Chapter 32

GIOVANNI

T he week passed quickly and before I knew it, it was Monday again. It seemed like things were coming together.

Aldo finally left on Wednesday, but not before he expressed his discontent at my inability to track down Simon, who was still successfully hiding. That was the first time my father had my back. Although, that was only because he also couldn’t find the asshole.

Fat Ricky was due back in a day, which was when I’d hear what he found out about my uncle. And my proposal worked better than I thought. Nova’s grandmother was at my house every other night planning shit with my father.

Her presence was annoying to my father, honestly I didn’t know why he put up with it, but it was nowhere near the aggravation Atlee was dealing with. He now had a surrogate grandmother he never asked for. Guess where he was on Sunday?

Even Nova and I had settled into a routine of sorts at school. We’d fight in the morning, make up in the storage room in the afternoon, and fight again when the final bell rang. There were no more rumors about her and Atlee, but there was plenty of talk about us, which was how I liked it.

There were still a few things that needed to be dealt with. Like Carissa, but the plans for her had been set in motion. And our little side business which we were currently at the basketball game for.

“Oops,” a prick in a leather jacket muttered as he ‘accidentally’ bumped into me.

And there was that.

“You, again.” I hissed.

“Shit, I thought I recognized you.” he said while rolling his dark eyes down my form. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Yeah,” I eyed the one percenter patch on the front of his jacket. “Imagine that.”

These fucks had been following Nova around like a rash that wouldn’t go away. Everywhere I looked, there they were. They were even here, at the basketball game. I highly doubted high school sports were their thing.

“What was your name again?” He asked. “Milo?”

“Gio.” I smacked my lips together. “And you’re Wild Dog.”

“That’s right.” He shot me a wink.

On more than one occasion I considered making sure Kato had a rough night, but I didn’t make the call. While I hated having an MC hanging around, Simon was still out there. I did have people watching Nova’s house, but it couldn’t hurt to have more eyes on her. Like it or not, these were some rough sons of bitches. They’d crush Simon under their boot.

This prick for example. The scar on his forehead and knuckles told me that he wasn’t afraid of a fight. And the casual way he stood there, holding his paper cup of god knows what, while staring death directly into my eyes, said that he wasn’t playing around. But he was good at making people think he was.

“Enjoying the game?” He asked before loudly slurping gulps up his straw.

“Do you think this shit will intimidate me?”

“Nah, but it’s starting to piss you off, isn’t it?”

Yes, yes it was. Not that I’d tell this fucker that. “What exactly are you hoping to accomplish? Do you know who my father is?”

“Huh?” His brow rose. “I didn’t take you as the type to have daddy do his dirty work.”

What the fuck did he just say to me?

My chest puffed out as I stepped up to him. “Oh, I don’t need Daddy.”

“Aww that’s cute.” He gave me a frown. “When you’re ready to play in the big leagues, come find me.”

Motherfucker kissed my cheek and walked away. I’d never wanted to beat someone to death more in my life. The sound of the hundreds of witnesses cheering was the only reason I didn’t follow him. That and the way Nova and her friend were laughing on the bleachers. I didn’t like sharing her, even with someone like Memphis Blake, who she’d known her whole life.

That I found out from her grandmother when she insisted Memphis be Nova’s maid of honor. That woman was exhausting. She was already working on the wedding plans. Even had a date picked out. Apparently, we were going to have a summer wedding, which I was informed of right after Nova’s grandmother made me promise not to knock her up until then.

She seemed very concerned about that. I didn’t know why. Nova and I hadn’t even talked about kids, let alone want to have any. That was a conversation for way down the road. When I wouldn’t mind sharing her with a kid or two. As it was right now, if I could lock her up and keep her all to myself, I would.

Since Nova obviously wouldn’t go for that, and for some reason I wanted her to be happy, I’d have to settle with integrating myself between her and everyone else. Which was exactly what I did.

I walked across the gym, shot Memphis a dirty look, and wedged myself between them on the bleachers.

Sitting beside the ridiculous looking school mascot during a busy game, was not my idea of fun. Most times I didn’t even watch the game. I just took bets. Yet, here I was, in between my girl and her holy roller mascot friend.

And did Nova appreciate my sacrifice? No. She rolled her eyes and grumbled, “Ugh, rude.”

“I know, right?” Memphis agreed. “It’s like he’s jealous or something.”

“I am jealous,” I snapped at him. “And I will hit you.”

“Um, Gio,” Nova placed her hand on my leg, and looked up into my eyes. “You do know Memphis likes guys? He’s more likely to fuck you than me.”

Memphis held up his hand. “Hey, don’t drag me into this.”

Nova leaned over to look around me. “Oh, you can’t tell me you wouldn’t sleep with, Gio?”

Why were they talking about this?

“Hmm,” Memphis tipped his head to roll his eyes down me, making my lip curl in a sneer. “I’d suck his dick.”

Seriously, why were we talking about this? “Stay away from my dick.”

