Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
That stings the most. We’ve come this far—and for him to shove me away is like a punch to the throat.
I only emerge when Lanzo’s gone to make myself meals and to shower. Half of me is pissed at him for cutting me out of the whole Burian thing, and the other half is dealing with the trauma of nearly getting murdered at a freaking carnival.
Mostly, I’m scared for him. And scared for all my friends.
“Everything’s fine here,” Grandpop says when I call to check in on him. “Now that the nurse is coming full-time, I’m taken care of. You don’t got to worry about me, Renny.”
“I always worry about you.”
But he insists that everything’s okay. I make the rounds, calling Amy, Fran, and Penny. They’re all totally fine.
“I did notice this guy’s been hanging around my apartment,” Amy says that night, sounding pretty relaxed about the whole thing. “Big dude. Looks like the sort that carries a gun around for fun.”
I chew on my lip. Probably one of Carmine’s soldiers. Lanzo said they’d watch over anyone Burian might target. “Attractive?”
“If you like a face that looks like it was the victim of a meat tenderizer is hot, then sure, why not.”
I laugh, feeling off-kilter. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Hey, how’s that new boyfriend of yours? I know it isn’t my business, but things seemed… complicated with you two.” She clears her throat. That’s her nice way of asking if Lanzo’s been abusing me or something.
“Everything’s fine with him,” I say, trying to sound convincing. But Amy knows me too well.
“Is that a real fine, or are you trying to make me stop worrying?”
“Can it be both?”
She sighs and I hear her adjust the phone. “He’s really handsome and everything but he came storming into my apartment like he wanted to throw you over his shoulder. That’s not exactly normal behavior, you know?”
“Lanzo’s different.” I squeeze my eyes shut. The last thing I want to do right now is defend him, but I can’t have Amy calling the cops or something stupid. “He’s protective, that’s all.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“We got this job—” I hesitate, trying to find a way to describe it. “It pays well. But it’s a little, uh, rough.”
“You mean, you have a dangerous job that this mysterious overprotective boyfriend is involved with?” She clears her throat. “You realize you’re making him sound like your pimp?”
I groan, leaning my head back on the pillow. “Why do people keep insinuating that?”
“Maye you need to reevaluate some of your life choices if this is a recurring theme.” She doesn’t sound amused.
“Seriously, Amy, I’m okay. Lanzo’s okay. We’re all okay. And I’m not a hooker.”
“You don’t have to be a hooker to have a pimp. I read about these girls that are kept in this big, really nice house, and all they do is stream on OnlyFans all day long—”
“I am not streaming on OnlyFans.”
“Whatever! I’m just saying I’m worried, okay?”
“I know.” I smile to myself. It feels nice to be the one people worry about instead of the one doing the all the worrying for a change. “But I promise, I’m good. And don’t think too much about that big guy you saw hanging around.”
“Oh, god. You know about Meat Face?”
“Meat Face? That’s such a bad nickname. Just don’t worry, everything’s under control.”
“That’s not making me feel better!”
I hurry off the phone before I can make things even worse.
Lanzo comes home that night. He knocks on my door, wants to talk, but I send him away. Strangely, he doesn’t fight me on it. After a little while of silence, I slink out into the kitchen, sneak myself some leftover pasta from earlier, but a shadow appears over my shoulder before I can escape.
“You’re not allowed to hide in that room forever.”
I flinch, whirling around. How the hell did a guy that big sneak up on me? “I’m not hiding.”
“You’re avoiding me.”
“No kidding. I’m angry with you.” I try to brush past him, leaving my dinner behind. I’d rather starve than talk to him.
But he doesn’t let up. “You’re pissed because I won’t let you get involved with a very dangerous, very possibly deadly job? Did that guy strangle the sense from you?”
“That’s not funny,” I snap at him. “And you know that’s not how it is. I want to help. I want to get back at Burian for what he did to me.”
“I’m going to do that.” He grabs my wrist. I try to tug away, but he holds on tight. I face him, and I hate that I still find him gorgeous, even after all this. I hate that I want him to pin me against the wall, to kiss my neck, my lips. To make me forget for a little while.
“I just want to feel like I’m useful for once in my life,” I say before I can stop myself. I snap my jaw shut before I can spill more.