“All right, Ma.” While digging through the pile of unopened mail, I found the invitation I’d ignored.

“You need to see your family. It’ll do you good to be around the Gallo side.”

Fran DeLuca had been on my back since the day I’d come home from the army. I loved the hell out of the woman, but she could be a major pain in my ass.

“Why?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. They were her side and, therefore, superior.

“They have their lives together. Sal knew how to raise boys.”

My jaw tightened. “Are you saying I’m not a good man, Ma?”

“Morgan, you know that’s not what I meant.” She sighed. “You need to get out of this city for a little while and clear your head. Plus,” she added, drawing out the S, “I need you to accompany me on the trip. You know I hate traveling alone. The suitcase is always too heavy for me to lift, and I get lost easily.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled. “Fine, Ma. I’ll take you to Izzy’s wedding. But I won’t be happy about it.”

“Thank you, baby. I’ll call now and tell your aunt Maria to expect us. I want to get there a couple of days early. I’ll book the airfare. You just show up sober enough to be allowed on the plane, Morgan. Understand?”

“Ma, I’m not a drunk, for Christ’s sake.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“I love you,” she said as she disconnected the call.

She showed up at my place, without calling, and found me enjoying a couple of drinks and assumed I’m a drunk.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

I hadn’t seen the Gallos in ages. Izzy had been a gawky teenager with a sharp tongue, and the boys…they were Gallo through and through. They were tough, rough, and always looking for an angle.

I wouldn’t say that I was very different from them, but the bloodline had been watered down with the addition of my father’s side. They were the better half of the family tree.

At least I could spend a couple of days in the sunshine instead of freezing my balls off in Chicago. My mother would have my full attention and use the time to chew my ear off about why didn’t I find a good woman to settle down with already—it was the same conversation we’d had almost every day for the last month.

Before I could even get up from the table, my phone rang again.

“What now, Ma?” I barked as I pushed the chair back.

“I spoke to your aunt and everything is set. You’re going to stay with Joe while we’re there, and I’ll stay with Mar and Sal.”

“Do I get a choice in this?” I stood, wandering over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city.

“Nope. Everyone else is full. Joey will be happy to have you.”

“I’m going to get a hotel.”

I hated staying with people, especially when I hadn’t seen that person in ten years. I knew them as well as I knew my father, and he walked out of our lives the day I graduated from high school.

“No, you’re not. That would be such a slap in the face. You’ll stay with Joe and Suzy.”

“We’ll talk about it later. I have shit to do.”

“Start packing, Morgan. I’ll book our tickets for the day after tomorrow.” Click.

Ma was the queen of hanging up before I could say anything more.

Staring out at Lake Michigan, I rolled my neck and counted to ten. I could handle a few days with the family.

Maybe they’d help get my mind off all the fucked-up shit I’d seen. My faith in humanity had evaporated while I’d been in combat, but the silence and calm of being a civilian had me climbing the freaking walls.

I needed to get out of here.

Old friends, the kind who were trouble, had been lighting up my phone since the day I returned. They weren’t the type of people I needed to be hanging out with.

As a kid, I found myself in trouble more times than I liked to remember—small crimes, petty theft, and other bullshit things kids do. The last straw came when we stole a car and were quickly popped for the crime.

Instead of spending time in jail, I was given an option—enter the service and turn my life around or head to the slammer and do some time.

The military seemed like the better choice. At least I’d be free and see the world. But the only part of the world I’d seen resembled a barren wasteland, not even close to the tropical paradise the brochures promoted.

I’ll say one thing about the military—it did straighten my ass out and made me a man. I wasn’t the same punk who’d left for basic training.

The last thing I needed was to hook up with my buddies who had never left “the life.” I knew they were still pulling jobs that could land them in prison for much of their natural life. I’d finally been given my freedom back, and there was no way in hell I’d give it up to make a quick buck.

Spending quality time with my quiet family should help me unwind and figure out my future, right?

Who was I kidding?

The Gallos had never been quiet a day in their lives. They were loud and obnoxious, but they were my family, and it would be nice to spend time with them.

It was time to get my shit in order, head down to the Florida sunshine, and get the fuck away from the Windy City.