Page 20 of Roque

CHAPTER SEVEN

I’D HAVE TO SNEAK OUT. There’s no other way. Zio would have a shitfit if he knew what I had planned. But I’ve waited almost a decade to see Roque in the flesh. It’s not the right time to sever his artery but a death by a thousand cuts is more painful anyway.

I didn’t even recognize myself. There’s no way Roque could even if he remembered the slightest details about me.

When we moved to New Jersey so I could study my mark, it took a lot of pleading on my part to convince Zio I could control myself to be this physically close to Roque without making a move prematurely. I fooled Zio. Or maybe I fooled myself. When I overheard the cheerleaders in the locker room today brag about getting a coveted invite to the homecoming party at a Frat house in Princeton, I knew it was my chance.

I’m stalking Roque as hard as I can without being noticed. I’m a ghost. His ghost from hell who’s haunting him. I just haven’t come out to boo him yet. But I will. I reached under my mattress and slid out the manila envelope. My hands shook as I pulled out the eight by ten glossies of the man who’s had my insides in turmoil for years.

My PI is good. The best. Because she’s a woman who people look past. A ghost. Just like me.

He’s changed his name to Ralph Smith.

Ralph Smith?!

It’s so... American and as sexy as a wet noodle. He’s trying to hide who he is. Live a normal life while earning an Ivy league degree. Probably so he can learn how to cheat the tax system even better. Or launder his money into legit businesses. I sit in my sophomore high school class while he sits in his sophomore business class; worlds away still and yet our parallel universes are about to collide.

My finger traced over his strong jaw… lingered over his eyes captured in time as he looked over his shoulder feeling eyes on him but unable to find the source.

“That’s right. It’s me baby. The girl you left in the woods.” I taunted, lifting the corners of my mouth as I stared at my sexy as fuck nemesis. Thanks to my private eye, I knew his schedule, were his frat house was, his sports schedule, and a list of all the college girls who leave his house at two a.m...

My hands clenched, bending the edges of the picture in my hands. It burned me how much blood is on his hands and yet he lives as if he’s just some normal frat boy. But he’s never been normal. The life we were both born into couldn’t be anything further from it.

Zio agreed we should move closer to Roque to keep him close. Watch. Wait. Listen. Learn. But I’m tired of it all. Tonight, I’ll be close enough to breathe the same air he does… my heart picked up speed. My nerves were at the cliff’s edge. I tried convincing myself it’s all hate, but as I stared at his stupidly handsome face—I feared it might be more. And I hated myself for it. Lust and want are a weakness I couldn’t afford especially on the man who once held my life in his hands.

Brushing my dark chocolate dyed hair until it fell down my back in waves, I turned checking out my ass in the mirror. I still have a small frame but all the training I’ve been doing for the last eight years has given me one hell of a Brooklyn ass if I do say so myself. It’s high and firm and the one trait I have that’s gotten more boys at my high school a swift kick to their balls when a few attempted to brush a finger across a cheek in the halls.

My dark red matte lipstick was the color of blood; symbolizing what’s between us. My eyes were a weird shade of dark brown thanks to the colored contacts disguising my emerald eyes that surely would glitter with hate tonight.

We’ll breathe the same air tonight.

I’m the wolf and he’s my prey.

Smiling, I tucked my cell and a tracking device into the back pocket of my jeans. Carefully, I hid two small digital transmitter devices inside my sock.He’ll never see me coming.I zipped up my hoodie, hiding the skimpy tank top I wore underneath. My tits were still tiny, but there’s not much I could do about that.

Zio was asleep in his chair the remote dangled from his hand. My heart hurt just looking at him. Every morning and every night I find myself staring at his chest, praying to see the movement of his breathing. I know he won’t be around much longer and even though I’d lost so much in my past, Zio was the only constant in my life. My fists clenched. I needed vengeance soon. I wanted Zio to witness its sweetness. It wouldn’t be as fulfilling unless he’s here watching my moment of glory as the head of the Salvatore line falls.

Bending to give him a quick kiss on the top of his head, I grabbed the afghan off the couch and draped it over his lap. If I’m lucky, I’ll be home before he awakes, and he’ll be none the wiser.

Gingerly, I pocketed the fob key to the Explorer sitting on the counter as well as a few twenties from Zio’s wallet. My heart beat a million times a minute. This must be what it feels like to be on speed. But my drug is twice as potent.

***

“No. No way.”

“What?”

“I’m not going to be seen with you in public with that hair and that sad outfit.”

I rolled my eyes at Tati. “I’m fine.”

“Not to go where we’re going tonight. Princeton is the big leagues… if we get made as high school girls…,” she trailed off shuddering. “I hear one of them is a drug-lord or some shit. Stop rolling your eyes at me.” She smacked my arm.

Tatiana is gorgeous. Like drop-fucking dead. Her mom is Black and her dad, Cuban. I’d never have her pale shade of mocha with the best spray tan on the planet. My cheap drugstore dye job hair would never take a curl to match her natural ones.

“Sit.”

“No.”

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