Page 51 of Stolen Christmas
“No, but she tried to get me that way. I just was spooked.”
“Good. She’s too old for you. At least get some girl in her twenties.” Angel slaps my chest.
“He’s just a teenage boy.”
“Yes, I know, Amore. Walking around with a perpetual hard-on and women are going to throw themselves at him. I’m just saying if he’s going to do it, pick one that isn’t old enough to be his mother or grandmother.”
“He can wait a little longer and continue beating off like he already does,” she huffs.
“What the fuck? I’m right here. Why the hell do you have to bust me out like that?”
Angel gets up and paces around the room, arms flailing like a violent, angry little kitten. It’s sexy as fuck, and I wish we were alone because I’d channel that anger into something productive. “Whatever. I’m just glad that bitch didn’t touch you, or I’d cut her myself.”
Noah’s mouth falls open, and he laughs. “Wow, you have been married to him for a minute, and suddenly you’re a mafia wife to the core.”
She stops her frantic pacing and then takes his hands. “It’s my job to protect you, Noah. And so far, I’ve been doing a terrible job at it.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m starting to think your parents got mixed up with the wrong people. Who are your parents, exactly?” I have to know their names because something isn’t adding up. Why were they so interconnected to all this nonsense? There is no way everyone is involved purely by coincidence. Angel gets a job in my company right before her parents died, his classmate introduced this woman into Noah’s life, and then the series of criminal missteps that led her into my arms.
“Ricky and Sanda Scott.” Damn it, I believe I saw their names in the ledger. He was in debt to Torcello. I open mydrawer and then look at the printout I have, reading through it again and finding his name.
“I’m sorry to say that neither of you are to blame for this.”
“It seems your father is on a list from one of my enemies. He owed money, and they wanted it back. You two became useful when the money wasn’t able to be claimed. Now, I can’t say if your parents were killed by Torcello, but if he couldn’t collect the money from your father, the next best thing would be getting it from you two. Two young kids who he could exploit.”
Angel drops to sit down beside her brother and sighs. “Maybe we should have waited for another day to discuss this.”
“No. This sucks ass, but I needed to know, Angel. I’m sorry I called the cops. I had no idea they would send that asshole here. I swear I didn’t call him.”
“I’m betting he invited himself to the SWAT party.”
“He’s going to get his one of these days.”
“Sorry that took so long.” My father enters, fixing his hair. I roll my eyes because some things don’t change. “Did I miss anything?”
“Actually, there are things we need to discuss, but it will have to wait until later.”
“I’m a little tired,” Angel yawns.
“Maybe we should call it a night.”
“Noah, we have a bedroom upstairs, if you’d like. Unless you’d prefer your old room.”
“Oh that’s a difficult choice,” he sighs, rolling his eyes. “I’ll take the mediocre bedrooms you have here.”
“That’s a smart choice.” I wink at him and then shake his hand.
“Well, if that’s the plan, I’m going to head to bed.”
“Goodnight, Dad. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Come on.” Angel and I walk Noah to his new room, which is down the hall from our bedroom. I’m not worried about him getting out because I made sure there were several added security features just in case he gets any bold and stupid ideas.
“Goodnight, Noah.”
Noah smiles at his sister and then says, “Congratulations, Angel.”
“Thank you.” She smiles and gives her brother a big hug.
