Chapter 2

NOVALEE

S tupidity and teenager went hand in hand. Just like the term ‘leap without looking’ was invented for the rash decisions they made. However, I was beginning to wonder if the last one was made up specifically for me. My decision skills of late hadn’t been the best. They were so bad that I wasn’t sure if stupid was strong enough to describe them.

Most teenagers faced consequences like detention or grounding. They didn’t end up engaged to an asshole, which oddly enough I wasn’t the first person this happened to. So many girls wound up with an asshole because they were all muscly with a strong jawline and smelled good.

Maybe it was just girls that were stupid? Nine times out of ten, when they did find out the guy was an ass, the dick was so good they let it slide. I should start a support group. It would be like AA but for good dick, because that shit was addictive. I could call it GD anonymous.

Then again, I probably wouldn’t have time to run a support group once Maw Maw found out about my unwanted fiancé. I’d be grounded to my room for eternity. Or beaten senseless with a rolling pin.

Either was plausible, but still didn’t compare to what my brother was going to do. And all because some asshole biker–who probably also had good dick–told him everything. Or told him something. Neither of which was a good scenario.

“Fuck you, Snake.” I growled at the phone number in my hand.

Fuck Snake and his good dick.

Now I had to deal with the brother factor. Why couldn’t Kato just be annoying? Throw mud in my face and steal my Halloween candy, that kind of thing. I mean, he did do that, but it was the overprotective crap that was out of control. It got him locked up.

Kato once threatened a second grader because he kissed my hand. And he liked that kid. There was no telling what he would do to Gio. Sure, it might take a couple of years considering the whole prison situation, but he would find a way to do something. That much I was sure of.

Fuck my life.

Sighing, I looked down at the wet shorts sticking to my legs, then rolled my eyes over to the boat with the dusty fishing rod. It felt like yesterday when I was digging up earthworms for bait, and now I was considering crawling in the dirt with them.

Was it too much to ask for a typical teenage experience? Sure, I had some of the typical things like an idiot boyfriend my parents would never approve of, and slight alcohol dependency. But other teenagers didn’t have to deal with things like the possible murder of their best friend’s boyfriend.

Why did Chuck have to say anything? Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut and carry on? Memphis said he would talk to him, but I wasn’t sure that would help. For over a year now, I’d been trying to throw a wrench into their perfect relationship, and failed every time. Although, this could be considered a win. Technically, they were fighting over me.

And was I celebrating my victory? No. I was standing on a dock, holding a strange biker’s phone number, while water dripped off my soaked clothes, and I contemplated on how to join the earthworm population.

I looked down at the splotches of water on the dock, then cocked a brow at my feet. I was missing a sandal.

Fantastic. Guess my virginity wasn’t the only thing I lost in this fucked up situation. It might be time to contemplate my life choices. How bad was it when Mr. Garibaldi’s ongoing varmint war was the least insane thing happening?

They weren’t kidding when they said senior year would be the toughest. On the upside, college applications should be a breeze compared to the stress of visiting my brother—which I would have to do soon. Lord knows what that Snake guy told him.

Well, I’d just have to convince Kato that it wasn’t true. If I could convince Memphis that gators were dragons in disguise, then I could convince anyone of anything. Mind you, Kato wasn’t a six-year-old dumbass.

So, I might have to come up with something a little more believable than dragons. And there was the issue of getting in to see him. Minors weren’t allowed to visit inmates without an adult. A bullshit rule, in my opinion.

Maybe I could flirt my way in? Walk up to a guard, showing some cleavage and flutter my lashes.

I snickered at the thought. Like that was ever going to happen. First of all, I didn’t have cleavage, not to mention I couldn’t flirt my way out of a wet paper bag. I tried once when I got pulled over and wound up with an extra ticket.

I’d have to rely on an adult for this one. There was no way Maw Maw would let me skip school, and Veda didn’t like to leave the house when she had to so she was out.

My brow rose.

Atlee was eighteen. He enjoyed annoying Gio almost as much as I did. I bet I could convince him to take me. All it would take was a simple…

Shit.

Turning my head, I looked over my shoulder at the glistening water of Quackwater lake where I had tossed my phone.

Damnit.

