“Where the hell am I going to run off to?” she teases. “Give your nana a kiss. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
I kiss her forehead. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll be quick.”
When I retrieve the gun and ammo I stashed here, I give her another kiss on her head and hug her gently. I don’t want to leave her, but we have to go into Capital City and collect debts if Alex wants to have any kind of power around here. Once I’m in the car with Alex, I turn the radio on, hoping a little vaporwave will keep me from melting down about my nana.
A moment of silence passes before Alex asks, “Who’s Mark?”
“My uncle,” I reply in a low voice. “He died six years ago.”
“I’m sorry, Soren.”
I take her hand and squeeze it hard. “Swear to me you’ll keep your mouth shut about my nana.”
“I swear, baby.” Her responding squeeze inspires me to relax. I keep her hand in mine, using her to strengthen me as we head into the city. “Soren?”
“Yes, sugar?”
She clears her throat. “Are you eager to marry me so you can get back into your father’s good graces?”
Irritation bubbles in my gut. “What do you fucking think?”
“I see.”
Silence guides us the rest of the way, with Alex giving me minimal instructions. When I pull up to a cushy house in a chic neighborhood, I glance at Alex, who seems to be far more put together than I could have anticipated. She steps out of the BMW, walks purposefully to the door, and knocks loudly.
The sports car in the driveway is brand new. I’m admiring the paint job when a short man appears in the doorway, glancing between Alex and me with a look of amusement. “You kids selling something?”
Alex retains her posture as she asks, “Earnest Levitt?”
“That’s me.” His eyes drop to her tight jeans and posh sweater. It frustrates me, but I try to keep to the background, wanting to see what she’s about to do. “You’re that Moretti kid.”
“Hardly a kid. You owe my family…” She trails off as she reaches for her phone, flashing a gun holster on her hip. I smirk. She’s doing well so far. When she looks at her phone, she whistles. “A lot, sweetie. Listen, I’ll cut 30 percent off what you owe if you give me four thousand now.”
The man laughs. “You’re cute.”
“Don’t make me be mean, honey.” She takes out her gun, takes a step back, and points it at his sports car. “You won’t like it.”
Before the guy can say anything, she unloads a few bullets into the tires of his car. Neighbors gather in their yards to watch the show, many of them looking as shocked as I feel. I keep my emotions under control as Alex smiles sweetly at the man standing with his mouth agape on his front porch.
“Gee,” she sighs with a menacing grin while pointing the gun at the ground. “What will I fuck up next?”
A bullet rips through the board at the guy’s feet, sending him jumping back into the foyer of his home. “I’m sorry! I’ll get your money!”
Alex shrugs like an innocent schoolgirl, holsters her gun, and patiently waits at the edge of the porch for her money. It happens so fast that by the time we’re back in my BMW, I feel like I’ve just had a fever dream.
She hums while counting bills. “He gave me five.”
“That’s a fucking…” I run my fingers through my hair. “Jesus, that’s nice.”
“Just call me Alex.”
I cackle. “You’re a fucking riot. Who’s next?”
“Some asshole named Carlson.”
“I didn’t know you could shoot.”
She shrugs, her eyes focused on the money in her hands. “A lot you don’t know about me.”