“Yeah, I would say it’s probably a sure thing.”
My mind whirls, trying to come up with a plan, but it’s Suzy who starts to talk, and when she finishes, I stare at her in surprise.
“I had no idea you had it in you,” I say, gaping at the woman.
She shrugs. “Before your mother, Ben and I were very close with your father.” She blushes, and my mouth drops open. “We were very involved with the family.”
I look at Ben, and he smiles sadly. “We didn’t want you to think any less of your dad, but your lifestyle now mimics his when we were younger. Why do you think neither of us batted an eyelash and encouraged you to explore those relationships? It’s also why your dad was so accepting when you told him you liked girls.”
“Stefano was bi?” Sage sounds as stunned as I am.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Suzy snaps, trying to get us back on track. “Sage, go grab the rigged tactical vest from the locker. For this to work, you’re going to have to die.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Iam about to perform the most important show of my life.
When the elevator stops on the ground floor and the four of us get out, my broken heart is being held together with barbed wire, and I have the scary calm of the angel of death flowing through my veins. Suzy is carrying some grocery bags, since that’s where they were returning from when Mickey called them and told them to wait for us.
We are discussing what’s for dinner, acting like nothing is wrong, when Gio appears in the kitchen, looking pale and sweaty.
“Suzy, we have some guests for dinner. Please place four more settings at the table, and keep that in mind when you’re preparing food.”
“Gio,” I snap, pretending to be oblivious. “It’s a little late notice, don’t you think?”
He turns to me and gives me a dead stare. It’s like all the light in his soul has faded. “Please join us in the lounge. Our guests would like to see you.”
I feign a frown but nod. “Who is it? Why do they want to see me?” I argue.
“Because I said so,” he snaps before turning his attention to Sage. “You too.”
“But I was going to go play GTA,” Sage whines convincingly. If we gave in too quickly, he would suspect something.
“Fine, let’s just get this over with.” I roll my eyes, and Gio glares at me before turning and leading the way from the kitchen.
Sage and I walk side by side, and he reaches out and gives my hand a little squeeze. Ben and Suzy stay quiet, knowing not to tip Gio off to anything that we have planned, but they will be waiting just in case we need backup. I don’t doubt they will hover around the lounge in time for their cue.
“You didn’t say who was here, Gio,” I nag him, and I hear him sigh with exasperation, before holding the door open.
“Because if you knew, you wouldn’t have come,” he says sadly as Sage and I enter the lounge, and this time, I am truly shocked, so my reaction is actually genuine. I thought it was only Penny and Mario in the car, but I hadn’t looked at the back seat, because sitting on the couch next to Casey, who looks as pale as Gio does, is a smirking Stacey.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I demand as Mario stands up, as does the other man in the room. I recognize Stacey’s father, who looks at me with great disdain.
“Watch your language,” he snaps.
“Now, now, Vincent,” Mario says jovially. “I’m sure Tori was just surprised to see her old school friend in her house, especially considering how badly their friendship ended.”
Stacey scoffs. “Friendship, please. You paid me to be friends with her. I couldn’t stand her. The gatekeeping bitch never thought I was good enough for her brother, otherwise I would have already had a ring on my finger.”
Mario’s smile turns brittle. “Yes, well, I certainly didn’t get value for my money.”
“Why are you here in my house? Gio, what’s going on?” I demand, but before Gio can respond, Mario claps his hands together in an exaggerated manner.
“Why, we’re here to celebrate the engagement of my niece to your brother, of course,” he announces, gesturing to Casey and Gio in a way that I think he’s hoping will shock me. He would have if it hadn’t been for the phone call from Mickey in the nick of time.
I turn my attention to Gio, and he grimaces. “I didn’t know they were related, I swear,” he mutters quietly, and strangely enough, I believe him. I turn my attention to Casey, and she shrinks behind Gio, out of my line of sight.
“At least this one was successful where her cousin failed.” Mario’s smile is slimy, but it soon drops as I pull out my gun and aim it at Casey. Mario and Vincent shout, and Stacey scrambles back over the couch out of the way, but Gio jumps in front of her.
