“It’s at nine, right?” Augusto asks with a playful tone.
“Fuck you. If you’re a minute late, I’m shooting off your big toe.”
We all laugh, and when Little Ricky and I get back in our SUV, he mutters, “That was anti-climactic.”
“What did you expect?” I raise my eyebrow at him.
“I don’t know. Maybe a little effort on their part to stay alive.”
A chuckle rumbles from me. “Let’s go home. I have to get ready for Georgi and Nina’s engagement party.”
Little Ricky laughs silently.
“What?” I bark.
“You and the word party never go together in the same sentence.”
“It’s for Georgi.”
Laurie’s very excited for tonight.
Just thinking about her has me growling, “Get us home faster.”
“What’s the hurry?” he asks.
“I miss my wife.”
“You saw her two hours ago. Careful that you don’t smother her.”
“Shut up and drive,” I mutter, then add, “I’ll smother her all I fucking want.”
He shakes his head at me but at least speeds up.
I pull my phone out and stalk my wife on the security feeds, watching as she goes through different outfits, probably trying to decide what to wear tonight.
When she holds a shimmery black dress in front of her, I bring up her number and press dial.
It rings for a while, and just as I frown, she answers, “Hi!”
“Where was your phone?”
“At the bottom of my handbag, which is like a black hole.”
“Whenever I’m away, you have to keep it close, in case there’s an emergency and you need to call me.”
“Okay.”
“Wear the black dress.”
“Huh?” She gasps. “How did you know? Are you home?”
“No, I was watching you on the security feed.”
“What?” She inhales sharply. “There’s a camera in our bedroom?! Oh my God, Adriano. We had sex in here.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “There’s a camera in every room,mia piccola farfalla.Only me and Rosie have access. And I only mention Rosie because she can hack into anything, but I know she won’t invade our privacy unless there’s an emergency, so don’t stress.”
“Oh. Where is the camera?” she asks, sounding curious.