Page 51 of Remember When We
“Gio this is dangerous.”
He smiled even though the worry was still there and very evident. “This is my world, Baby Doll. But it’s not me who’s in danger right now. It’s them.”
I blinked several times.
“It’s them. I’m just doing what’s practical by going the long way around.”
“I’ll grab the details on the support group,” Dad said. “What else can I do?”
“You guys just need to have a low profile. I don’t need you to do anything else. Safety, that’s what I want you to think about. Lyssa, I don’t want you at the bar.”
“I have a stock take tomorrow. I have to do that.” I had to and honestly, keep an eye on the money.
“Fine, do that then I’ll get someone to cover things there.”
“You don’t have to do that.” I didn’t want him having to do anything like that.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I wasn’t asking. You do this. Spend time with your boy. Don’t worry about anything else.”
It all sounded like a dream. I wished I could do that.
Today I’d go pay that check in at Frankie’s office along with what I already had. All together that would be twenty grand total. It was crazy. So much money.
It was crazy.
Had to do it though. Then I had to figure things out.
I had to figure out something, because I just couldn’t tell Gio what was going on.
I couldn’t do it.
He stood up. “I’m going to check on Matthew.”
I nodded. I waited until he’d gone up the stairs and was out of earshot then I turned to Dad who was already looking at me.
“Dad …”
That was all I had to say, he shook his head. “No. You don’t tell him. This has gone on long enough. I’ll figure things out. You go with him when the time comes and leave me.”
“Dad,” I winced. “You know what Frankie wants if we can’t pay.”
“I do and he won’t get it no matter what. Even if he kills me.”
Kill.
Yes. It was exactly what Frankie would do and somehow it still wouldn’t be enough. It’s why I was doing what I was doing. It was a fucked up situation, but one that would have to involve me no matter what.
I may have been naïve years ago, but I wasn’t stupid.
It wouldn’t be as simple as just leaving. I knew it wouldn’t no matter how much I wanted it to be.
Chapter 15
Gio
Isat on the sofa and stared at Dante as he pulled up one of Uncle Rory’s beat up chairs to sit on it backwards.
It felt like I’d lived a lifetime over the last day and a half.
