AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Some of us don’t have a choice where we live. If it’s all someone can afford,” I say tersely, striding away. But as soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize that I’m not angry at Rocco for getting me in this situation.
Hell, it’s Rocco who’s helped me out of my horrible boring old life and rescued me from certain danger in the process.
As well as melting my heart.
And a couple of other places I can think of. Still tender as I try to briskly walk away.
But I don’t get far, only to the bottom of the stairs really. And Rocco gives me all the space I need, for a few minutes anyway, before he comes down, casually remarking it’s time to go.
“I didn’t mean…,” I start, trying and failing not to become emotional about it.
And his warm mouth over mine tells me how much he knows. How much he understands.
Not everyone fromEasy Streethas had it so easy either.
Not him, and not Maria Portello.
They are the only two real gangsters I’ve met up close and thought that about so far.
All the others?
I think Rocco’s right when he says we need to keep moving.
I don’t want to run into any more of his family’s enemies.
No, thank you.
It’s not like we have a ton of belongings to get together, but once we have everything and have made our way back to the car, I dare to ask him if he’s heard anything.
Figuring he’d be keeping a close watch on the news, his phone, or radio. Anything.
But he only shrugs and looks up at the sky.
“Might rain again,” he grunts, and putting the car into gear, he starts to back out the way we came in.
And without any protests from him, I volunteer to check my phone. Then, I greedily start to search the net for updates on what surely must be a national story by now.
Crime boss daughter kidnapped,chubby loser girl missing in unrelated case…that sort of thing.
But I’m a little more than disappointed, as well as surprised.
My usual lack of calls or messages is nothing. But to see absolutely nothing about the past twenty-four hours on any news anywhere makes me wonder.
Rocco asks, “Well?” looking like he’s expecting there to be something too, but I shake my head, and he frowns.
“Ah well. It’s not like Don Portello would have called missing persons or anything.”
And I know he’s right.
The gravity of the world Rocco’s from hits me hard again, and although I can’t help it, I worry.
I worry about the man I’ve fallen for, but I also worry about our future. The family I know he wants for us both.
“Will we be safe?” I hear myself asking him. And I don’t just mean for the rest of today or even tomorrow.
I want to know if we’ll be safe forever. Together.
His arm is around my shoulder while his eyes meet mine.
