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“And you didn’t call your best friend back to help you out? I’m so mad at you.”
“Stacey…”
“Mm. Okay, I forgive you because of the trauma.” She grabs my hands. “Seriously, you’re shaking like a leaf. Go on, baby girl.”
“Well, when I went to start the shift, he kicked his friends out of his booth and invited me to sit with him. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined he liked me like that.”
“What—”
“We hooked up, sort of,” I admit.
“But your brother.”
“I freakin’ know, Stace. I’m in this secret sort of hell.”
“How the hell didn’t he find out? There were like eighty mobsters that rolled in.”
“Well…” I blush. “We kind of hooked up under the table, if you know what I mean.”
“You naughty bitch! That’s something out of my book. I’m so mad, ugh, but so proud.” Stacey shimmies.
“Stace!”
“Go on.”
“So, after the hook-up, I thought we were done, but then he mailed me a tip – which was a sleeve full of gold coins worth thousands of dollars, and his number. Naturally I rejected it. I’m not some hooker.”
“Bitch. Give it to me, then! I’ll hook if it means Castor DeMatteo is my one and only client. Ugh.”
“Well, he didn’t take it back. And really, I just wanted to see him again. So, I guess I am a hooker.” I wave the notion away. “Anyway, we’ve been loosely seeing each other since.” My lips push to one side. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about all this, and now I caught feelings, Stacey. Big time. But he’s been pulling away because my brother’s been suspicious, and, and, now – at the worst possible time – a Russian mobster corners me and tells me I’m collateral to one of Castor’s jobs. And if I tell anybody, I’m dead.”
Stacey’s eyes widen.
I frown and avert my gaze. “If you want me out of here, I completely understand. I just… didn’t know where else to go.”
She pulls me in for a big hug. “You’re safe with me, Gia. No one would dare step foot in this pigsty.”
I chuckle and squeeze her tight. “Thank you.”
After a long moment of comfort, she pulls away. “Stay here for a few days. Lay low. I’ll take care of whatever you need.”
I reach into the zipped pocket of my sweater and pull out the roll of gold coins. “I was on my way to exchange some of these. How about a road trip instead? My treat.”
Her eyes light up, then she huffs. “But the Bangos?”
“We both got the stomach bug from the same restaurant,” I say, finding a smile deep down. “Besides, Charlie and Brenda have been begging for extra shifts.”
Her smile grows. “Woo! You do not need to say another word, baby girl, it is on!”
Her excitement masks my terror. All I can think about is a rifle waiting to take me out as soon as I leave the apartment. I’m worried my phone is tapped, the GPS bugged. How would I even know? But maybe I’m being too paranoid now.
“What are you going to do about the Russian man problem?” she asks as she starts digging for clothes.
My heart drops into my stomach again. “I can’t tell Marco, because then he’ll know I’ve been seeing Castor, and that’s worse than the Russian mob. I’m also scared he’s going to find out anyway. Shit.” I hug myself. “I have to tell Castor. But I’m going to wait until we’re far away, and that Russian guy isn’t trailing us.”
“I always knew these mobster boys would be a spicy kind of exciting. You’re really in the thick of it, Gia. Damn.”
Chapter 13
