Page 84 of All Your Firsts

“So, maybe he came back?” I ask the room.

“Unless he can crawl out of the soup drum he’s in, I doubt it,” Trey says with a creepy smile.

My eyes go wide. Did they kill the guy? I look up at Vic, but he’s looking at Trey.

“Well, I got nothing, but I’ll ask the other guys and Ax. Shit has to be connected, though,” Julian says while closing his laptop.

The guys review possible suspects while I stand there, looking at Vic. Not saying anything could get them hurt, and I’ve already gotten one person hurt so far. I can’t let that happen again.

I wait three seconds, mulling over what to do, and then sigh. “Wait... they were coming for me.”

“Why would you think that?” Marcus questions with a quirk of his brow.

“Because I heard my father on the phone with the men.”

My throat gets tight at the memory of his gruff voice with a hint of excitement at the prospect of me being taken and brought back to him.

“Your father?” Marcus raises an eyebrow.

I watch Vic still, and an expression I can’t decipher pulls onto his face, but it disappears just as quickly.

“Pretty sure you couldn’t piss off anyone bad enough to get yourself kidnapped,” Marcus states.

“I did. I pissed my father off.” I bite the inside of my cheek until it’s painful, weighing my options, then say fuck it. Goodbye to my anonymous life. “I’m Rosalinda Gallo Moretti, and my family...”

“Is the highest-ranking Mafia family in Chicago,” Trey says, narrowing his eyes at me, then Vic. “You knew this?”

“Yeah, she’s my friend’s sister.”

“Gage?” Trey says, putting the pieces together. “I thought he looked familiar when he was crashing at your place.”

“No fuckin’ way. Her?” Marcus points at me with shock clear on his features, which is semi-insulting. I guess I don’t really scream Mafia princess when you look at me. I don’t have the attitude or confidence most have.

Trey looks back over at me. “Your father is a piece of shit, by the way.”

“How do you know her father?” Vic asks.

Trey shakes his head. “We’ll discuss it later. I think we’re done here, boys.”

“See you later, princess.” I flinch at his words.

“Can you possibly act like you never got that piece of information?” I ask with a grimace.

I like the anonymity of being Rosie, the unknown girl. She was fun and carefree. Uncomplicated. I want her back. Not what the guys know now.

Trey regards me thoughtfully before shrugging. “I’ll think about it. Vic, later.”

Vic nods at him before grabbing my arm. I walk out of there more confused than when I entered.

As we ascend the stairs and approach his room, I steal glances at him. He keeps his eyes forward and chews on his lip as he looks at his phone, lost in thought.

As he gazes at me, his eyes soften, but there’s still something in his eyes I don’t like. He looks upset. “You must be exhausted. Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll be right back.”

He turns around and shuts the door without another word, which feels like he’s shutting me out as well.

Tears free-fall from my eyes as I rummage through Vics’s drawers for something clean to wear.

I feel utterly drained, with a heavy weight pressing down on my chest and an unending stream of tears.

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