Page 9 of Running

“They have everything to do with her.”

Bosco rounds the desk. He is only a few feet from me now. I wonder if he can see it yet. “Why? Who is she to you?”

I shake my head. Nope. Can’t get caught in this web. Need to leave. “She deserves to rest. She’s been running for too long. You have no idea how tiring looking over your shoulder can be.”

“I’m the Don. I always have to look over my shoulder.”

“It’s not the same. You have people loyal to you. Friends, family, soldiers that have your back. That watch your six. And at the end of the day you have this massive house that you can lock yourself away in. Violet hasn’t had that. She left everything and everyone behind to save you. No one was watching her back until I could.”

“Who is she to you?” He looks like he wants to reach out and touch me. He can probably see my resemblance to her now. I am a solid mix of the two of them. My hair is hers, same as my smile. When I smile. And I have his eyes.

I shake my head again. “Get Santo to call the dogs off of Violet.” I turn to swing my leg out the window again.

“I will.”

“Good.”

I go to hoist the rest of my body out the window. I stop with the sound of a safety being turned off. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

“Damn it Luca.” I mumble. Knew this asshole was going to be trouble. “What now?”

“You really expect us to let you walk out the window after all this?”

“Yes I do.”

‘You’re delusional.”

“Not the worst insult I’ve had. Not even top ten.” I see his eyes roll.

“What’s to stop me from putting a bullet in your head?”

“Bosco.” I reply simply.

“You think he can protect you because you say you know Violet. How do we know you aren’t lying?”

“You don’t.”

“So what cards do you have left to play?”

“The curiosity card.” He looks puzzled. Knew that would stump him and shut his arrogant mouth. Like I hadn’t thought of this scenario. Freaking amateur.

“Okay, I’ll bite. What is the curiosity card?” Says Ricco.

Oh goody, someone else to join our conversation. God I hate people. I don’t like crowds. They tire me, and I still have shit to do today.

“You’re all curious how I got in here, what my escape plan is, will I be back, what other secrets of yours I might know, what happened to the baby Santo threaten, and where is Violet? That enough items to tide you over?”

“Baby?” Whispers Bosco.

“Yep. Did you not hear it the first time? I told you Santo held a gun to Violets unborn child the day he told her to leave.”

“I heard it. Didn’t believe it.”

“What happened to the child?” Asks Ricco.

“Ten fingers, ten toes, born on the side of the road in the backseat of an Impala.”

“Is it mine?” The hope in Bosco’s eyes. God I wish to hate him in this moment. I’ve hated him my whole like. Now should be no different.

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