Page 20 of The Best Bad Boy

“And what?” I said sharply.

“And he’s started a war with us,” she finished sadly. “And your dad understands why. He’s distraught, to say the least.”

“Has Pauly done something? Or just threatened?” I demanded. “And are you telling me to stay away from just Pauly or Pauly and Dad both?”

My mom paused for so long that I thought she’d hung up.

“Mom?”

“Yes,” she said, “Nothing too bad yet from Pauly.”

“What does that mean?” I wailed.

She paused again. “Well, he shot up the front of the house last week,” she said finally. “No one was hurt.” She finished quickly. “I think it’s best you stay away from both of them right now. Even agreeing to the marriage again is likely to get one of us killed.”

“WHAT?” I cried.

“Sarah, it’s best if you stay away. Don’t tell anyone where you are, and stay away. It’s dangerous around here right now. I don’t want you to get hurt, and neither does your dad, but you’ve put us both in a terrible position. If your dad thought it would help, I think he’d hunt you down and return you to Alex himself. What you did was selfish. You had the choice to say no in the beginning. Why didn’t you just do it then instead of running away?”

“I got scared, Mom. I tried to do the right thing for Dad. But when do I get to have a life of my own? Ever? Or is it always someone else’s because of my stupid last name?” I cried.

“Better we hang up now before anyone knows we’ve been talking. Let’s hope this all blows over soon, but I don’t think it will. I love you,” she finished.

“I love you too, Mom,” I said to an empty connection.

I felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest. My dad was mad at me. I’d expected that. But being ready to turn me over to Pauly was something I’d never expected. My dad and I were not close now, but we were when I was a child. He was my hero then, and I was the apple of his eye. The thought of never seeing him or my mother again filled me with sadness and rage I’d never experienced before.

I stormed down the hall and out the back door. Warwick was standing in front of the smoking BBQ, whistling. What did he have to be so goddamned cheerful about?

I strode to him, angered beyond reason.

“HEY!” I shouted, shocked at my volume.

“What’s up?” Warwick said and looked startled. “Is everything okay?”

“No,” I seethed, “Everything is not okay! Your piece of crap father shot up my parent's place.”

“How did you…” Warwick started, but I cut him off.

“I called my Mom on the burner phone,” I said.

“You what?” he demanded. “Do you know what kind of risk that puts us in?” Warwick tossed down the spatula angrily.

“Whatever! Did you know about this? That your asshole dad is trying to kill my family?” I demanded.

“What did you think would happen?” he demanded. “And he is not my father!”

“Well, you’re still related to him! Now, did you know he tried to kill my family?” I demanded again.

“Listen, sunshine,” he said, his voice colder than I’d ever heard it. “What did you think would happen? For someone who supposedly grew up this way, you seem to be a little slow on the uptick with this one. Of course, I knew. Alex told me. Now, again, I’m going to ask you…why the hell did you risk our safety by calling your mother?” Warwick took a step towards me, his green eyes had gone cold, hostile. He folded his massive arms across his chest and waited.

“I wanted to see if she was okay,” I yelled. “You don’t ever check on your mom? Especially with her being married to PAULY?” I spat the name out as if it was venom.

“I don’t have to check. I know how she’s doing. Alex tells me. But I got out and I’m smart enough to stay away,” Warwick said.

“Yeah? Are you, though? You were there the night of the wedding!” I said.

Warwick sighed and pinched his fingers between his eyebrows. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “I was. I was trying to get them to go legal. Again,” he finished.

---