Page 10 of Forbidden Pregnancy
Any of us could become potential targets for kidnapping or a bombing like the one at 9th circle a few months ago. Dad bought the club with Nicky C. and they’re reopening it in a few weeks with a new name: Velvet.
Until we have a new truce and answers about the political situation down in Pittsburgh, dad wants everyone close. When you don’t know who to trust, your best option ends up being the simplest one — trust no one.
Peter won’t bother sending a reply, he’ll just show up, so I know I won’t have long to wait. I’d better get in there after CC…
Just when I hit the doorway, CC slams into me.
“Michael!” She gasps, like she’s somehow surprised to see me.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“I know,” she says. “We should take my car.”
“My car is out front.”
“You must have called Peter by now,” she says. “Have him take it.”
“Why do we have to take your car?”
“Because,” she hisses, leaning in and whispering towards me. “We have to sneak out the back. Trust me.”
CC reaches down and grips my arm with an emotion that can only be pure, unadulterated terror. What the hell is wrong with her?And where’s Myra?
“Where’s Myra?”
“You’re worried about my tutor from twelve years ago right now? Our lives are on the line, Michael.Follow me.”
CC isn’t stupid enough to be playing a game with me, but I can’t imagine any threat at Belladonna’s that would remain undetected by every branch of our mob family. Belladonna’s has been one of our safest places to congregate for almost a decade. Despite our current circumstances, it’s at least the safest place in the city because of the family connections here.
What type of beast would feel comfortable hunting on our turf?
I let CC drag me through the bar to the back exit, even if I don’t see anyone or anything that might be threatening to us. I don’t even see Myra, just an empty glass on the bar stained with her lipstick. I want to ask CC where she went since I didn’t see her leave out the front either, but if I stop moving even for a second, I’m convinced that CC will disappear.
When we exit through the back door, her parking job nearly gives me a panic attack on the spot.
“Are you trying to get the cops down here to tow another Mercedes?”
“I’m tired of being cooped up,” Cosima says with her typical remorseless and challenging stare. I’m tired of fighting with her, especially when everything I do is to protect her from the darkest parts of our family.
“That doesn’t justify running off and putting us both in danger. If someone from Pittsburgh got to you…”
“What? You would have one less problem to worry about?”
She’s testing me.
“You know I care about you.”
“Michael…” her face softens. I’m finally getting through to her. I text Peter asking him to bring Gino with him to drive my car to the apartment. I’ll take CC out to my ‘sports den’ near the lake to make sure she doesn’t run away again instead of letting my emotions get the better of me.
If she needs a change of scenery to stop this madness, maybe I can give in to her bratty ways without caving completely. She’s not a little girl anymore. And I’m lucky she doesn’t end up like Angela Taviani or Mallory Corsini or any of the other Italian women used as pawns in our games.
“Yes?” I offer calmly, expecting an apology.
“Will you quickly look at something on my phone before we leave?”
“Huh?”
“It’s for Myra. Before she left… she told me about something awful that happened to her and… I just want to know if there’s anything you can do about it.”
