Pete clutches his imaginary pearls. “My, my, it’s all happening here, isn’t it? So, when are we leaving?”
Rubbing my forehead, I let out an exasperated chuckle. “Aren’t you going to ask what all this is about? I’m pretty sure you’ve just been forcefully removed from wherever you were, and you’re not even bothered.”
Dropping the pearls, he flicks his imaginary long hair. “Some big, gorgeous bloke turns up at work telling me I’d won a trip, and I had to leave with him immediately, no questions asked. Fuck, colour me intrigued.”
“How have you not been murdered yet?” Kelley asks, and I wholeheartedly agree.
“Whatever. So, when and where are we going? Oh, hey, your dads are here too. Oh, wow, who is that silver fox?”
Pete is like a child after ten Red Bulls sometimes.
“That’s Lorenzo Ferrante,” I say quietly. Lorenzo is talking to my dads again. They shake hands and Lorenzo slips into the back of his car. Pop turns and ushers us over.
“Hey, Pete, good to see you, kiddo.”
“Hi, Mark. Looking good. I like that cardigan.”
“Thanks, it’s new. Anyway, are you all ready to go?”
“Ready and raring. Let’s get this show on the road, darlings.”
I notice Toni’s eyebrows lift. I doubt he’s come across someone like Pete before.
Pete, Kelley, and I take one car, with my parents following behind. It would feel like we’re celebrities if the people chauffeuring us weren’t carrying pistols.
“So, who is Lorenzo, and how can I get a meeting with him?”
I grimace automatically. “Eww, no, Pete. He’s off limits, okay?”
“Why? What am I missing?”
“He’s Bonnie’s bio dad,” Kelley says, shifting in her seat to get more comfortable. “He’s a major mobster baddie.”
“Fuck off,” Pete laughs. He stops when we don’t share his enthusiasm. “You’re being serious?”
“Yes, Pete, dead serious. Trust me, I know how it sounds. I thoughtyou’dhired the woman who took me, as part of a joke at first.”
“I wish,” he laughs. “That would have been epic.”
“Sure, a real fun time,” I deadpan. “Anyway, my mistake got Kelley shot, and I quickly understood we were in real danger.”
Kelley rubs her shoulder before piping in. “Until we arrived at the house. Lorenzo explained everything to Bonnie. Allegra, that’s the scary woman who has a penchant for violence against innocent bookworms, didn’t know who she was, and I don’t think she was supposed to scare either of us to death. Or, you know, shoot me.”
“Where’s this Allegra, then? Is she hot?”
“Keep it in your boxers, buddy,” I growl. “She’s awful. Like the worst. Ice queen on steroids, and with a firearm.”
“So, she’s smokin’, right?” Pete says, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Oh, yeah, super-hot,” Kelley answers, “and she left for Italy yesterday. You’ll meet her soon. Or if you’re lucky, not at all.”
“Italy, where? Rome? Florence?”
“Sicily,” Toni gruffs from the driver’s seat.
“Well thanks, handsome,” Pete replies. He flirts with everyone, I swear; however, I didn’t expect Toni to blush. Interesting.
“According to Allegra, the villa we will be staying at is super secure.”
