Page 81 of Don't Let Go

“Why do you have a gun?” His voice shook as fear crept into his eyes.

I reached over and shut the glovebox. “A girl needs to protect herself.”

He rubbed his hands back and forth on his pants. “Aurora, I don’t think—”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” I shot, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

Tyler stared at me agape as I pulled over, parking along the street. The wake was at a good family friend’s house. We got out of the car, and I walked past Tyler. I didn’t have time for his questions. I’d make my appearances and then resume my mission for retribution.

33

Tyler

Lizzy’s death hit Rory like a freight train. It affected each of us in different ways. I may have only lived with the Giordano family for a few weeks now, but I could see the paradigm shift in the house. Carmen and Lizzy always bickered over frivolous things. They enjoyed pushing each other’s buttons, especially sharing a bedroom. Rory was a good big sister, and always kept the peace and was the rock whenever her little sisters needed her. Franco and Lorenzo seemed dedicated to their job and enjoyed playing video games or watching sports at home. Sofia was a strong-willed woman who didn’t take anyone’s crap. All her kids worshipped her, and I never heard anyone give her any sass.

Rory was sweet, tough, and beautiful. In a way, Rory was like marble, so mesmerizing with its different patterns and almost Supergirl-like strength.

The Giordano family felt like they were going through troubled waters sometimes. When I walked into a room, there would be whispers and silence. Maybe it was a need to know, but it felt strange nonetheless.

Now, everything was different. With Lizzy gone, Carmen glued herself to their mother’s side. Sofia turned into a broken shell, refusing to go to work.

At first, I thought this was a funk that would slowly change over time, but it lasted after Lizzy’s funeral. The Giordano family had become a family of zombies.

When my father died, I felt guilty for not being there for him. It was scary watching life leave the body. Lizzy, more so, after all the blood loss, but to see a body without their soul inside, without the light in their eyes, it was something that would haunt a person forever.

Rory has been avoiding me since I found the gun in her glovebox. She talked to a handful of people at the wake and slipped out before I could question her. It never occurred to me that she could do something reckless or dangerous, but I also never thought a little girl would get shot in her front yard.

Tonight's dinner was spaghetti, but everyone moved their food around without tasting a bite. I didn't feel comfortable eating so I took my plate and excused myself from the table.

Rory was already locked inside her room. While passing by, I heard her talking to someone. She sounded angry, saying something like, “I know I’m right about this. Why can’t you stand with me?”

Who is she talking to? What is she involved in?

Abandoning my plate on my dresser, I sat on the floor and pressed my ear against the wall we shared.

“Okay, I’m listening. Who else could’ve done it?” Rory demanded. I could hear her pacing in her room. Her footstepswere heavy, like she had on boots, and her breaths quick like she was running for her life.

It was silent as the person on the other end spoke.

“The Russians? Come on, they know better than to do this.”

Russians? What would they have to do with anything?

She spoke again, “The Chinese and Irish don’t make sense. It’s been years since they’ve done business in Arizona.”

Chinese? Irish? Is she talking about restaurants? Languages? Cultures?

A cold chill ran down my back.

Could she be talking about gangs? No worse, mobs? The mafia? Crime families? I saw theGodfather. They were Italian, and they did shifty and shady things.

“The Mexican cartel is a maybe, but driving by in the morning to shoot a child doesn’t sound like their style. They’re more about cutting off heads.” She took a breath. “So that leaves my theory—”

She punched the wall I had my ear pressed to, scaring the shit out of me. I blinked and covered my mouth to keep myself quiet as I resumed eavesdropping.

“Don’t talk over me, Chloe! You know I hate that. I’m right about this. I need proof then you’ll understand.” Her voice was haunting, like a warning before the real storm hit.

I’ve never heard Rory so angry and dismissive of her friends like that. Who was this girl on the other side of the wall?

---