Page 43 of Wicked Tricks

“I could’ve handled him,” I mumbled, pulling away from his claim on me.

He only chuckled.

The sound of his laughter triggered the anger deep within my stomach, and I glared at him, “I don’t need your fucking protection, Antoni. Now, take me home”

He sighed, “Fine, come on.”

We left the restaurant from a different door that we entered, and it was pitch black without the usual glow from the city to light our way. We walked around the building to the parking lot, he followed closely next to me, and I sped up to put distance between us.

I didn’t want to be near him right now.

“Rome,” he said, “you’re being ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous? You did a background check on me.”

He laughed out loud, “and you didn’t do your research on me? May I remind you, you’re the one who showed up at my house to put a gun to my fucking head! As if you don’t have your own little folder on me. We’re both from the same world, Rome!”

I laughed, “no we are not. You were born into money and were handed your power on a silver fucking platter. I was raised by this life, I made something of myself on these streets. I didn’t come out of my mother with my hands out, waiting for the rule of the underworld to be placed in my palms once daddy died.” I snapped.

His jaw hardened, and I realised I had gone too far.

I couldn’t take the words back now. I regretted them as soon as they left my lips. This was what I did, when I was backed into a corner. I attacked - and even I couldn’t restrain myself and tell myself ‘too far’ until it was too late. He nodded slowly, the words sinking into his memory, and he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“You want to know more about my past, you need to go first. You already seem to know plenty about me and I know nothing about you at all.”

I spoke quickly, filling the silence with any words I could find. I was just outright asking for the information now. I didn’t want to play these games with this man any more. If I could get one sliver of useful information to please Diana, I would never have to see him again. “Go on,” I urged, “tell me something about your family, something I wouldn’t have in my folder?”

He was silent, drawing out the terrible feeling in my gut.

“Get in the car, Rome.”

“No,” I folded my arms stubbornly.

He looked at me with a tired expression, and repeated himself calmly, “get in the car.”

With a huff, and because I didn’t really have another choice, I went to the passenger side of the car and waited for him to unlock it. The car beeped as the doors freed, and I slid into the seat. Antoni did too and started the car without a word. We drove in silence, and I looked out the window, avoiding his gaze and trying to dissuade him from trying to talk to me.

I wasn’t interested in talking to this guy about my life.

I didn’t want him knowing any more than he already did about me, he already knew too much as it was. Tonight was supposed to be about me finding out more about The Family, and so far all I found out is about a few little restaurants and a lingerie store. Diana would not be satisfied with my progress. But I couldn’t put my feelings aside right now.

I couldn’t treat this guy just like a mark, why?

“I knew what cocaine was at six years old,” he said out of nowhere, breaking the silence, “my Father wanted me to start off in an easy racket-” he smirked at me, knowing how ridiculous it sounded as the words left his mouth.

“I used to package and weigh it up, calculate the cost versus the profit. Really, I guess it’s the reason I’m so good at maths.” he chuckled darkly, trying to lighten the conversation. “He wasn’t easy on me, or my siblings. But, I was the eldest, I was the heir. My mother was my only defender. She’s… paranoid,” he shrugged, sounding exhausted, “I know she sees my dad in me, and it annoys her that I’m not more like him. I have two sisters, and a brother. One of my sisters, Valerie, doesn’t talk to any of us. She ran from the life as soon as she turned eighteen and moved to the other side of Australia. Zarina stayed, and runs the lingerie store and she keeps an eye on mum. Sammy runs a chop shop for us. Apart from the business, we’re a pretty normal family. No one thought my dad would die so young, I never expected to be in this position just yet. I’m still not sure that I know what I’m doing.”

I wrung my hands in my lap.

Feeling like a bitch for snapping at him. Neither of us said anything for a while. The guilt took over. I wanted him to snap back to his goofy self, break the silence somehow. I waited for him to say anything, but my pride forbade me from being the one to break the silence. He was tense in the driver’s seat, his fingers were wrapped tightly around the wheel. My heartbeat quickened as we approached my street.

Say something please, I begged in my head.

Antoni pulled up onto the sidewalk in front of my building, pushing the gears into neutral as he came to a stop. I sighed, and reached for the door handle, hovering and waiting for him to stop me from leaving.

He didn’t.

“Well,” I said, “thank you.”

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