CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: WINTER
Working helps me forget.
I throw myself into waitressing at the club as soon as Giovanni allows me to return. He doesn’t ask about why I lied to him at breakfast, which I’m thankful for. Despite my sneaking suspicion that he knows about what happened with Maximo. He has to, I don’t see Vito keeping anything from his boss. He seems like a stickler for rules.
The few times that I see him in passing, he doesn’t say anything about the pill. And while a part of me is thankful that he gave it to me, since I’m not on birth control, I also feel embarrassed. And a bit pissed.
He knows and just like Enzo, he didn’t attempt to do anything about what Maximo did.
He just cleaned up the mess.
I push the thought away from my mind, giving Amarie a smile as she passes by me. She wiggles her fingers at me before disappearing.
I pick up my tray of drinks, keeping my shoulders straight as I walk. I’ve been doing good with pushing all my worries away, until this morning when I realised what today is.
“Two more rounds,” one of my customers says as I place his drinks on the table.
I give a nod and my painted on smile, allowing work to pull me out of my thoughts. And I do so for the rest of the night.
When my shift ends, I follow Enzo out to the car. He’s been more silent than usual and at times I’m thankful for it. Tonight though, I want him to talk to me, just so I can have something else to focus on. But he remains tight lipped and the whole car ride to the mansion my thoughts go wild.
I move through my shower on autopilot and when Enzo locks my bedroom door behind me, I fall straight into bed. I sit upright the moment something hard presses into my stomach. Rolling over, I turn on my bedside lamp. My breath catches in my throat when I find a small black box tangled in my comforter.
With shaky hands, I pick the box up. I study it, rubbing my fingers along the smooth, dark velvet. I hesitate for a moment before opening.
My skin goes warm and my heart beats faster in my chest as my eyes land on the necklace resting inside. The chain is silver, the links thick and strong. A small charm rests in the middle, a silver snowflake with a diamond sitting in the middle.
I trace my fingers along it, knowing without picking it up that it’s a real diamond.
A small white piece of paper sits under the charm and I pick it up. My eyes look over the small black scrawl. It’s neat and tight.
Happy Birthday, Winter.
Someone remembered.
But the gift feels tainted when I think about the few options I have for the benefactor. I’m conflicted as I continue to stare at it. It’s so beautiful and hands down the most expensive gift I’ve ever received, coming just ahead of the twenty-five dollar Chilli’s card Richard gave me a few birthdays ago. I’m pretty sure he stole it.
After a moment, I close the case, the thud seeming louder than it actually is. I open the drawer on my nightstand and gently place it inside. I turn my lamp back out and pull my covers over me, but there’s a small giddy sense that I can’t make go away.
Someone remembered.
****
Time starts to move a little quicker and I don't come up with anything new for my suspects list. Fortunately, Giovanni doesn't ask.
And while I'd never admit it to him, I actually enjoy my job at the club. It's much different than my stint at Applebee's. Other than a few customers, everyone is decent enough and the tips I start to collect make my eyes bulge. I'd asked Enzo once what I'm supposed to do with the tips. He'd only shrugged his shoulders and told me to keep them.
I've started to grow closer to the staff. At first, I was nervous because I've never had many friends. But the others had been friendly enough for me to feel at ease making conversation with them. I know it's because of my connection to Giovanni, but I don't let it get to me. I'm spying on them all anyway so I think it equals out.
I only see Giovanni every now and then when I'm expected to make an appearance with him. I honestly don't think that the little appearances help our case since he ignores me most of the night. Vito is typically the only one to acknowledge my presence and I've done my best not to allow myself to be pulled into his easy charisma. He doesn't make it easy though, picking up on any and every shift in my mood with ease. And he's always ready to make me feel better, taking me outside to catch some fresh air, ordering me a drink, or even rubbing my back.
He's more dangerous than Giovanni, I've realized. Because at least Giovanni doesn't pretend to be a decent person.
I've seen even less of Maximo. For a while it was like he dropped off the face of the earth and I'd enjoyed it, not feeling like I was being watched at every waking moment. But then he'd reappeared, a wicked smile on his lips. Cruel eyes watching me closely. However, he hadn't said or done anything to me. And after a while, it became clear that he was either under orders to leave me alone or he lost interest.
I'm not quite sure which one it is, but I've been hoping for the former.
"Good job, tonight," Todd says, offering me a smile as he makes his way behind the bar. He pours himself a shot of brandy before leaning on the counter. He's proved to be a nice enough manager, if maybe a bit absent. I typically only see him when the bar is shutting down and he always looks exhausted. Tonight, there's a light sheen of sweat on his brow and his dark hair is flying all over the place. He tosses his drink back without blinking.