Page 25 of Carnal

Me:I'm outside. Call security and let me up.

Pina:I'm not home.

Me:Don't lie. Come on.

Pina:I'm not lying.

Me:Then where are you?

Pina:None of your business. And leave me alone. I have work to do.

Me:Are you at your place in Manhattan?

She doesn't answer me. I take it as a yes and veer out into traffic. All the streets are a mess. I get on the Manhattan bridge and have to come to a stop. There was an accident, and the police closed the other lanes.

By the time I get to Pina's, it's a full-blown blizzard. I text her.

Me:I'm here and just risked my life, so call security to give me a key card.

Pina:Go home, Tristano.

Me:No. Look outside. It's a blizzard. I'm coming in so we can talk.

Pina:We could have talked last night. You were too immature to stay.

Me:Let me up, Pina. If you don't, I'll tell Dante what happened.

Pina:Now you're going to threaten me?

Me:Okay. That was low. Of course I'm not. But let me up.

I get out of the SUV and battle the snow. The wind is just as fierce and makes my face feel frozen. I stomp on the rug to clean off my shoes and go to the front desk.

A new security guard addresses me. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to see Pina dela Cruz." I hand him my license.

He types something into his computer then picks up the phone. "Ms. dela Cruz, a Mr. Tristano Marino is here to see you."

I tap my fingers on the desk.

The guard looks at me and says, "I see. Very well."

My gut drops. She better not have told him not to let me up.

"Ms. dela Cruz will be down shortly," he states.

I groan inside. "Thank you." I go over to the elevator to wait for Pina. The moment the doors open, I step inside and push the close door button.

"Tristano! What are you doing?" she seethes.

"Stop playing games. We need to talk, and we aren't doing it in front of Slim Jim," I assert.

She glares at me. "Slim Jim?"

"Yes. That guy's so thin he isn't scaring anyone away. I seriously hope you aren't relying on him to protect you," I reply.

"I don't need anyone to protect me," she claims.

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