Page 46 of The Hitman's Vice

“I promise never to say that.”

“Gia would.” He stared off toward the garishgold fountains, peeking out from under their blue tarps andconstruction detritus. “That’s why they wouldn’t let it be her,isn’t it?”

“I honestly don’t know.” This time it wasZara reaching out, and she patted his forearm. Something in hisexpression felt far too familiar. “But that’s probably part ofit.”

“And she’s all about modeling. Mom wouldlose her shit if I married a showy, mouthy model. Grandpa wouldn’teven meet her. But when they started talking about the familiesgetting together, I thought—”

“They’d let you have a say?” Zara’s laughescaped before she could stop it, but Joey didn’t get mad. Instead,he gave a sheepish smile.

“I’m so goddamn naive sometimes.”

“No, just hopeful. It’s good tohope.”

****

Back at home, Zara stood on the front steps,watching the driver who’d brought her turn back out of the drive.The armored SUV was due to pick up Caleb from football practice.Or lacrosse? What the heck is he playing these days?Calebpicked up hobbies and threw them away as often as Gia didhairstyles.

“You don’t look very glowy and happy.Bride-to-Be may be your least convincing role yet.” Theall-too-familiar voice spat the words like a gunshot.

“If you’re still harping about SleepingBeauty, I was brilliant, and you know it.” Zara turned to her twin.“And if you want to have a fight, let’s go upstairs. Joey was alltalk today.”

Gianna’s lips froze on some fresh insult,and her sapphire eyes narrowed. “How much talk?”

“Enough that we should goupstairs.”

“Your room. Mine’s got my whole wardrobespread everywhere.”

“You know you’re the maid’s least favorite,right?” Zara headed inside. Gianna stayed at her right as Dodgertrotted out from the kitchen to greet them. Having gotten his duepats, he bounded up the stairs, eager to find his toys. The twinsmoved slower. Neither of them wanted to have thisconversation.

In Zara’s room, with the door shut andDodger chomping away on his newest chew bone, the twins faced oneanother while the silence stretched between them. Gia broke first.“I should’ve told you we kept seeing each other.”

“I don’t mind that. It was dumb, but it’syour hide Dad would’ve tanned if he found out.” Zara left Giastanding by the bed and went to her vanity to pull bobby pins outof her hair. Her reflection looked more like Gia than Gia didtoday—the professional makeup and shiny hair had been costume foranother round of engagement photos. “I’m sad you didn’t trust meenough to tell.”

“If you didn’t know, Dad couldn’t tan yourhide to match mine.” Gia twisted the diamond tennis bracelet on herarm. “I hope you can at least be nice to Joe. He deserves someonewho won’t be a bitch to him all the time.”

Zara’s eyes rolled. “So, why have you keptstringing him along?”

“Because I … I liked him.” The words cameout in the faintest whisper, barely heard over Dodger’s industriousslobbering.

Zara stared at her sister and bent toscratch Dodger’s ears. Better to pet him than risk hugging Gia, wholooked like she might stab them all for hearing her confession.“You know that’s not a crime, right?”

“It is for us.” Gia wiped her cheek andstormed across to Zara’s vanity, inspecting her makeup withmilitary precision. Huffing, she grabbed a tissue and switched onthe lights. “Look what happened to you! Falling for men in ourworld? Ben was right. We might be too stupid to live.”

“Ben is never right.” Zara sat beside Dodgerand ran a hand on the thick area rug beneath her to ground herthoughts in the here and now. Thinking too much about theirmonstrous brother was a terrible idea. “Joey’s miserable aboutmarrying me. If you saw his face when he talks about you, youwouldn’t joke.”

The tissue fluttered out of Gia’s hand. “Hisface?”

Zara ran her fingers over Dodger’s silkyhead, down to the coarser pelt at his shoulders. Dodger grunted androlled onto his belly, wanting more pets and less conversation. “Ithink he loves you, Gigi.”

“You do mean Joey and not your smelly mutt,right?” Gia grabbed the tissue and dabbed at her eyes.

“Says the girl who lets the mutt sleep inher bed.”

Gianna sniffed and used some of Zara’sdiscarded bobby pins to twist her hair into a messy bun. “It’s notmy fault he’s too dumb to know the difference betweenus.”

“Uh-huh.” She scratched under Dodger’smassive chin. “He’s not the only one.”

That got Gianna’s attention away from themirror. She tilted her head, twirling a fallen lock of dark hairaround her index finger. “Zara Leann Fitzgerald, is that a scheme Ihear in your voice?”

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