Page 58 of The Ruckup
“What in the heck are you doing out here, girl?” Betty strolls up to me, dragging along her geriatric Pomeranian for the afternoon walk he clearly hates. She stops beside the bench and looks over my face, angling a brow. “You’re not wet, so you couldn’t have just drowned Charlene in the pond for complaining again.”
“I just needed some fresh air.” I stifle a yawn. “I was afraid I was going to fall asleep at my desk if I didn’t move around a little.” After giving Betty’s dog a pet, I push to my feet. “And I’d expect Charlene to be really wound up for the next week, because our conversation did not go the way she expected it to.”
Betty snorts. “Good.” She walks alongside me as I make my way back to my office. “I heard they identified that man from the car.”
My eyes snap to her face. “Really? How did you hear that?”
Betty shrugs. “I know some people.”
“You know some people.” I say it slowly, because I’m afraid to consider exactly what she means by that. “I want you to shoot straight with me here, Betty.” I take a deep breath before asking a question I only partially want the answer to. “Is this a Mafia thing?”
Betty tips her head from side to side. “It’s notnota Mafia thing.”
I lift one hand, pressing it to my forehead. “Oh my God.”
“Don’t stress out about it. There usually aren’t any problems here. Nobody wants to shit where they eat.” Her head tilts, one eye squinting. “Or in this case, live.”
“Don’t stress out about it?” I’m not sure how she missed this, but stressing out is all I really do. “How can I not stress out about a bunch of organized crime members living on the property I manage?”
“Well it’s not all bad.” Again, Betty glances from side to side, stepping closer. “For instance, I could probably arrange for you to have some round-the-clock protection, if you know what I mean.”
I stare at her, not really believing what she’s offering. “I’m not going to be indebted to the Mob, Betty.”
Is this really what my life has become? A crazy and violent ex-husband? Parents who are pissed off at me for trying tobe happy? Running a property infiltrated by mobsters and criminals?
“Technically, they owe you for disposing of one of their problems in your parking lot.” Betty lifts her chin, shoulders squaring. “And I made sure Elaine Servantes knows it.”
I don’t know who in the heck Elaine Servantes is, and I certainly don’t want to think about the Mob owing me for setting bodies on fire in one of my parking lots. “I’m gonna have to deal with this later.” I turn and aim myself in a different direction, because I think I’m gonna need to walk off this new information.
Betty stays put, calling after me. “Just let me know if you want me to set something up.”
I don’t respond, because what the hell do you say to an old woman offering to hook you up with Mob protection?
I’m halfway through my first lap around the property when my cell phone buzzes in my pocket. I’m expecting it to be Leo. He’s had conditioning and practice this week, so he couldn’t come with me to work. Luckily, Drake is still behind bars since he decided to plead not-guilty this time and they had to schedule a bail hearing, so Leo didn’t totally freak out over me coming alone.
He’s still messaging me every chance he gets, making sure I’m okay.
But when I open the message, it’s not from Leo. It’s from my mother.
There’s no text, just a bunch of links. I’m a little nervous to click on any of them since she’s not super skilled with technology, but when they keep coming, I pick one and tap it.
And my stomach drops.
I quickly scan the news article then open another link. Then another. Then another.
They’re all about Leo. About what happened at Alexis’s apartment. They’re calling him violent. Dangerous.
Aggressive.
My throat tightens and tears blur my vision. Leo is none of those things. He’s kind and thoughtful and caring and gentle.
He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
And I’m the worst thing that’s ever happened to him.
Sniffling, I swipe at the tears now rolling down my face. I can’t let this happen to him. I won’t allow Leo to take the fall for one of my many mistakes.
I have to end it. Break things off. Protect him from everything lurking in my shadows. Because I love him too much to see him hurt. Too much to ruin his career. Too much to taint his name.
