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Marco
“Sorry about all this, Mr. Davinci.” Sheriff Hale shakes Nick’s hand as I push out into the daylight.
“It’s fine.” Despite his words, Nick glowers. “Though I do hope you’ll train your deputies on the proper way to treat a foolish boy who tries to shoot a Davinci, then lies about it.”
“Deputy Mack is on leave.” Sheriff Hale nods.
“No need for him to lose his profession.” Nick smiles coldly. “After all, I’m the biggest supporter of law enforcement in the county.”
“The fundraiser you threw for us last year will see us well taken care of, and I’ll remind all of my staff of that fact.” Sheriff Hale turns and holds his hand out to me. “Young man, my apologies. I hope you weren’t hurt.”
I shake it. “I’m all right. Might need a school excuse though.” I smirk.
Sheriff Hale throws his head back and laughs. “School excuse.” He turns to Nick. “You’ve got a clever one here. Keep an eye on him.”
Nick shoots me an amused glance, then it’s gone and his game face is back on. “Let’s go. Sophia wants to see you.”
“I need to get to school--”
He turns to me, his eyebrows slightly raised.
“Okay, Sophia first.”
He smiles. “Always.”
* * *
After a thorough once-over and interrogation from Sophia, school is already out for the day.
“Drive me to Evangeline’s?” I ask.
“Sure.” She leans over and pets Fredo, one of his eyes off-kilter as usual. “I need to stop at the pet store anyway. Fredo’s getting low on his treats.”
“Great.” I shake my head and walk outside with her.
She chooses her Porsche Cayenne, and I hop in the passenger side.
“Evangeline was so worried when she called.” Sophia is a careful driver, so naturally, I’m stomping on an imaginary gas pedal and wanting to go faster.
“Yeah, well she just saw me get busted with cuffs and the whole shebang, so I’m not surprised.” I hate that she saw it all.
“She needs to get used to things like that.” She glances at me. “Not the arrest, but the other part.”
“Guns, crazies, violence? Stuff like that, you mean?”
She nods. “Right. I didn’t want you in this life, but you’re in it whether I like it or not.” She rubs the bridge of her nose.
“You’ll get wrinkles,” I tease.
“Not with this thousand dollar face cream from France,” she laughs. “My point is, Marco, she’s not used to this. So you’re going to have to ease her into it if you want to keep her around. You’re both young, and I don’t want you set your heart on her, then realize she can’t handle the life we live.”
“She’s tougher than she seems.”
“I know.” She nods. “I can tell. But that doesn’t mean she wants to be a Davinci, all right?”
I know she’s just trying to caution me, to tell me not to go giving my heart away to a girl I barely know. But I’m not sure I have a choice in the matter. Ever since I first saw her, she’s all I can think about. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
“She’s a good girl.” Sophia pats my hand. “I like her a lot. Just keep your smarts about you, okay?” She pulls into the Bradford estate, and I direct her to the garage.