Of course that was the moment Atlee decided to join us.

“How many times do we have to talk about this?” He pointed at Nova with his hand. “You want her to go near your dick.”

Nova nodded, “he has a point.”

My chest heaved with a sigh. Why did I agree to come to this thing? Atlee and Nova alone were exhausting. Add in her friend and I wanted to shoot myself in the fucking head.

Seeking a change in subject before I went out of my mind, I looked up at Atlee and asked, “did you go through the books?”

The look he gave me in response said that he found what I thought he would.

“What books?” Nova asked.

“Don’t worry about it.” I said and stood up. “Stay here with your friend. I need to talk to Atlee.”

She didn’t argue as Atlee and I walked around to the side of the bleachers. Nova had stopped questioning me about certain things. I think she didn’t want to know. I was a made man now. I would kill and I would maim, and she would have to accept that. If ignorance was her way of doing that, then I was more than happy to oblige.

Once we were out of sight, Atlee passed me a piece of paper. “Darry, was right.”

This conversation would’ve been better to have in a more private location, but I couldn’t bring myself to let Nova out of my sight. When she wasn’t with me, I was following her, or I was parked outside her house watching while she slept. Some days I was so tired that it was impossible to keep my eyes open during class. But I could sleep when Simon was caught.

I scoured over the various numbers and names until I found the one I was looking for. “Son of a bitch. There he is. You know what you have to do now?”

“Yeah.” Atlee huffed out a sigh as we both looked over to a blonde girl on the other side of the gym.

Sutton jumped up and down, and waved her hands in the air, cheering on the team so enthusiastically that I wanted to gag. She was an integral part of Darry’s plan. I had to hand it to him. He did his research. The connection between the Barlow’s and Carissa wasn’t something I would’ve ever found. My father didn’t even know about it. They hid it well.

Atlee’s lip curled in a sneer as Sutton continued her enthusiasm. “You know I hate you for this, right?”

“Look on the bright side,” I slapped my hand on his back. “She won’t be eighteen for another two years.”

While Darry’s revenge had nothing to do with the family, it was still tied in simply because we were. So, we had to follow the rules. One of which was no minors involved unless ordered by the boss.

“Is that supposed to make me happy?”

“No, but destroying her will.”

“That’s true.” His eyes rolled up and I could see the wheels in his brain rolling through all the sick ways he could crush Sutton’s happy spirit. Atlee didn’t just hate that girl, he loathed her very existence.

I did not pity Sutton Barlow, nor did I want to know what Atlee was going to do to her. The twisted fate she wound up in, she could thank her father and Carissa for.

“Come on,” I motioned for Atlee to follow me back to where Nova was sitting. “Let’s get this shit over with.”

Surprisingly the game wasn’t that bad. Chuck was a great player. He owned that court and everyone else was just a spectator. He also really fucking hated me. On more than one occasion, he shot me a dirty look when he ran by. I would give him props though. Not once did he lose focus on the game. Even when I taunted him by kissing Nova while he was watching.

Chuck wasn’t stupid, he knew Nova sold herself to save her brother. He had no problem calling us out on that shit. But he didn’t push it. He respected her decision while making sure I knew he was there, more than willing to step in and risk his life if needed. And that earned him my respect.

So much so that I didn’t argue when Nova suggested that we all go out for something to eat after the game. I could handle an hour or two with her friends. Besides, I liked watching her eat. No one enjoyed food more than Novalee Ford.

As I walked through the halls of St. Agatha’s with my girl, her friends and Atlee, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Happy.

I should’ve known it was too good to be true.

Stepping outside should’ve been my first sign of that.

When we first arrived there was a light drizzle of rain. The storm was in full force now. Pouring down fat drops in heavy sheets. People ran to their vehicles holding newspapers and other various things over their heads, hoping to remain dry, while the wind howled all around us.

Nova huffed out a sigh. “I should’ve brought a coat.”

Yes she should’ve. She was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Deciding to be chivalrous, I said, “wait here, I’ll go get the car.”

I could brave the weather. Getting wet didn’t bother me.

Wet was an understatement. Two steps out into the parking lot my clothes were soaked. Mother nature dumped her fury down at me, causing fabric to stick to my skin, and plaster my hair on my forehead while the wind whipped viciously past me.

The storm was so thick that the street lights fought to cut through it. I tromped through the parking lot trying to see past the rain when a cold chill shot up my spine.

Somewhere in the distance, a voice called out, “Nova!”

I whipped my head around to see Simon walking down the middle of the parking lot with a rifle in his hand, and it was aimed directly at Nova.

My heart stopped as the world slowed down and my eyes swung over to the front doors where Nova stood. I could see every drop of rain falling through the air as she looked up and her brows knit.

Simon was closer to her, than I was to him. I’d never make it in time, but I had to try.

My heart hammered in my chest as my feet slammed down on the pavement splashing rain up around my shoes. One after the other I slammed my feet down, forcing my legs to move as fast as they could…

Bang!