“So enlighten me.” I nodded towards the open road in front of us. “We got some time before we get back to Brooklyn.” Curiosity ripped through me and suddenly I wanted to know all about the people I left behind. Especially the one sitting beside me who remained silent. “Oh come on Ant. Just start with the basics. I won’t even go into deeper shit.” I ran my hands through my hair and tried to pick a starting point for this conversation. It was as if a light bulb went off in my jaded head and I knew exactly how to get him to talk. “Adrianna. Tell me about Adrianna” I insisted. “Tell me you came to your senses and made her yours.”
“No.” He said as if it was an automated response and I swear I saw a flash of regret overcome his stone cold features. He lowered his voice and I couldn’t tell if he was speaking more to himself or to me. “She was never mine.”
I probably should’ve tried to mask the surprise or the confusion that overcame me based on the sad yet guarded gaze he held but I couldn’t help myself. If I was a gambling man Adrianna and Anthony would’ve been my sure bet. “What? What do you mean no? That’s fucking insane man. I thought by now for sure you two would be married with a tribe of kids.”
“Just leave it alone Val.” He said in a clipped tone snapping his head to the right to eye me warningly. “I mean it. Any and all mention of her ends now.” He turned his attention back to the road.
I held my hands up in surrender, my eyes widening at his demand. “Okay, fine…” I silently vowed to myself to uncover the reasons that Adrianna was off limits, wondering what exactly could’ve happened between them. I let out a heavy sigh before we shared a period of silence.
I stared out the window as the traffic opened and he began to drive faster along the interstate. The corners of my mouth curved as she entered my mind and I turned around to Anthony. “How’s little Nikki?”
He glanced at me for a moment remaining silent I suppose deciding what to tell me and what to omit. “She’s all grown up now not so little anymore.” He said, sounding proud sounding like a brother talking about his kid sister. “She went, to some fancy make-up school in Manhattan. Victor wants to open a salon for her, but she wants no part of it.” He shook his head showing me the faintest hint of a smile. “She definitely keeps that man on his toes. It’s kind of fun to watch.”
I tried to picture the little girl who followed Adrianna and me around begging us to include her in whatever it was we were doing I tried to picture her all grown up as Anthony described but I couldn’t.
“She’s got a boyfriend.” He grimaced when he says the word boyfriend. I raise one eyebrow curiously.
“I guess you don’t like him?” I asked inquisitively.
“I don’t trust the little fucker.” He said honestly. I waited for him to elaborate on his answer, but he didn’t. “Whatever. It’s none of my business. Victor doesn’t seem to have a problem with him and if he does, he’s never said a word to me.”
“Still, there has to be a reason you don’t trust him.” I probed.
“People usually flock to the girls because of who Victor is. It’s a shitty thing to say, but it’s the truth.” His jaw ticked. I could tell he was about to tell me something but stopped himself just in time. He shook his head, dismissing any thoughts that he was about to speak of. “Anyway, this kid wants nothing to do with Victor. He doesn’t even bother with him.”
I drew my eyebrows together in confusion. “Isn’t that a good thing then? I mean he’s with her for her and not with her because of daddy dearest.”
Anthony shook his head not buying my theory and for the first time since our little reunion, I felt like we are having a civilized conversation. It felt like two friends catching up and not trying to resent one another. “Trust me, something isn’t right with him.”
I settled back against the seat remaining silent for a few moments as I digested what he said about Nikki. I felt his eyes on me, but didn’t turn to face him.
“You’ll see for yourself.” He said, peering at me from the corner of his eye.
“Does Victor agree with you?” It bothered me that I asked because I had schooled myself not to give a damn about Victor or what he thought about anything. Yet for some reason where Nikki was concerned, I forgot that Victor was my enemy.
“Like I said he doesn’t speak much about it, but I think he’s wary of him.” He cocked his head to the side in deep thought. I watched him for a few moments wondering what was going through his head. It was a losing battle trying to figure him out, especially when my head was a jumbled mess. I promised myself that I would keep a close eye on Nikki’s boyfriend and come to my own conclusions concerning him.
We passed another sign that informed us New York is now 38 miles away. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the headrest. I found myself trying to picture what Nikki looks like all grown up. I tried to picture her smile, sans her braces. Does she still wear her hair pulled back in a braid? Is her voice still on the whiny side? I labeled myself a pervert when I began to wonder what her measurements were molding her in my head to have a tiny waist, hips to hold onto and a rack to bury my face in. In my sick head, she has no face though because all I see is the little girl with braces smiling up at me with a body to die for. Yeah, I’m a twisted fuck.
Chapter Three