Part 1 (2/2)
”You bring shame on this family,” he growled.
”Nothing happened,” Angelica cried out as he dragged her back.
”Leave her alone,” Anthony yelled as he strained to reach her.
”Shut up!” The guy in the leather jacket slammed Anthony against the car.
She recognized Sal, one of her uncle's lackeys. ”Who the h.e.l.l do you think you are?” he shouted in Anthony's face.
The guy in the leather jacket grabbed Anthony's arms and yanked them behind his back.
”I'll teach you some respect.” Sal pummeled Anthony in the stomach.
”STOP,” Angelica cried as she tried to run to him, but Paolo's vise-like grip held her fast. ”He doesn't know who I am.”
Anthony ripped one hand free and his fist smashed into Sal's face. Groaning, he covered his b.l.o.o.d.y mouth with one hand. The guy in the leather coat tried to grab Anthony's freed arm, but Anthony swung wildly. Cursing, the men and Anthony crashed into the driver's side door.
”Stop hurting him,” Angelica screamed as she struggled to break free.
”Calm that kid down,” Paolo ordered.
”Run, Angelica,” Anthony yelled as he wrestled with the men.
”No!”
A loud bang rang out. The driver's side window shattered; gla.s.s sprayed in a huge arc. Angelica blinked as she looked at Anthony.
Anthony's face turned toward her. His big brown eyes grew dark.
”What the h.e.l.l?” Paolo bellowed.
”He went for my gun.” The guy in the leather jacket stared at the weapon in his hand.
The window broke. It couldn't have broken unless...
Angelica froze. Anthony's body slumped and slowly slid down the side of the car.
”No!” Her legs gave out, and she sank to her knees. Paolo's arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her off her knees. He carried her back toward his car.
She couldn't breathe. The ground sped by swiftly and then she was flung into the back of the Cadillac. The leather seat smacked her in the face. Outside, she could hear Paolo swearing at the other men. Someone threw her bag in the backseat, and her crumbled picture landed at her feet. Blood had splattered the picture. She reached down and her fingers stroked the paper.
The door slammed shut and someone threw the car in reverse. Gravel pinged off the underbelly of the car as they fled backward, and then gears ground as the car s.h.i.+fted into drive. She slammed herself up against the rear window and looked back. She could feel a burn in her throat as she screamed-but she didn't hear any sound.
The boy she loved lay face down on the gravel. The boy she loved was dead.
Because of me. Because of who I am. Because I am Severino Mancini's daughter.
I should have been a monk Present Day ”Are you upset?” Replacement held her hands behind her back as she twisted back and forth.
”What? No.” Jack opened the drawer of the little hallway table and then quickly shut it.
”You look mad.” She handed him his gloves. ”Is it because of work or...us?”
Jack shoved the gloves into his pocket while he stared at the apartment door.
Just go to work. Don't do this now. Don't.
”I'm fine with whatever.”
”Is it because I think we should wait or-”
”Wait?” Jack turned to look at her as one eyebrow went up. ”Before you wanted to go slow. Now you want to wait? Does wait mean stop?”
We haven't even started, and now she wants to stop?
At six one, one hundred ninety-five pounds, Jack's muscular frame towered over Replacement. She was pet.i.te at five four, but when he leaned down, she just put her hands behind her back and shook her head. Her brunette ponytail bounced back and forth. She had s.p.u.n.k.
”No. It's just...I don't want people to get the wrong idea about you,” she answered.
”Me?” Jack straightened up.
”Yeah. I mean, you take me in; you're twenty-six and I'm nineteen.”
”So?”
”Well, some people think that's a big age difference.”
”Who?”
”Never mind, but I don't have a job and I don't want people to think you're-”
”Think I'm what?” Jack leaned down and, although he tried not to scowl, he could feel the muscles in his face tightening.
Replacement looked down. ”A sugar daddy.”
A laugh burst forth. ”A what?” Jack scoffed as his hands went out. ”Don't you actually have to have money to be considered a sugar daddy?”
”Don't laugh. I just think before you and I date, I should be established.” Replacement crossed her arms while her green eyes looked up at him. She was dressed in a pair of baggy gray sweatpants and his old faded high school s.h.i.+rt. He loved how she looked, but right now it only added to his rising frustration.
”Established?”
”Yes. I should have a job and be contributing something.” She nodded. ”And I should sleep in my own bedroom.”
”First off, I moved so you could have your own bedroom. Remember?” He held out his hand and gestured back to her bedroom. ”You keep coming into my bed at night 'cause you can't sleep. I don't drag you in there.”
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