Lacey Luzzi: Seasoned: A humorous, cozy mystery! (Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries Book 7)

by Gina LaManna

  When I finished, silence descended, as the soft sounds of Mariah Carey crooning her Christmas album filled the room. Nobody moved, nobody said a word.

  Jackson leaned close, his voice low. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come.”

  “No.” I looked him in the eye. And then I did something that even I didn’t expect. I put my hand around his shoulder and I faced the packed dining room. “Hi, everyone, meet Jackson Cole. My father.”

  I won’t say Jackson Cole’s eyes filled with emotion, but if the three blinks in rapid succession told me anything, maybe there was a bit of a mist in his eyes, too.

  He slid his arm over my shoulder and spoke in a throaty voice. “I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances. But for what it’s worth, your daughter was an amazing woman. And I loved her. I’ve never married,” he said, now a definite mist in those eyes that so closely resembled my own. “She was the love of my life, and…I still can’t believe she’s gone.”

  I squeezed his shoulder, both my rib and heart cavities filled with emotion. Apparently I wasn’t able to compartmentalize as well as Meg, since my happiness spilled over into both.

  “But in all my years of living, I’ve received the best gift of all this year.” Jackson’s voice was so soft that someone hit the remote to mute Mariah Carey for a moment. My father turned to face me. “Lacey, you are just like her. Your eyes, your spirit, your sense of humor. And if you’ll agree, I’d love to get to know you. I couldn’t, I can’t…I wouldn’t be able to bear it if I lost you, too.”

  My throat closed up, and any words I’d meant to say disappeared on the way out. Instead I wrapped my hands around my father, and I gave him a hug. A long, satisfying squeeze. And he hugged me back.

  I’d never expected to hug a parent for the rest of my life. Clay, Nora, Meg – they all gave good hugs, but when Jackson Cole held me tight, just for that second, we were alone, as once again I felt the magical embrace of a parent.

  My tears disappeared, and a smile came onto my face. For the second time in my life, I’d hugged my dad. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present.

  Nora wiped her cheeks with a napkin. “So, Mr. Cole. What’s yours?”

  Stepping back from our hug, he gave me a confused look. “My what?”

  “You’ve arrived just in time for our toasts. Take a seat, dear, and tell us one thing you’re grateful for, right this instant.” Nora waved a hand at the guard in the corner, who brought over another chair. “Unless you have somewhere else to be for Christmas Eve?”

  Jackson shook his head, speaking slowly, as if the words sounded foreign on his tongue. “I’m grateful for my daughter. And her mother, and all of you.” Jackson raised his glass. “I didn’t have much of a family. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to change that…if you’ll have me.”

  “All right, all right, we’ll take it. On one condition,” Meg said, adding her glass to the pile for toasts. “No more shooting people. We don’t do that here. Usually.”

  Jackson Cole broke into a bright grin. “I’ll do my best. Sorry, Anthony.”

  Anthony gave a shrug, a smile playing at his lips. “It’s gotten me sympathy points in other areas, so I’m not complaining.”

  I smacked his good shoulder – very lightly – as I sat down next to him, while Meg snorted with laughter and Clay turned red as Santa’s hat.

  “Cripes, can’t anyone keep a secret here?” I mumbled into my plate. “That’s private.”

  Carlos raised his glass. “To Family.”

  Everyone clinked wine glasses. “Salud.”

  CHAPTER 36

  “If you’re sure, then I’ll walk you out,” I said, a handful of hours later, as Jackson Cole stood to leave. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay longer?”

  We’d moved from the dining room after a delicious, five-course meal of wine, lobster, pasta, shrimp, wine, salad, and a dessert wine. With a full stomach, a happy heart, and an armful of blankets, we’d moved into one of several sitting rooms. This particular room was meant for relaxing – plush leather chairs sat scattered around the room, while an oversized, sectional couch so soft I sank a foot into it, ran the length of two walls.

