Page 146 of Driftwood Daffodil 3

GIOVANNI

The week passed quickly and before I knew it, it was Monday again. It seemed like things were coming together.

Aldo finally left on Wednesday, but not before he expressed his discontent at my inability to track down Simon, who was still successfully hiding. That was the first time my father had my back. Although, that was only because he also couldn’t find the asshole.

Fat Ricky was due back in a day, which was when I’d hear what he found out about my uncle. And my proposal workedbetter than I thought. Nova’s grandmother was at my house every other night planning shit with my father.

Her presence was annoying to my father, honestly I didn’t know why he put up with it, but it was nowhere near the aggravation Atlee was dealing with. He now had a surrogate grandmother he never asked for. Guess where he was on Sunday?

Even Nova and I had settled into a routine of sorts at school. We’d fight in the morning, make up in the storage room in the afternoon, and fight again when the final bell rang. There were no more rumors about her and Atlee, but there was plenty of talk about us, which was how I liked it.

There were still a few things that needed to be dealt with. Like Carissa, but the plans for her had been set in motion. And our little side business which we were currently at the basketball game for.

“Oops,” a prick in a leather jacket muttered as he ‘accidentally’ bumped into me.

And there was that.

“You, again.” I hissed.

“Shit, I thought I recognized you.” he said while rolling his dark eyes down my form. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Yeah,” I eyed the one percenter patch on the front of his jacket. “Imagine that.”

These fucks had been following Nova around like a rash that wouldn’t go away. Everywhere I looked, there they were. They were even here, at the basketball game. I highly doubted high school sports were their thing.

“What was your name again?” He asked. “Milo?”

“Gio.” I smacked my lips together. “And you’re Wild Dog.”

“That’s right.” He shot me a wink.

On more than one occasion I considered making sure Kato had a rough night, but I didn’t make the call. While I hatedhaving an MC hanging around, Simon was still out there. I did have people watching Nova’s house, but it couldn’t hurt to have more eyes on her. Like it or not, these were some rough sons of bitches. They’d crush Simon under their boot.

This prick for example. The scar on his forehead and knuckles told me that he wasn’t afraid of a fight. And the casual way he stood there, holding his paper cup of god knows what, while staring death directly into my eyes, said that he wasn’t playing around. But he was good at making people think he was.

“Enjoying the game?” He asked before loudly slurping gulps up his straw.

“Do you think this shit will intimidate me?”

“Nah, but it’s starting to piss you off, isn’t it?”

Yes, yes it was. Not that I’d tell this fucker that. “What exactly are you hoping to accomplish? Do you know who my father is?”

“Huh?” His brow rose. “I didn’t take you as the type to have daddy do his dirty work.”

What the fuck did he just say to me?

My chest puffed out as I stepped up to him. “Oh, I don’t need Daddy.”

“Aww that’s cute.” He gave me a frown. “When you’re ready to play in the big leagues, come find me.”

Motherfucker kissed my cheek and walked away. I’d never wanted to beat someone to death more in my life. The sound of the hundreds of witnesses cheering was the only reason I didn’t follow him. That and the way Nova and her friend were laughing on the bleachers. I didn’t like sharing her, even with someone like Memphis Blake, who she’d known her whole life.

That I found out from her grandmother when she insisted Memphis be Nova’s maid of honor. That woman was exhausting. She was already working on the wedding plans. Even had a date picked out. Apparently, we were going to have asummer wedding, which I was informed of right after Nova’s grandmother made me promise not to knock her up until then.

She seemed very concerned about that. I didn’t know why. Nova and I hadn’t even talked about kids, let alone want to have any. That was a conversation for way down the road. When I wouldn’t mind sharing her with a kid or two. As it was right now, if I could lock her up and keep her all to myself, I would.

Since Nova obviously wouldn’t go for that, and for some reason I wanted her to be happy, I’d have to settle with integrating myself between her and everyone else. Which was exactly what I did.

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