Page 110 of Condemned By Pain
Uncle Alex, Aunt Abi, Mom, and Dad all live here together.
“Travis mentioned you met someone in the park,” Dad says.
I nod, keeping my expression neutral.
“Who?” Mom asks, perking up.
“A neighbor. Jonathan.”
Uncle frowns. “I’ve never heard of any neighbor named Jonathan.”
“He said he just moved in.”
“You actually talked to him?” Mom asks, eyebrows lifting.
“Yeah. He’s kind of cute.” I shrug, aiming for casual.
She grins. “Well? Ask him to come meet us.”
I groan. “I literally just met him today, Mom. It would be beyond weird to invite him over to meet my family.”
“She has a point,” Aunt concedes.
“Fine—at least show us a picture.” Mom’s excitement is palpable.
“I don’t have his picture.”
But even if I did, I wouldn’t show it to my mother. She found him strange just this afternoon. One raised eyebrow from her would be enough to make my dad suspicious. He would still investigate him, but with suspicion, the investigation would be harsh enough to dig up the truth.
I just hope Salvario came with enough backup to protect himself.
“Did you at least get his number?” Mom asks, hopeful.
I shake my head.
“You find him cute, and you didn’t even get his number?” Aunt sounds genuinely devastated.
“It would’ve been too fast. I literally just met him.”
I just hope no one here knows how close we were sitting.
I look at my dad. “Can you ask your security not to hover around me all the time? It feels so strange.”
He shakes his head. “That’s non-negotiable, Princess.”
I sigh. “Can’t they at least give me some privacy?”
“I’ll think about it.”
I know how this will play out. Once he investigates Jonathan and the results come back clean, only then will he allow me to spend time alone with him. So basically, it all depends on how well Salvario has woven this web of a fake identity, whether my dad will let us be alone together.
Salvario
“Bruno. Enough.” My voice comes out colder than intended. He stops tugging at my leg and sits, but pointedly turns his face away from me.
He spent last night whining. This morning he sat by the front door of the apartment. Now, since the afternoon, he’s been tugging at my leg, trying to pull me outside.
And now I feel bad for snapping at him.
