Read From Mangia to Murder (A Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy Mystery) for Free Online

far as they could. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
    “I was until I heard that someone was threatening you.”
    “No, no, Zio Nunzio, no one is threatening me,” Sophia hastened to assure him. She had to raise her voice so he could hear her. A few people began to quietly converse again but the majority of the room was still watching and listening to them, not even trying to hide their curious stares. “You misunderstood me.”
    “No I didn’t, young lady.” Her uncle drew himself up and puffed out his chest indignantly. “I clearly heard you and Angelo making plans to--”
    “Hey, Sophia,” her cousin Andrea called from the back of the room, “Tell us who’s harassing you and we’ll put a stop to it. Just say the word.”
    Sophia groaned. Sometimes a large, loving family was a heavy burden to bear. But Andrea and several of her other cousins were just home from the war so they deserved their fun, even if it was at her expense.
    “Give us a name, Sophia,” another cousin shouted out.
    “Vincenzo.” It was Zia Mirella again. “She said she wants to get rid of Vincenzo. I heard her.”
    Her aunt sounded entirely too proud of herself.
    “Do something,” Sophia whispered to her brother.
    Angelo grabbed a spoon from the nearest table and tapped it against his wine glass until the room grew quiet again.
    “Sophia and I want to thank each of you for coming today to help us celebrate the opening of our new business venture.” Angelo waited until the applause quieted. With all eyes on him, he continued. “Everyone here knows that I’m dealing with memory issues. While it’s a struggle, I know it’s a small price to pay when so many of our loved ones gave their life for the Allied cause.”
    His words were followed by an unorchestrated moment of silence. Several of the women in the room made the sign of the cross.
    “I fight to hold onto details and it feels like a losing battle some days, but the one thing I have never forgotten for a single moment was the love and support of the people in this room. You were there for my late wife Charlotte when I couldn’t be.” He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. “And you were always there for Luciano and Sophia too. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
    “Papa, don’t cry. It’s okay. I’m here.” Luciano called out. He squirmed off of his great-grandfather’s lap and ran to his father, arms extended. Angelo handed his wine glass to Sophia, reached down and hoisted his son up into his arms. She could see his eyes were moist. So were hers.
    Sophia leaned over and kissed her brother’s cheek and then her nephew’s sweet little face.
    Seeing little Luciano so happy in his father’s arms filled her with joy. No matter what happened, no matter what she had to do, she couldn’t ever let the two be separated again.
    He took the glass Sophia handed back to him and lifted it. “Buona fortuna e cent’anni di felicita,” he toasted.
    “Alla salute,” their family, friends, and neighbors echoed his wish for good fortune and one hundred years of happiness.
    A deafening crash came from the kitchen, followed by utter silence. All eyes turned to Sophia and Angelo.
    “I’ll go,” Sophia said. It was high time she gave Vincenzo a piece of her mind. He’d been a monster all afternoon, shouting and cursing and doing everything he could to ruin their party.
    “You give him what’s what, Sophia,” her cousin Andrea called out. His words egged on the gang of cousins at his table and soon the room was clapping, whistling and cheering her on as she threaded her way through the tables toward the kitchen.
    Anger and pent-up frustration drove each step. It felt as if everything else in her life was out of control, but there was no reason she had to put up with Vincenzo’s obnoxious behavior for one moment longer. Vincenzo was a brute. He was a bully. He’d done everything he could to disturb their party and for two cents she’d gladly wring his neck just