Page 53 of Driftwood Daffodil 3

“Oh, about tomorrow.” Atlee called out through the open window as I closed the door. “I won’t be in school.”

“Why not?” As far as I knew his dad sent someone to pick up Alex from Wayward. Antonio Fiore liked to show his children off. Especially the ones he had yet to arrange a marriage for.

“Oh, I’m taking your girlfriend to see her brother.”

“WHAT!”

“See ya.” Atlee waved and took off before I grabbed the door handle.

Motherfucker.

I was goingto kill both Atlee and Nova. Not that they knew that. Atlee didn’t answer his phone and Nova’s was still in the goddamn lake. So I couldn’t even cuss them out. I was tempted to go down to Nova’s house and beat her ass, but then I got to thinking. If she wanted to see her brother, that was fine. I wouldn’t even let her know I knew she was going. Nova could have her little secret family reunion. And when she left, I’d come in, and Kato and I would have our own reunion.

So what if she asked Atlee instead of me. And who cares if that motherfucker only agreed because it would piss me off. It wasn’t like people already thought they were together. I wasn’t pissed that they would be alone in a car for hours. I’d be right behind them. I could deal with all of that, because by the time tomorrow was done, everyone would know who Novalee Ford belonged to. Including her piece of shit brother.

In the meantime I’d beat the shit out of this punching bag and imagine it was Atlee’s face.

“Motherfucker…”

Punch.

“Think you can drive my girl…”

Punch, punch.

“I’ll show you smug.”

Punch.

“Looks like I came at the perfect time.” Carissa strutted in, making my eyes roll.

Great, just what I fucking needed.

“I’m not in the mood for your shit today.” I grumbled while continuing to hit the bag.

“Well,” she shrugged her coat off, revealing the white lace teddy she was wearing underneath. “Maybe I can cheer you up.”

“Not interested.” Attempting to ignore her fluttering lashes, I headed over to a rack on the left, picked up two dumbbells, and started doing bicep curls.

There were certain skills men in my world needed to have. Lying, the art of distraction, and keeping your mouth shut were among the most important. The family came before everything else. If you said or did the wrong thing, you would be taken out. Snitches get stitches and all that. Someone may think they were safe, but there was no such thing as safe.

My father had people everywhere. Cops, feds, politicians, even the waiter at your favorite restaurant could be on his payroll. When I was in third grade the janitor ratted me out for stealing from a teacher. I never knew who was watching.

Maybe that was why I continued this shit with Carissa for so long? It was one thing my father had no control over. At the time it was freeing. Now…

“You seem a little stressed. Do you want to talk about it?”

I arched a brow her way. “You didn’t come here to talk.”

Women didn’t waltz into a guy’s home gym in lingerie and high heels for a friendly chat.

“I was worried about you.” Carissa ran her finger along the handrail of a treadmill. “You haven’t responded to any of my messages.”

“I blocked your number.” I didn’t trust myself not to fall back into her web.

“So, it’s like that is it?”

What did she expect? “We’re done, Carissa.”

---