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Don’t be suspicious. Don’t be suspicious...“Yes. I thought we could I don’t know, watch a movie? Eat popcorn or something. If he wasn’t going to be home, that is.”
“Oh.” Rocca went back to her assignment. “I’d like that. I’ll pick the movie.”
“Uh... Sure. Great. I’ll order us a pizza.”
“Have a guard go get it,” Rocca said, as though it was common for them to send security out on food runs.
“I will.” The alarm for the end of her French lesson sounded, and I helped her get ready for Science—my least favorite subject. “So, what do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Not sure.” She shrugged. “I have time.”
“I wanted to be a zoologist, then a museum curator. I also wanted to be a model.” I don’t know why I shared bits and pieces of myself with the little girl other than it felt right. If I wanted to get to know Miceli better, I had to start somewhere.
“I like paleontology,” Rocca said. “I don’t like the physical science stuff. Or the whole chemistry/physics—thing.”
“Weren’t my strong suits either,” I laughed. “What’s your favorite dinosaur? T-Rex doesn’t count.”
“Allosaurus,” Rocca replied. “Why doesn’t the T-Rex count?”
“Nice,” I said. “Because everyone likes Rex. Most people like him because of Meet the Robinsons or Jurassic Park.”
“You have a point.” She opened her book. “Oh boy, levers.” The droll stare she gave me had me laughing. “Can’t we skip this part and do something fun?”
“If only.” I sighed dramatically.
For the next few hours, we went through her classwork, then by two, she was finished, and I was free for the rest of the day. The time we spent together occupied my mind so not to allow the jealousy to take a foothold within my gut, making me do something irrational. Now, well, irrational was my middle name and two could play the fucked up game Miceli entwined us in.
I’d show him.
As I stepped out into the cold late afternoon air, I pulled my sweater tighter around me, shielding me from some of the cold. There to the left of me was Robbie, watching over the grounds. It was weird, I’d seen no one when we pulled up to the house that fateful day, now, after being there for so long, almost two months, I’d learned where everyone hid, making them more deadly to those who might want to harm Miceli and Rocca. Lifting my hand to wave, I caught his attention, stopping midway between the houses.
“Hey, Collins,” Robbie said, jogging over to me. “What can I do for you?”
“Rocca and I are getting pizza for tonight since Miceli will be out of the house. Would you be willing to grab our dinner for us, so I don’t have to go out and do it myself?” Giving up my ability to be free. It was worse than looking over my shoulder every time I went somewhere. However, I also couldn’t take chances either, especially finding out about the oil leak. “I’ll throw in an extra pizza for you and whoever is supposed to be on duty to sweeten the deal.”
“Pizza, you say?” He cut his gaze toward me. His brown eyes glittered with amusement. “I suppose I could help you out. Let me know when to make the order, and I’ll grab it for you.”
“Thanks, you’re the best.” As sour moods went, I wasn’t too bitter. Or maybe I was, and I didn’t want to admit it, because I was trying not to do anything stupid.Ha. Good luck there. You’re pissed.No, I wasn’t angry. I was... Disappointed. I allowed myself a glimmer of hope, only to have it crushed. Why I thought anything would happen was beyond me, but a spark of my ten-year-old self crept back into my mind and heart and ached for the man I worked for.
“Lucas,” I called out, opening the front door to the house—more for Robbie’s benefit than Kyle’s—couldn’t break character after all, then waved over my shoulder as I stepped into our temporary home before closing the door. “Where are you?”
“Right here.” He came to a stumbling stop, grabbing the frame of his bedroom door to catch him. He was out of breath and had a towel around his waist. Shit. I’d interrupted his shower. “Is everything okay? Were we found? Do we need to run?”
I scrubbed my face, hating the fact we were both still on edge. We’d both need therapy once this was over. “No. We’re good. Miceli is going out tonight. So, I’m going to eat dinner with Rocca and watch a movie. I can get you a pizza, too.”
Kyle grunted. “Sure. Sounds good.” He licked his bottom lip. “You’re upset about him going out, aren’t you?”
It wasn’t my business. Maybe if I told myself that enough, it wouldn’t hurt like it already did. “Nope. We’re here to lie low and figure out what happened to our parents, remember? That’s it.”
Kyle gave me a look like he didn’t believe me. I didn’t believe a single thing I said either. “Okay. Pizza sounds great. I’ll probably play a few games or watch a couple of movies.” He shrugged. “Oh hey, there’s a massive gym under the main house. Benny showed me around earlier. They’re going to help me with my arm.”
Hence why he’d been in the shower. “Great. I’m glad. Hopefully, we haven’t done permanent damage to your arm by not doing this sooner.” I frowned, hating the fact we’d been running for so long. I’d put our safety over actually caring for my brother.
“So, where’s Miceli going tonight?” Kyle stepped back into his room, presumably to get dressed.
“Not sure.” I went to the kitchen to grab a drink before depositing myself on the couch. “The garment bags were from Hampton Couture.”
He whistled, joining me moments later dressed in a ribbed tank top and sweats. “That place is for the uber rich. Evenweweren’t rich enough forthatstore.”
