Maggie Lee (Book 11): The Hitwoman Hires a Manny Read Free Page A

dress-up?" Katie asked innocently. "Mommy didn't like it when she made her play dress-up."
     
    I ruffled her hair. "Something like that."
     
    She nodded as though she understood, returning her concentration to eating her ice cream cone.
     
    I marveled at the resilience of children.
     
    I met Delveccio’s gaze over the table. I wanted to assure him that I was okay, that I wasn't losing it, that he had no reason to worry about my stability. If a mobster thought someone was mentally unstable they might want to get rid of them.
     
    "Your sister?" he asked.
     
    "Excuse me?"
     
    "What she said before," he jerked his head in the direction of Katie, "she reminded you of your sister?"
     
    Dumbfounded by his perception, I nodded.
     
    He glanced affectionately at Dominic, who'd fallen asleep in his wheelchair, his head hanging. "He does the same thing sometimes," Delveccio said sadly. "Sounds just like his mother at the same age."
     
    My eyes welled with tears again, but this time it wasn't pain causing them, it was gratitude that someone understood.
     
    "There's no shame in loving deeply." The mobster reached out and rested a hand on his grandson's shoulder.
     
    "How’s everyone doing?" Angel asked from behind me.
     
    I blinked away my tears while his uncle answered.
     
    "We've had ice cream," Delveccio said lightly. "How bad could the day be?"
     
    Grabbing a chair with one hand, Angel slid it over and placed it at the end of the table. Settling himself into it, he dug into a fruit salad.
     
    I wasn't sure whether I appreciated his willpower to pass up a sweet snack, or if I disliked him for it.
     
    "How’s little guy doing?" Angel asked.
     
    "Doctor says his recovery is nothing less than a miracle," the mobster said proudly. "He's a tough kid."
     
    Angel's gaze slid from Dominic to Katie. "And what about you, Little Miss?"
     
    Katie couldn't answer because she'd just shoved the remainder of her ice cream cone into her mouth, so she gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
     
    I picked up a napkin from the pile in the center of the table, and wiped her chin, which was covered with chocolate. "Thanks so much for getting her out of the room for a while, Mr. D." I stood up, eager to get away from Angel, even though he hadn't even looked at me. Being around him made me feel as nervous as I had when I’d attended my first junior high dance. "We should get back."
     
    "But – –" Katie began to protest.
     
    "You have PT in 15 minutes," I told her firmly. Suddenly I realized I didn't see a second wheelchair. "How'd you get down here?"
     
    "I walked halfway, and Mr. D carried me the rest of the way," Katie replied matter-of-factly.
     
    I looked to the lifelong criminal for confirmation.
     
    He nodded. "She's getting stronger every day."
     
    "I can carry her for you," Angel offered, putting down his virtuous fruit, and getting to his feet.
     
    "I can do it."
     
    My tone must've been sharper than I intended, because both Katie and Angel looked worried.
     
    "She's my responsibility,” I explained. Softening my tone, I added, "But thanks for the offer."
     
    Angel sat back down, his expression unreadable.
     
    I wondered if I’d offended the macho man by telling him I didn't need his brute strength.
     
    "It's a pretty long walk," Delveccio warned.
     
    "I can handle it." To prove my point, I scooped Katie up out of the chair, snuggling her to me. "Ready, baby girl?"
     
    "Ready." She waved to the two men. "See you later."
     
    I walked away, clutching her to me. I felt strong at the beginning of the trip back to her room, but by the end, my arms ached, and I sort of wished I'd taken Angel up on his offer, but when I got back to the room and found Jack leaning against the wall opposite the door, I was glad I hadn't.
     
    Jack and Vinny, the bodyguard, silently faced off against each other, looking like two mountain rams ready to lock horns.
     
    Like Angel, I was pretty sure that steroid-pumped Vinny could crush Jack