“Alberto, I do want to talk,” she adds. “In a few minutes though, all right? It’s our school. I’ll take a few pictures.”
“Go ahead. I’ll get them on my phone for our Instagram account, babe,” he says.
She doesn’t respond.
When one of Leone’s guys tries to get behind me and Trick cuts him off, I say, “You were right about the waffles.”
Trick walks backward on my six, so we’ve got eyes in every direction. He does it like it’s nothing; he’s smiling and waving at people, smooth as his silk tie. Trick’s all finesse, and at the moment I’m glad.
C moves to us, signaling the C Crue soldiers and captains to hold their positions around the auditorium. C’s sharp eyes scan the area. I need to do it too, but I have a hard time dragging my eyes away from Rachel. Her lips are a dark brick red, like dried blood. She’s the only one who doesn’t have a broad smile on her face. And she’s the only one who doesn’t make me want to back away. The laughter and fluttering hands, the wild hair and tapping feet, are all over the top. She’s at the center of it, stunningly calm and cool. Her gaze meets mine and holds.
We see each other. We understand each other.
When she looks away, I don’t.
“Easy,” C says in a low voice.
There is no easy where she’s concerned. Never has been. But I remain still. Even when Leone jumps into a picture, putting an arm around her shoulders and taking a selfie of himself giving her a sloppy kiss on the cheek. She’s very still. She doesn’t smile. It’s not unusual for her to be that way publicly. A lot of her photographs online are exactly like it. Her soul shimmering out through her eyes, an unsmiling, haunting expression. She’s untouchable, even when touched.
For a moment, I’m back in the cabin. She smiles at me. She kisses me and touches me. Next I’m in my apartment, she’s over my lap crying as I spank her, then straddling my lap and moaning with my cock thrusting into her.
She’s not distant when she’s alone with me. She’s never been untouchable, not even way back in the beginning. That’s why she belongs to me.
I watch her, waiting for her to pull away from him and walk back to me, but she doesn’t.
It’s Zoe who extracts her and takes her to a seat away from all of us.
Leone pauses to look at his phone, tapping away at the keys.
“Did he even ask her if she was all right?” C asks.
“No,” Trick says. “He’s got what he wants. Digital capital.” Trick holds out his phone to show us that Leone’s already posted the pictures to the Palermo Princess Instagram account. I glance at the phone for a split second, then walk away. I’ve spotted the seat I want. It’s two rows back from where she is. Normally I’d stand off to the side with my back to the wall, but that would put me too far away since Leone’s taken a seat in the row behind her.
Trick goes up top. It’s a good vantage point, and he’s always good at finding his way down in a hurry when he needs to. C’s on the wall at three o’clock. When Zoe looks over her shoulder and blows him a kiss, he nods.
Leone turns to look at me, and his camera smile is gone.
“You and I should talk,” he says.
I stare him down.
“Does this guy speak English?” Leone asks loudly. His guys laugh in response. “Hey, Hulk. Hulk smash?” he jeers.
More laughter.
“Idiot,” he says, turning back to his men. “I got some emails recently about my girl. I guess they weren’t from that meathead.”
The ceremony starts. The dance team performs and then they rush over with bouquets of flowers. Lilies for Rachel and long-stemmed roses for Zoe. Then there’s an awards presentation, and then, out of the blue, the principal acknowledges a scholarship endowment made by Frank Palermo.
Frank steps out from behind a curtain, smiling and waving like a politician. My gaze cuts to C. His face doesn’t change, but I wonder if he’s thinking what I’m thinking. That paying for things at the school will give Frank more access. What kid that Frank corners is going to be able to say no to his face when he says he has a job for him?
It’s not our problem, but I wouldn’t balk if C decided we should interfere.
Frank says some things. He’s not sincere, but people applaud politely. Then it’s over, and I’m up and heading to where she is.
Leone’s there first. He whispers something in her ear, and her brow furrows. She looks at him, and I hustle, a feeling of uneasiness settling in my chest.
Frank’s on her other side, giving her a hug. Then they move as a unit, propelling her forward.
