I slam the key in the ignition, pulling out of the vagrant lot by the warehouse.
“Whatever. So why the hell aren’t we staying where Carmelo told us to stay?”
I shrug. “It was only a suggestion. And I changed my mind.”
I glance at Lia, who’s been acting unusually withdrawn ever since we left the warehouse. I have no idea why she’s so quiet, now of all times. Or why I suddenly miss the bratty sound of her voice.
“Why did you change your mind?” grumbles Everest.
I click my tongue in impatience, but I guess I do owe him a little more explanation than I’ve given him so far. I can’t fault him for being so annoyed. He’s had a tough life, and it’s onlygotten worse for him since we started working for the Moretti Family. He doesn’t have it in him to end a guy, but he sure spends a lot of time pretending he does. I can only imagine how he must feel about being given the role of a nanny.
But the thing is, he’s a good nanny, and I don’t know what I’d do without him. I have enough with Lia in my hands. I draw the line at hurting kids, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to look at hers. To be reminded every second of her heartlessness.
“I changed my mind,” I say at last, “because the place wasn’t fit for a kid.”
I at once regret my words when Lia glances at me in apparent surprise.
But I ignore her, turning my focus to the road.
“I mean, itisa warehouse,” says Everest. “What the hell did you expect?”
“I changed my mind,” I repeat through gritted teeth, and luckily, Everest doesn’t insist.
“Well, Damien called while you guys were doing—I don’t know what. He’s with Coltello right now. The don and his son are with the Syndicate in Idaho, and travel plans haven’t changed.”
I scoff as I merge onto the highway. “Moretti would be better off keeping his hold on this state instead of going off to conquer new places. His kid can’t even keep Oakley under control.”
“Yeah, well.” Everest leans back, cracking his knuckles. “It’s not like they’re going to just give up their claim to the Syndicate. He didn’t marry Anna for no reason. It should go to him, not some second cousin three times removed or whatever.”
“Well, Anna’s dead. She has been for three years. If Arsenio Moretti wasn’t so busy chasing control of some midwestern bunch of rednecks, maybe Tito and Stefano would still be alive.”
“Yup,” agrees Everest. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always felt bad about the way Anna Moretti died…”
I can hear the disgust in his voice, and it’s a struggle to keepmy own bile in my throat when I remember how the don’s wife met her end. We weren’t in the family back then, but everyone in Oakley was talking about it. The force of the explosion had ripped much of her skin right off her, and she was found without eyes. The coroner had concluded it was a terrible car accident.
“But yeah,” he concludes. “Why the hell is he trying to get control of the Syndicate? Terrible timing, man. What do you think?”
“It’s not like I’m best friends with the don, dude. He doesn’t keep me in the loop, you know? Damien probably has all that information. But he’s with Coltello right now.”
“Fine. So what did Damien want?”
“Well, Coltello is very focused on figuring out who got to Stefano and Tito. I guess as the underboss, he’s probably shitting his pants right now, thinking he might be next. So they’re hunting for the snake. But Damien said he could switch places with you if you want. If it’s too hard for you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lia tense. I guess she doesn’t like Damien very much. I can’t exactly blame her. Some sadistic urge in me makes me want to accept Damien’s offer, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
I want her fucking ruined. AndIwant to be the one to ruin her.
I’ve been repeating some version of those words ever since I stared into Lia’s terrified eyes when I found her on the side of the road. I hadn’t wanted to go after her. I was pissed at Damien for volunteering me. But when I saw her, shivering and crying by the road, it made me happier than I’d been in a very long time.
I’d really love to slam her against the hood of the car andtakeher. Claim her and leave her gasping. Show her who owns her. Make her regret having fucked and married the first guy who wasn’t me.
It’s a good thing we’re not alone. I can just tell I’m teeteringat the edge of a precipice, and if I continue down that road, she won’t be the only one paying anymore.
“I’m fine for now,” I mutter, and get annoyed at seeing Lia’s shoulders relax. I don’t want my words to relax her.
“Okay. So where are we going?” asks Everest.
“I don’t know. Away from this shithole of a place. To some other shithole of a place. I don’t fucking know.”
