“They only suspect I’m onto them.”
“Yeah, but they probably figured out that you’re working with the cops.”
“I’m not working with the cops. I’m working for Jack Richardson.”
“Even so, Ice might come looking for you. He knows you have visions.”
“Or maybe that’s why he’s staying away. He would have already come looking for me after I paid Carla that little visit. Maybe he’s just trying to lie low.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I will. I have to go to the hospital to check on Gran and then over to the community center.”
“Okay, but keep in touch with me. Are you going to come back here tonight?”
“Do you think your parents will let me stay?”
“Are you kidding? You’re already part of the family. The only thing is that you’ll have to sleep in one of my brothers’ rooms.”
“They let me stay in here with you last night.”
Luca laughed. “That’s because I was zonked out on painkillers. Tonight is another story, though.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and leaned in for a long, hot kiss.
“Dawn, do you want a ride to the hospital?” Gabriella’s voice floated down the stairs.
Luca groaned in frustration. “See, my mom has this supersensory radar thing. I swear she knew we were getting close.”
Dawn giggled. “I’ll be right up, Gabriella,” she called out.
“Promise me you’ll be careful.” He gave her one more fierce kiss.
“I promise. Promise me you’ll get well soon. I’ll miss you in my arms at night.”
“I promise.”
Dawn kissed him back just as fiercely and then, grabbing her jacket and purse, went upstairs.
Gabriella insisted on meeting Annette, and the two women got along as though they were long-lost friends. Dawn announced she had to get to the community center, but Gabriella stayed to chat a bit longer with Annette. It felt good. All of it. Luca’s family was actually accepting her. It was wonderful being part of a big, noisy, loving family. Weird, but wonderful.
When Dawn arrived at the Youth Community Center, Tansy gave her a big hug and asked her how Annette was doing.
More good karma. Dawn helped out with a group meeting with some of the kids who’d started getting together to talk about their issues at home. A parent in jail was something Dawn could relate to. She was setting up the chairs for the meeting when she spied a girl talking to Rita. The girl looked kind of tough. Dawn knew the type… Hell, she was the type. The girl nodded at Rita and then went off to talk to a group of older kids.
Dawn made her way over to Rita, who’d gone back to reading her book. “Hey, Rita, how are you doing?”
“Hi, Dawn.” The teenager smiled, but she looked a little nervous.
“So who was that girl you were talking to? I’ve never seen her around here.”
Rita’s eyes skittered away. “Um…she goes to my school. Her name’s Joanie. She’s okay. She was just saying hi.”
“Hi, huh?” Dawn sat down across from Rita. “Look, I know it’s great to make new friends, especially with kids who seem a lot cooler than you.”
“Hey! I’m cool,” she said with a sardonic smile.
“Yes, you are. Much cooler than some kids who have ulterior motives.” Dawn made a mental note of talking to Tansy about Joanie.
Rita stiffened and looked a little hurt. “I don’t have many friends, and she was being nice.”
