“Yeah, but it was all lies.”
“Were they lies he told, or ones you told yourself?”
Zoe had her there. “I believed I could handle it, but I can’t.”
“But word is he left.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“So then what’s the problem?”
“They’re still his family.”
“He didn’t pick them. None of us choose our families.”
“I guess that’s right.” Madison wouldn’t have picked her parents if she had a choice. “But he was having me followed. How can he say he loves me and have guys follow me around to see where I’m going? He doesn’t trust me.”
“Yep, that wasn’t cool. He should have told you sooner. But it did help with that Sabrina situation.”
“Yeah, but that wasn’t what they were there for. It was only by chance they turned out to be useful. It’s not like Dante knew Sabrina was plotting against me. They were following me everywhere, just to report back to Dante my every move.”
“He didn’t do it the right way, but you can see where he was coming from.”
“I can, but why didn’t he stop it once he knew?”
“I bet he forgot. I don’t think he got special reports on you. With the amount of time you two spent together, you would have seen them coming or some reports or something coming through.
“I guess that’s true.” There were the “where are you texts” he sent when she went back to her place the first night they spent the weekend together and again after the surgery.
“He even changed the uniform rules for the girls.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. You know you love him and he loves you. You guys aren’t happy apart. Maybe you should do something.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“I’m going to head out. I have an event.”
“Oh ok, no worries. See you later.
****
It had been two weeks since Madison found out Dante didn’t trust her. Angelo didn’t have much to do. She sat in her apartment after the first week, when she went out looking for jobs.
Kristy had been right. No one was willing to take her on, at least not in a designer position and she needed more income than a seamstress. She needed to see her parents but hadn’t had it in her until today.
Angelo drove her to her parents’ house. “I don’t know how long I’ll be. Do you want to leave?”
“I’ll wait, Mrs. B.”
“Ok, if it gets too cold, let me know…” It had taken her this long to get Angelo to stop calling her Mrs. Bianchi for everything, but he still refused to call her Madison. She guessed Mrs. B. wasn’t so bad. At least she could pretend the B was for Bryant and not Bianchi.
“Will do.”
He got out of the car with her and walked her to her parents’ house and took his position standing outside the front door.
Madison rang the bell. Her mom answered.
