Page 26 of Texting Mr. Stranger

“How do you know that?”

“Damn it, what does it matter?” I growl. “Even if she did, do you think she’d question it? Do you have any idea how much we’re paying her? I could beat a man to death in front of her, and she’d still take the cash. That’s what I am, Sofia. When it comes to regular people, I don’t earn their respect.” I squeeze the steering wheel so hard I almost just want to tear it loose. “That’s for my men. With regular folks, I have to make them afraid or pay them, and it works every goddamn time.”

Sofia stares out the window, ignoring me. I know I’ve gone too far. I’m on edge, far too close to my emotions, and far too aggressive, which is another reason I should avoid Bella. If thinking about her learning the truth makes me act like this, I need to quit her now.

After a few minutes, Sofia takes out her phone. My body stirs when I hear Bella’s voice. “Hey, Bella baes, today we’re going to be playing …” I do my best to tune out the voice, but at a red light, I glance over. I assumed the video would be the same one she sent me, but it’s not. In this one—the public video—Bella is wearing jeans and a hoodie.

Does that mean she recorded that other one in the hot-as-hell outfit just for me? My mind flits to her choosing the outfit, maybe with a pout on her lips as she stripped off the hoodie, perhaps even purposefully taking off her bra, knowing I couldn’t resist staring at and obsessing over her body.

“When can I book my next lesson?” Sofia asks.

“Whenever you want,” I reply, “but depending on how busy I am, Elio or somebody else will take you.”

“I can go on my own, you know.”

I look at her, and that’s all she needs. She sighs.

“I thought all that stuff was over.”

That stuffmeans the Gallo war. She never learned the specifics but understands what she needs to, so she’s not surprised if something happens.

“You’re safe,” I tell her. “Always, Sofia. Never forget that.”

“I’d rather be normal than safe.”

“There was never any chance of us being normal,” I tell her. “When you’re born into the Family, any notion of being a regular person dies. It’s better just to accept that.”

“What a lovely, optimistic way to look at things.”

“It’s the truth. I don’t have space for optimism.”

“You reallyarein a mood, aren’t you?”

Reaching over, I gently touch her hand. Bella has just begun to play the musical piece in the video. It’s not as wild and passionate as the video she sent me. Was I the one who brought that out in her?

“I’m going to text her and book another session for tomorrow,” Sofia goes on when I don’t reply.

“Okay.”

“Please don’t bring the Mafia stuff into this, Matty. Please.”

I sigh. “Next time I take a call, I’ll go into the stairwell, okay?”

“Thank you. Really.” She pauses, then her tone gets just a bit playful. “Any chance of a smile?”

As we pull up at another red light, I turn to her, baring my teeth like a wild animal. “How’s that?” I say, keeping the rictus fixed in place.

She giggles. “Muchbetter.”

“What the fuck is this?” I growl as I walk into the basement of one of our clubs.

We have a police-style interview room set up down here, soundproofed with one-way glass. Elio stands behind the glass, hands in his pockets. I walk up next to him and look at the man handcuffed to the table. He’s sipping out of a paper cup and looks suspiciously unharmed.

When Elio looks at me, I can tell immediately he’s ready to take a stand. Years of operating with my brother have taught me that.

“We can’t beat, maim, and mutilate our way out of everything.”

“We can’t?” I snarl.

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