AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I want it to be your favorite bracelet, Daddy.” She frowns, then grins moments later, showing off her missing front tooth. “Just like you’re my favorite person ever, ever, ever.”
“Amara,” I say softly, “no matter what, you’re always my favorite. There will never be anyone, any bracelet or watch, more my favorite than you.” I kiss the top of her head and stand.
“Always, always?” she chirps.
I squeeze her hand. “Always, always.”
Glancing back at Clara, I see her hands clasped to her chest as she offers me a heartfelt smile. Her new bracelet is also on her wrist, and her T-shirt says,I’m a grandmother. What’s your superpower?
Thankfully, Amara’s focus shifts from the watch to requesting I let her get a deep-fried Twinkie next time we come. Not fucking happening.
Her energy and questions are short-lived, and by the time we arrive at Damien’s SUV in the parking lot, she’s sleeping in my arms, her face buried in my shoulder. I’m careful not to wake her while buckling her in the backseat of Damien’s GL 550.
“Drive them home and stay at the house,” I instruct him while Clara climbs into the backseat next to Amara. “I’ll find a ride home later.”
“A problem I should know about?” He raises a brow.
“No, I just saw someone I need to speak with.”
He stares at me skeptically but doesn’t ask any more questions.
After they drive off, I return to the festival in search of Gigi. She’s sipping a frozen lemonade when I find her. I maintain a safe distance while following them, waiting for the perfect opportunity. It comes when Natalia and she walk into the women’s restroom, and Bruno enters the men’s.
All eyes turn to me when I step into the restroom. I stand at the door, trying not to appear creepy or intimidating, but honestly, any man in the women’s restroom looks like a fucking creep. Thank fuck it only takes Gigi a second to realize I’m there for her.
She beelines toward me with Natalia on her heels. I grab her hand and drag her outside to behind the building.
“Tell Bruno that Gigi needs a tampon and to walk you to the car,” I direct Natalia, not bothering to release Gigi.
“He’ll want me to go with them,” Gigi argues, fighting my hold.
I shoot her an annoyed look. “Not if she tells him you’re bleeding every-goddamn-where.”
Natalia shifts from one foot to the other in unease. “Will she, uh … be bleeding if I leave?”
“No, I won’t make her bleed.” I clench my jaw.
“It’s fine,” Gigi tells Natalia. “Just give us a minute. There are tampons in the backseat of Bruno’s SUV. Grab them, and I’ll meet you back inside the restroom.”
“Scream if you need help,” Natalia nervously says.
The fact that she’s scared of me but fucks my brother is laughable. If the roles were reversed and it was Vinny pulling her from the bathroom, he’d be less gentle about it. The poor girl will find that out sooner or later.
Gigi frees herself as soon as Natalia disappears around the building. “Antonio, what the fuck?—”
I clamp my hand over her mouth, muzzling her words, and drag her into my chest. “Shut the fuck up.”
The brat bites my fucking finger, so I roughly plant my fingers into her cheeks so deep that I feel her teeth through them.
“Keep your head down, or you’ll regret it,” I say, guiding her away from the restroom.
“That won’t look suspicious or anything,” she mutters beneath my hand.
I release her but don’t say a word while leading her to the mirror maze house near the back of the festival. Earlier, Amara tried to go inside it. The attendant stopped her and said it was down.
My daughter wasn’t happy about that.
I sure as fuck was because it helped create my plan to get Gigi alone.
