Page 33 of Mabilia

“What do you meanfix his books?” he asks.

“I’ll tell you when you pick me up,” I say. “Please, Dante, I need to help him.”

My cousin sighs into the phone. “Okay, I’ll be there in thirty.”

“Thank you.” I hang up and quickly get changed. Then I walk out of my room.

Neo stops me with a hand on my elbow. “Where are you going?” he grunts.

“Out. Dante’s coming to get me,” I tell him.

“Out where?” he presses. “Papa said you need to stay here.”

“I have to do something.”

“Mabilia, you’re not leaving to go do something reckless in hopes it’ll save your boyfriend,” Neo says. “He fell on the sword for you. Don’t pull it out or you’ll just make things worse.”

“I’m going to his bar. I’m gonna have Dante go over his books to make sure the cops don’t find anything suspicious. That’s all,” I explain.

“I’m coming with you then,” Neo says. “I can’t let you go out alone when the fucking Ukrainians are after you.”

“Suit yourself, but he’s going to be here any minute,” I tell my brother before walking downstairs. I make it to the front door when two of my father’s men step in front of me, blocking my exit.

“Miss, boss says to keep you inside.”

“Well, boss can kiss my?—”

“It’s fine. I’ll take her,” Neo says from behind me, and the two men look to each other before stepping aside.

Huh, guess it pays to have a dick in this family.I groan as I push past the soldiers and walk outside. Just as I reach the bottom step, the gates open and Dante drives up before screeching to a stop.

I jump into the back seat and let Neo take the front. “Where’s Josie?” I ask, because it’s strange to see Dante anywhere without her. Those two are usually joined at the hip.

“She’s with Zio Theo,” he says, sounding anything but pleased. “Where are we going?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know where Tommy’s bar is.” I roll my eyes.

“I won’t then. Does he know you’re doing this?” Dante asks me.

“How could he know? He’s in jail because he’s an idiot with some sort of hero complex or something.”

“I mean, he kind of gained some points in my book for doing what he did,” Neo chimes in.

“I wasn’t seeking your approval,” I snap at him.

“Still, a boyfriend in jail is a good kind of boyfriend. He can’t touch youorknock you up from behind bars.” Neo turns in his seat and smiles at me.

“There’s such a thing as a conjugal visit, idiot,” I tell him.

“As if the family won’t have some guards in their pocket. You think you’re getting anywhere near whatever prison he ends up in?” Dante laughs.

“Shut up. Tommy is getting out on bail. Zio Matteo is not going to let him go to prison,” I say, even though I’m not sure I believe the words myself.

When we pull up to the bar, I sigh. I don’t want to tell Denny what happened. The reality that Tommy is in jail because of me. I also don’t really have a choice. I gave Tommy my word.

“Tommy’s friend helps him run the bar. Let me do the talking,” I instruct my brother and cousin as we exit the car.

Then I steel my spine and push through the front doors.

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