Chapter 4: One Little Catch

“Mary!” Ian's voice interrupted her thoughts.

“A lady's work is never done.” She sighed with her signature smartass grin.

“Rocco wants to see you. Says it about some important merger or something.”

“Oh really?” Mary's eyebrows raised in some semblance of surprise. “That was quick.”

“I guess they're excited to make connections with the infamous Bloody Mary and Rocco DeSpirito.”

“What? They know about little ol' me?” Mary feigned shock as the two made their way back to Rocco's office.

“Oh, yeah.” Ian chuckled. “Old Man Flannigan mentioned you by name.”

“Well, shit.” Mary smiled proudly. “I guess my reputation really does precede me.”

Ian opened the door for Mary, allowing her to lead the way in. Rocco was sitting on the phone, smiling and talking with who they could only assume was Flannigan.

“Well, it's all settled then.” Rocco beamed, motioning for the two to sit. “We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful city. Oh, Mary? I promise she'll be there. I don't go anywhere without her.” Rocco gave her a wink and was rewarded with a chuckle and Mary's middle finger. “Till then, Flannigan. Ciao.”

“You look a kid at Christmas time.” Mary remarked.

“Because I am!” Rocco took a deep breath, resting his hands behind his head. “This is moving along quicker than I expected, but I promise I'm not complaining. Flannigan and his son are flying out tomorrow. Let's make this goes off without a hitch. I don't want them lacking anything. Whatever they request, it's theirs.”

“Within reason, Rocc.” Mary cautioned. “If they get crazy or disrespectful, they will answer to me. I don't give a fuck what family they're from and you know that.”

“I know, I know.” Rocco rolled his eyes. “I'll make sure they keep their hands to themselves and use their manners.”

Mary arched a brow at her friend and the two had a staring contest with such an intense silence, it made Ian fidget in his chair. After what felt like an eternity, the two burst into laughter.

“Jackass.” Mary shook her head.

“Shut up! You love me.” Rocco gave her a wink. “But I promise to make sure your requests are met.”

“Thank you, fratello.”

Rocco simply smiled and nodded. “Well, you might not be thanking me in a second.”

Mary's eyes squinted. “What have you gotten me into now?”

Rocco had the look of a child who was about to be scolded by his mother. “I may or may not have promised Flannigan that you'd be the one conducting business with his son.”

Mary felt her jaw clench like a vice grip as she stared daggers at Rocco. “I'm entertaining the brat? Are you fucking serious, Rocco?”

“He's not a brat, Mary!” Rocco threw back. “He's a grown man! Flannigan just thinks that...” Rocco's eyes widened as he quickly clamped his mouth shut.

“No, Rocco!” Mary ranted jumping to her feet. “Don't go all lockjaw on me now! Finish the fucking sentence!”

Rocco took a deep breath and let it out in a loud, slow sigh. “Flannigan has seen you, heard about you, and he thinks that a...merger of sorts between you two would be beneficial.”

“A merger of sorts?” Mary echoed. “You're saying he wants me to--”

“That's exactly what I'm saying.” Rocco cringed as Mary charged across the room and picked up a vase, introducing it to the wall. “At least, I didn't tell him yes!”

Rocco nodded to Ian and, without a word, he rose to his feet, reaching into the cabinet in the far corner. Ian took out an identical vase and placed it on the pedestal before returning to his seat.

“What did you tell him, Rocco?” Mary asked through clenched teeth.

Rocco and Ian both looked at her like deer in headlights.

“Rocco Giovanni Angelo DeSpirito, you better answer me or this next vase is going upside your goddamn head.”

Mary's voice became deathly quiet. Ian and Rocco felt that familiar chill run up their spines. Ian visibly shook and Rocco tried to choose his words carefully.

“If I tell you, you gotta promise not to throw the vase at me.”

Mary was silent for a few breaths before answering. “Fine.” She said, her teeth still clenched. “If you tell me, I promise not to throw the vase at you.”

“Good.” Rocco breathed a sigh of relief. “I just told him that you made your own choices and not to hold his breath, but that you would look forward to considering it.”

Mary looked incredulously at her friend, as if the man had grown a second head and it jumped out to bite her. Slowly, she turned away from him, leaning against the table under the window. Without warning, Mary let out a screech to rival even the most fearsome banshee as she launched two heavy hardcover books in quick succession at Rocco. Both he and Ian dove for the floor, but neither men dared utter a word.

“If this meeting wasn't so important to us,” Mary began through huffs of irate breath, “I swear to whatever gods are listening, I'd dropkick his ass for suggesting it and I'd dropkick yours for even thinking of going along with it!”

“Duly noted, kiddo.” Rocco answered simply, picking himself up from the floor.

Mary stormed from the room, paying little to no attention to Rocco or Ian, who was still curled up on the floor next to Rocco's desk in the fetal position. As the door slammed shut, Rocco finally felt it safe to move and help Ian to his feet.

“What the hell, Rocco?” Ian's voice was like the rest of his body, shaking like a leaf. “I told you not to piss her off when I'm around! You know how much she scares me!”

“My apologies, amico.” Rocco clapped the terrified man on the shoulder.