I nod, and then nod again, because I know if I open my mouth, I’ll have some choice words to say about Rocco. I zip my lips as I don’t want to say anything I’ll regret. “I’m sorry to hear this, but hopefully it’s only a minor setback. We’ll figure something out.”I rise and offer a handshake. “Thanks for keeping me in the loop and let me know when more news arises.”
“Will do.” Principal Lane finally grips my hand, shaking it extrafirmly.“We’ll see your boys out on the field again Friday night. This won’t faze them.”
“Sure thing.” I fake a toothy smile and pivot to exit his office. I know one thing. As much as I hate this, I’m going to need to tell Gia. It’s way beyond a coincidence, and I need to warn her to watch her back. My cell vibrates in my pocket. I never get calls during the day. Everyone knows I’m at school. My gut clenches before I even look.
I duck into my classroom, as I have ten minutes before the first period starts, and I close the door.
Rocco:I warned you. Stay away or you’llbothbe sorry.
Both.
That has to be a typo. He can’t mean us both. Would he really hurt his own sister?
Stunned, I stare at the wall as if the air is too poisoned for it to be stirred. It definitely is blackmail. Rocco and his dirty friends are behind all of this, and I must find a way to stop him, and warn Gia.
Gia, my heart slams against my chest. I can’t have him going after her. I must protect her at all costs until I can find a way to stop him for good.
It’s like he has some super GPS on us, and spies everywhere. He just knows when we are together. I rub my chin, hating that I have to tell Gia this bad news, but it must be done. I’ve held off telling her long enough. She needs to know everything.
seventeen
Gia
“Sorry I’m late!” I yank my heavy coat off, and neatly toss it on the coat hook as I breeze by it. The aroma of thyme and fresh basil tickles my nose, awakening me. Grace is already aproned up and spacing cinnamon roll dough on the pans, something I usually do. I grab an apron, quickly tie it around my waist, and scoot in front of the handwashing sink to scrub. “Let me do the rolls.”
“It’s fine.” She plops the last of the dough on the pan and whisks the bowl into the soaking sink. “I already have all my roasts in the convection oven.”
“That’s what smells so hearty.” I stick my nose high in the air, inhaling one more time.
“Yes, I used all the leftover onions.” She pauses and her eyebrows clamp together, tipping me off to her confusion. “So, get this. An administrative meeting is going on in the brunch room.”
“An admin meeting on a Monday morning?” I echo, my Spidey sense alerting. “As long as I’ve been here, they’ve always stuck to Thursday lunches.”
“Right? It felt off to me, too. It was deathly quiet when I walked in this morning, and the curtain dividing those two dining rooms had been rolled back. I thought maybe the weekend staff never closed it. I went in there to tidy up, and that’s when I saw Gerry, and Marcie. It’s both of their mornings off, but they had gotten emails last night, announcing an emergency meeting this morning.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” I swallow, bustling to the kitchen door to peek out the window into the dining room, all the seats at the round center table are filled with management. All their faces are devoid of expression. “Are we supposed to go to this meeting?”
“Nobody said.” She slides her pans into the oven and joins me, standing on her toes to look inside. “It doesn’t look like we’re getting huge bonuses, does it?”
“Nope.”
“I don’t know.” She drops to her flat feet, brushing off her apron. “I can’t imagine it’s anythingbad. The holidays are right around the corner, and it’s our busiest season.”
“Do you know what? I bet that’s what it’s actually all about.” I breathe out, hoping to convince myself that this isn’t going to negatively affect my position, or my pay. “Maybe we are going to be so busy, they need to implement some new schedule?”
I back away from the window as Marcie rises from her seat and heads our way. I push open the swinging door for her, and a look of dread consumes her face.
“What’s the meeting about?” I ask so softly I can barely hear my own voice.
“We got shut down.” Marcie exhales, disbelief in all her facial features. Even her perfect perky-Karen haircut seems to be deflated today.
“What?” My T ticks hard and I stammer, “Wh-what do you mean?”
Her gaze waffles between Grace and me. “They pulled our hospitality license, citing health and safety concerns. The guests are all being asked to check out this morning, and as soon as they have vacated, we lock up.”
“I don’t believe it.” My jaw hangs low, and I rack my brain for clues. “Did something happen over the weekend? I don’t even remember any inspectors coming around.”
“We were never notified about anything.” Marcie shrugs hard, her whole face falls with her shoulders. “It almost seems like sabotage. This is a high-demand beachfront property. Some businessman is probably trying to get this place to foreclose so they can buy it on the cheap.”
