Page 35 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Heir

CHAPTER 20

Vinny

I’m miserable living in the safe house. It’s not just the tension between Rosa and me. It’s knowing every second could be my last. There’s no roaming the streets to get a beer or eat good food. I’m a prisoner. Rosa’s one too. I can’t have that. So, my restlessness gets the best of me and I go out to get something I need.

Sushi. What a stupid thing to risk my life for, right? But it’s not just me. Rosa loves ramen and I hear her go on about the incredible ramen she’s had in Chinatown. I already have little to no contact with her. The best I can do is offer to give her massages — which she always refuses — or ask questions about her childhood. Usually, the answers are short. But whenever we get on the topic of food, her face lights up.

“There’s this spot calledSifu’s Kitchenwhere they serve the best stir fry, lo mien, and ramen. The owner, Shang, used to save me a plate after school. He knew how bad I had it,” Rosa told me before she slept. Food is the only thing on all of our minds. Lately, cornmeal and frozen chicken are all we get. I had to do something brave.

I set out for Chinatown once everyone is asleep. It feels like breaking out of jail — the wind is cold on my face and the smellsof the city hit me at once. Chinatown is three train rides away and I reach it by 11:00 PM. Rosa’s description hadn’t been very helpful.

“It was next to this red, blinking sign and a bench covered in gum,”she’d said while half asleep. But, miraculously, I find it. And it's open.

There are a few older people working and a kid sweeping by the register. I know I look like a hot mess when I approach the kid at the register, because she eyes me suspiciously.

“Can I help you?” she asks.

I look at the huge, faded menu as hunger nearly folds me in half. “I want ramen, lo mien, and fish cakes.”

The girl blinks a few times then quickly types in the order on an old computer. “$15.26,” she mumbles. I reach into my pocket and pull out my wallet which has one last twenty to spare. I slide it across the counter but then snatch it back.

“Wait, I want the Thai iced tea,” I request as I remember Rosa mentioning how great it paired with ramen. The girl rolls her eyes and grabs a small can from the refrigerator behind her. I push the twenty back towards her and hold my breath as she gives me my change.

The next fifteen minutes are anxiety-filled. I hear arguments in Mandarin and young teens rushing into convenience stores next door. All I can think about is having a taste of the food with Rosa. I also think about how much it would suck for me not to make it back. The thought stays until my order number is called and I take a huge bag of food back with me to the safe house. I become hyper-aware of everything on the ride back. I hear every voice and creak in the train. I watch everyone like a hawk and feel the eyes of people who aren’t there. I hold my breath until I make it off the train, down 7thStreet, and finally cross over to the alley of the safe house. I check the bag to make sure my journeydoesn’t squish the food, and it’s just my luck that everything is good.

Except, I only get a second before the entrance slams open and someone grabs me. The bag goes flying out of my hands and I catch it just before it splatters at my feet.

“What the fuck?” I roar, pushing whoever grabbed me roughly. Unfortunately, the person feels frail and I see a flash of blonde hair. “Rosa?” I cry, setting the bag down and grabbing the person. Angry, brown eyes stare back at me as I realize it’s just Jodie.

She reaches into her pocket to pull out a pepper spray but I knock it down. “Pepper spray? Really?”

But she lands a hard kick to my shin and I buckle. “Do you have any idea how stupid that was?”

I rub my shin as pain shoots up my leg. “I wanted Rosa to have some real food!”

Jodie grabs the bag and opens it, groaning. “You risked our lives for cheap Chinese food?”

I stand up and snatch the bag back. “It’s a fusion of Chinese and Japanese food, and she’s been craving it.”

I brush past Jodie, and once I’m inside the safe house, I’m met by Rosa, Nick, and Dr. Carmy. Rosa collapses on the couch with bloodshot eyes.

“I told you he was fine!” she yells at Nick.

“He could’ve cost us,” Dr. Carmy snaps. I walk over and wag the bag in front of Rosa’s face.

“I got your favorite, Rosa,” I insist, but she doesn’t seem too thrilled.

“We thought you were dead,” Rosa yells. “I thought you’d got yourself killed!”

Now my master plan doesn’t seem so great. “I wanted you to have something you liked.”

She looks away. “I can’t live like this.”

“No, you can’t. Which is why I’m moving you to Mexico,” I announce. It’s a spur-of-the -moment kind of thing but once it’s out, I feel good about it. Rosa stares at me with bewilderment.

“What am I gonna do in Mexico?” she screams.

Nick shakes his head and I wait for him to also disagree with me. “He may actually have a point. Your dad doesn’t have support out there as far as I know.”

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