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“So you keep fucking saying.” He takes a step toward me. “Too bad I don’t care. You’re under my protection and my rules.”
“So, what, you’re gonna be my own personal warden?”
“No.” He smiles. “More like your worst fucking nightmare.”
I swallow but stand my ground. “I’m going out.”
“Okay.” He gestures to the door. “Lead the way.”
Shaking my head, I cross my arms. “You’re not coming with me.”
“Worst nightmare, remember? Where you go, I go.”
Oh God. He’s worse than Fallon. Way worse. Because he’ll come with me. He’ll embarrass me. Go out of his way to do that. I can see it in his face, the shit-eating expression, the glimmer in his eyes.
I just might hate this man.
“I think,” I say slowly, “I’ll stay in.”
He smiles again, all white teeth and viciousness. “Good plan.”
That night, I stayed in, and the next. Tizio doesn’t stay in the house. I’m not even sure he’s sleeping in the car, but I wouldn’t put it past him. What I know is he’s good to his word.
Where I go, so does he.
He’s waiting for me outside each class, he’s there when my school day ends to escort me to his car, and he drives us, in silence, back home. He goes in, checks out the place, probably lays down landmines or something, and leaves.
When I try to go out, he’s there at the gate.
If I stay after school to drift to the bar, he’s there.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the café or the bookstore, there he is.
But tonight, it takes the proverbial cake and smashes it in my face. It’s day three, and things aren’t going well.
Sammy laughs as we sit in the little outdoor restaurant, sharing pizza. He looks at me. “Good to see you smiling. And who’s that man with you all the time? Guys are gonna start getting jealous.”
“The giant? A football reject who hangs about the school. I’m feeling sorry for him.” I glance quickly over to the said man and roll my eyes before returning my attention to Sammy to find him smiling big time.
“No way. That guy isn’t that at all.” He picks up a slice and takes a bite, only to groan. “Soo good.”
It’s not New York pizza, but I keep that to myself. I make it a rule not to share things about my past or my life. They know I have a brother, that’s it. I’m a deft hand at changing the subject, so I nod and avoid that conversation altogether.
“Well?”
I bite back a sigh. Sammy’s nice, my first friend I made here, and he’s like me, a little too good at what he does and accelerated in his classes.
The difference is, I keep it on the DL while he doesn’t care who knows. He doesn’t really care about the others here. He’s got a game plan set out for his life, and he’s not about to veer.
“My brother’s a little . . . protective when he’s out of town, and?—”
A shadow falls over us, and I look up, heart skipping beats. “Get the fuck home.”
“You can’t speak to her like that!”
“Sammy!” I reach out, but he’s already rising, and before I can do anything, Tizio has him by the collar.
“He’s fine, Karlee. Now get your things and wait for me at the front. Now.”
