"So, about that date?" Hack smiled as I put my hand in his. "How about I take you and your friend for lunch and tonight you and I can eat, wherever you like," "I uh..." I began as I was still mesmerized by his looks. "We'd love to, and she'd love to," Ramona cut me off as she took me by the arm. "Wonderful," Hack clapped his hands together before gesturing us forward. "I know a few good restaurants in this direction," "I'm feeling French food, what about you Epps?" Ramona said as she interlocked our arms together. "I'm not sure, I could eat anything," I replied as we passed more people on the street. "I may be partial but I do love Italian food," Hack hoarsely chuckled as he looked back at his cousin. "Well, I did enjoy our meal when we went on our date," I replied, looking toward my best friend. "But, today we have Ramona for lunch, so I suggest we eat at a French place. Tonight we can dine at an Italian place if you don't mind." "I don't quite have an appetite for Frenchmen
"What's happened, Rocco?" I asked with a fever as I hurried into my SUV. "Niles DeMarco's dead, Tony Rizzio's been shot, Mario Pugliese's dead, and Ollie DiNiro has been shot, Sir," Rocco answered as he continued to wipe the blood and sweat from his face. "Who was it?" I demanded, as I looked back at my cousin. "Who the hell hit me? Who had the gall enough to hit the most potent family without a blessing?" "We aren't sure," Rocco began as he ached in pain turning to his right side. "Oh, I feel it now, I... I think they have shot me." He looked down to see a hole in his suit jacket, he lifted his shirt to reveal a bullet hole spurting blood on the leather seats. "Aren't sure? What do you mean?" I asked as I placed my handkerchief on his side. "There were two cars, mixed of three families, The Ricci's, The Fontana's, and Messina's," Rocco replied as he started to wail in agony. "Enzo Fontana, Bosco Messina, and that damn Giovanni Ricci," I hopped out of the vehicle and hurried u
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake," I struggled to open my eyes hearing the voice that sounded all too familiar. "I was a little worried,""What?" I questioned as I squinted to see Hack standing over my bed. "Where am I?""Hello, to you too, Epperly." Hack chuckled as he grabbed my hand. "You're in the hospital, you've been asleep for the past two days. You hit your head pretty hard.""No, oh no, Ramona," I stated as I tried sitting up in the bed but I winced in pain."Take it easy, Epperly." Hack smiled as he helped me. "Ramona is fine, she's been here the entire time. She left to get food,""Oh my, you're finally awake!" Ramona yelled as she walked through the door, dropping the sandwiches onto the floor. "You had me so worried, I didn't want to leave you,""It was Rusty wasn't it?" I breathed in deeply as Ramona walked to my side. "I woke up though before, I remember waking up here.""Yeah, the nurses checked you out. You woke up and I was in the bed next to you getting examined. Yo
"Epps, do you think it's a good idea to get back to you know.. doing all the things you do so early?" Ramona asked as she tried to push me back onto the bed. "What?" I inquired as I sat back up. "Who else is going to feed the homeless, take care of the animals, read to the homeless?" "Oh, please," Ramona scoffed as she plopped on the side of me. "What do you honestly think, Claudia, does this all out of the goodness of her heart?" I raised my eyebrow. "The only place I haven't seen her at is the homeless shelter. They don't pay there," I rolled my eyes as I watched a smile creep up my best friend's face. "True, but I think you should stay in bed a little longer," Ramona whined as she rested her head on my shoulder. "You did just have a horrific head injury, so rest up. I'll go get you some soup." "Ramona, it's been two days since I've been out of the hospital. I'll be fine, it's Monday. It's time to go to the soup kitchen." I throw the blankets off of myself and hop out of bed
As I headed to the soup kitchen to start the week, a man bumped into me. "Oh, my gosh. I'm so sorry." I pushed up my thick black glasses, today of all days my cat, Monty had to mess with my last pair of contacts. "Watch out, watch where you walk." A tall man behind me spoke out. His accent was nothing from around here, but if I had to guess it sounded Italian or maybe Sicilian. "It's okay, Russ, it was my fault, now let's go before we're late." The man I bumped into grumbled as he brushed down the wrinkles on his dark gray suit, before turning abruptly and walking away. "Sorry!" I screamed out as I pushed my glasses back onto my face. "Today's not my day." I sighed trudging on the sidewalk to Anna's Soup Kitchen. "Morning Romona," I waved to my not-so-cheery best friend. I watched as she put her long ebony hair in a bun. "Epperly, we are here every Monday, can't we at least go one Monday to like the beach or something?" She whined as Clark handed her a hair net. "Romona Lirette, c
"Watch it!" Screamed out a familiar voice. "Watch where you're going!" The tall man hollered at me the way he did yesterday, in the same place. "Sorry, I'm sorry!" I stuttered as I picked up the squeaky toys that had dropped out of my hands before pushing up my black glasses. "You?" He buffed up which prompted his muscles to peek through his light blue shirt. "Didn't we go through this yesterday?" He leaned down getting closer to my face. "Russ," The man snapped his fingers as Russ huffed and stood up straightening his suit. "No, need for that, she's obviously in a hurry to umm... play with dogs." He picked up a green squeaky toy handing it to me before turning and leaving. "Russ, we're going to be late." "Si, boss," Russ eyed me down before scurrying up to the man I bumped into yet again. As I continued down the street heading toward Griffin's Animal Shelter, I threw open the door where I greeted my best friend Ramona. "Good morning Ramona," I hold back my laugh noticing her tr
"Oh, now boss this is getting ridiculous, You have to..." Russ began but was silenced when the man held up his hand. "You look different." The man began as he looked me over, putting his hand on his shapely jaw. "I put my contacts in," I studdered clearing my throat. "What's your name?" He asked pushing back his coal black hair as if somehow it had fallen out of place. "Epperly Wakes," I began loudly, "Epperly Sacha Wakes," I spoke softly, pushing my hair behind my ear. "Well, Epperly, I'll keep my eye on you, I'll have to since we keep running into each other like this." He smiled taking my hand and placing a kiss on it. "Have a good day," "Wait, wait, what's your name?" I called out coming back to my senses, but it was too late, he had already rounded the corner and couldn't hear me. I threw my hands down and continued to Shady Oaks Retirement Home. "Good morning, Ramona," I called out watching her trying to get a book from Mr. Shannon's grasp. "Epperly, we're here every Wedn
"Boss, Tony just called and said that the people love to be early so that they can set the move." Russ relayed to me as I began to speedwalk. "Oww," Came the voice of the woman I ran into, she was pretty but I was in no mood to talk with any female. I held up my hand to silence Russ, if I let him he would berate her when I was the one that ran into her. We have no time for pleasantries or formalities, I needed to get going. "Sorry," I heard her yell out. "Good morning Mr. Hyland, your party hasn't arrived yet, I'll send them up to the suite whenever you're ready." Adrianna softly spoke to me as she brushed her hand up and down the buttons of her white blouse. "Thank you, Adrianna." I dismissed her before she could follow me like she usually does. She was beautiful that was certain, her raven hair had streaks of blonde and her olive complexion complemented her bright green eyes. But, she was known around my entire building as anything but virtuous, not that there's anything wrong wit