Page 63 of Forbidden Property
Fuck.I hate that he might be right.
“If she says no… I’ll try the oyster thing.”
“If the oyster thing doesn’t work… I’ll get you that blonde I lied about.”
“Do you have one?”
“I’ve learned enough from watching you. I’m not interested in getting involved with a woman. It’s more trouble than it’s worth and I’m not ready to become a father.”
“It’s not so bad.”
That’s an understatement. I didn’t have a reason to live until I had Roman. I don’t want to admit something so deeply sensitive and vulnerable to Gino. We’re still in the mafia, which means that my son is still a massive vulnerability if I expose just how much he means to me. I would do just about anything to keep them safe.
“Shit,” Gino says, chuckling. “You must really like it then.”
“He’s my son. I love him.”
“Do you think that’s how dad felt with us?”
“No. With Luigi… maybe.”
Gino laughs. “You’re such a cynic. Come on. You don’t really want a blonde with huge tits. You want Geralynn or you would have cursed me out before I got you that pint.”
Gino drives me home. He didn’t drink as much as I did, which I didn’t even notice. Ever since Nicki slipped me her little drug, I’ve been more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. I trust Gino not to do something fucked up.
“Okay,” Gino says, coaching me when he pulls the car up to the front of Geralynn’s new place. “I’ll wait for you to get inside and text me.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“I owe you one.”
I hate to think of his debt to me. That there might be inequality between us. Gino annoys me, but he’s very much a part of me. Walking out of the car back towards the house, I get so wrapped up in my thoughts about Geralynn and what will become of our relationship that I don’t notice anything wrong until I enter the house.
Her shoes aren’t by the door. I notice that first, but think that perhaps she got caught up in a fit of “nesting”. Geralynn wouldn’t leave without the baby.
“Geralynn?”
I call her name. There’s no response. I call Roman’s name. Again, no response. But he’s a baby, so I don’t expect him to answer me. Still, it’s strange not to hear from Geralynn. My gut knows there’s something off but I don’t want to believe it or admit it to myself. Taking a few steps further down the hallway, I enter the living room and immediately see Geralynn’s favorite mug knocked off the coffee table. The rest of the room is anenormousmess that looks like there was a struggle.
I call Geralynn’s name again, my voice strained as panic settles in. I have a gun on me, but it’s not loaded because as far as I knew, I would be gone tonight and part of the contract means that we both get this distance if we need it.
I call my son’s name again, even if I logically know he can’t respond, I’m desperate to hear him crying or to get some sign that he’s still alive. The house remains quiet. I stop thinking and sprint back to my son’s room where I find him lying fast asleep with gently lullaby music coming from a set of white speakers on the dresser.
Gino can’t leave.I scoop Roman out of the crib and run towards the front door of the house as fast as possible, shaking the poor baby awake. He starts screaming when I get outside, which only alerts Gino faster to the fact that something is wrong here.
He shuts the car off and gets out, running towards me as I hold Roman against my chest.
She’s gone.
Geralynn’s gone…
Chapter Thirty-One
Geralynn
Shortly Before Renzo And Gino Decide To Leave The Bar…
There’s a pit in my stomach about tonight. Renzo acted weird all day and he’s not the type to go out drinking with his brother. For the past few months, I feared the worst and I know it’s going to happen tonight. Going out with his brother is a cover and Renzo is going out on a date. I can’t blame him. Our weird co-parenting situation has been leading to this for months at this point. I can’t expect him to stay faithful to me when I can hardly look him in the eye.
