Page 25 of Push & Pull
Yet, what would her mother say about the occasional drink of hard liquor? Or the pack of cigarettes Simone could go through when she was fighting off the urge to use at her lowest points? Good God, what would she think about Simone fucking the woman giving her a ride home? Someone she didn’t even know.
Too bad rehab only got to the bottom of some problems. Their goal had been to make Simone functional in everyday life – to let her participate in society. Have relationships. Be productive. They couldn’t help her unpack her need for validation from every woman who looked her way.
Somewhere, a therapist speculated that Simone’s problem was “attachment issues with her deceased mother.” Because what Simonereallywanted from sex was to find a new mother.
Which made the speculation that she wanted to sleep with her stepmother even more disgustingly egregious and a boundary she’d rather destroy than cross. It wouldn’t matter if her stepmother was Cindy Crawford or the mortal incarnation of the next Cryptkeeper – no, no, no.
The laptop logged her out for inactivity. Instead of going back in, Simone closed the lid and grabbed her wallet from her pocket. There was a vending machine down the hall. She could use a soft drink to perk up her spirits.
Come on…She stood before the large machine, complete with blinking lights and enticing sounds, and pressed the button for a sugar-free soda once more. Nothing happened. Not until she canceled the transaction and begrudgingly bought a bottle of water from another machine.So much for a treat…There was a convenience store across the street from the hotel, but it was a bit late for Simone to go there by herself. Besides, it was for the best that she didn’t drink any caffeine. Over dinner, Petra told her how early they would have to leave if they wanted to be in Washington, DC in time for Simone’s brunch.
She should start getting ready for bed. Which included taking a shower since there would be no time in…
Simone turned the corner in the hall and stopped, water bottle shaking in her hand.
“Hey!” she called to the dark figure attempting to pick the lock to her room.Oh, the ski mask is a nice touch!If only Simone had her pepper spray on her. Or her phone! Shit! It was in the room! What was the point of getting it for emergencies if shedidn’t have it on her?
Once she called out again, the man in all black leaped away from the hotel door, stared right at her, and took off down the hall. Simone remained where she stood, hand clasped over her heart as she slowly realized that she was almost the victim of a break-in.
She ducked into the room long enough to grab her phone and pepper spray. But she wasn’t staying in there. Not until she filed a report with the front desk – and possibly the police.
Chapter 10
“Lovelyplaceyouhavehere.” Petra said that no matter whose house she ended up in, be it Hailey’s penthouse overlooking the beach, or her Uncle Michail’s-friend’s-sister’s-coworker’s hovel on the fringe of Chapel Hill. “That spot on the ceiling brings the whole place together.”
The woman wearing ill-fitted leggings and a puffy sweater rolled her eyes at Petra’s commentary before letting her inside. “They’re in the kitchen. There’s pizza on the counter. Help yourself.” She returned to watching one of theReal Housewivesspin-offs on her giant TV. Neatly lined up on the coffee table beneath the mounted monitor was the latest and greatest of every gaming manufacturer, including a PS5.Even I couldn’t get one of those when I wanted…
“Thanks.” It didn’t take Petra long to find the small group of men occupying the kitchen table in the back of the small bungalow.The one with the chain fence and a giant dog in the front yard.Tied up, of course. She hoped that it was at least allowed to come in to sleep during the cold winter nights.
Her uncle was the first man to look up and acknowledge her. Those striking blue eyes were nowhere close to Petra’s genes. Nor did they look like her mother’s.The only thing linking us together is my mother…When teenage Petra got the news from a social worker that her uncle wanted to take her in, the first words out of her mouth were,“What uncle?”
This one. The one with giant knuckles and a constant chip on his shoulder.
“Took you long enough.” His gruff demeanor had never changed. “Did you have a nice drive from Atlanta?”
That question wasn’t for pleasantries’ sake. As Petra pulled out the only empty chair at the table, she noted the half-empty boxes of pizza.Good thing I already ate.She’d take sharing a meal with Simone over breaking bread with this group any day.
“There were no issues,” she said.
“Good. You remember Georgio and his cousin, Samson, yes?”
The thick stench of cigarette smoke hit her in the face while the lean one named Georgio lit up. “Which one of you gents owns this humble abode?” Petra looked to Samson, who seemed quite comfortable with his phone in front of his face. “Nice PS5, bro.”
“Touch it and I cut off your hand at the wrist, whore.”
“Whoa, whoa.” Petra held up her hand as a peace offering. Her uncle never once came to her defense. “That’s ‘ho,’ thanks. You gotta get it right. Otherwise, that nice lady in the living room will think she gets the ho rights around here.”
Samson snorted in suppressed laughter. “That’s my wife. You think I’m gonna turn her out for a quick buck? Heard that’syourjob.”
“Quiet, both of you.” Michail always knew how to quell a tiff among his associates, whether they were related to him by blood or not. “We don’t have much time.”
Petra settled into her chair. At least she knew where she now stood with her uncle and this stranger named Samson. Georgio remained an unknown quantity, but that was all right. As long as the majority would take a half-assed swing for Petra, that was all that mattered.
“New York City.” Michail looked at Petra when he said that. “You’ll still be there on time, yes? I’m counting on you to get me my money.”
Petra nodded, ignoring the knot forming her stomach. “Earl Olivier.” There was a name she had to practice saying. “Ten whole grand.”
“I want to do business with him again, maybe. So I’d like to keep him alive. That’s why I’m not sending in the boys.” When Georgio got up to grab more pizza, Michail gestured to his empty plate. Like the sweetest sycophant on that side of the Mississippi, Georgio took the greasy paper plate and filled it with meat lovers.What, not gonna ask if you can top off his scotch and Mountain Dew? Rude.Petra was extra glad she had already eaten. “You, though… he’ll like you. He also doesn’t know you’re related to me. He won’t be suspecting you.”
