Page 57 of Ruthless Contract
“She’s doing well.”
“I miss having your mother around here. This shop doesn’t feel the same without her,” Tina said, staring around the store.
“I know,” I agreed.
“I want to visit her,” Tina told me. “But right now, all she remembers is the time when we didn’t get along. She doesn’t remember us making up and becoming best friends again. Therefore, whenever I stop by, I get her riled up, and she threatens to kill me.”
I burst out laughing. My mother and Tina had only been at odds for like a month. And it was over a job Tina recommended for us that ended up paying less than she said it would pay. To salvage their friendship, Tina paid my mother the difference, and all was well.
“It’s crazy how she only remembers that argument when she sees you. But when you’re not around, and she and I are just talking randomly, she speaks of you fondly. Saying how much she misses you.”
“Does she really?” Tina whispered.
I nodded.
Blinking back tears, Tina said, “Good. That’s good. I’m glad she doesn’t only remember the bad times.” Tina sighed. “I swear, dementia is a bitch. I hate this for her. She doesn’t deserve it. The people who do deserve shit like this never have it happen tothem. Like, my husband. I wish he would get it so he could forget me.”
This woman!All I could do was laugh as Ivy handed Tina the vase of flowers.
While paying her, Tina said, “I’m going to take these to Tatianna and Bryceson’s place. She needs fresh flowers in there. While I’m there, I’ll see if they reveal anything about what Rome is up to. I’ll poke around to see if your little plan to blame things on the EyeCeeYu guy works. I’m leaving now. Be safe, ladies. Call me if you run into any trouble and need a way out of the country. I’ll do the same.”
“Be safe out there,” Ivy called after her. “It’s dangerous in the streets for us pretty girls. Stalkers be stalking.”
“I know that’s right,” Tina stated, laughing.
I opened the door for Ms. Tina and gave her a slight hug before stepping aside so she could leave. After she left, I immediately locked the door, leaving the sign on CLOSED. I stood there for a few seconds, staring through the glass as she got into her car and pulled out of the parking lot. Even after her vehicle disappeared, I kept staring.
“We’re staying closed for a few more minutes,” I told Ivy. “We need a break after that news.” I pulled my phone from my apron pocket. “I’m going to order us lunch from the sandwich shop around the corner. What do you want?”
When she didn’t reply, I looked her way to find her staring at me as if I’d lost my mind.
“What?” I asked.
“Girl, forget food. We need to discuss what we’re going to do about Rome Cattaneo.”
My fingers tightened around my phone.
“There’s nothing to discuss.” I shrugged. “We have a plananda backup plan. We should be fine.”
“I don’t want to be fine. I want the threat eliminated. And the only non-threat is a dead threat.”
“Ivy...” I started.
“Look, Blossom. Your plan and backup plan are great. But this guy is a top hacker. And he’s a cold-blooded killer raised by a family of killers. Having someone like him investigate this makes me nervous. I’d feel more comfortable if he were dead. I’m willing to do it. Just say the word. And...”
“We are not killing Rome Cattaneo,” I told her, unable to even fathom the thought.
“If we kill Rome, we get rid of the problem. He’s the major threat right now, Blossom. You know the rules. All threats must be eliminated.”
“We will not kill Romeo!” I snapped.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I’d fucked up. I was letting my emotions show, letting my feelings for him be revealed by my actions. I’d been hiding how I truly felt for weeks.
Lying to my workers, my friends, telling them I was only hacking him and talking to him to get information. While the truth was, I had been slowly falling head over heels in love with the biggest threat to our organization.
I was doing the very thing we’d all been taught not to do. I was letting my heart override my brain. And I was too far gone to see things clearly, the way Ivy and the others saw things. I couldn’t see Rome for the threat he truly was because in my heart, he was my Romeo.
And I was his Juliet.
