Page 44 of Wild Card

“I’m sorry to drop in on you like this, Freddie, but I was hoping we could resolve some problems.”

He waves at me. “Relax, Giovanni. I’m always pleased to see you. How’s your grandmother?”

We go through the ritual pleasantries.

“My uncle owes you a lot of money, Freddie.”

“That he does. But he’s got a nice deal in the works, no? With James Carney’s daughter?”

He runs his thumb over his thick lips and regards me thoughtfully.

“She’s a good-looking girl. I imagine it’s been nice having her around.” He gives me a knowing look, and it makes my skin crawl. I don’t want Freddie thinking I’m like him.

“I was hoping we could work something else out,” I say. “My uncle hasn’t handled the situation well, and if the money doesn’t come…”

“Hmm,” he says, folding his hairy arms over his chest. “That’d be too bad for your uncle. I’d take the girl, but alone she’s not enough to cover his debts.” He sighs. “I’d have to make an example, Gio. You understand?”

I do. He’d kill me and my grandmother too.

“But Lorenzo tells me she’s got a baby sister that’s the apple of Daddy’s eye. A pretty little ballerina.” He smirks and the bile rises in the back of my throat. “Carney pays up, or I take both girls. There are all kinds of ways to get money for pretty girls. Two might be enough to settle your uncle’s debt.”

The implications of that make me sick. I won’t be complicit in human trafficking. I won’t let that happen to Catriona or her sister. Fucking Christ.

“What if I give you my business and the land I own?” I ask. It’s all I have. Enough to settle Lorenzo’s debt in just a year or two if Freddie handles it right.

“That’s a fine offer,” Freddie says. “A fine offer, Gio. It’s good of you to try to help your uncle. Or maybe it’s Carney’s pretty daughter you’re worried about.” He slaps my arm. “I’m not interested in running another business. I’m busy as it is, but I do appreciate you stopping by. I hope the next time we meet, it’s as friends. Tell your grandmother hello for me.”

It’s a dismissal and a threat rolled up into one. I had to try, though.

And tomorrow I’m going to find James Carney.

But right now, I want to check on Catriona and get her out of that fucking attic. The shame of how I let Lorenzo hurt her again hasn’t left me. I’m sure she hates me, and I deserve that.

I stop at my grandmother’s apartment for more broth. I’m surprised to find the door is locked and open it with my key.

“Nonna,” I call, shutting the door behind me. “Are you home?”

My grandmother meets me in the hallway.

She looks pissed.

Shit.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“What’s wrong?” She curses. “You know what’s wrong, Gio. The other day when I heard screaming and thought it was Lorenzo’s television? It wasn’t. You lied to me.”

Oh fuck.

“What happened?”

“Your uncle kidnapped and hurt that poor girl. And you let him keep her here, suffering under my roof. How could you, Gio?”

Her disappointment adds to the self-loathing I’m already feeling at my inability to keep things from getting out of hand.

“I’m sorry, Nonna,” I say. “I thought I could keep her safe. I was afraid if I let her go, Freddie would go after her, and that’d be worse. I was trying to find a way to settle Lorenzo’s debt and keep you from having to find out. I promised Papa I’d look after you, and I didn’t want the stress of it all to give you another stroke.”

I don’t have to tell her what Freddie will do to us if the debt isn’t settled, either. She knows.

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