Page 8 of Days Of Valentino

“Actually, I was going to use my dad’s.” She shrugs without breaking eye contact. “He said I don’t need fake cards because I can use his,” she adds.

“Why exactly do you have fake cards and fake IDs?” I ask her. Clearly, my granddaughter can’t be intimidated using the usual tactics.

The waiter comes over before she can answer. After we’ve given him our orders, Aurora looks at me and smiles. “Nonno, I know you have fake IDs for all of us in your safe.”

I school my surprise.How the fuck does she know that?

Aurora smirks like she knows I’m shocked, despite my cool demeanor.

“Aurora, why do you have them?” I ask, this time my tone firmer.

She huffs before rolling her eyes. “They’re just for emergencies. Like what if some other family comes through and takes over the city and we all have to go on the run? What if the FBI finds something and I have to go into hiding? Anything could happen, Nonno. You need to be prepared for everythingin life.Youtaught me that, remember? So, really, I haven’t done anything that I didn’t learn from you when you think about it.”

“Are you done?” I ask after her long-winded spiel.

“Umm… yep, pretty much,” she says.

“Aurora, you’re smart. If you’re going to do shit that worries your parents, do a better job at fucking hiding it,” I tell her.

“You’re not mad?”

“That you take precautionary measures? No. But if your parents ask, I scared you straight.” I pick up my knife from the table and aim it her way. “Got it?”

Aurora snorts. “I don’t think they’d believe that, Nonno. I mean, you’re scary and all, but not scary enough to send me on the straight and narrow.”

“You’re going to give your parents a heart attack, Aurora Valentino. Take it easy on them. At least until you graduate.”

“That’s this year.” She smiles.

“College. Not high school,” I groan.

“ThatI can’t promise, Nonno. It’s a really long time,” she tells me.

“Speaking of colleges, did you get a letter from NYU?” I ask her.

“Mhmm. But I’ve applied to others. I’m keeping my options open.”

“You want to leave the city?”

“I don’t know yet. Depends.” She looks away. That’s the only sign that tells me she’s nervous.

Why the fuck is she more nervous talking about college than she was talking about getting caught with fraudulent bank cards?

“Aurora? What does it depend on?”

“Where my friends go,” she says.

“Okay.” I nod, taking a mental note to revisit this conversation at a later date. “You should come over this weekend. We can go to the range.”

“You’re going to let me play with the guns?” she asks with a newfound excitement.

“I’m going to teach you how to shoot. It’s not playing, Aurora,” I remind her.

“Oh my god! You’re the best grandfather ever! Thank you!” She beams.

“If you’re gonna be going off to college in another city, you’re going to need to know how to use a gun.”

“Oh, I already know how. Lorenzo and Enzo have been teaching me since I was ten,” she says with a huge-ass smile on her face.

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