I smirk until I spot Anvil moving swiftly down the far aisle. He’s parallel to Frank walking down the center one, and I wonder at Anvil’s intent. There’s a look on Anvil’s face that makes me believe he might take a shot if he gets it.
There is no way I can let a hit go down in a crowded theater. I start hauling it, but I can tell I won’t make it in time. Throngs of people are in my way, some even congratulating me about the production, giving me credit I didn’t earn.
A side door opens, splitting the center aisle group, and Frank sails out with the crowd that pours through it.
I reach the side door about the time Anvil does. As we emerge into the night, I find Trick’s leaning against a wall just outside the door. It’s obvious to me that he spotted what I was trying to prevent and propped the door open to make a path for Frank to get out ahead of Anvil. I gauge the distance down the balcony stairs. Trick made good time.
“Pretty good show,” Trick says as Anvil stalks past him, scanning the parking lot for Frank Palermo.
“He’s gone,” I say in a low voice. “Not like you could’ve taken him out here anyway.”
Anvil takes his hand away from his holster, scowling. “Wasn’t going to do anything to him here.”
“If you say so, ‘Vil,” Trick says.
Anvil looks between us for a moment, then at Trick. “Give me your keys. You can go with C. I’ll meet up with you guys later.”
Trick looks at me, and I’m wondering too what the hell is up with Anvil. For important decisions, we conspire together. Anvil’s not impulsive, so this feels off. But I’ve known him long enough to recognize the look on his face. Whatever’s he’s got in his head to do, no one is going to stop him. So I nod for Trick to give him his keys.
“Have C’s back,” Anvil says. “Don’t get distracted.”
“Who are you going to visit? C and I got nothin’ going that can’t wait,” Trick says. “We’ll come.”
Anvil shoves his hand out. “I’m not gonna storm the Pali fortress on my own, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’ve just got something to do.”
“Since when?” Trick says, dropping the keys into Anvil’s hand.
Anvil doesn’t answer. He turns and stalks away.
Trick watches him go. “Now that’s interesting.”
“Yeah.” After a beat, I say, “He’ll say when he’s ready.” But I am curious. Anvil’s not known for having a life outside The Life.
We walk toward the Range Rover, and I toss the keys to Trick. We climb in, with Trick behind the wheel.
“So what about an after party?” he asks. “I’ve got some girls at the ready whose pretty asses really need attention.”
A wild time dominating and fucking pretty women is always a good end to the night, but there’s something else on my mind. “Tell me about Zoe Arantes.”
* * *
Zoe
I’m relieved when I get a text from Rachel that she’s staying the night at a friend from school’s place. It’s someone her dad’s never met, so that’s good. I hope he won’t send one of his guys to my place looking for her again. It was a close call, and I don’t want to relive it.
Rachel’s relationship with her dad is complicated. He’s got two legitimate sons with his wife, but he had a longtime affair with Rachel’s mother. When Rachel was little, Frank didn’t publicly acknowledge her, which hurt her.
And he always ran hot and cold with her, depending on whether he was fighting with her mother or not. Sometimes he gave Rachel lavish gifts. Other times he said cruel things, calling her a little bastard girl who’d better not tell anyone his name or cause trouble.
When her mother decided to break things off for good, Frank had sent men to kill her. Rumor had it that her neighbor had been killed for warning her. She’d fled and went into hiding with her new lover, but she’d been too late to take Rachel with her. Frank had sent someone to pick her up from her violin lesson. He’d held her, thinking her mother would come for her. But she never did.
So at sixteen, Rachel got what she wanted as a little girl. Frank Palermo announced he had a daughter and moved her into his mansion. Unfortunately, living with Frank became a prison sentence with him controlling every aspect of her life. Because it suits him, he calls her the Palermo princess and makes sure she’s always photographed in beautiful outfits at lavish parties.
I can’t imagine what it’s like for Rachel’s mom to see her living with Frank, knowing that he could turn on Rachel anytime and hurt her, knowing he’s forcing her to pretend to be happy for the cameras.
I’m the only one of her friends who knows the truth. Rachel behaves the way Frank wants in exchange for Frank not hunting her mother. As long as Rachel does what she’s told, her mom gets to stay alive. Lately though Rachel’s mask seems to be cracking. Frank Palermo’s war with C Crue is taking its toll on the city and their rebellion seems to be giving Rach ideas. For the first time ever, Rachel won’t confide in me, which worries me. A lot. She says she’s not making big plans, but she doesn’t even want anyone to know about her small rebellions. She says she wants to keep me safe.
I park my old car in a spot near my stairs. Outside, the temperature is dropping. There are more flurries drifting down from a dark Massachusetts sky. I usually love to see snow sparkle in moonlight. When we were little, Rachel and I thought it was fairy dust. But tonight I don’t slow down to watch the snow.
