His life is dangerous.Heis dangerous. And I need to do everything I can to keep Remi as far away from him as possible.
Which is why I absolutely have to get that audition from the showcase.
Once I pay off Giovanni, I’d have access to health insurance for Remi, and we could move out of the city.
It’s all within my grasp, and there is no way I’m going to blow it. Everything is riding on these next two weeks.
“Do you want me to say hi to your parents if I see them?”
Lily’s tone is teasing but I have to resist the urge to throat punch her for even bringing them up.
“No. And don’t you dare let them anywhere near our girl.”
Lily salutes me. “I shall use my body as a human shield should it come down to it.”
“Not funny,” I say, remembering how Gio threatened her.
Not that they were ever really parents to me. They were always out of town, and as I got older I spent more weekends, more holidays, with Lily’s family than I did my own.
I take my time buckling Remi into her car seat, fighting back tears. “Call me every day, Remi-Roo. And be good for Auntie Lily or else,” I warn her, doing my best not to crack a smile when she rolls her eyes.
“I will, you already told me that.”
“I know,” I sigh, forcing myself out of the car. “I love you, baby. I’ll see you in two weeks.”
I hold up two fingers and she mirrors me. “Two.”
Lily slides the car into gear, and I reluctantly shut the door. Watching my best friend drive away with my whole world. The sudden emptiness that fills me the second they disappear around the block is enough to send me running, crying, to my bed, but alas, I have to be at work.
It’s my first night back at Wonderland.
31
ARE YOU DAFT?
KOEN
Now
The next afternoon, I’m in my office at our main warehouse, discussing with Liam our mess of a situation with the Italians and Russians, when my uncle Conor barges in.
“Tell me you didn’t kill the Italian’s consigliere and set his mansion on fire?”
I look up at my uncle with a straight face. “Okay.” There’s a flash of relief on my uncle’s face as I speak. “I won’t tell you,” I finish, and that relief turns to rage, Conor known for his hot temper.
“Christ above, Koen!” he curses. “I suppose I don’t need to ask if the rumor that your brother married the Russian Pakhan’s daughter in an unauthorized ceremony is true then, too?”
I just shrug, reaching for my glass of whiskey. “Father Lucent officiated.”
He hisses and I hide my smile with my glass.
“You think this won’t start a war?” He’s pacing the room now, hands running anxiously over his balding head.
“The war already started,” I tell him. All we did was make it official.
He lets loose a string of curses and I narrow my gaze at him, not that he notices, too caught up in his own fury.
“Pissing off both the Italians and the Russians in one night? What were you thinking?”