  A fireplace burned bright, the flickering flames the only light in the room. Marissa and Clarissa lay on a large beanbag chair, both of them fast asleep, their blond and brown hair overlapping on the fabric. For once, they looked peaceful, and for once, I could imagine they weren’t little devils. Carlos and Nora sat just to their left, Carlos staring deeply into the fire, while Nora seemed content to just look around the room at everyone, her eyes shining bright.

  Even Vivian relaxed in Joey’s embrace, laying off the catfighting for one blissful moment. Tupac the Cat wandered the room aimlessly, while Meg and Clay sat next to each other – not quite touching, but almost – on a loveseat.

  As for me, I tucked my knees under my body, curled up in a ball, and lay my head in Anthony’s lap. Someone had draped a lush, down comforter over my body, making me the cuddliest person in the world. Anthony ran his fingers through my hair, the motion so soothing I’d caught myself drifting off to sleep on more than one occasion.

  “I don’t wanna be rude,” Meg said, “but I do think it’s time for everyone to get going. It’s two a.m., and if we stay up much later, Santa’s gonna get scared and skip this house. We can’t have that.”

  Nobody seemed overanxious to move. The warmth of the room, the plentiful amount of blankets, hot chocolate, and occasional cookie provided more than enough reasons to fall asleep right here.

  “Santa can find us even if we don’t move. He found you in LA,” I groaned. “I’m too comfy to move.”

  “I really should be going,” Jackson said, standing up. He nodded at my grandparents. “I appreciate the hospitality more than you know. Thank you, Mr. Luzzi, Nora.”

  Nora bowed her head, a conflicted smile playing at her lips. “I look forward to seeing you around more often.”

  “He smells like a Fed,” Carlos said. “Even if he is retired.”

  Jackson looked down. “I’m afraid that scent is here to stay, but as you said, I’m retired. I freelance now.”

  “Look at that! I freelance, too,” Carlos said, not making eye contact, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “Aren’t we just two peas in a pod.”

  “Carlos!” Nora and I said at the same time. I stopped speaking, thinking it safer to let Nora take care of it.

  Nora rested her hand on Carlos’s thigh, and from my vantage point, I could see her squeezing the muscle hard. “Stop that.”

  Carlos fell quiet. Which was essentially his version of an apology.

  “Ignore my husband, he gets cranky after one a.m.,” Nora said, standing. “We want you to stop by more often. Anytime. Really.”

  “Thank you. Merry Christmas, everyone.” Jackson turned to leave.

  I leapt up and matched his pace as he walked down the hallway. “I’ll walk you out.”

  “Don’t worry.” My father smiled. “Stay, don’t move. I’ll be in touch soon, if that’s okay?”

  “Of course it’s okay.” I grabbed his arm, and marched my father down a hallway, one that didn’t lead to the exit. We walked in silence for a moment, and only once we were out of earshot, did I resume speaking. “But I need to talk to you first.”

  “About?”

  I stopped, just outside a door that looked like a closet. But it wasn’t just any closet, it was a safe. Carlos’s top secret safe. And just down the hall was a room with barred windows, a bulletproof door, and a hotel-like ambiance. At the moment, the guest du jour was Oleg. He didn’t really have a choice about being there, but Nora had provided him with presents, dinner, drinks, and cookies, and arguably he received better treatment than if we’d allowed him to go to his lonely little apartment by the mechanic shop.

  “I have an idea,” I said. “And I wanted to run it by you first.”

  Jackson raised an eyebrow. “Would you like to go somewhere that’s not a hallway to dis
cuss it?”

  I shook my head. “I was thinking we could take care of the issue tonight, if you agree to it, that is.” I folded my hands, resting against my lips as I considered how to explain my thoughts. “I’m just going to start talking, and your job is to listen. If you have any questions, ask afterward. Got it?”

  Jackson nodded.

  “You were chasing after Oleg because you thought he was the one who killed your partner and best friend.” I inhaled. “Am I right?”

  Again, he nodded, his eyes hardening at the thought.

  “But as we discussed, that’s not possible, since Oleg was here during the time your friend was murdered. However, I am fairly certain that The Fish – the man I told you about before – could have something to do with it. And even if he doesn’t, you can’t punish Oleg for something he didn’t do.”

  “But he tried to kidnap you.”

