Free The Art of Discipline: Running Toward Trouble (The Mockingbird Chronicles) by Alexandra James, Stardawn Cabot Page B

with Mr. Zitti. Text me or leave a voice mail if you need to, otherwise divert any issues to Morgan or Cal.”
    “Right, keep up the status quo, got it, boss,” Olivia quipped.
     
    * * *
     
    Dani put her hand in the small of Emma’s back as they entered the restaurant. She’d never been here before, but the unassuming window front promised it to be a very local, very authentic Italian restaurant.
    Stopping to allow their eyes to adjust to the dim lighting, Dani smiled as a distinguished-looking man with jet-black hair and a pinstripe suit waved to them. Standing, he returned her smile, and extended his hand before kissing first Dani, and then Emma on both cheeks.
    “Thank you so much for coming, Ms. Ryan.” He motioned for the women to sit before doing so himself and then snapped his fingers, the waiter immediately appearing with a basket of homemade garlic rolls and a bottle of wine.
    “Mr. Zitti, it’s a pleasure to see you again. I hope you don’t mind but I brought my business partner along today. Emma Gray, I’d like you to meet Mr. Frankie Zitti.”
    “Very nice to meet you, Ms. Gray.” The man’s dark green eyes twinkled.
    “It’s nice to meet you as well,” Emma returned as she took in the scenery. “This seems to be a very nice place.”
    The man beamed. “My son opened it a couple of years ago. Four years of college, two in culinary school and now he’s a chef, makes his old man proud.” Another waiter had quietly appeared and left a plate of antipasta at the table. “Please, mangia , mangia . Eat, ladies. I didn’t ask you here to stare at the walls.”
    Dani smiled and slowly tried an olive from the platter. “Then why did you ask me here, Mr. Zitti?”
    “I told you, I want you to be in charge of my daughter’s coming-out party.”
    At the explanation, Dani tensed. She felt Emma’s hand take hers, giving it a quick squeeze of support. Turning her attention back to the conversation, she prayed she wasn’t making a mistake. “And I’d believe that if your wife was here. If I remember correctly, all the planning for Carmella’s wedding was done with your sister and mother. Both told me numerous times that men had no place in planning events for their daughters,” Dani explained.
    Taking a sip of wine, the man stared hard at Dani and then Emma before putting his glass down and sampling some of the antipasta. “You are just as smart as my sister said you were, Ms. Ryan.”
    Stopping the conversation as bowls of soup were placed in front of them, Frankie waited until the waiter had moved away before beginning again. “You’re right, I do want you to plan Giuliana’s coming-out party, but my wife will be contacting you about it in a few months.”
    “Then why are we here, Mr. Zitti?” Emma asked quietly between bites of soup.
    They ate in silence for a while before he answered. “First, you weren’t supposed to be here, Ms. Gray, just Ms. Ryan. The fact that you are here complicates matters, but since this also concerns you, I will allow it.”
    “What on earth are you talking about?” Dani asked as their soup bowls were removed and their water glasses refilled.
    Leaning forward on the table, he ran a beefy hand through his hair. “Ms. Ryan, how well did you know your father or his family?”
    Dani paused before getting another squeeze from Emma’s hand. “My father and mother died when I was six. I was raised by my grandparents, but visited my father’s brother during the summer and on holidays. Somehow though, I think you already knew that.”
    “And how did your grandparents feel about your father’s family?”
    Dani shrugged. “They were civil to my uncle, for my sake, I guess.”
    He nodded and sat back as the waiter brought various dishes and empty plates from the kitchen. Holding the plates, the waiter allowed Frankie to put a small portion of each dish on them before setting them in front of Emma and Dani.
    Frankie smiled at the selection on his plate. “You