Maw Maw was going to kill me. Maybe I could use the opossum excuse again. I still couldn’t believe she fell for that.

I threw my head back and let out a long, “Ugh.”

Now I was going to have to hear the ‘you are so irresponsible’ lecture again. Clearly I couldn’t be trusted with a phone. I’d proven that time and time again, yet she kept giving them to me. Who was the irresponsible one in that scenario? I should be the one giving her a lecture. Could this day get any worse?

The answer to that question was yes, yes indeed it could.

The worst of the day came in the form of a blue Range Rover that kicked up rocks as it curved around the side of Moe’s garage and headed toward the lake.

My eyes rolled. Apparently my fiancé found me. Maybe he would look for my missing shoe and I could drown him.

Hang on…

My eyes narrowed on the oncoming vehicle.

Gio’s car wasn’t blue? Did he paint it? It was shiny and new looking. So it was possible. I was so going to key whore into the side of that. H-O-R-E.

My eye twitched.

One day I would find that guy, and give him the most intensive spelling lesson known to man. Right now I had bigger problems. Like the stranger pulling to a stop a few feet from the dock.

I scanned the face on the other side of the windshield. That scar on his forehead looked familiar. Did I know this guy? Was he a member of the Cartel? He did have the complexion of someone with that ethnic background. And, it would top off my criminal triad for the day.

A biker, mob boss, and cartel member walked into a bar …

Who needed a phone when they had jokes like that?

The man stepped out and rolled his shoulders back, causing the suit he was wearing to rustle. That’s when I realized where I’d seen him before. He was one of the lackeys I’d seen walking around Gio’s house.

He stopped at the end of the dock and tipped his head. “Why are you wet?”

“I sweat a lot. It’s a serious problem.”

He stared at me for a second as if he was actually considering my statement as fact, before saying, “I was sent to pick you up.”

Was he now?

My eyes wandered back to the lake.

On second thought, phones are important in this day and age, and maybe I’d find my other sandal.

“Let’s go.” He ordered as if I should just listen to him.

Had this guy never heard of stranger danger?

I crossed my arms and ran my eyes down to his shiny black shoes – which he had both of, asshole – then back up to his face. “Aren’t you going to offer me some candy first?”

“I don’t have any candy?”

The fact that he was completely serious astounded me. Clearly I was dealing with superior intelligence here.

My stare narrowed. “How do you spell whore?”

“Is this some kind of pick up code?”

Sure we could go with that.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Alright, w-h-o-r-e.”

Damnit.

“Now, get in.” He threw his thumb back, pointing at the Rover behind him. “I don’t have all day.”

The day was half over, but whatever. “I don’t think so.”

“What’s the problem?”

There were so many ways to answer that question, but I chose to go with, “I’m gonna need some incentive before getting in a car with a complete stranger.”

Come on, even weirdos in creep vans put in more effort. I was worth at least a chocolate bar.

He sounded insulted by my insinuation. “I’m not trying to kidnap you.”

“Said every kidnapper ever.”

“Kidnappers don’t announce their intentions.”

Touché.

“They would if they were trying to throw someone off their game.”

Which was apparently what I did to this guy. His brows knit together causing a crease of confusion to form in his forehead.

“Why would they do that? It’s easier to grab the bitch.”

Uh huh?

“You seem to know a lot about kidnapping.” I tipped my head and side eyed him. “Done this before, have you?”

“Yes.”

I was pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to admit that. How was this guy not in prison? Seriously? What were the cops in this town doing?

“Well, as charming as I’m sure you are… what’s your name?”

“Marty.”

Marty? Really? I wouldn’t think someone with arms as big as my thighs would have a name like that, but okay.

“As charming as I’m sure you are Marty , I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Gio sent me.”

Oh well, in that case… “Go fuck yourself.”

Gio couldn’t come himself? He had to send one of his goons? I was insulted by his lack of commitment.

“I’m not fucking around young lady–”

“Hey!” I cut him off. “I may be young, but how dare you call me a lady.”

I wasn’t going to stand for insults like that.

He smacked his lips together. “Get in the goddamn car.”

“I have my own ride, thank you.” I tipped my chin towards my truck, parked at the back of the garage.

