“Who is it?” I grin. I'm thinking maybe one of the Maroni brothers. They were at all the family functions, and I actually thought the older one was pretty cute. “What's his name?”
“Ethan.”
She says his name and it doesn't register in my head. Ethan is probably five or ten years older than Sara. I don't actually know his age, just that he was military and is a scary enforcer.
“Ethan? Like, the guy who keeps me safe Ethan?”
Her shoulders fall a little. “Yeah. I can tell you're not happy about it.”
I shake my head. “No, it's not that. I just...” I shrug. “I just am surprised you got him to say more than three words in a sentence.”
She relaxes a little. “He's actually pretty smart.”
“Well, if he's dating you, then I can see that,” I say with a nod. Ethan and I don't usually talk much.
“You won't say anything, will you?” Sara fiddles with her coffee cup. “It's still really new.”
“You like him, though, right?”
A smile crosses her face and her eyes light up a little. “Yeah.”
It's obvious that she's thinks he the best thing since sliced bread. It's not a match I would have made, but if it makes her happy, then I'm glad.
“You know what he does for a living, right?” I ask her.
“Yeah.” She shrugs. “But, he's on my side. He's a good man.”
Yeah. Just dangerous as fuck.
“I'm happy for you two,” I tell her. “But, please don't tell me sex stories with him. I don't think I could look at him the same.”
Sara laughs and the tension is gone. We're friends again.
“Maybe Dante's mom had a deal with another family,” she says suddenly. “Like, she promised Dante to the Romanos, but th
e rest of the family went with the Savios.”
It sounds plausible. “Maybe. I don't know. It's just weird.” I finish my cup of coffee. “We should order. I'm starving.”
“Sounds good.”
Sara smiles at me and we start talking about normal every day things again. Still, her idea about Dante's mother stays with me. It's probably just that I want things to make sense, but there's something about it that keeps tugging on my mind the rest of breakfast.
Chapter 15
After breakfast, I wander around the city for a little while, looking at shops and doing my best not to think. The Christmas decorations are out on display and it's easy to lose myself to the green and red of the season. I don't buy anything. I'm a ghost just floating through the city, trying to figure out what to do next.
I head home once I'm cold and tired. My bed welcomes me with open arms and the promise of release from my thoughts. When I lay my head down on the pillow, I smell Dante. He had just been here two days ago, and his scent still lingers all over the place. I smile as I snuggle into the pillow, imagining his hard body is what I'm holding onto.
My dreams are terrible, as they often are. Dreams of my mother, dreams of the car accident, dreams of the worst futures I can imagine for myself.
I wake up at what seems like dawn to my phone ringing. I answer it with sleep still in my voice. "Hello?"
"Cara." It was Mrs. Russo's horrible voice.
"Can I help you?" I ask, ready to just turn off my phone so she couldn't call me back.
"Oh, I just thought we could admire some art again today."