Bella and I sat in a booth by ourselves at the Linguine restaurant. She’d already eaten her lunch, and I was just polishing off my pizza and debating ordering a second for the road. I decided against it, however, and instead asked for my check. When that arrived, I asked the server if Frankie was available to chat.
Frankie Linguine appeared a few minutes later looking confused. However, when he saw me, his confusion faded. “Oh, it’s you.”
“I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing.”
“I don’t know what to tell ya.” He shrugged a thick set of shoulders. “I’m doing.”
“Well, the pizza is as great as ever.”
“You should try the cannolis,” Frankie said with a slight grin. “We got a new recipe.”
I looked down. There, under the dessert menu, was an item called The Meg. “What is that?”
“Your friend miraculously came up with an even better recipe than the one we had on file from Amelia,” Frankie said. “And Meg didn’t even want any money for it. She just wanted her name on the menu.”
“That’s... not totally surprising,” I said. “She likes attention.”
“Well, I was happy to do it. Even though it was hard...” Frankie cleared his throat. “It was time to say goodbye to Amelia.”
I threw cash down on the table and stood, Bella on one hip. I reached out and squeezed Frankie’s shoulder, murmuring an apology. I didn’t know what else to say.
Frankie picked up the cash and gave it back to me. “On the house,” he explained. “You did a good thing for Amelia. And as a favor to you—moving forward, I’ll try not to piss off your husband.”
“Um, good deal,” I said. “Thanks, Frankie. For everything. And I’m sorry about you and Amelia.”
“Me too,” he said. “I’m sorry things ended that way... but what’re ya gonna do?”
I left the Linguine establishment. If one positive thing had come from this case, it was that Frankie had gotten a new cannoli recipe, and Meg had gotten to see her name on a menu.
After leaving Frankie’s, Bella and I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on the errands I’d neglected during the Amelia Rapport case. There was only one person left I needed to speak to in regard to the case, and he’d have to stop avoiding me sooner or later. Especially seeing as I was having dinner at his house.
Bella and I returned to Casa Luzzi before the dinner bell chimed. The pizza in my stomach had long since disappeared, and I was ready for a good meal. I barged cheerfully into the kitchen, expecting to find my grandmother alone. I slowed my roll, however, when I found Carlos already seated at the table.
I eased cautiously into my designated spot and sat quietly as the rest of my family members filtered in and took their places. The whole while, I was sizing up the situation, keeping one eye on Carlos. It was the first time I’d seen him in days. He didn’t seem interested in looking my way, even after the rest of the family had gotten seated.
“I’m giving up crime solving,” I blurted, looking at Carlos as I made my announcement to the room. “At least until Christmas.”
“Sure, dear,” Nora said. “That’s cute you think so.”
“I mean it!”
“Honey.” Nora came over, plunked a kiss on my forehead, then pulled Bella from my arms and plopped her in the high chair. “You’re cut from the same cloth as my husband—a Luzzi through and through. I don’t know who’s retired more times already—you or him.”
“But—”
“It’s not a bad thing, dear,” Nora said. “Just don’t be surprised when we don’t believe you.”
I pouted a moment as Nora set a platter of pasta noodles on the table. When I looked up, however, I caught Carlos’s eye. And unless I was crazy, he winked at me.
My mouth fell open. I wheezed. “Did you...”
Carlos frowned. “Did I what?”
“Never mind,” I said. “I was seeing things.”
“I’m sure you were.” But even as Carlos said so, he dug into his meatballs, and a small smile turned up the corners of his lips.
My own smile matched his. I looked around at the table—at Meg and Clay, at Anthony and Bella, Nora and Carlos. Maybe I would retire and maybe I wouldn’t. Either way, I was in good company. And Carlos Luzzi had winked at me. My life was complete.
THE END.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed another installment with the wild and crazy Luzzi family! If you enjoyed the book, please consider taking the time to leave a review at your retailer of choice. It is much appreciated and helps other readers to find books they are sure to love. Thank you so much for reading about Lacey and her gang for over five years now. Your support means the world to me.
Gina
List of Gina's Books!
Gina LaManna is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Magic & Mixology series, the Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries, The Little Things romantic suspense series, and the Misty Newman books.
List of Gina LaManna’s other books:
Women’s Fiction:
Pretty Guilty Women
Three Single Wives
Detective Kate Rosetti Mysteries:
Shoot the Breeze
Riddle Me This
Follow the Money
Murder in Style:
Secrets and Stilettos
Lipstick and Lies
The Hex Files:
Wicked Never Sleeps
Wicked State of Mind
Wicked Moon Rising
Wicked All The Way
Wicked Twist of Fate
Wicked Ever After
Lola Pink Mystery Series:
Shades of Pink
Shades of Stars
Shades of Sunshine
Magic & Mixology Mysteries:
Hex on the Beach
Witchy Sour
Jinx & Tonic
Long Isle Iced Tea
Amuletto Kiss
Spelldriver
MAGIC, Inc. Mysteries:
The Undercover Witch
Spellbooks & Spies (short story)
Reading Order for Lacey Luzzi:
Lacey Luzzi: Scooped
Lacey Luzzi: Sprinkled
Lacey Luzzi: Sparkled
Lacey Luzzi: Salted
Lacey Luzzi: Sauced
Lacey Luzzi: S'mored
Lacey Luzzi: Spooked
Lacey Luzzi: Seasoned
Lacey Luzzi: Spiced
Lacey Luzzi: Suckered
Lacey Luzzi: Sprouted
Lacey Luzzi: Shaved
Lacey Luzzi: Sliced
The Little Things Mystery Series:
One Little Wish
Two Little Lies
Misty Newman:
Teased to Death
Short Story in Killer Beach Reads
Chick Lit:
Girl Tripping
Gina also writes books for kids under the Pen Name Libby LaManna:
Mini Pie the Spy!