“I don’t care; what difference does it make now? Didn’t you hear him? Everything is over. I told you, you should make Felix go get her, now look what she’s done. Do you know who Gabriel Russo is? Who his father is? He’s not going to stop. That guy has a reputation at school. He’s cold, unrelenting and he never forgives a slight. Kids have been afraid of him since the third grade. And they say the father is worst.”
Why is she telling me about school right now? Doesn’t she see the significance of what’s going on? “Victoria now is not the time to worry about school. We’ve got to come up with something before things go to shit. We might have to leave.” I whispered the last bit, which was pointless because her answer was a loud roar.
“I’m not leaving. I’m not running away from my life because of your stupidity. I haven’t done anything wrong; it’s all you. Don’t forget; I’m Felix Fontane’s true daughter; he adopted me.”
“Don’t you get it, that kid is right, you can’t be adopted without Jimmy’s say-so. If Jimmy shows up here and it looks like he will, then it’s all over.”
She slapped me hard across the face, and it stung, but not as much as the anger that rose up inside me. I slapped the little bitch back lest she forget who I am. “Calm the hell down, and let’s think. How long do you think it’ll be before Gia convinces her father about all those things you did to her?”
“Those falls down the stairs. Those bruises that were supposedly from playing too rough. And what do you think he’s going to do? We have to think about getting out of here. I’ll find us a better place to live a better life.” Yes, this sounded like the best course of action right now.
I left her standing in the middle of the room, looking lost, and bounded up the stairs feeling better the closer I got to the bedroom. I thought I had another few years here at least, but it was a good run. One thing I’ve learned in life is never stay too long where you’re not wanted. I’d run this con for as long as I could, it seems.
I closed the door making sure no one followed, and went in search of my secret stash. This is my ticket out. I’ve been saving and stealing money here and there over the years for just a time like this. It wasn’t as much as the three hundred grand I’d made from the sale of the car, but at least it was real. Just shy of seventy-five grand. More than enough to get started somewhere. Maybe somewhere in Florida this time. I’m tired of the cold and damp.
See, things were already looking up. There’s nothing money can’t fix. That’s why I’d sold my life away to a man who didn’t love me and his brat to get it. I’d also wanted to give Victoria all the things I never had, but I see now that had been a waste. Little bitch put her hands on me not once but twice in the same day. I wonder how long she thinks she’d survive without me there to guide her.
Whatever, if she wants to be stubborn, it’ll just mean more for me. It might be fun being on my own for once, not having to look out for someone else. Besides, she’s of age, which is something I didn’t know until that kid mentioned it to Felix about a week ago.
The old travel bag that held my stash felt much lighter than it did earlier when I checked, but it didn’t register right away. I felt total defeat when I tugged open the zipper to find the money gone. There was just a piece of paper with a smile drawn on it. I was too shocked to react, the lump in my throat too hard to swallow. The phone rang in my purse across the way, and I ran to get it, even though I was afraid of who might be on the other end.
“Did you get my gift?” My hand shook on the phone, and I tried to speak but couldn’t.
“I’d take that as a yes. I know I told you to run, but you may want to rethink that. You don’t want this to turn into a situation where you’re wanted by the Feds.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I can. Because you deserve it. Because Gianna is mine. Choose your pick.” He hung up the phone, leaving me screaming inside my head.
FELIX
Stupid! Stupid, gullible fool, and worst of all, negligent. Is that why the kid had brought Gia to the house looking like that? Did he know how much it would shake things up, especially me? It’s amazing what you learn when people think you’re not listening, I’m just ashamed that it took me this long.