I bet they deserved not to finish those sandwiches.
Tony tosses Corrado a crumpled note, which he reads quickly and out loud.
Soon you’llall fall down.
Who will be next?
Maybe a better question is who will be left?
"What does it mean?"Corey asks in a whisper.
"Someone is killing offmyfamily, Corrado. That's what it seems, huh? What? You think you're above it?” Tony shouts.
"You ever think it's one of your own?" I ask.
"Bullshit, this isn't an inside job, you just keep sucking dicks, bitch. If you weren’t my best dancer, I’d fuck a hole in the side of your head. I don't keep you here for your thoughts on my business."
"Tony, what the fuck?" Corrado growls.
"I watched you two in the lounge. In the back rooms. You tapping this two-bit stripper like she’s something more to you? Ah, kid the way you're looking at that whore is a loud fucking answer. Go find a nice girl you could be proud of."
"I'm not a whore,” I say.
"Shut her up, Corrado."
Corey's eyes are on mine.
I’m shaking my head, rage is vibrating through my shoulders, chilling me to the bone. “I’m not a whore.”
"She's a stupid puttana, Corrado. How difficult could it possibly be to pacify her? Stick your cock in her mouth, gag her, carve out her tongue, do whatever you have to do!"
Corey is on me in an instant. His lips slamming against mine hard. Every inch of my body bursts into flames.
His breathing is hard and ragged, hot against my mouth. His tongue presses in and all I can remember is how hard I came against it as he kneeled before me in the back room. I can’t help wrapping my arms around him and kissing him back.
When his lips abruptly leave mine, I can barely stand. His forehead is against mine and he’s panting heavily. “I told you, babe. I told you to leave.”
I look up into his eyes and I wish, I wish so hard I could let him know how much and how long I’ve loved him. But he would never understand. “I didn’t want to leave you,” I whisper.
“Uncle Tony?” he says, not taking his eyes off mine. “I love her.”
“Youloveher?” Tony asks.
He’s staring at me and I know he can’t really love me. I know he’s saying it just to keep me alive to keep me from Tony using me as his club whore. But I’ve waited what seems like a lifetime to hear Corrado say those words that I take them. I take them right there and I never want to let them go.
“I’m taking her to meet my mother. And I’ll set up a dinner with Aunt Connie, too.”
Tony walks over to the both of us, his expression a mixture of curiosity and shock. His eyes dart back and forth between us. “Corrado, everybody needs to watch their backs. Even the girls need to be looked after. Make some calls, we need more people here. And let me speak to her alone.”
When Corrado leaves, Tony has his arm around my shoulder and he walks me to the door. "I’ll give it a chance. A few more weeks and we’ll see. Corrado don't put his lips on anybody. Him kissing you changes things."
"What do you mean?"
"Last person he kissed, he was fifteen and she was a dead girl."
He looks me dead in the face and smiles. "A few more weeks for the both of you. You know what they say. Keep your friends close,” he leans in and kisses my temple. “And keep your enemies closer.”
* * *
