AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As we cross the bridge, under which the water reflects the moon, my mind reels from the events that occurred after I stepped into the apartment. Corrado swept in like a night storm, and I rode his current the best I could, grateful I survived as long as I had, but now that I’ve left halfway through the evening I promised him, I wonder if he’ll come through about my car. Or the house-sitting job.
Probably not.
I bite my lip, thinking I should’ve stayed, but also knowing I couldn’t have after getting confirmation that Corrado is involved in the New York underworld, the world I wish to avoid. My brother is serving a sentence so I could have a normal life, away from men like Tino, who won’t leave me alone, but whose attention I’m managing.
Corrado’s attention, on the other hand, I don’t have to manage. He was interested in a one-night pretend date that I didn’t even finish, so I expect I won’t see him anymore. Which will suck because I would have appreciated his help getting my car back, but at the same time, I’m better off never hearing from him again.
As the limo pulls up into my street, I grab my purse, then run my hand over the fine leather seats, wishing that someday I could afford a nice car with a leather interior. Then I remember that I’ve lost my house-sitting job and that I’ll have to figure out how to make the rent this month.
The driver parks, comes around, and opens the door for me.
“Take care,” he says. I wish him the same as I walk over the dry grass, careful not to trip over the dry sprinklers. This year, management decided they’d conserve water and allow nature to take its course. Which would be great if only they’d also manage the cost of rent the way they manage other resources.
“Where have you been?” a man asks.
I jump back and nearly come out of my skin.
Blond, spiky, gelled hair. Dark brown eyes. Pierced eyebrow.
“Jesse, oh my God. What are you doing here?” I haven’t seen this man in months.
The devil tattoo over his jugular winks at me as he says, “Where were you?”
He’s in one of his moods. I cross my arms over my chest. “Nowhere.”
“Nowhere my ass. Limo’s dropping you off in the middle of the night.” He gives me a once-over and looks disgusted. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
“None of your business.” I turn at the same time that Hank nods at Jesse, gets in the car, and drives away. I stare at the red brake lights as he comes to a stop. A longing develops in my chest, but I douse it immediately so I can survive my real life. Which is talking to my brother’s best friend who, after Gordon went away, acts as if I’m his sister too.
“You know Hank?” I ask.
“Never seen him before. Who the hell is he working for?” he asks.
I have a needling suspicion that if I told him about Corrado, he’d lose his mind and, worse yet, tell my brother, who would do something terribly stupid and get into even more trouble if possible.
You’d think a man who’s already in prison wouldn’t be able to get into more trouble, but Gordon specializes in trouble. His parole hearing is coming up, and I want them to consider releasing him.
“No one.” Attempting to avoid Jesse, I move around him and trip over a sprinkler. He grabs my elbow and saves me from breaking my hip.
“You can’t even walk on those things,” he says. “Wear your gray sneakers.”
“I haven’t worn those since I was thirteen.”
“Really?” He looks shocked.
“Really. What are you doing here?”
“Got a call,” he says.
“That’s as clear as mud.”
“That’s all I can say, so I ask you again, where have you been?”
“I was at Janice’s baby shower, if you must know.”
“Janice Kimonly?”
“Yeah.” We all went to high school together. The football coach caught Jesse and Gordon double-teaming Janice under the bleachers. They got suspended. Her parents moved her to a different school. If they hadn’t, I wonder if she would have ended up with my brother. I wonder a lot what my brother’s life could’ve been like.
