Page 75 of Don't Let Go

We dug in despite her warning. I’d have burns on the roof of my mouth, but my stomach was going to be full for days.

Ty licked away some cheese from the corner of his mouth. “Why not a doctor?”

I wrinkled my nose at the thought. “I don’t like doctors. They don’t get to know the patient. Especially in hospitals, they mainly cut them open, try to fix them, and then sew them shut. I want to know the person. I want them to know I care about their well-being.”

“Honest answer. I like it.”

We continued to talk about nothing and everything. From our favorite colors and animals to our thoughts on certain political issues.

If someone were to ask me last year if I’d enjoy being in a strange pizza place with the senator’s son, I’d think they were crazy. I guess not everyone in Scottsdale was a complete snob with their heads shoved up their asses.

As we left, my skin prickled like we were being watched. Being in the mafia, I knew when someone was under surveillance. Beyond the parking lot and across the street was a black van. It looked innocent enough, but I knew better. Someone was watching us.

“Anything wrong?” Tyler asked, holding the door open for me.

I got in. “No. Let’s go.”

We took off. I kept looking in the side mirror but never saw that black van again. I could’ve been wrong, but deep in my gut, I knew someone was keeping tabs on us. But I wasn’t sure why.

That night I called Chloe to dish about my impromptu date with Tyler.

“Girl, I knew he was going to win you over with those eyes and devilish good looks,” she sighed dreamily into the phone.

I laughed while lying across my bed. “I know. He’s trouble, but he’s so much better than Paolo. He doesn’t force me to do anything. I feel more like myself with Ty.”

“I’m glad. I truly am, but I’m worried. Paolo seems unhinged and something’s not right in thefamily. My mom heard them talking about a leak, something about the Mexican cartel getting their hands on our heroin. They want blood over this.”

I shuddered, remembering Vincenzo dragging me into an illegal car and drug trade. I knew something was wrong with that deal. Who’d think the rats cutting off the mob would be actual blood members of the mafia boss?

I chewed on my bottom lip. I couldn’t tell Chloe and put her neck on the line too.

“You know what’s weird? When we were leaving, I swear someone was watching us. I don’t think they followed us home, though.” I twirled a piece of hair around my fingers until it pulsed from blood loss. “Maybe I’m paranoid.”

Chloe paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know, girl. Be careful. I feel like something bad is about to go down. Watch your back.”

“I will. You be safe, too.”

“Always. See you later.”

“See you.” I hung up and dropped my phone onto my comforter.

I had to be on edge after everything. That van could’ve been doing numerous things besides spying on us.

The mafia was family, but they weren’t blood. To them, that didn’t matter, but to me it did. I wanted the people under this roof to be safe. We all had to be okay. There’s no way we could survive taking another hit.

31

Tyler

The next morning, over breakfast, I talked Rory into riding to school with me and allowed Carmen to drop Lizzy off with the Charger. Carmen was over the moon, excited to have the keys in hand. She ate her eggs greedily with the scariest grin I’d seen since the last horror flick I watched.

Lizzy frowned as she cut up her eggs. A piece of egg fell on her lap next to her stuffed bunny. Lizzy quickly grabbed the egg. “Not for you,” she whispered to the bunny.

“Why the long face, Lizzy Bug?” Rory asked, setting her glass of juice down next to her plate.

“I don’t want Carmen to take me to school. Today is show and tell, and she’s a crazy driver.”

Carmen laughed darkly and hissed, “Shut up,” to her little sister.

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