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He closes the door without a word. I sink down in one of the plush armchairs, the leather squeaking under my weight, and close my eyes. There’s a Russo in her. She’s carrying Christiano’s child. That means something. I gotta talk to him and tell him to back off, because no matter what, we don’t kill our own family.
Fifteen
Kerry
Iexpect a hand on my shoulder, to be ripped back inside, the whole way, and it’s not until I sit on my Vespa, on my way downhill, that I believe I’m actually leaving the monster’s den. Choking down sobs the whole way home, tears and snot running, I barely see where I’m going in the dense traffic.
They’re related. Christian is the nephew of the capo. I don’t know why that hurts even more, but for some reason it does.
As soon as I feel safe behind my closed and locked door, and have looked through the house, I call Chloe, my hands shaking.
“Kerry?”
“I need your help!” The words rush out on an exhale.
“Anything. You know it.”
“It’s not a small thing, but I have no one else.”
“Want me to come over?”
“Yes, please!”
I grab a throw blanket, my gun, and curl up on the couch, my eyes steady on the door, ready for anything and everything.
Despite my effort to be vigilant, I must have dozed off, because I almost jump through the roof when the doorbell chimes. I sag with relief, my heart pounding a hundred miles per hour, when I hear Chloe’s soft voice.
“Kerry? You in there? Oh, hi.”
I frown and throw myself at the door. Outside stands Chloe in a staring contest with my neighbor.
“She’s my friend,” I say, grabbing her arm and pulling her inside with a glance at the street.
“He’s… He came darting, looking like he would pounce on me!” She stares behind her, as if she could still see him.
“I’ll tell you. Come, coffee.”
I pull her with me to the kitchen. As I prepare two cups, I fill her in about this morning. She looks aghast.
“So, he’s alive? How do you feel about that?”
“Terrified! And relieved.” Tears begin to fall again as my chest clenches.
“Oh my God.” My friend jumps up and pulls me into her embrace. “What are you gonna do?”
“I went to see Salvatore.”
She backs up and holds me at an arm’s distance, scanning my face, turning pale. “You didwhat?”
“I went to see the man who wants me dead.”
“Do you actuallyhavea death wish? Are youinsane?”
I throw my hands over my face. “That’s not fair! You’re not living my life.”
“Yeah but—” Chloe gently takes my hands and pulls them away, searching my gaze.
“I had nothing else to do,” I say faintly. It finally catches up with me, the immediate danger I put myself in by going there.
