Gangsters
Part nine
Linzi
was helping Kelley give the twins their breakfast the next morning when Scott
rushed in.
"Kelley,
darling, lend me a knife and some bandage." He asked kissing his wife.
"What
for?" asked Kelley.
"Chris
cut his leg badly last night." He told her. Kelley smiled knowingly.
"Why
does he need a knife then?" asked Linzi puzzled.
"Because
he needs a wound to explain away certain things." Said Scott glancing
sharply at a now scarlet Lissa.
"But
he didn't cut his leg last night." Protested Linzi. Scott ruffled her hair.
"You're
so sweet little sister." He said before rushing off.
"What
does he mean?" asked Linzi plaintively. She looked at her friend, "Why
are you so red Lissa? OH!" Linzi covered her mouth with her hand as she
stared at her friend with sudden understanding. Lissa buried her face in her
hands, but Kelley and Linzi could hear her muffled laughter. Chris entered the
room limping slightly. His mother followed with his bed linen fussing over him.
"My
poor little boy," cooed his mother, "You must have been in so much
pain."
"It
wasn't that bad Mama." He said grinning mischievously at Lissa behind his
mother's back. Gianni entered the room.
"I
told you I could hear Chris groaning," Maria scolded Gianni, "You
should have let me go to him." Both Chris and Lissa blushed at her words.
Gianni, who hadn't become one of the top bosses in the underworld through being
stupid, looked at them both.
"Come
to my study Christopher." He said laying his hand heavily on his youngest
son's shoulder. Maria bustled off to the laundry room. Scott sat next to Kelley
taking the baby off her.
"Papa
never fell for that trick when Kelley and I did it either." He remarked.
Lissa went to help Linzi who was washing the dishes. Both girls were helpless
with laughter.
"I
never thought I'd see Scott Marchessi bouncing a baby on his knee. It just
doesn't go with the stories I'd heard about him." Lissa whispered to Linzi.
"Give
it a few minutes and you'll be treated to the sight of Scott Marchessi covered
in baby sick," retorted Linzi, "Kelley keeps telling him not to bounce
the baby when she's just been fed, but he never listens." Just as the baby,
Maria, fulfilled Linzi's prophesy Gianni re-entered the kitchen followed by a
sheepish looking Chris.
"Maria."
called Gianni. Maria came in from the laundry her hands covered in soapsuds.
"What
is it?" she asked impatiently.
"I
have more news for you," said Gianni beaming broadly, "Last night
Chris asked Lissa to marry him and she agreed." Maria clapped her hands
together, spraying soapsuds everywhere. She hugged Lissa and Chris, tears
filling her eyes.
"Why
are you crying Mama?" asked Chris disentangling himself and Lissa from her
embrace. Maria wiped her eyes.
"I'm
so happy. I never thought I'd live to see the day that you got married
Christopher." She said. Chris hugged Lissa.
"All
it took was the right woman." He said gazing fondly down at Lissa.
"Hey,
what's going on?" asked Sissy bouncing in through the garden door.
"Chris
and Lissa are getting married." Linzi informed her.
"Oh
congratulations." Squealed Sissy hugging the happy couple. She turned to
Linzi. "Do you think Dionico will ask me with all this romance floating
around in the air."
"What
romance?" laughed Linzi.
"Well
Chris and Lissa, you and Billy." Said Sissy.
"There
is no romance between Billy and I," said Linzi woodenly, "That's
purely business." She almost dropped the dish she was washing as an arm
snaked round her waist.
"What's
this? My beautiful bride saying nasty things about me." Said Billy's voice.
The retort on Linzi's lips died as she caught sight of her mother looking at
them fondly. She glanced up at Billy. His tone may have been teasing, but his
eyes weren't. Scott's driver, Marcus, poked his head round the kitchen door
grinning broadly.
"Hey
you've got a visitor." He announced. He moved aside and a familiar figure
appeared in the doorway.
"Fingers!"
screamed Linzi tearing herself free from Billy's grasp. She launched herself at
the tall figure who caught her up and swung her round. Over his shoulder she
caught sight of Billy staring at her, stony faced. His mouth was set in a grim
line. Tossing her hair back she kissed Fingers full on the lips noting, with
satisfaction, Billy's eyes narrowing.
"What
are you doing here?" asked Linzi.
"Well
I heard that my favourite girl was getting married and I had to come and see the
lucky man." Fingers smiled at her. Maria came forward, pulling Billy with
her.
"This
is Billy Luciano, Linzi's fiancé." She said. Fingers stiffened and
hesitated for a second before holding out his hand for Billy to shake.
"I
didn't realise the lucky man would be you." Said Fingers coldly. Billy
wound an arm possessively around Linzi.
"Well
it is." He replied just as coldly. Diamond entered the room.
"Hey
Fingers, you can join in our poker game tonight." He said slapping him on
the back. Fingers nodded.