“You are going to go back to Boston, continue working for your daddy’s hedge fund, find a woman your parents approve of, and marry her. Have your kids and send them to private school, and live the boring ass life that your parents can approve of. I’m being nice to you by letting you even walk out of this bathroom with your five senses still in place. But don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. I can get to you anytime and anywhere. Don’t test me on this. My patience only lasts but so long. Got it?”
Releasing his throat, I step back as he bends over, attempting to breathe again. “I didn’t hear an answer. Do you understand?”
He nods, still struggling to find his voice again. That’s good enough. I step back and proceed to the door, but like motherfuckers who just don’t know when to quit, Matthew opens his mouth again.
“Her mother was a better lay anyway.”
I turn from the door, and in three large strides am back in Matthew’s face, sending a blow to his ribs, and then the left side of his face. The punches are so vicious that he is instantly rendered unconscious by the second one.
“That was for Janine. Dumb fuck.” I shake my head and turn away, this time making it through the door.
“If you two have some smelling salts, you might want to use it on him so he can make his flight,” I say to the guards and head back to the car that is still running and waiting for me outside.
“You finished?” Christian asks as I enter the backseat of the town car.
I nod.
“He still alive?”
“Yes.”
“Pity,” a frowning Lorenzo grunts.
“This fuck just likes seeing dead bodies. He’s a little sick in the head if you ask me,” Christian laughs. His laughter gives way to the fact that he might be a little twisted as well. But with a family business like theirs …
“He might not make his flight,” I say.
“He’ll make it. Matteo has business in Boston with that fucker’s father he needs to handle anyway.”
I lift my brows, surprised to learn that bit of information.
“The Genovese name goes further than you know,” Christian claims.
“Apparently,” I say. Not that I want to find out more about the family business.
“Where to next?”
“Home,” I reply. I have more business to handle there.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Janine
Always trust your instincts, they won’t ever steer you wrong. Emanuel’s words echo in my head as I push my key into my lock, opening the door to my apartment. He told me those words on our first date back here in the States, as we salsa danced. They’re giving me the same confidence now as they did months ago.
“Janet!” I call out as I place my keys on the kitchen counter and look around the space that is supposed to be mine. My mother’s belongings are tossed haphazardly by my couch that doubles as her bed, and underneath the windowsill that was supposed to be my reading nook when I first moved in. I love how the windowsill extends enough that allows space for my body to fit, and how I can look down onto the street below to see the passersby and cars as they drive pass. But I haven’t been able to do any of that since Janet’s been here. That ends today.
“Janet!” I call again. I know she’s here; I can hear her footsteps in the bathroom.
“What, girl? I was trying to take me a nice little bubble bath,” she angrily answers coming up the hall wearing a long, pink, fuzzy bathrobe.
“Is that my robe?” I question.
“What? This?” Running her hand down the robe, as she stares at it. “Yeah, I couldn’t find mine. Hope you don’t mind.” She giggles as if she knows I do mind.
“I do mind.” I press my hands against my hips, my anger growing. “You need to change and get out.”
She frowns. “Get out? Oh, what, you and that boy across the hall made up? You need me to leave so you can have the place to yourself? I don’t see why you can’t just get it on at his place, but if that’s what you want.” She waves her hand in the air and turns to head down the hall, as if going to finish her bath.
