It finally hits me when she folds her arms and scowls.Now I know who she reminds me of.My sister.It makes me more of a pervert than I felt like in the first place when I think of her that way, but she has the same fire, stubbornness, and intelligence.And like my sister, she’s just as stupid as she could possibly be once she gets an idea in her head, and there’s no talking her out of it.
That’s something we have in common.
It’s no big surprise when traffic slows to almost a standstill once we draw closer to Manhattan.With the skyline twinkling up ahead, I take the opportunity to look her way over my shoulder.“I know you don’t want to hear it.And it has nothing to do with whether you’re capable or not.But you’re going to get burned if you keep playing with fire.”
“Then why don’t I see scars all over your body?”she mutters.“Because you’re practically the human torch when it comes to that.”
A flash of bitter rage threatens to burst out of me and make her regret ever opening her snide little mouth.Somehow, I manage to hold it back, but barely.This girl makes taking up alcohol as a hobby look appealing.
There’s an exit coming up.I have enough time to move into the right lane and take it, then drive her straight back home.It’s what I need to do.It’s what someone trying to keep their job would do.
I can’t shake Dad’s warning, either.He knows what I did out there in Sicily.At least, he knows the outcome, if not the reason why.I might have tried to explain if I believed he’d listen, but I know better.It’s a waste of my breath.
If I fuck this up, I have no protection.It wouldn’t surprise me if he handed me over to people who want me dead for what I’ve done.As shitty as this situation is, I prefer it to the idea of being tortured to death by men who, like me, tell themselves they’re doing what they have to do.
We approach the exit a few yards at a time in the stop-and-go traffic.She’s texting like mad back there, thumbs flying over the screen, chewing her glossy bottom lip in the light from the phone.For a second, I imagine the way her face would fall if I took the exit.Maybe she would start learning not to piss off the person getting paid to take her where she needs to be.Not to mention the way she’s assuming I’ll keep her secret.
Then again…
“You’re dead set on doing this, aren’t you?”I ask, inching forward.
With a firm nod, she replies, “I am, so don’t bother trying to talk me out of it.”
“And if I refuse to take you into town?”
She lifts a slim, bare shoulder.“You’ll have to explain why you refused.I’ll just say you made an assumption about what I’m doing tonight and wouldn’t listen when I begged you to drive me.”
She would too.And Rocco would believe her, because as suspicious as he is of the rest of the world, he trusts her.He believes her.He’s a fucking idiot.
However, there could be a bright side to all of this.The little brat wants to get herself in trouble?Cause drama within the family, drive her father crazy, maybe even embroil them in a minor scandal?I can see her getting picked up for underage drinking or something like that.A lightweight like her will probably throw up all over herself before the end of the night and wind up sloppy, passed out, a complete wreck.
What can I say?I’m only doing my job.I’m her driver, not her bodyguard, and Rocco is going to realize that after tonight.
It could even be fun to watch him regret his shortsightedness.If there’s one thing my life is short of lately, it’s entertainment.
“Have it your way,” I decide, passing the exit and continuing toward the bridge.
Sometimes, all you have to do is give somebody enough rope, and they’ll hang themselves for you.
Damn, if I’m looking forward to it.
5
GIULIA
“Wait a minute.”I check the address Brynn sent me, then lean forward to look over at the GPS on the dashboard, like it’ll do anything to clear up my confusion.
“What?This was the address you gave me,” he replies.I could really do without his dry, bored reaction right now.“I’m not sure what you expected, little sister.”
My hand is twitching, ready to be laid upside his head if he calls me that one more time.But he’s not the main problem right now.“This is a club, isn’t it?”I ask, gazing out the window toward the line of people waiting to get inside.“She made it sound like…”
“Like a cozy study session?”He’s enjoying the hell out of this, obviously.There’s a snide laughter in his voice when he asks, “What’s the problem?Don’t think you could get any work done in a place like this?”
“Are you finished?”If anything, his attitude has made up my mind for me.I check my purse to make sure I have everything I need, stiffening my spine so it will at least look like I know what I’m doing, even though I’m freaking the hell out inside.Did Brynn make a mistake with the address?What if this is all a joke?Maybe this was a big mistake, and they were never trying to be nice to me in the first place.Maybe I’m so naïve that I let myself believe a fairy tale.Because I know she knows I’m underage.Why would she send me to a club like this when I thought we were going to a party?
I’m still freaking out, wondering whether it’s a good idea to get out of the car, when a text comes through from Brynn.
Brynn: Coming up the block now.Are you here yet?
