“I learned a thing or two in the joint.”
That’s exactly what I was afraid he’d say. Spending five years surrounded by nothing but criminals has to allow someone an opportunity to hone their skills a little bit more. I’m sure he picked up some tricks of the trade, but he needs to remember, every guy in there wasn’t smart enough to avoid being arrested.
“I promised your mom I wouldn’t go back.” When he speaks, he doesn’t look me in the eye. “I’m going to stay clean. Be on the up-and-up.”
“I really hope so.” I mean those words.
There’s nothing I want more than to have my father around. If for no other reason than to be there for my mother.
I worry about her being alone.
The last five years have been hard on her. She found hobbies to take up her time, but there’s only so many things a person can make before they hit their breaking point.
I wait for him to release me, but he doesn’t. He stares at me, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I missed my baby girl,” he whispers in my ear.
I feel like a little girl again. I’m hopeful for a minute. Thinking maybe my father has finally grown up, but then I remember he’s rarely truthful and getting out of the life is hard, especially for an old-timer like him.
“I missed you too,” I tell him because I did miss having him around. Even though he adds a special brand of insanity, the bar and Sunday dinners haven’t been the same without him.
“Come celebrate with us,” he says, still holding me tightly.
“When’s the big day?” I ask out of morbid curiosity.
“We’re not rushing into anything.”
Of course they aren’t because that would be totally absurd. Only my father would think getting married sooner rather than later would be rushing into something. I swear they’ve had the longest courtship on the planet.
“It’s only been thirty years, Papa.” I shake my head as I start to laugh.
“What’s on your neck?” He leans forward and brushes my hair off my shoulder.
“I don’t know. What is it?” I turn my head, giving him a better look.
“It looks like a hickey.” He moves closer, inspecting my skin like he used to after I had a date. “Itisa hickey.”
Son of a…
My eyes widen. I know exactly who left me with a sucker bite like we were in high school. “Jesus,” I mutter and instantly want to track Leo down and punch him square in his junk.
“I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”
I look at the ground, avoiding my father’s eyes and any chance I’ll tell him the truth. “I’m not.” I cover the mark with my palm and take a step backward. “Someone was just being an asshole.”
“What’s his name?” he asks, trying to be fatherly for the first time in over five years.
“We better get inside. I’m sure everyone’s looking for us,” I say, trying to avoid the conversation entirely.
All I need is for my father to hear the name Leo Conti.
His head would probably explode.
5
Daphne
I’m startledawake by rustling on the fire escape outside my bedroom window. Last night, I slept with my window open and the curtains pulled closed, foolishly thinking I’d be safe. I should’ve known better. But the night’s cool air was too hard to resist in my second-floor loft.
Reaching under the pillow, I wrap my fingers around the cold steel handle of a gun. I always keep it there just in case.
