Page 100 of Vicious Little Games

I’m not sure if the consequences will be worse for the fucking or the murders.

Definitely the fucking.

But I can handle it.

In fact, I’ll be relieved to admit to Dante that Cass and I have been hooking up, that we want to keep hooking up, and see if he’ll let her come to New York with me in the fall to keep at it.

Trying to transfer this late would be too much trouble. And I think Dante would prefer if we’re not even in the same city as him when we’re fucking. The opposite side of the country should be far enough to avoid his wrath.

Hopefully.

“What’s going on this late?” Cass asks when she reaches the main floor before me. I’m a few steps behind when I see my mom and Dante standing near the door…with suitcases.

“Vanessa and I are going on a little vacation,” Dante informs us.

“And you're leaving us behind?" Cass huffs, crossing her arms over her chest as if she’s indignant when I know what she’s really thinking—hell, yes. If they’re not here, we won’t have to be as worried about sneaking around.

“It's nearly our one-year anniversary,” my mom says with a smile. “Otherwise, you would both be invited, of course.”

“No, I get it.” I hold up my palms, and plead with her, “Please don't say another word.”

Grinning, Dante tells us, “While we're gone, you two are going to be in charge.”

“We are?” I ask in disbelief.

“Yes. We'll be away for six days, seven nights. I want you two to alternate days when you’re in charge, meaning an entire day and night. Being a mob boss is sort of like being a doctor. You're always on call,” he explains. “Not much of what happens in the middle of the night has to be handled immediately, but it's possible. So, alternating twenty-four-hour shifts for the next six days will work out best. Eli will be around. He'll screen all of my calls and emails. I won't even have my phone with me.”

“Wow,” Cass says in awe as if that’s highly unusual for her father.

“I will have mine,” my mom tells us, holding up the device.

“But only call it if there's a fucking emergency,” Dante adds sternly. “An emergency in which one of you or Sophie is dying, or you hear news on Madison. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Cass mutters.

“Whoever is on the shift can use my black card for whatever you need,” he says, pulling out the card from inside his suit jacket and then handing it to me. “If you need help, you could ask Eli, but it's going to be a strike against you for this competition,” Dante explains. “The amount you each spend on the credit card will also be taken into consideration as well. Whoever Eli says does the best handling of shit at the end of the week when Vanessa and I return wins this round.”

“Sounds easy,” I remark. The grin that Dante gives me says that's the stupidest shit I've ever said.

“No parties, no people up in the penthouse other than family. Is that understood?” my mom asks with her eyes narrowed directly at me.

“We're adults,” Cass reminds them.

“And you are adults who are living in our house,” my mom points out. “So, until you are adults living in your own place, you won't have any visitors up here trashing our home.”

I don't point out that we're literally living in a hotel with a ton of rooms with beds. I guess they don't give a shit if we're screwing people, as long as we don't do it in the penthouse.

As soon as my mom hugs us, and Dante hugs Cass, guards grab their luggage and then they walk out the door together.

“Do you think they set it up to cause chaos just to see how we handle it?” Cass turns to ask me as soon as the door shuts behind them.

“Most likely. I wouldn't put it past Dante. Or Eli.”

“What's that?” Eli asks when he comes waltzing out of the kitchen, munching on a red apple.

“He does enjoy torturing people,” Cass agrees loud enough for the psycho to overhear her. He gives us a wink.

“Exactly. But we can handle whatever he throws at us,” I say confidently, slipping the credit card into my pocket. “In fact, I’ll take the first shift.”

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