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She looks past me, staring at the road, her brow knitting in thought. A look akin to disappointment covers her face. Did she have some kind of attachment to Antonio? The thought irks me to no end. “I guess… I guess I don’t really have a choice. I’d better go with you, then.”
“Yes, you’d best. And you are going with me. Right. Now.”
She gives me a look.
“Tell your grandma you’ve got to go to work. I’ll change out the guards, leave two here so she’ll be safe while you’re working. Go now. I’ll wait here. Leave the front door open. I don’t want you out of my sight.”
She obeys, leaving me and Booker on the front stoop as she goes to her grandma.
I can hear their conversation with the door open.
“Nonna, a man is here. Cannon Bachman. He owns the club, Fire, the one on top of the mountain?”
Her grandma’s face peeks out from the curtains. “What on Earth is one of the Bachman boys doing at our front door?”
“He’s offered me a job, Nonna, cleaning for him. I turned him down at first, because it’s at the club, you know, and—”
“Does it pay well?”
“Yes.”
“And it gets you away from that Antonio, hook-for-a-hand, Accardi? He touched his sister. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, Nonna,” Kylie says. “I remember you saying something about that.”
“Well, good for you,tesoro!And don’t be shamed by working for the club. A good honest day of work is something to be proud of.”
“Yes, Nonna, but… you do know what kind of club it is, don’t you?”
Kylie wasn’t lying about being honest. I’m surprised she’s going there with her grandma. I hold in a laugh.
“I know more than you think,” Nonna laughs. “Well, you don’t know this, sweetheart, but your Nonna was a sex kitten back in her day. I worked at the pharmacy during the day, yes, but my nights were my own. I loved to go to the club, wear pretty dresses, drink liquor, smoke cigarettes and dance with all the boys.” Her voice falls to a hushed whisper. “I was quite… progressive… in my day, if you know what I mean.”
I can practically see Kylie blushing. “I didn’t know that.”
“I’ll show you pictures of my younger days, sometime. You’ll be shocked. But now, go. Don’t keep a Bachman man waiting. I’ve heard they get firm hands when they grow impatient, if you know what I’m saying.”
Kylie gives a nervous giggle. “I hear you, Nonna.”
She understands her grandma better than Nonna will ever know. My hand is currently pressed against my thigh, waiting for Kylie to get her ass out here.
“Listen,” Kylie says. “There are going to be more men outside the door. They want to keep us safe. I know it’s strange, but they won’t bother you. Just go about your day and pretend they’re not here and that everything is like normal.”
“Yes, sweetheart. You can tell me later what that’s all about. Just go. Now. You don’t want to be late for your first day of work.”
“Thanks, Nonna.” Kylie comes to the door, cheeks flushed just like I knew they’d be, her eyes soft. “I’m ready. Unless you want me to bring anything?” She looks down at her leggings and tee shirt. “Oh God, I’m not even dressed. Can you wait one more minute?”
“No.” I’m done waiting. “You have clothes at work. Come as you are.”
She follows me to the car. I open her door for her. I go to close it but notice she hasn’t buckled her belt. “Buckle up.”
“Oh. Yes.” Her fingers shake as she fumbles with the clasp. This little girl is scared of me. I lean over her, fastening it for her. I pull away, my face so close to hers, I feel that familiar draw luring me in, wanting to press my mouth against her lips.
I don’t.
I close the door. By the time we pull away from the curb, her grandma’s standing on the front porch in her nightgown, handing Booker a plate.
“What’s she doing?” I ask.
