Page 40 of Mafia King
Gia. “He’s practically American.”
I put my hand over the bottom of my phone.
“I need a—”pregnancy test.
Armando sniffs.
Gia goes on and on.
The drugstore phone rings.
“I need…” Armando hasn’t backed up and won’t. “Birthday candles.”
“Aisle seven.” Blue Jacket picks up her phone.
* * *
“Answer,”I tell Santino on the second ring.
I’m in the back seat of a parked car. Armando’s in the front, patient as a saint, waiting for me to tell him to pull out so I have the impression I make the decisions around here.
“Forzetta,” he purrs when he answers.
“Gia says she and Damiano have a date tonight.”
“Yes?”
“What’s going to happen?”
“Nothing. They have chaperones.”
“No, I mean… is he going to take her away?”
There’s a long, wordless gap that’s filled with clinking cups and one man’s breathing. Santino doesn’t want to say. Her life could end after a dinner just as mine did, and he knows I could have Armando drive this car over there before it happens.
He also knows he can tell Armando to take me home.
“Santino.” I mean to growl, but I can barely whisper.
“I’m here.”
“Tell me.” The force builds in my tone. “Is he forcing her into a car and driving her to a church?”
“No.”
“Do you swear it?”
“What is this about?”
Oh, no, he will not change the subject or redirect the inquiry to try to calm me down. I know what has to be done.
“Swear it!”
Armando pretends he’s not looking at me in the rearview. I can make another stop and run. Take the bus to Gia if I have to. Maybe Armando will catch me, but he won’t hurt me.
“Violetta!”
“Swear on your mother he’s not going to do it tonight!”
