Breaking Bones (Mariani Crime Family Series Book 2) by Amanda Washington

situation.
    “You’re right,” I said. “But I’m still not eating here.”
    She started to argue, but instead of listening to what she had to say I got out of the Hummer and went around to open her door.
    “But… we’re staying?” she asked, unbuckling her seatbelt.
    “Yep. We’ll go hang out with them for the meal, then I’ll take you somewhere good.”
    A smile stretched across her face as she let me help her down. “Angel’s right, you are a foodie.”
    I snorted. “Angel needs to shut his damn mouth.”
    Ariana giggled and followed me into the restaurant where we were assaulted by the stench of cheap food, taking me back to a childhood of hunger, where boxed macaroni and cheese, Ramen, and frozen TV dinners were considered a feast. I’d done everything I could to lock those memories away, and I hated the way something as stupid as a smell could bring them back.
    “You okay?” Ariana asked, taking my hand to lead me away from the doorway. Then she stopped me and adjusted my tie in a strangely intimate gesture. Something inside of me stirred at the contact. She released my tie and I grabbed her hands. Her gaze sought mine, questioning.
    “Thank you for coming,” I said. “It means a lot to me that you’re here.”
    Her eyes softened. “There’s no place I’d rather be, Bones.” She tugged me forward and her lips turned up in a mischievous grin. “Now come on, let’s do this. Then you owe me a really amazing dinner. With an expensive bottle of wine.”
    I chuckled, following her. “You’re underage and I’m not buying you wine.”
    We found Ma and Totino sitting in a window booth. Ma jumped up and kissed my cheeks, obviously surprised I’d actually came, which made me feel like an ass.
    “Ari! You look absolutely beautiful, dear.” Ma kissed Ariana’s cheeks. “Thank you for coming.”
    “Of course.” Ariana hugged her back. “Thanks for inviting me.”
    Ma introduced us both to Totino. Because of the background check I knew he was divorced with no children, fifty-seven, drove forklift at a manufacturing plant, owned a paid-off five-year-old sedan, and had a mortgage on a modest two-bedroom home on Cline Street. Angel and I had been keeping an eye on him and searching for mob ties, but so far he seemed to be clean. Coming face-to-face with him, only served as confirmation. Totino had a softness about him that you’d never see in a wiseguy. His eyes were kind and his shoulders, relaxed. He had no problem sitting beside the window, and his attention was fixed on Ma, not scanning the room and watching the doors.
    Totino and Ma talked and laughed, sharing the story of how they’d met at the grocery store. No matter how long Pops had been gone, it still made me uncomfortable to hear Ma gushing over the way Totino had helped her reach the soap on the top shelf and listening to how she felt the first time he called her. Still, it was nice to see Ma so happy, giggling like a school girl as she made eyes at him.
    Totino was attentive and respectful, helping Ma up and getting her dessert for her. They seemed pretty serious, and although I didn’t know how long they’d been together, I was hoping he’d stick around. I’d feel a whole lot better about leaving her behind in Vegas if I knew she wouldn’t be alone after my little brother moved out.
    Ariana held my hand under the table the entire time, reassuring me that I wasn’t alone in this either. It surprised me how much comfort I found in her presence, and as the minutes ticked by, they seemed to release the resentment I’d held toward Ma. By the time Ariana and I left, I felt lighter than I had in years.
     

CHAPTER TWELVE
    Bones
     
    I HELD ARIANA’S hand as we crossed the parking lot, heading for the Hummer. “Thanks again for coming.”
    “Are you kidding me? That was so much fun. They’re adorable.” She squeezed my hand.
    “Adorable. Sure.”
    “No, I mean it. It’s like Angel and Markie but… different.”
    “Yeah,