Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
When I return to Frank, he claps me on the arm. “I’m sorry for my outburst,” he says. “Speaking about Pat… it hurts.”
This makes me even more suspicious. I can’t remember the last time I heard Uncle Frank apologize. For anything. “I understand, uncle,” I say, touching his hand and forcing a smile to my lips.
If my suspicions are correct, if the rumors are true, there will only be one path available to me.
Kill my uncle. Take the mantle of Don. Live the life I’ve spent years trying to escape.
And Mom asks why I can’t take things seriously with my lucky charm…
Five
LUCY
Ididn’t sleep at all last night. I was awake, Clover clutched in my arms, sitting close to the dividing wall and listening for any sign of violence next door. If Shane hurts that poor woman, I’ll have to do something. Maybe even risk my life. Way past opening, I stay in my bedroom until I hear movement.
When I walk into the living room, Shane and the woman are sitting on the couch, the woman with a withdrawn look, her arms wrapped around herself. Shane has his gun resting on his knee, giving me a challenging look.
“Miss, are you okay?” I ask, somehow overcoming the fear that tries to close my throat.
“She’s fine,” Shane grunts.
“I didn’t ask you.”
“Somebody’s feeling brave,” he murmurs, passing his gun from one hand to the other.
“I’m… okay,” the woman says, her accent difficult to place.
“What the heck is this?” I snap at Shane. “Who is she? And why do you have to stay here?”
“None of this is your business,” Shane hisses.
“Have you hurt her?”
“Not yet, but if you don’t shut your clam, I might.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing… go on with your life as usual. When it’s time for us to leave, we’ll leave. You’ll forget we were ever here.”
But I know that’s going to be impossible. I’m not going to forget the look on this woman’s face, the way she hugs her arms around herself like all she wants is to disappear. I won’t be able to live with myself for not doing anything.
All he has to do is pull the trigger and I’m done…
“Would you like anything to eat or drink?” I ask the woman.
She glances at Shane. Shane shrugs, then nods.
“Yes, please,” she murmurs.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
Shane tsks. “Don’t push it. And I’ll have whatever she’s having.”
I carry Clover into the kitchen, then set her down and make some eggs. A surreal feeling grips me, like I’m watching events unfold instead of participating in them. Everything feels disconnected. I should look forward to my day, and not try to figure out how to handle this mob guy and his prisoner.
Serving the eggs, I sit down. “I don’t know if I can work today,” I say.
Shane glares at me. “You’ll work. You still need to make payments. And I don’t want anybody getting suspicious. Just calm down. Is she bruised? Is she bleeding?”
“She looks terrified of you,” I say.
“But she knows better than to push me,” Shane snaps. “If you can remember that too, nothing bad needs to happen here. Just open up as usual, get on with your work. It’s easy. Don’t be so dramatic. Or…” He casually raises his gun. “We can go the other route. Oh, one more thing. The dog stays up here.”
“If you hurt Clover…”
“Don’t threaten me,” he growls.
I trail off, fear seizing me, hating the power this asshole has over me. But just like every time he shows up for collection, what choice do I have? I don’t take a shower this morning, which is gross, but I hate the idea of being naked in the same house as him.
“I’m already opening late,” I murmur, before walking into the bedroom. “If I say I’m sick now, nobody will question it.”
“Will you earn more opening at midday or staying closed?” he snaps. “Don’t forget, this is my business, too.”
No, it’s not, I say silently in my head.
But again – no choice. I get changed and head downstairs, opening up just in time for Toby to show up for his shift. To avoid thinking about Shane and the woman upstairs, I keep busy, but anxiety is overwhelming me. I feel like screaming every time I’m forced to speak or interact with anybody.
It’s late afternoon when I see Killian approaching the bakery. My heart leaps as I gesture to Toby. “I’ll take this one. Could you check on the pastries, please?”
“Sure thing.”
Killian approaches the counter, the only person in the line, though there are three people at the window bar. “I couldn’t keep away,” he says with a smirk… Am I imagining it, or does it seem forced? It’s difficult to be sure with so much anxiety coursing through me.
“The… usual?” I say.
He tilts his head, looking closely. “Yeah, please. Are you okay, Lucy?”