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“That… seems… bad?” He cocks his head.
“Yes, I’ll take the money, and yes, I’ll use it to hire Mary on for more hours. God, you’re such a fucking prick.” I storm out of the kitchen, not even sure why I’m so mad at him, other than I hate being in debt and I hate that he manages to pinpoint my problems then solves them.
Grandpop accepts the eggs smothered in pepper and ketchup. “You’re a dream,” he murmurs, digging in. Definitely hungry.
“So listen,” I say, talking loudly as I go back into my room. I start shoving clothes into a bag. “I need to go away for a few days. I know that’s weird and last minute, but it’s a job that I couldn’t turn down. Mary’s going to check in on you more, so you won’t be left to fend for yourself, and I’ll call as much as I can, okay?” Once my duffel is jammed with most of what I’ll need, I move back into the living room.
Grandpop’s staring at me, eyes narrowed again. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“I know,” I admit. I’m a homebody, always have been. I spend most of my nights watching old movies with Grandpop if I’m not working, though he’s always telling me to go out more often. “But this is a good job. It might change things for us—I mean, for me. You’ll be okay for a few days, right? If Mary’s coming more?”
“I’ll be fine,” he says, looking confused. “What’s the job?”
“Consulting,” I say, heading into the bathroom. I grab the last few toiletries I’ll need then go kiss Grandpop on the cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Renny. Should I be worried? You storming in here after being out all night, then storming out saying you’ll be gone for a few days, that’s not normal.”
I look away. No, it’s not normal. It’s not remotely normal, but none of this is normal, and I don’tfeelnormal anymore.
All I feel is empty, desperate, and determined. “I’ll be fine. Just hold it down here, okay?”
“Sure,” he says. “I can handle a few days on my own. You don’t need to bother Mary.”
“Bye, Grandpop.” I hurry away, afraid that if I linger, I’ll never leave.
Lanzo meets me out back. I don’t look at him as I stalk off toward his truck, blinking back tears. He climbs into the driver’s seat and turns on the truck but doesn’t start driving yet.
“You good?” he asks.
“I’ll be fine once you write me a check,” I say, not looking at him. “Just drive.”
So he drives.
Chapter10
Renata
We drive away from Grandpop’s house. I stare out the window, hating myself. Lanzo doesn’t speak—maybe he senses my mood, maybe he doesn’t have anything to say. Maybe he doesn’t care. I can’t tell with him.
After a half hour, he pulls through an upscale town on the outskirts of the city before parking outside of a beautiful, massive house surrounded by pristine shrubs and a hedge taller than I am.
“Here we are.” Lanzo gets out, no preamble, no explanation.
I hurry to catch up. “And where the heck are we exactly?” I follow him down a walkway toward the front door. “This isn’t your house?”
“This is the beating heart of the Scavo Famiglia here in Dallas. They have a bigger presence in Philadelphia, but Carmine’s been slowly coming out this way for a while now.” He bangs on the door until an older gentleman answers, scowling deeply.
And actual living butler.
“Are you expected?” the man asks, glancing back at me like I’m trash that blew up from the sidewalk.
“Tell Carmine Lanzo’s here. And tell him to stop fucking around.”
The old man glares like he wants to make Lanzo’s head explode before slamming the door.
“Are you sure you’re friends with this guy?” I ask, looking at my nails.
“It’s been a while,” he admits, glancing back at me. “A few years.”
