AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s it? That’s the extent of your argument?”
“Not exactly,” she muttered, shaking her head. “He’s also angry with me because he doesn’t like one of my friends, Sammy Parker. I understand Sammy will never be Citizen of the Month, but I’ve known him for years, and he genuinely cares about me. He’s funny, I like hanging out with him, and uh, I feel sorry for him. He’s a bit…”
Her voice trailed off, but Nick could guess.
“A bit of a loser?” he suggested.
“I’m sorry to say he is, but not everyone can be a mover and a shaker. Sammy just needs to catch a break, but whenever we have lunch, or dinner or whatever, and Dad hears about it, he gets crazy, too crazy. I mean, what’s the big deal?”
“Has Sammy ever borrowed money from you?”
“Sometimes, but it’s fine. I don’t care, and he doesn’t borrow from me, I give it to him. Even though I insist it’s a gift, he always pays me back, every time, and fast too.”
“Does he have a job?”
“You won’t like this,” she replied, lowering her voice. “You’ll judge him, just like everyone else does.”
“Bianca, please!”
“Okay, fine, he’s a poker player, but he’s really good, I know he is. Like I said, when I stake him for a game, he always pays me back. I think he’s going to be a big star one of these days, and those players make a fortune.”
“What does your mother say about all this?”
“She agrees with Dad, though she doesn’t get dramatic about it like he does. But Nick, Sammy wouldn’t have anything to do with what’s happened, and as much as I don’t like him, I don’t think Brian would either. He has too much to lose.”
“Right now everyone is a suspect,” Nick said gravely. “You may think you know who they are, but you’d be surprised the secrets people carry around with them.”
“I can’t stand it. I’m sick of it all. I just want some peace,” she suddenly shouted, then banging her elbows on the table, she let out a cry of pain and dropped her face in her hands.
Startled by her unexpected outburst, Nick quickly moved around the table, helped her to her feet, and brought her into his arms.
“Hey, I know things look impossible right now,” he said softly, “but everything’s going to be okay.”
“Because I’m bleaching my hair and pretending to be someone I’m not?” she mumbled, sinking against him.
“That will help us get some answers. You probably think my plan is extreme, but I know what I’m doing. People pay me a lot of money to get them out of trouble, all kinds of trouble.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second, but do I really have to go through this big charade? Why can’t you just leave me here in this lovely home?”
“I wish I could, but one of those bastards might make a comment, or mention someone’s name that could mean something to you. Besides,” he said, lowering his voice, “I’ll feel much better with you at my side where I can keep an eye on you.”
“Nick, I know I sound ungrateful, and I’m not,” she breathed, shifting in his arms to look up at him. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for getting me away from Matteus. You were like Superman, swooping in to rescue me.”
“I’ve been called many things in my life, but Superman’s a first,” he replied, a smile curling his lips. “Try not to worry. You’ll be home and fighting with your father again before you know it.”
“Maybe you can help me with that too.”
“Maybe I can,” he said, feeling a ripple of anger toward the infamous mobster for putting so much pressure on his daughter. “Bianca, just so you know, I don’t believe Matteus Anderson engineered your kidnapping. He’s not smart enough.”
“But he said he’s asking for twenty-five million dollars for my safe return.”
“When it comes to people like him, believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. Trust me, he’s just a front man, and now he’s a front man in big trouble. You managed to get away.”
“Good, I hope he gets his balls blown off,” she growled. “Him and Tony Balboa both.”
“I don’t blame you for feeling that way, but it’s important to keep your emotions in check.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said with a sigh. “I can’t panic. That’s what Sammy says when I get upset about something.Don’t panic, Bianca, you can’t think when you panic, and when you can’t think, you screw up.”
