Read Breaking Bones (Mariani Crime Family Series Book 2) for Free Online

trying not to laugh.
    “What?” She gave me her best innocent smile, blowing me away with the seamless transformation she went from sexy to sweet. Ariana had both looks mastered. “That was providing free entertainment to the tourists. I’ll tell you what, tomorrow when you pick me up, wear sweats and drink from a paper bag, and we’ll give them a real show. Got it?”
    And man, she loved to screw with people. As she released my arm, I couldn’t help but admit she was probably doing the same to me.
    As we climbed into the Hummer, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Ma. I started the engine and answered.
    “Franco, I’m sorry to bother you, but...”
    I groaned. She started all her conversations this way, throwing my busy schedule in my face to make me feel like the worst son on the planet. “Ma, how many times do I gotta tell you you’re no bother?”
    “It’s just that I know you’re busy.”
    Here we go.
    Wondering if we’d ever get past this opening and on to what she was angling for, I said the same thing I always did. “Never too busy for you. What’s up?”
    “A light bulb in my kitchen burned out.”
    Had Ariana not been with me, I probably would have beaten my head against the steering wheel. As it was, I had to struggle to keep my composure. Ma was far from helpless. Hell, she was one of the most independent women I knew. She wouldn’t be calling me for a burned-out light bulb. “Did you call the maintenance guy?” I asked.
    “My own son lives in the same city as me, and I’ve gotta call a maintenance man to replace a light bulb? I don’t want to bother him. I’ll just climb on the ladder and fix it myself.”
    The guilt was so thick I could almost see it streaming out of the phone and threatening to choke me. Still, I didn’t want her climbing up a damn ladder. Especially not alone. “Where’s David?”
    “He’s at the library, studying for a big calculus exam tomorrow. I’d rather not interrupt him if I can help it.”
    My useless little brother probably was studying all right… studying one of the girls in his calculus class.
    “Franco, if it’s too much trouble, I can—”
    More guilt. It suffocated me. I cracked my window to get some air. “No, Ma, it’s no trouble. It’s just that I’m giving someone a ride, and…”
    Ariana poked my arm. “I don’t mind, Bones. I’d love to meet your mom.”
    I shushed Ariana, but it was already too late. I could tell by the way Ma sucked in a chestful of air, she’d heard her. Any doubts I had shattered when she launched into a barrage of questions and demands.
    “A girl? You’re on a date and you didn’t bring her by to meet me? Franco, you know I helped your brother Tony pick out his wife, and they were made for each other. You know this. You bring her over and let me talk to her and I’ll tell you if she’s a good fit for you. I’ll whip us up something to snack on while I make dinner.”
    Ariana snickered. “She sounds like quite the matchmaker.”
    Yeah, she could laugh. Right up until Ma had our china picked out. I liked Ariana and all, but I wasn’t trying to get hitched. I needed to set Ma straight before she dragged me to a jeweler.
    “It’s not a date. I’m taking a friend home from work. Angel’s already making dinner and needs me to pick up Nonna on the way.” Probably best not to mention that Ariana would also be eating with us. Of course, if Ma found out Ariana was living with us and sleeping in my bed, she’d have us both saying Hail Marys for Father Barone while she picked out our china.
    “But it could turn into a date. You’re unsupervised in a car with her, and she sounds pretty. I bet she’s a lovely girl.”
    Ariana batted her eyelashes at me and mouthed, “She thinks I’m lovely.”
    I really needed to turn down the volume on my phone.
    “Franco?” Mom asked.
    “No dinner. No long stay, I’m just coming to change the light bulb.”
    “Yes, of course. I’d never ask more of your