Page 152 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

“To prove to me that you won’t be another liability that I have to take care of.”

There was no doubt in my mind what he meant by take care of.

GIOVANNI

When I woke up the next morning, I was looking forward to going to school. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a certain tempting pain in the ass. That is until I texted her. Then I wanted to get my more than my hands on her.

Me: Wear something red today.

I liked the way Nova looked in red, and after wasting my entire day yesterday getting shit ready for my uncle, I needed a pick me up.

Novalee: Can it be your blood?

Me: Do you really want to play that game again?

Because I was game. In fact, I’d already planned our next session. Even bought a new blade for the occasion. Nothing got me harder than the sweet taste of her blood, except for maybe the horror in her eyes when I cut into her skin.

Novalee: Only if I can bring my own knife.

The two of us entangled in a knife fight. I liked the sound of that. And so did my dick,

Me: Deal.

The corner of my mouth lifted as I watched the three little typing dots pop up, then disappear, over and over again.

For once in her life, Novalee Ford was speechless. Or scared. I didn’t really care. All I could think about now was going toe to toe with the little vixen.

I couldn’t help but snort out a chuckle when her text finally came through.

Novalee: Eat shit, Gio.

Me: Aww, did you miss me?

Novalee: You wish.

The sad fact was that I wished she missed me. I wanted Nova to be pining for me when I wasn’t around. And then I wanted to punch myself in the face for ever having such a thought. The only thing I should want from a Ford was pain and misery.

Me: Don’t forget about the red.

I typed in before pocketing my phone and heading downstairs for breakfast.

Last night, when all my chores were done, I laid in bed and scrolled between two names.

Carissa and Nova.

I told myself I just wanted to get off, but if that was the case, then Carissa would’ve been the convenient choice. She’d send me a couple of pics to jerk off to, then it would be done. Simple and easy. Nothing about the thoughts in my head were simple and easy. They were muddled, confused, and mostly worried.

I had five days until Aldo got here. Five days to reign in the storm of chaos that was Novalee Ford.

Putting her in the same room as my uncle would be like tossing a lit match into a powder keg. And that was before the whole Carissa factor was added into the equation. Nova had seen her with me. She knew what was going on, and at the dinner she’d know who Carissa was.

Even if I could manage to convince her to keep quiet–which I highly doubted, Nova’s mouth was almost as big as her attitude–there was no guarantee that Carissa wouldn’t do something fucking stupid.

Yes, she was good a playing the perfect wife for her husband, and putting on a show for the public. But Dominic Barone was an idiot so it wasn’t a concern before. Then Carissa cornered me in front of my fucking house, while my brother and father were home. Now I didn’t know what she would do, or who to trust.

Nova, or Carissa?

Carissa or Nova?

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