Page 29 of My Bratva Christmas


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My next step? To get Charleigh and Evie here with me in New York.

They have no clue about my new life, and while I’m not about to go into great detail with them over the phone, I am finally ready to tell them to get on the next plane, train, or bus and get their butts here.

“Lily! Hi!”

Charleigh always answers my calls on the first ring and it’s not just because I pay for her cell phone. I’m the big sister and she knows nobody has her back like I do.

“Hey, little sis. What’s all that noise in the background?”

Sounds like a toss between a marching band and a brawl.

Turns out that’s pretty much what it was.

“Oh my god, Lil, Daddy’s out front with someone who wants to buy a trombone. The kid is trying it out while his mother’s arguing over the price. It’s hilarious. Evie’s over a friend’s house so is missing the whole thing.”

Dad’s pawn shop business supported us, more or less, all our lives, but I’d do anything to get my sisters out of there and exposed to more of the opportunities the world offers.

“So Char, how’s your course coming?”

I can hear her moving away from the racket in Dad’s shop, and when a door softly closes, I know she’s in the bathroom.

The only quiet place in the store. I’d spent a lot of time there, growing up.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate the hard work my dad does to keep his business up and running. It’s just that, if it were me, I wouldn’t have my young daughters running around a place like that. Dad’s pawn shop always tended to attract unsavory characters, many of whom are down on their luck and in need of quick cash, who are not always the kind of folks you want around your little girls.

“My course is so good, Lil, you’d be so proud. I met a new friend, Luci, who lives in Chicago. We study together and we are killing it with straight A’s.”

My heart swells, and my eyes tear up. Charleigh’s never thought of herself as smart, and her bookkeeping course is building her confidence in a way that all my positive words never could.

“Listen, Char. When you’re done with the course, I want you to come to New York with Evie. I have an extra room or could even get you your own apartment.”

She gasps. “What? Lil? That’s crazy.”

I knew she’d have questions. And I’m ready for them.

“Look. I met a… guy.” No need to tell her any more at this point. “And we’re pretty serious. I’ll tell you more when I see you, but I can afford to help you guys come to New York, just like I’ve been talking about since forever.”

She’s silent, taking it all in, and Valentin joins the rest of us in the apartment with our take-out Thai dinner.

If the guys hadn’t been fans of Thai food, I don’t know what I would have done.

“Hey, babe,” he calls.

“Who’s that?” Charleigh asks in a playful voice.

I look at the other guys and put a finger to my lips. They laugh.

“Is that your new boyfriend, Lil?” she teases.

I hesitate. I hadn’t spent much time thinking about exactly what to call the guys. But I guess boyfriend is good for now.

“Yeah, Char. That’s Val. And we’re gonna sit down for some Thai food soon. But look, think about coming to the Big Apple. You could continue with classes or go straight to work somewhere.”

“Wow, Lil, that’s just so—”

But she stops mid-sentence, and the shop’s background noise gets louder.

Which is strange since she’s in the bathroom.

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