I rubbed my hand over my chest, hating the way itpinched for my dad and his pathetic friends. “You guys going to be okay?”
Dad jerked his head toward the door. “We’re just sayinggoodbye to Jack, baby girl. Then we’re not going to talk about him again.”
“Never again,” Brick agreed.
That only made my heart hurt more. Guilt coiled in mygut and whispered to change my plans for tonight. I shouldn’t go. Who knew whatelse I would find.
Who knew who else would have to die because of what Ifound.
My phone vibrated in my purse. It was probably Gus wonderingwhere I was. Shit.
“Bye, Dad,” I told him.
“Love you, sweet Caroline.”
“Love you too,” I told him even though he was alreadyin another ruckus round of toasting and shouting about the friend they couldnever mention again after tonight.
Jack had been a snitch. The bosses had built a caseproving his guilt and then made an example out of him to anyone that wasthinking about opening their mouths.
It had started the night Sayer and I found the infoabout the feds. And now it was common knowledge among thebratva.
Don’t open your mouth. Not unless you want to bestrung up by your feet with your tongue cut out and your nose chopped off, leftto choke to death on your own blood.
Because of me.
I hurried downstairs and out on the street. A blacktown car waited on the curb—my ride. I threw myself in the passenger seat,anxious to get away from my dad, his sad friends and my racing thoughts.
“Bout fucking time,” Atticus growled.
I did a fast double take, my heart jumping to mythroat. “I thought Gus was picking me up.”
He pulled out onto the street and pressed a heavy footdown on the accelerator. “Gus had other shit to do.”
“I didn’t know you were on this job.”
“Don’t you ever shut up? Shit, Caro, not everyonewants to hear your whiny voice all day long. Save it for your boyfriend.”
“Don’t be such an asshole.”
His hand slammed down on my knee, slapping it so hardI let out a surprised screech. Then his fingers were digging into my knee,crushing and gripping until my eyes watered and I was afraid of ruining mymakeup.
I grabbed his hand, trying to peel it off. “Let go,Atticus.”
“You should be careful who you call names.” His strongfingers pressed harder, making me breathless with pain. Out of options, I sunkmy fingernails into the back of his hand. He slammed his foot on the gas,driving like a maniac through darkened streets, unconcerned with my efforts toget him to back off. “Apparently you need me to teach you a lesson, littlegirl. Somebody’s got to teach you some manners.”
“If you rip a hole in my stocking, I will kill you,” Ihissed at him. “You’re going to ruin my cover.”
“Then say you’re sorry.”
“What?” I blinked back tears, he was going to leavebruises.
His words slowed like he was talking to a small child.“Say you’re sorry. I want to hear how fucking sorry you are.”
“Let go of me.”
He did, but only to slam his fist down on my kneecap,making me double over. “Say you’re sorry, Caro, or I’m going to do it again.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, hating myself for givingin. But I knew he wasn’t going to stop until I did.