When he looked that way, his face scrunched up. “That thing runs?”

“Yes, it runs.”

Just because it wasn’t shiny and one color, didn’t mean it didn’t work. In fact it probably worked better than his. I bet he never felt the joy of using a screwdriver to turn on his fancy Range Rover. And what was with that anyway? Were Range Rovers the official vehicle of the Italian mafia, ‘cause they could do better.

“Now, if you don’t mind…”

I moved to walk away, but Marty stepped in front of me.

“I was sent to pick you up, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

See, that sounded like a challenge to me.

Stepping back, I took a second to size up my opponent. He was a big guy with broad shoulders and a firm stance. In a physical fight I’d definitely be on the losing end. However, people his size didn’t tend to be too quick. In that aspect, I had the advantage. At least that’s what I thought.

I dodged to the left and ran for the end of the dock. And I made it there, seconds away from the safety of the water. My feet even left the ground. That was as far as I got before a pair of large arms grabbed me.

“Nice try.”

I thought it was.

“You’re not that fast.”

Way to state the obvious Marty.

He spun around and marched towards his vehicle.

There was only one thing to do in this situation. I went completely limp, relaxing all my muscles while flopping my head back on his chest.

Most people weren’t prepared for the rag doll effect of dead weight. Normally I would’ve slipped out of his arms and fell to the ground. Except the hold he had on me, with his arms hooked under and around my armpits, didn’t allow for me to slip through. It was a tactic I should’ve known considering I’d used it on Knox many times. No one could rag doll like an angry toddler.

“I see you’ve done this before, Marty.”

“It’s not my first rodeo.”

“Clearly I’ve underestimated you.”

He shrugged. “It happens.”

Gotta say, Marty was taking this much better than I was. Mind you, that might’ve had something to do with being toted around like a toddler having a tantrum. My arms were up above my head, while his muscles dug into my ribs. It wasn’t the most comfortable position. Not to mention how it would’ve looked. The fact that my clothes were wet and I was missing a shoe only topped off the awkwardness.

I could just imagine what anyone watching would think. Unfortunately for me, no one was watching, otherwise I would’ve screamed. When all else fails, rely on negotiations.

“Listen Marty, you seem like an intelligent man.” It was so hard not to snort at that. “Do you really want to take orders from an eighteen year old kid?”

He couldn’t find that very dignified.

“Giovanni is a good man.”

That I snorted at.

“You should be honored to be his wife.”

Okay, I knew what had happened now. The Mancini’s had obviously brainwashed this poor guy.

“I don’t know why you’re wasting your time with me. I’m sure your family misses you.”

There had to be someone out there looking for him.

“My wife and son are at home.”

Someone reproduced with this guy? Marty must have really good dick. I definitely needed to get that support group going.

Marty bent us over and stretched his hand to open the back door. His action caused my body to fold in half which pressed my butt back into him.

“Geez Marty, you should buy a girl dinner first.”

He paused and cocked a brow down at me. “Does Gio know you flirt with other men?”

That was flirting? Well shit, I guess I could do it. I was so surprised by my new found ability, that I forgot what was happening until I was being pushed into that backseat. That was when my rag dolling became a pain in the ass.

I smirked while Marty struggled to get my floppy form in the vehicle. It was like trying to thread a needle with a cooked spaghetti noodle. He’d get my torso on the seat and my legs would hang outside.

When he pushed my feet in, my body rolled off causing my arm to fall out the door. Every correction he made seemed to make things worse. Marty grumbled out a few choice words while I got to watch frustration etch across his face. It was marvellous.

Eventually he growled up at the sky and glared at me. “Do you have to be such a pain in the ass?”

“Yes, Marty, yes I do.” Gio should’ve prepared this man better.

“You know what?”

“What, Marty?”

He raised his fist and shot an angry finger out to point at me. “Someone needs to beat some sense into you.”

This guy was talking about beating sense into someone? That was a case of irony if I’d ever heard one.

He folded over me and growled, “I hope Gio gives it to you good.”

And ragdoll effect was over.

My foot never shot into someone’s balls so fast. One kick and my heel landed square in his groin. Unfortunately, that gave Marty all he needed to shove my ass in the car and shut the door.