  “Yes,” I hedged. “And I’m a bit conflicted about that part of this idea. Because that was pretty inconvenient for me, but I have to admit, I feel sorry for the guy. He’s between a rock and a hard spot.”

  “You’re just like your mom.” Jackson Cole shook his head, a smile playing at his lips. “You can’t find the bad in anyone. Not even a criminal.”

  “It’s Christmas,” I said with a shrug, my face reddening with embarrassment. “I’m certainly no angel myself.”

  “Well, I’m intrigued about your plan. What is it?”

  “All Oleg wants is to get out of town. All you want is to find the man who murdered your best friend.” I tapped my lip. “How about a trade? If Oleg can give you the information you need to find The Fish, we can get him a passport out of town. We get rid of Oleg and The Fish in one go. I’ll even help you. The Luzzi Family has a bit of a beef with The Fish, so we definitely wouldn’t be sad to see him behind bars.”

  My father bit his lip. “This sounds like some sort of father-daughter project.”

  “In a strange way,” I said, “I suppose it is.”

  We sized each other up.

  “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” he said.

  I laughed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. So, what do you say?”

  “I’m assuming this is his…uh, hotel room?” Jackson gestured toward the wooden door with the barred windows.

  I nodded.

  “Give me a few minutes with him,” Jackson said. “Alone.”

  “Don’t kill him! It’s Christmas, remember?”

  Jackson gave a shadow of a smile. “I just want to ask him a few questions. See what he knows.”

  A few minutes seemed to take a long time. But eventually, after pacing up and down the hallway and starting to burn off all the Christmas calories with nervous energy, my father let himself out of Oleg’s room, shutting the door and turning the lock.

  “Well?” I asked.

  He looked up, a grimace on his face. “I think we’ve got ourselves a deal.”

  “Really?”

  “He gave me some promising starting points, and the information he has about The Fish lines up with what I’ve learned from my own investigation.” Jackson paused, gaze downturned. “I think you might be right. Oleg’s former boss could be our guy.”

  I swallowed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have dredged up the bad memories today, I wasn’t thinking, I was just trying to help…”

  My father looked up, his grimace turning into a conflicted expression. “You’ve helped, I promise. I’m going to do some research, but I will be in touch within the next day or two. If Oleg’s information checks out, I will personally provide him with a passport and five grand to run away. I know he asked for fifty thousand dollars, but…well, there’s a forty-five thousand dollar penalty for trying to kidnap my daughter.”

  I grinned. “Clay can help with the passport, too. And the money.”

  “We can deal with that later. For now, let’s enjoy the rest of our evening.” Jackson Cole stepped forward, swung his arm over my shoulder, and glanced around. “Now, can you show me the way out of this maze?”

  Once we made it to the Grand Hall, Jackson turned around at the front door. Harold had opened it for us, then disappeared into the coat closet to give us some privacy. But since the coat closet held a couch and a fridge and doubled as a breakroom, it wasn’t as cruel as it sounded. In fact, this house was starting to feel like Narnia – each closet led someplace new and magical.

  “Merry Christmas, Lacey.” My father leaned forward, and gave me a brief kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”

  “Merry Christmas…” I paused, leaning against the door, as Jackson Cole descended the steps and walked towards his un-shiny, un-fancy, very normal-looking blue car. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”

  I stood there alone for a moment, just giving my feelings a chance to sink in. I had a lot to process, but for now, I just wanted to sit. And be still. And not think about anything. The snowflakes landed on my skin, melting on impact. I opened my mouth, catching a few of the fluffy white flakes on my tongue.

  “Taste good?” Anthony had snuck up behind me, his arms slipping around my waist.

  “Like gumdrops.” I grinned, cuddling towards his body heat. “You should try it.”

  To my surprise, Anthony threw his head back, stuck out his tongue, and after catching a few of his own snowflakes, turned to me with glittering black eyes. “Delicious.”

  I laughed, a bubbly, sunshiny sort of laugh. Anthony, eating snow?

  Maybe on Christmas, miracles really did happen.

