join?"

My eyes roll to the back of my head so far, I induce a headache. Joey is the only one who notices, but the most frustrating part is that they aren't even trying to be subtle about it. My mother turns to me, clearly prepared for a fight, when the doorbell rings. They couldn't even put the effort into properly timing their little ruse.