What would any of this be for if the hundred and one days pass without anything happening? I would go back to Ohio, closing this weird chapter as a fever dream.
I might not be a super-rich mafioso, but there is one thing I know how to do better than anyone else.
I can make Claudio talk endlessly about himself.
A plan begins to take root as I type back my response.
Donatella knocks on my door a moment later. “Breakfast!”
“I’m not feeling good today,” I call back, forcing my voice to sound gravelly. “I think I’m going to stay in bed and sleep it off.”
“You should still eat something.”
“I’ll eat later,” I insist.
I can almost hear her rolling her eyes through the door. “Call me if you need any medication.”
As soon as I hear her footsteps disappear, I spring into action.
In my first few days here, I’d contemplated how difficult it would be to escape out the window. I even fashioned a rope out of someof the men’s shirts from the closet. I retrieve it now, stashed in one of the drawers Donatella never bothers to look in.
Within seconds, I’m crouched on the damp ground outside. The years of sneaking out to perform at bars were finally working in my favor. And with one quick vault over the fence, I make it into the yard of the neighboring brownstone.
After so many weeks of being cooped up, I try not to spend much time reveling in the fresh air.
I don’t know where the brownstone is in Brooklyn. But as long as I can find a main road, I’ll be able to summon a cab. The jingle of too few coins in my purse reminds me to pray I’m not too far away.
There, only a few blocks away, seems to be a busier road.
I stride toward it, focused on my goal.
So much so that I don’t hear anyone approaching behind me.
“What thehellare you doing?”
17
ROCCO
Istorm into the house, throwing my jacket to the floor as I kick open the door to the lounge.
“What. The. Fuck.”
Before me, Cas sits curled up on the couch. Teo stands over her, monitoring her every move.
“I thought you said I was free to leave as I pleased.” She meets my anger with her own. “You set this asshole on guard dog duty?”
I don’t need to look at Teo to know he’s rolling his eyes.
The plane had been on the fucking runway when his message came through, saying that Cas had climbed out the goddamnwindow.
I couldn’t get home fast enough.
He showed me the messages he’d been tracking on Lazzaro’s phone.
“This is shit, Cas. I want to see you.”
I miss you too, baby. So much. If we meet, will you get in trouble?
