Lacey Luzzi: Sprinkled: A humorous cozy mystery! (Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

captured by my granddaughter.”
    I looked at my shoes. Damn, news traveled fast.
    “How do you think I am?” he asked.
    I managed a small shrug.
    “I’m impressed, Lacey,” he said. “Marco was not a bad guard.”
    “ Was? ” I gulped. “He’s not dead, is he? I won’t work for you if you ...”
    One of Carlos’ eyelids twitched as if annoyed.
    “No,” he said finally.
    “Good.” I swiped some palm sweat onto my jeans. “And thank you.”
    The silence was heavy for another few moments. I realized I’d never really had a one on one meeting with Carlos. Things were much easier when we had my grandmother to distract us with her steel disks of cookies and wine infused dinner chatter.
    “I have a proposition to make,” he said. “I’m not a fan of it.”
    “Why are you offering it to me, then?”
    “Because, we had a deal. And I don’t renege on my word.” Carlos patted out his cigar, flicking the ashes into a freshly cleaned tray. “I don’t want women on my workforce.”
    My temper flared. “But Carlos, this is the twenty first century-”
    “Lacey,” he said, as he held up his hand, “this is dangerous work. Women are less strong than men, physically. They’re more vulnerable, emotionally. Why would I send someone I care about into a situation knowing they were utterly unprepared?”
    “I’m not unprepared. I investigated and found you guys, didn’t I? I’m not stupid.” I knew Carlos had a point, but I had a streak of girl power in me that I’d absolutely inherited from my mother. My father had disappeared when my mother was pregnant, for reasons that may or may not have to do with my grandfather. This suspicion gave me an added boost of disgruntled anger.
    “I’ll admit, you have an uncanny ability to solve problems.” He sat back. “Just like your mother, nosy and independent.”
    I crossed my arms and tipped my chin upwards.
    “In addition, you have certain… connections that I have unfortunately severed.”
    “Connections… with whom?” I was flabbergasted. Carlos’ connections spanned the world in a spider web so thick and full a flea could barely make it through unnoticed.
    Carlos’ eyes flicked away, and I knew who he meant. Clay . My favorite cousin and current roommate, he and Carlos did not get along.
    “Ah,” I said. “You’re using me.”
    “No,” he said. “I’m giving you a job. But I’m giving you a managerial role. Take it as a compliment – do you think, for example, that I would personally accompany the guards on a shipment?”
    “Maybe not today, but yeah, I think you would’ve done that in your prime.”
    “I’m still in my prime.”
    “Of course.” I looked down. This one wasn’t a battle I was going to choose.
    “Think of it as a promotion from your laundromat gig. You managed the front desk there, now you’re the Operations Manager. Of course, the money will increase accordingly.”
    I nodded. “I can get used to the sound of that. What does Nora think?”
    His wife was the only person who had influence over any decision he made.
    Carlos grunted. “It was her idea. She doesn’t want you to get hurt. I promised her I’d give you a no-hands on gig. Purely strategic. I’ll let you do the investigating, your forte, and then when it comes time for the bust I’ll set you up with a team of men who’ll do the dirty work. Capisci?”
    “Yeah.”
    “She thought it was safer than you stripping,” he grunted, as if disagreeing. “At least we’ll know where you’re at.”
    “Mhmm.”
    “There’s, uh, one more part of the deal.” Carlos shifted in his seat.
    I leaned forward warily. I’d never seen him so hesitant. “What is it?”
    Carlos cleared his throat. “If I give you the job, you must agree to go on a date with a man of Nora’s choosing.”
    I rolled my eyes. “You have got to be kidding me.”
    Carlos’ eyes flicked towards the heavens. “Will you take the deal?”
    “I don’t know the gig,” I