Page 86 of The Bronze Garza
“It’s not about what he did. It’s about what youdidn’tdo.”
“Yeah,” I agree, rueful. If I’d told Torin like I was supposed to, like a sensible, responsible person who cared about her life, he would’ve either stopped me from going with them or sent me security. Then none of this would’ve happened. I’m such a loser. Walking destruction.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” I mumble, fighting back tremors as the tips of my fingers start to go numb. “I don’t know who these people are that are after me. It doesn’t even make any sense. I’m starting to think I have a doppelganger or something, because I have no freaking clue who ‘Stefano’ or ‘Lorenzo’ is, or what’s even a Castellos. Is that a company? Is this about my father? I’m so confused. I—”
ChapterTwenty-Two
“Where do you want to go?”
Lyra
“Did she eat?”
Torin.
He’s here.
As consciousness creeps in, I feel both thrill and apprehension. Thrill because he’s so close my skin tingles. Apprehension at how pissed he’s going to be at me.
Irritation strong in her voice, Monica replies, “I gave her fruit this morning.”
“She eat anything else after that?”
“I’m sorry,” Monica snaps, “but how old is this woman? Who’s this stupid? ‘Forgetting’ to eat. ‘Forgetting’ to tell you she’s going out in the open. Tillie is nineteen and I don’t have to be behind her about anything. She eats when she’s supposed to, and she knows to text at least one of us where she’s going and with whom before she goes out. And her life isn’t even in danger!”
“Mon—”
“Does this woman even care about her life?”
“Mon—”
“Is whatever she’s paying you worth the trouble?”
“Mon, stop it,” Torin says firmly. “I apologize for bringing trouble to your door. It won’t happen again. But I won’t allow you to continue railing on her. You don’t know anything about her.”
“You’re right, Idon’tknow anything about her. Therefore, I don’t want her around my daughter.”
“And that’s fine.”
“Fine!”
A giggle follows her retreating footsteps.Tillie. “Someone needs to get her a chill pill, and fast.”
“Give us a minute, Tillie.”
“Bro, you came and found me here. Why don’tyou twogo somewhere else to discuss your shady business?”
“It’s my house,” says Tripp. “Get lost, you little brat.”
“I’ll leave for eighty bucks.”
“For fucks sake,” Torin mutters. Some shuffling. “Here. Go.”
More shuffling, then retreating footsteps. “I would’ve left for twenty, suckers.”
“What do we know about these guys?” Torin asks.
“Nothing yet. True and Trent are taking them back to the office,” Tripp replies. “But check this, before she passed out, she said they asked her about Stefano and Lorenzo. “
