Page 46 of Scorned Obsession

“I could see a girls’ night here with all the wives and girlfriends,” I told Divina, but I was thinking more about my family. Cleaning the house kept my mind off them, but coming into this theater reminded me of Mom and Dad, my brothers. Renz.

“Hey, include me too,” Sloane said.

“Of course, you’re the one who is doing the hard work.” By this time, Divina and I were sitting on the couches, exhausted, while Sloane showed no signs of flagging. She said she’d been doing this since she was old enough to hold a mop. It used to be her mom and older brother. Her dad abandoned them. But when her mom died, her brother ended up in a gang. That was when she found cleaning for the mob paid much higher. She had to drop out of nursing school to either keep her brother in rehab or out of jail.

“I’m thirsty,” Divina announced. “Want anything?”

“Blueberry soda.”

“I’ve never had one of those,” Sloane said. “Get me one too.”

Divina made a humming sound and left us alone.

Sloane gave the entrance to the theater another look before she said, “Thanks for looking out for my friend.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“It means…I worry about her. The men in the Rossi crime family are a bunch of misogynistic assholes stuck in the eighties. Tommy is the exception, but he can’t be everywhere.”

“Divina should talk to him.”

“She doesn’t want to because Tommy has enough problems with Gian. They’re vying for underboss position since Sandro took the top spot and the men are confused about who’s in charge.”

“It’s only been a few days.”

Sloane shrugged and continued polishing the leather. My thoughts went back to my conversation with Sandro. How he was positioning Tommy for boss. Could Divina rise to the task? I’d hate for Tommy to be pushed out because Divina couldn’t handle the pressure and waste Sandro’s sacrifices.

Fake his death?

Despite what I told him, I would never enjoy my freedom if that was the price.

I cleared my throat, still parched, and that was when I noticed Divina had been taking too long.

I went looking for her and ran into her in the foyer, exchanging harsh whispers with Miller.

When Miller saw me, he paled. Poor guy. Sandro must have scared the shit out of him.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell,” I teased.

Divina spun around and gasped, “Oh, no.”

“What? Weren’t you going to get us snacks and soda?”

“Well…well…well…the little girl is playing house.”

My spine stiffened in recognition of the voice. I turned to see Griselda descending the stairs.

Indignation surged. “What are you doing here?”

She didn’t seem in the least bit ruffled and continued her lazy descent. “I came to get my earrings. I left them in Sandro’s bedroom the last time I was here.”

“She’s lying,” Divina said. “Sandro hasn’t been in this house for over a year.”

Griselda glided up to us, her mouth twisting in derision. “Look at you. Where are your loyalties, Divina? Some kind ofsister-in-law you are. You’re kissing ass to Bianca now?” She skewered me a head-to-toe appraisal. “She’s not going to last.”

“Sandro wouldn’t leave his bedroom unlocked,” I said.

She dangled a set of keys in her hand as she walked up to us. “I have the keys to everything that belongs to him.”

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