Weston by Debra Kayn

forward and hugged Rocki. “I’m Pauline, Tony’s mom.”
    She leaned back, taken by surprise. “Um, it’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
    “Isn’t she adorable?” Pauline held Rocki by the shoulders and tilted her head to the side, either sizing her up or soaking her in, Rocki wasn’t sure. “Please, call us Caleb and Pauline.”
    “Okay.” She escaped and moved over to her mother.
    Tony joined her and put his arm around her waist. She scooted closer to her Mary, but Tony tugged her tight against him. What the…?
    “Oh my…” Pauline elbowed Caleb. “This is wonderful. We had no idea when we decided to drive up from Vegas and spend time with you before heading home that we’d get to meet your girlfriend and her mother. This calls for a celebration. We’ll take you out to dinner. How does the Crystal Palace sound to everyone?”
    “No!” Rocki and Tony answered at the same moment.

Chapter Eight
    M om and Dad sat together on the couch. Mary sat in the recliner with Rocki perched on the arm of the chair, holding her mom’s hand. He leaned against the fireplace, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation headed.
    Without a chance to make sure Mary only knew enough information about the Archer case, Tony’s mom forged straight into discussing their current problem. He gritted his teeth together. The questions kept coming, one after another.
    He stood firm. “This is a bad idea.”
    “Sorry, son. I agree with Pauline. If Mary and Rocki are in trouble, the more eyes on them, the better. It’s our duty as your parents to help keep your woman safe. She’s part of the family, son. It’s no different from if we were going to war. A man goes down, we all go down with him.” His dad pulled out his cell phone.
    “Who are you calling?” he asked, hoping like hell it wasn’t some of his father’s war buddies. That was all he needed to deal with on top of Darrell.
    “I’m ordering pizza.” Dad gazed across the room. “Pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms?”
    “Tomatoes too? Rocki loves fresh tomatoes.” Mary sat straighter in the chair. “It’ll be like a celebration. We’ll concentrate on all the good things happening, and push this Darrell person out of our minds for the night.”
    Tony looked at Rocki and willed her to take control over her mom. She shrugged, and almost seemed happy with the change of plans. Probably because his parents were publicly executing him, and he was useless to stop them.
    He loved his parents, but…shit. He did not need them here right now.
    “Dad.” Tony walked over and sat on the coffee table, facing his father on the couch. “You need to listen to me. This is serious. We have no wiggle room here. Rocki and Mary must stay under watch continually. I can’t have people walking up to my door. That includes having deliveries brought to the house, or having you take Mary shopping or to the Crystal Palace.”
    “It’s pizza, son.” He stood and clapped Tony on the shoulder. “Unless the guy you’re after is a pimply faced eighteen-year-old wearing an ugly checkered shirt and carrying a couple cardboard pizza boxes, we’re safe.”
    Tony stood and growled. “Dad. Kitchen. Now.”
    “Anthony…” his dad said. He chose to ignore the warning in his father’s tone.
    Tony lifted his chin and nodded toward the other room. Caleb’s mouth tightened, but he returned the nod and kept his mouth shut. He walked out of the room and, thankfully, his dad followed.
    In the privacy of the kitchen, he counted to five, and laid down the law. “This stays between you and me.”
    “Okay, son,” his dad said.
    “We’re not messing around with a crazy drug addict. The man who is after them is cold, calculating, and smart. He’s also powerful. Everyone who stays here is putting their life on the line. Are you getting me?”
    His dad nodded, lowering his brows. “Got it.”
    “Now, I need you to do me a favor. Go back in the other room and suggest to Mom and Rocki’s Mom