Page 32 of Charity's Torment

“That new joint on the corner, they have a drive-thru, and we can bring it back and finish our work.”

“Ugh, play hooky for a moment. Let’s go cause trouble.”

“Like what? Feeding bread to ducks?”

“What?”

“It’s not good for them.”

“That’s terrible, Max. I slaughter people, not animals. Randall may say there isn’t a difference but, I guarantee you, there is.” I pulled out of his short wrap-around driveway and made haste to the tempting burger I can already imagine in my mouth.

“How is Randall?”

“I don’t know. It’s been a while since I talked to him. Last I heard, he was avoiding the house while Liz and Alek got settled in.”

Randall was Luca’s “friend.” He didn’t have many friends, and that was by choice, not because he was socially awkward or a sociopath. When I needed someone to help teach me the ropes when I took over for Josh, Luca called Randall to help train me. And train me he did. It was the most intense, brutal year of my life, but that was how I met Alek. I even dated him for a little while until he said my demons were too dark for him… whatever that means.

“Mmm.”

We ordered our food, but Max refused to let up about the paperwork, so I sped back and trudged back into his house. I plopped my irritated self back in the chair I hadn’t left in too long and bit into my burger. “Why didn’t we have it delivered?” I asked around my food, purposely being off-putting.

“We got out of the house. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you have any clues to who it might be?”

“I have a few theories, but nothing concrete.”

“Who is on your list?” I dipped my fry in ketchup and stuck it into my mouth. The fried food and sugary-sweet tomato coated my tongue, making it water for more.

“I have three. Again, nothing solid. Gavino, Dante, Ignazio. All three have suspicious deposits into their bank accounts. Ignazio paid off a ten-thousand-dollar car loan, and Dante and Gavino had three payments of two grand on the same days.”

“Sounds like something is a little shady there.”

Max threw his trash into the bin and sat back down across from me. “It’s something.”

“Can we talk to them?”

“I’ll give this report to Luca. He’ll let us know how he wants us to proceed. We do nothing without his permission.”

Saluting with my fry, I popped it in my mouth and chewed. “Fine.” I pulled out my phone.

Me: Remember when you said you’d save me from my parents?

His reply came shortly after.

Nico: I do.

Me: Dinner tomorrow night. You game?

The three dots danced across my screen, letting me know he was responding. Then, they stopped. I frowned and waited… and waited.

Nico: Sorry. I needed to cancel a meeting. What time?

Blush scorched my cheeks, and I bit my lip, trying to curb my smile.

“What are you blushing about?”

“I am not blushing. Shut. Up.”

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