AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She nods. “No one really knows what he does, but he knows everything that happens in Indiana, as well as Illinois. It annoys the Gallo brothers and the Gallagher’s that they haven’t been able to uncover how he gets his information yet.
I laugh. “Oh, I love him even more. Anything to piss off the Gallo’s gets a huge hell yes from me.”
She shakes her head. “He misses you, you know.”
My heart constricts at her words. I know who she’s talking about. I don’t really want to talk about it though. Dario did something I don’t agree with. He made a decision that could have had deadly consequences.
“Please,” I rasp, hating that he affects me this way and he’s not even here.
Her eyes fill with tears. “Portia, you deserve to be happy.”
I nod. “But right now, I need to focus on you and getting my life on track. I can’t live here forever. I don’t want to be indebted to anyone, and that’s exactly what I feel to the Gallo’s.”
“So, you’re taking the job?”
I bite my lip. It sure sounds like I am, but there’s a piece of me that wants to stay.
“Do it,” she urges. “Take the job, Portia.”
“What about you?” I ask, needing to know she’ll be okay if I do take it. I can’t have her hit rock bottom again. I’ll never forgive myself if she does.
“I’ll be fine. You’re a call away, and it isn’t like Missouri is on the other side of the world. It’s going to be fine. Trust me. Go to Missouri, Portia. Go live your life. You’ve spent so long running and taking care of everyone. It’s time to stop, take a breath, and do something for you.” She gives me a blinding smile, and the weight that’s been sitting on my shoulders since Kelvin told me where the headquarters is, lifts.
“You’re amazing, you know that?”
She waves me off. “Not even close. But I’m proud of you, Portia. You’re doing something, and I know how hard it must be. Are you excited for the job?”
“I am. It’s something I hadn’t thought about before,” I tell her, then quickly explain what the job is. She starts to cry. “Please, Tee, don’t cry.”
She wipes her eyes, all the while smiling at me. “These are happy tears, Portia. That is the perfect job for you. If anyone can do it, you can. I have every faith that you’re going to save those women and girls and make their lives better.”
All three of us, me, Nell, and Teagan, have been affected by what men can do to us. I was the lucky one. I wasn’t hurt, but I could have been and there would have been no one to stop it. I saved myself, but not everyone is able to do that. They need someone to do it for them.
“Take it. You’re going to be amazing. I know you will.”
I smile at my girl, feeling the love she’s giving me. “Okay,” I whisper, having made my decision, though there’s a part of me that’s not happy. A piece of me that wants to speak with Dario and see if there’s a chance for us. But the thought of facing him hurts me.
Maybe it’ll be better if I just cut all contact and move away. Could that possibly be the right way to go?
“Stop stressing. You need to do whatever’s right for you, Portia. Not me and certainly not Dario. Do what you need to. Okay?”
I sigh. “Okay. Thank you.”
She gives me a blinding smile. “I love you, girl. Never doubt that. You’re stuck with me for life.”
“Right back at you. Now, go, spend some time with Elio,” I tell her.
Over the past month, the two have gotten closer than ever. Finally seeing them both in love shows me just how much they’re meant to be. That’s not to say that I’m still not pissed that he hurt her, or that he was partly to blame for what happened to her, because he is. He’s just doing everything he can to ensure he’s making amends for it. Teagan’s willing to forgive him, and as she’s my sister, I’ll always be civil toward him. I won’t do anything to jeopardize her marriage. But if she wanted to run, I’d be taking her as far away from him as possible.
“Okay, I’m going. I’m proud of you, Portia. I’m so proud of you.”
I give her a watery smile, not wanting the tears to fall. “And I am of you too.”
She’ll never know how proud and in awe of her I am. She’s so fucking strong.
She blows me a kiss, and we end the call.
Thankfully, the tears don’t fall and I’m able to breathe through my emotions. God, I suck. I shouldn’t be on the verge of tears. Getting a job and knowing your sister is going to be okay should bring happiness.
