Page 93 of The True Garza
“Never gonna happen,” I snarl at him. “Find someone else to prey on.”
As if he knows something I don’t, he merely watches me with a barely-there smirk.
True motions to one of the chairs for me to sit. “What do you wanna drink?”
“Just beer, since I’m driving.”
He kisses the tip of my nose, then goes off to the bar.
Leaning forward, I tap Lorenzo’s shoulder. “I’ve heard how you Castellos operate: you take whatever and whomever you want. But my sister isnotyours to take.”
He ignores me.
“Besides,” I go on, “don’t men like you usually have a teenage virgin primed for an arranged marriage? Why bother with Brook? She’s anything but virginal. She’s dominant. She doesn’t have an ounce of Italian in her blood. And shehatescriminals. Men like you disgust her.”
I’m at the point where I’ll say anything to get him to back off.
With a snort, he takes a sip of amber liquid from his highball glass. “I’m not a part of the Cosa Nostra, little sis. I don’t follow tradition.”
“Stop calling me that,” I hiss.
“You should get used to it.”
“I—”
“Shh, the races are about to start.”
I bite back a snarl. The idea of his going after Brook makes me anxious because, short of packing her up and shipping her off to another country, there’s no safe way to protect her from these lawless, answer-to-no-one criminals. And with Red Cage on their side, wherecanshe even hide?
If he and Brook have never interacted before, then it means he’s waiting to make his move. Makes sense, since she’s got law men in her family. He’ll have to prepare for a fight. Though, with what I’ve been privy to, Charles and Uncle Walter don’t stand a chance against the Castellos’ level ofsupportedorganized crime. The best I can hope for is that he finds someone who fascinates him more than her before then.
It peeves me that I can’t even give Brook a heads-up about him, because she’s daring enough to march straight into his domain to tell him off rather than run. Or she’ll entertain his attention, since danger doesn’t scare her; plus, the man has a face that’s chiseled to perfection, and good-looking men in suits are her weakness.
True returns with two beers and hands me one.
“So, how much do you have on this game?” I ask before taking a swig.
He arches a confused brow at me.
“Don’t give me that look. If the Castellos are here, then this is more than just ‘support.’ Money’s involved.”
“Probably.” He shrugs. “But if there is, I’m not part of it. I’m not allowed to gamble.”
“You’re notallowed? Says who?”
“Trent.” He takes a swig of beer. “He manages my money.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I’m terrible at it.”
“Ever heard of an accountant?”
“Had one. He started stealing ’cause I wasn’t paying attention. So now Trent handles it. He loves all that numbers shit.” Another swig of beer. “But he hates social events or anything that involves too much communication. That’s whatI’mgood at, so in return for managing my financials, I’ll go to the events or short meetings that he’s required to be at as him. No one’s ever the wiser.”
“And he forbade you from gambling?”
“Yup.” He side-eyes me. “Why, you wanna gamble?”
