AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I close my eyes and try to recall Jesse’s phone number, but he’s gone through so many lines that the ones I remember have all been disconnected already. I unzip the duffel and fumble through the mess of clothes in search of my dress pants, blouse, and flats. Most of the stuff here is my work clothes, so that’s all I have, though I wish Drago had brought my leggings and sneakers. Maybe also Gordon’s oversized army T-shirt.
Dressed in work clothes, I fix my hair and leave the room to find Corrado in the living room, still watching TV.
I sit on the opposite end of the couch.
The sun shining through the blinds makes his hazel eyes appear the color of imperial jade.
“Going somewhere?” he asks, his voice laced with an edge, his demeanor cold and distant. His gaze flicks away to the TV.
“My twin watches the news. He’ll see this and think I’ve been taken.”
“You have been taken.”
I frown. Corrado means that he took me away from the incident, but that’s not what I mean, and my brother has no idea Corrado is keeping me safe. “The taking is called a kidnapping, and I’ve made the headlines. Gordon will think Dom took me.”
Corrado groans as he shifts on the couch and reaches for a remote control. With the press of a button, he shuts off the TV and picks up another remote, which he flips in his hand.
“Tell me something I don’t already know.”
Cold. Distant. Asshole. I want my Corrado back, if he ever was mine at all. “Gordon will come looking for me.”
“From prison?”
I shake my head. “He has friends who are loyal to him. They’ll start looking, and when they find out I’m here with you, I don’t know what we’re going to tell them. That’s if they allow you to tell them at all. Jesse will shoot first and ask questions later.”
Corrado nods. “And what do you plan to do about that?”
“I’m going to visit Gordon.”
Corrado’s eyebrows shoot up. “Your face was all over the news in connection with a new and violent cartel that attacked a Cosa Nostra club, and you want to walk into a prison?”
“Yeah. I can’t have Gordon thinking I’m in danger before his parole hearing. It’s his chance at release, and I’m looking forward to it.”
“The parole board won’t approve his parole.”
I gasp. “Don’t say that.”
“I’m not saying that. They told me.”
“What…what do you know about my brother?”
“I know he committed a violent crime for which he’s not remorseful. They want him humbled and brought to heel, and your brother is extremely proud, with a strong belief system about what he feels he should and shouldn’t do. Like you.”
I shake my head. “Maybe they’ll change his mind. And even if they don’t, it’ll destroy him knowing I’m in danger. He is in prison because of me.”
“Are you guilty of disappointing him? Is that why you want to tell him you’re fine and going back to work like a good girl who stays out of trouble? Hm? Pretending like your life is worth something more so you can feel better about him rotting in prison?”
Tears sting my eyes. “Stop.”
“He’s not in prison because of you. He’s in prison because he made a choice.”
I want to hurt him as he’s hurting me by talking about my brother with such nonchalance, as if Gordon’s life means nothing. “You can’t stop me.”
Corrado’s face takes on a whole new dangerous expression. “What was that?”
“You can’t stop me. You’re not my husband.”
“Careful.”
