Page 4 of Protecting Christina

“As I live and breathe.”

“Damn, girl. You look good.” He bit his lip and swaggered a few steps closer.

I smiled and walked up the steps to Simon’s house. “Still too old for you, Lucky.”

“I’m twenty now, so a full-grown adult.”

“Yup. But still not man enough for me.”

“Shit.” He chuckled and covered his grin with his hand.

I didn’t bother to cover mine when I knocked twice on Simon’s door.

After waiting several minutes and there was no answer at the door, I knocked again.

“They’ve got cameras all over the place. They won’t open the door unless they’re expecting you.”

I looked up and spotted a camera against the brick wall. Pushing my hair behind my ears, I stared at it. “It’s Christina Polito. Open the door, Simon.”

Less than a minute later, someone unlocked several bolts from the other side of the door before opening it.

A man wearing shorts, a hoodie, and a backward Mets cap opened the door. His cheeks were hollowed and his hair was longer, but I recognized him. My stomach turned, and I wanted to throw up on the spot. Well, maybe on him, but I kept it together.

Simon looked me up and down, and a sneer pulled his mouth up. “Well, well, well. I always knew you’d come back.”

“I’m not back. I’m here to see my sister.”

Ignoring me, he looked over my shoulder and lifted his chin. “Is that your car?”

I crossed my arms. “Yes. It is.”

He pursed his lips and tilted his head. “How much do you want for it?”

“It’s not for sale.”

He smiled. “Everything is for sale.”

I believed that, too. We both grew up believing that. I hated that I didn’t disagree. So instead, I asked, “Where’s my sister?”

“I didn’t realize you two were so close. She hasn’t mentioned you at all.”

I didn’t argue, knowing he was telling the truth about that. But his words made my chest tighten.

“Is she here, then?” I tried to act nonchalant about it, but despite the years that had passed, being this close to Simon made my body react. I wanted to break his nose again.

He looked me in the eye. “No.”

He was lying. “Then why did you say she’s never mentioned me?”

“We still talk. But she’s not here.”

I didn’t believe him. I tried to look past his body and into the house, but he had nearly pulled the door shut. The room behind him was dark and I could barely make out the color of the floor.

With my arms still crossed, I stared pointedly at him. “She’s not answering her phone and I’ve received a tip that she’s here. So, unless you want me to call the police and have them do a wellness check on her, I suggest you let me speak to her for a minute.”

His jaw ticked, and I wondered if I’d scared him enough.

Neither one of us looked away. Perhaps he waited to see if I was bluffing.

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