Page 83 of His Pet

“I’m not going to say anything.” Anthony shakes his head. He lifts his hands. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but it’s your business. I’m not going against you again.”

Before I can tell him to leave again, my phone chimes. I sigh and pull it from my pocket. Before I can read the text from Ma, Anthony’s phone dings, indicating he has a message as well.

Need you at the house. Now. It’s important.

Fuck. Dread seeps into my bones and I immediately start considering what I’ll do if Settimo knows. Ma promised she wouldn’t say anything, but she has a weak spot when it comes to hiding things from my father.

It shouldn’t matter, even if they do know. Amelia is hundreds of miles away by now. Still, a sickening feeling settles in my stomach, and I wonder just how far I’d go to protect her.

“Ma needs us,” Anthony says, staring at his phone. He looks up. “What do you think it’s about?”

I reach out my hand. “Give me your phone.”

He tosses it to me, and I catch it and look at the screen. It’s the same message she sent me.

“Syrus,” I say, relief flooding me followed by guilt. He’s my father. I should feel more dread about bad news for him than I do someone I’ve known for a few weeks, but that isn’t the case. He’s been sick for a long time. We knew this was coming.

Anthony’s jaw tightens, and he nods like he agrees.

“Come on,” I say, handing Anthony his phone and leading the way to the elevator.

Our strides are quick as we walk out of the casino together, and when we make it to the parking lot, I pat my pocket for my keys only to remember I don’t have my car. Joe drove me.

My steps slow. “Let’s take your vehicle,” I say.

Anthony looks back at me over his shoulder. “I gotta stop by my office real quick, but I’m right behind you. I’ll meet you there.”

Annoyance flares but I try not to show it. He’s literally incapable of not being the last one to anything. “Kay, see you there.”

Anthony continues to his vehicle while I call Joe and tell him I need to borrow his car.

I shoot off a text to Ma while I wait.

“Be there ASAP.”

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