  CHAPTER 37

  “I can’t believe you did this,” I whispered, Anthony by my side as we snuck outside Meg’s room. “I nearly had a heart attack when I remembered I didn’t get Meg the present on her list.”

  “You left your list on the table,” Anthony said. “I had Harold pick up a few of the items, in case you didn’t have time.”

  “You’re my favorite person in the whole world.” I threw my arms around Anthony’s neck, giving him a long, hard smooch, right there in the hallway.

  Nora and Carlos had offered up all of their spare bedrooms to their guests, so nobody had to worry about drinking wine and driving home. Meg and Clay had chosen bedrooms right next to each other, though everyone pretended not to notice.

  Nora had also placed Anthony and me in two separate bedrooms, also right next to each other, but with an adjoining door in between them. We’d discovered upon first inspection that on both sides of the door, Nora had taped up a sign that read, “THIS DOOR IS UNLOCKED.” Talk about a hint for a grandbaby if I’d ever seen one. Nora was pushing hard for her Christmas wish.

  Anthony’s hands traveled down the edges of my dress, pulling me tight against his body, curving my figure to his, and suddenly, it was no longer an innocent little kiss. His tongue slipped into my mouth, while one hand slipped into my hair, holding the locks tightly as the other kept a nice, firm grip on my hips.

  When we broke apart, both breathless, Anthony’s eyes darkened, still focused on my lips. “Let’s get this Santa business over with.”

  I nodded, and together we hauled the gift-wrapped double sled down the hall and positioned it just outside Meg’s closed door.

  “Perfect,” I whispered, surveying the gift. Anthony turned to leave, but I paused a second longer. “Do you hear that?”

  “What?”

  I pressed an ear against the door. “Meg’s talking to someone. I think Clay’s in there. Inside her room.”

  Anthony gave a slight shake of his head. “That’s their business.”

  “Clay is in Meg’s bedroom! Do you understand what that means?”

  Anthony scrunched his nose. “I’m not sure I want to.”

  I held up a finger to silence him. “Do you think they’ve kissed? I need to call Meg. Wait a second, Anthony…it’ll only take a second. I need to get the scoop.”

  Anthony reached out and grabbed my hand, dragging me away from the door with a gentle hug. “Give them some privacy. Let them have their space.”

/>   “But—”

  “You can talk to Meg in the morning,” Anthony said. “Let’s go.”

  “But—”

  “Do you want your surprise?” Anthony asked, his eyebrow raised.

  I shifted from one foot to the other, torn between wanting to discover my surprise, and wanting to call Meg and insist she dish everything, this very moment. In the end, Anthony’s suggestive stare convinced me, and I turned my feet reluctantly away from Meg’s room.

  “All right,” I said. “Where is this surprise?”

  “We have to go outside,” Anthony said. “Here, borrow my jacket. Put on a pair of boots. And bring a change of clothes.”

  I frowned. “What?”

  Anthony smiled. “Or not. You won’t need clothes where we’re going.”

  CHAPTER 38

  “Can I see yet?” Cold wind whipped over my legs, clad only in thick boots and thin tights underneath my dress. Thankfully, Anthony’s jacket kept my upper body toasty, and the heat from his hands over my eyes kept my cheeks from freezing right off.

  “Just about there. Promise me one thing – you won’t freak out,” Anthony said. “No crying or anything, okay?”

  “Now you’re just confusing me.” I turned towards where his voice was coming from, though I couldn’t see a thing. “I can’t make any promises without having a clue. Why did you take me outside?”

  “Remember how I couldn’t join you in LA right away?” Anthony removed his hands from my eyes. But before I got the chance to look around, he gave me a gentle kiss on the lips.

  Now that I had my eyes free, I couldn’t look anywhere except Anthony’s face. His eyes glimmered with excitement, and maybe a pinch of nervousness. The tan in his cheeks bordered on pink, since Mr. Tough Guy hadn’t worn a jacket out in the middle of a night when temperatures promised to reach single digits. “Yes, I remember.”

  “Well, it’s because I had to be here to get this project finished in time for tonight.” Anthony said. “Take this, and then on the count of three, press the red button, and turn around.”