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“How come you’re not going?” I couldn’t imagine the Zolas letting Lea get out of the recital because she didn’t feel like it.
Lea shrugged. “I have to study for a biology exam and work on some more scholarship applications. But I can’t study all night…”
Envy twisted through my gut at the thought of Lea’s family life. Her sisters, her grandparents, and her home all seemed so perfect the way they supported her and actively wanted her to do things like go to college and reach her goals. I hadn’t even considered things like the SATs or scholarships when I was in high school. When other kids were thinking about college, I was too busy running around the streets with my friends, dreaming about cars and girls.
Lea had a family. A future. She didn’t even know how lucky that made her.
I just wanted to be a part of it.
“You sure?” I asked, even as my hands slipped around her waist again.
She grinned. “Absolutely. Study breaks are good for the brain.”
I chuckled. I wasn’t exactly planning breaks that would make her think straight.
“Fine.” I gave in, unable to resist. “What time?”
Lea’s eyes lit up, and she threw her arms around me, pulling my head down for another kiss. “Seven,” she said before releasing me at last and turning to walk up the steps to her house. “In time for diner. And don’t be late, Mr. Scarrone.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, contessa.”
I waited until the front door had shut behind her, then turned back toward the garage.
I’d barely taken three steps when two men emerged from the park across the street.
“Yo, Mikey.”
Paul Reyes crossed the street diagonally, accompanied by another dude wearing an oversized black parka. He yanked at his sagging pants while he walked, as if they would fall down otherwise.
“Fuck,” I muttered, then continued on my way.
They caught up to me quickly, each one falling into step on either side of me as we crossed into the shadows, away from the busy part of Belmont.
“Don’t run off, now,” Paul said with a grin that revealed one of his gold teeth. “We’re just being friendly.”
“Not as friendly as he was with Lea Zola,” snarked the other one. “Tryin’ to fuck the Cherry Popper, huh? Maybe she’ll finally give it up for him.”
In a flash, I had the guy up against the wall. He was a slimy little worm, short enough then with my arm under his neck, he had to pop up onto his toes to keep from choking.
“You will keep that name outta your motherfuckin’ mouth,” I said quietly, but directly into the guy’s ear so he had no choice but to listen. “Who’s the joker, Paulie? He’s got a lot to say for someone with shit for brains.”
“Chill, man, chill.” Paul chuckled, like I didn’t have his friend pinned against the bricks. “This is Jay. He don’t mean nothing. He’s a new runner I’m training. For Antoni and Mancuso.”
Even gasping for breath, Jay managed to smirk. He knew the power of Paul’s pronouncement. He knew I was going to let him go because of those names.
I hated myself a little for it, but I did.
He wheezed and collapsed against the wall when I released him.
I turned to Paul. “What do you want?”
“I can’t check on my old friend Mikey?”
“It’s Michael,” I said, surprising even myself. “Or Mike. And we’re not friends. Even when I was with Gina.”
A black cloud shadowed Paul’s face at the mention of his sister. “Yeah, she ain’t gonna be happy to hear about what I saw tonight, neither. Since when have you been hooking up with the frigid Zola sister?”
“Since never,” I lied, praying they’d only caught the end of the interaction. “She’s my boss’s granddaughter. I was walking her home.”
