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Good fucking question. “She says some weird shit.”
“I wasn’t aware you cared to talk to her.”
“Yeah, well, she’s staying in my house . . .”
“My house,” Vincent corrected him. “Your grandfather left this place to me when he died. And the girl’s here because I brought her here.”
“Willingly? Because it doesn’t seem like she’s on vacation, cooking dinner and cleaning up after people. She didn’t even own anything.”
“You’re right—it’s no vacation for her—but it’s a big step up from her last home.”
“California,” Carmine said. “Or so she thinks. She lived with a master who could’ve killed her.”
Vincent’s eyes widened. “I’m surprised she told you so much.”
“I asked, and apparently she feels like she can’t deny anyone anything when they ask.”
“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong,” Vincent said. “If the child didn’t want to tell you, she wouldn’t. She might be trained to serve, but she knows how to keep secrets. She wouldn’t have survived as long as she has otherwise.”
Carmine had no idea how to respond to that. “So, what? She’s going to stay here indefinitely?”
“Yes,” Vincent said, putting his glasses back on. “And she isn’t to leave the house without my permission, so get used to her.”
“Get used to her? Really? There’s seriously something wrong with the way we live.”
Vincent shook his head. “I know how you can be, so unless you need more help with your laundry, I suggest staying away from her.”
“How do you know she helped me with my laundry?”
Vincent motioned toward the computer monitor on his desk. Carmine realized he’d watched the exchange on the surveillance cameras. There were a few in the house, mostly in the common areas. “I wasn’t watching because of you. There still aren’t any cameras in the bedrooms.”
“And it better stay that way,” Carmine said.
“I don’t want to see what goes on in that pigsty any more than you want me to see it,” Vincent said, picking up his medical journal again. “Just be mindful of what I said. I’d appreciate it if you were polite and didn’t try to meddle. The last thing she needs is you making things harder for her.”
Carmine stood. “In other words, don’t be myself.”
“Precisely, son.”
* * *
Carmine arrived at school Monday morning to find Tess and Dominic arguing in the parking lot. He climbed out of the car as Dia strolled over, plopping down on the hood of his Mazda. He shoved her off, and she laughed as she took a seat on her clunker instead.
“What’s gotten into those two?”
Dia shrugged while Tess laughed dryly, pushing past Dominic. “What’s gotten in to us is the fact that your father’s an idiot!”
“Knock it off, Tess,” Dominic said. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
Tess glowered at him. “Dr. DeMarco moved a teenage girl in, and you not only fail to tell me, your girlfriend, but when I find out you say it’s not a big deal?”
Dia leaned toward Carmine. “There’s a girl living with you?”
“Yes, but she’s blowing it out of proportion,” Carmine said. “She’s just some girl.”
“Just some girl living in a house with Mr. I’ll-fuck-anything-that-walks!” Tess said.
“Give me a break,” Carmine said. “Don’t act like you’re upset because of me. It’s not my fault you don’t trust your boyfriend.”
