Page 11 of The Bonventi War
I push his arm down from the wall, knowing full well he's allowing it, and step away from him. "Just leave me alone."
The words come out softer than I intended, more pleading than commanding, and I hate myself for it. I hate how vulnerable I sound, how the tears are still threatening to fall, how my whole body trembles with a mixture of every emotion possible.
But Gio doesn't move. He stands there, a wall of muscle and intimidation. "You don't get it, do you?" he says, his voice alow tone. "This isn't a game, Raven. This is life and death. My brother's life."
I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling cold. "And what about my life?" I snap back. "You think I want any part of this? You think I asked for my brother to get mixed up in whatever the hell he was into? For my father to disappear?"
Gio's jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "I don't know. Maybe. Either way, here you are. In the middle of it all."
I laugh sarcastically. "Yeah, here I am. Trying to keep this place afloat, dealing with entitled assholes, missing shipments, and now you." I gesture at him with air quotes. "You and your 'protection.'"
He takes a step back, finally giving me some room. "You may need it more than you know."
"I don't need anything from you," I yell out. But even as I say it, I feel like it may not be true, because deep down, a part of me is scared. Scared of what Johnny might have been involved in, scared of where my father might be, scared of the unknown dangers that seem to be circling me.
Gio must see something in my eyes because his expression softens just a fraction. "Look, if you're not hiding anything, this will all be over soon. And I get it. You're stubborn, independent. But this?—"
"You don't know shit about me," I say, interrupting him.
"I know enough," he says. "I know you're in over your head. I know you're scared, even if you won't admit it."
The way he says those words makes my blood boil. How dare he stand here and pretend to know what I'm feeling?
"You want to know what I know?" I step closer, jabbing a finger at his chest. His muscles tense under my touch, but I'm too angry to care. "I know you're a rude fucking person. I know you're probably the reason my father is missing. And I know that whatever game you're playing, I want no part of it."
His hand shoots out, catching my wrist before I can pull back. His grip is like iron, hot against my skin. "Careful, Raven. You don't want to test me."
"Or what?" I twist my wrist, trying to break free. "You'll kill me too?"
Something dark flashes in his eyes. He yanks me closer, our faces inches apart. "If I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
My heart feels like it's going to explode in my chest, but I refuse to look away from those dangerous green eyes.
"Let. Go." I demand.
To my surprise, he does, and I jerk away from his touch like it burns.
A little smile paints his face. "Such fire," he murmurs. "I kind of like it when you're angry. You look?—"
"Fuck you," I say and turn away.
"Remember what I said, Raven," Gio calls out.
I don't turn back. "Go to hell."
I head to the front door security system and type in the code. The alarm starts beeping.
"Sixty seconds and then it's active. Move, and the bars come down, and you're trapped until police arrive." I turn and look at Gio and his men before walking to the side exit.
"Bye, assholes."
7
RAVEN
The microwave's ding echoes through the empty apartment, but I barely register it. I'm too lost in my thoughts. My hands move on autopilot, retrieving the sad excuse for chicken Alfredo. Steam rises from the plastic container as I stab at the pasta with my fork. It somehow manages to stay together in a square. I mix it around, and it still looks terrible. At least it smells good.
I can't stop replaying Gio's words in my head. Why did Johnny try to kill his brother? It doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense anymore.
