Chapter 6
Tricia noticed the different reactions around the room. Henry Reagan just put his lips together in a frown. Frank Reagan was looking at her as if the new information was surprising, but not a disappointing one. Mostly everyone was looking shocked, even if Mrs. Reagan-Boyle looked a bit more on the angry side.
Yeah…there might be a problem there.
“Nice to meet you.” Jamie was the first one to break the silence, and the smile on his face when he stood and held out his hand wasn’t forced. “I’m Jamie.”
At least there was someone in Nicky’s court. “Same here.” You tell him, noticing bruises healing on his face. Nicky never did tell Tricia what her uncle did for a living….
Crap, that would be just her luck to fall for someone with as questionable a family business as her own.
“Welcome to the Reagan’s.” The woman she guessed was Nicky’s Aunt Linda walked around to give a hug. That…that wasn’t expected. “I’m Linda.”
What also wasn’t expected was the look the man beside the older woman was giving her. “Danny.” He introduced himself. His look was as if he was trying to place Tricia’s face in some kind of memory. “Those two are Jack and Sean.”
“Hey.”
“Hello."
Tricia nods to him, making a mental note to not give too much information in front of him. Who knows? Her family has reach, it wouldn't be the first time an enemy came in as a stranger to one of the younger generation. Or for someone to be hired to keep an eye on them.
Sometimes a rival, sometimes from a well meaning, if misguided, family member.
She jumps a bit when Nicky placed a hand on her arm. Tricia tries to cover it with a smile, but can't make it reach her eyes. "You okay?" Nicky asks, soft enough for just Tricia to hear.
Tricia nods, grabbing Nicky's hand in a squeeze. "Yeah."
Together they sit at the table. Together, with Nicky by her side, Tricia listens to her girlfriend’s family tell her stories of her growing up. Nicky’s mom’s glare slowly fades away as the dinner goes on. Nicky’s Uncle Danny starts to look less suspicious.
“Back in my day we knew…” Pops, as Nicky was affectionally calling her grate-grandfather, was suddenly interrupted by a sharp ringing.
Tricia knew that ringtone. “Sorry.” Tricia more mouths the word than says it before standing at the table. “I have to take it. Family.” She nervously explains before taking off to the other room that she guessed was the kitchen. Quickly, she answers the phone. No one rejects a call from the boss’s son. She might hang up on him after saying hello, but she still would take it. “What is it Rinaldo? I’m kind of busy.”
“Well, hello to you too, Trish.” Rinaldo snarks over the phone, not sounding angry at all even if the words are still a bite. “We have a problem.”
“I don’t want to have anything to do with the business.” Tricia hisses out, keeping one eye on the door in case any of Nicky’s family happens to walk by or in. “You know that. It’s why you agreed to help me with the whole thing…”
“It’s Little Tony.” Rinaldo interrupts. “The cops picked him up for a dead hooker. You and I both know Little Tony doesn’t do that kind of thing. He’s not sloppy.”
“Anyone got ahold of Donny, yet?” Tricia asks, worry for her brother overriding her caution for the door. And her need to not get involved.
“That’s why I called.” Rinaldo answers, his voice losing the edge that he tries to have whenever talking business. They grew up together, and she knows him as well as she knows her brother. “It’ll be an hour ‘fore Donny can get there. I thought…you know, since you’re doing the whole law thing…”
She should just hang up. She should forget that Rinaldo ever called. She shouldn’t get herself involved in any kind of mess…
But Little Tony is her brother, and Assante children stick together.
“Where is he?”