Page 106 of Working for the Mob

“SHE'S NOT SAFE AROUND ME! NO ONE’S SAFE AROUND ME!”

I loomed over him, fuming, as he got back onto his feet.

He didn’t understand. No one understood. I needed Genevieve far away from me. I needed her safe. Every second around me put her in danger from the Valuncias.

He massaged his jaw as blood poured from his lip. He scowled at me with a look of disappointment and disgust.

“And here you are all worked up, with no Valuncia in sight.” He turned and marched to his car as I stared him down from the doorway. Before he hopped into his car he shouted, “But you’re still an ass.”

My ragged breaths of anger hung in the icy air as he drove up the dirt lane and his taillights faded from view.

Chapter 32 – Art

Battery acid bubbled in my gut.

I didn’t sleep a wink. Every step towards my car, every mile towards her house, felt like I was walking to my own funeral. And I was going to be as good as dead once Genevieve was gone. No more mid-morning check-ins, no late nights in the office, no hooking up in the stockroom while her sister thought we were working.

I needed to end this quickly. Like pulling off one of those new band-aids.

I pulled in front of her house––my house that I rented to her. Why had I put so many hooks in her? I knew at the time I was trying to get her to stay, but now she was neck deep in East Lannington.

I approached the door and regretted each knock I made. It wasn’t too late to get back in my car and pretend this whole thing hadn't happened.

But Genevieve didn’t let me down. She never has before.

The door opened to a beaming Genevieve. Instead of the sparkly black dress from the night before, this pastel blue flowed past her knees to keep out the cold. I imagined it clinging to her curves when she moved.

It wouldn't be my right to imagine her curves for much longer. I’d have to claw out my eyes to stop staring at her. But that would only protect me while I was awake.

“Lucy made us eclairs this morning. She told me to pick them up from the café,” Genevieve said brightly, but her smile evaporated at one glance of my face. I imagine my face was a combination between repulsion and anger. Repulsion at myself and anger at having to do what I was about to. “Is everything alright?”

“No,” I blurted out. She took a step back. “I mean … yes. Everything’s fine. It’s … Genevieve, is your dad home?”

“What?” she asked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “Oh, no. He went to the grocery store. He’ll be back soon though.”

“Oh,” I said, and her eyebrows furrowed even more. I didn’t care. As long as he wasn’t here now, I wouldn’t have to see his face when he found out I took his daughter’s heart and stomped on it. “Listen, we need to talk.”

“Of course,” she said, without letting down her guard. “About what?”

I stared dumbly. I didn’t have to do it. I could still back out. I could forget I ever came here and … and continue putting her in danger.

Shit.

“Listen, I …”

Genevieve let out a tinkling laugh. “Geez, Art. The only time I’ve seen you this speechless was when you asked me on a date. Are we going to Atlantic City next?”

I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t imagine my face said ‘we are going to Atlantic City.’ I shook my head.

“Listen, I …”

“No, I’m joking,” Genevieve said. “I really just … Art, I just wanted to say thank you.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Last night was a fairy tale. I’ve never been wooed like that before. But it's also this whole thing,” she said, and gestured in the direction of the café. “I’ve never been trusted to walk someone’s dog, and definitely not put in charge of their café and accounting. I just wanted to say thanks. These last couple months have made me believe in myself, which I’ve never done before.”

I couldn't meet her eyes. Bile threatened to creep up my throat. But I had to do this. I had to keep her safe.

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