“What family?” I asked. I knew it wasn’t my place, but I didn’t care. I wanted a reason, any reason.
I could see him hesitating. If he named the family he was dead, but if he didn’t he was dead. It was an impossible situation. The only thing he could do was choose the time. Now, or later.
I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was choosing later.
“O’Brien.” I paled as he said it. It was not a name I wanted to hear, and I could tell by the look on my father’s face that any enjoyment of the situation was gone.
He just nodded at me.
I knew what needed to be done. I didn’t hesitate because I wanted to, I did it because of the face I saw in my mind. The one that would run if she knew what I was about to do.
Joanna.
I slit his throat in one quick motion then turned away from him, not bothering to look, not wanting to enjoy what happened next.
It was quick, at least there was that.
“Now what?” I asked as I cleaned my blade on a rag and placed it back into my belt.
“We talk about the options.”
Joanna
I stared at the phone just waiting for him to call, text, something. But he didn’t. It was all radio silence from Greyson Fitzgerald. Would he even acknowledge it?
Of course he would, why wouldn’t he? He’d always answered my questions, listened to me, talked about the things that were bothering me. It had never been a problem before.
I looked through my phone to find a lone text, from Claire, the woman from the party.
Hey, got your number from a friend. Want to do lunch?-Claire
Sure. When? I answered. She knew Greyson, knew him from before. I needed to know exactly what I was getting into. I was curious. I needed to talk to someone, but it couldn’t be Claire. She wasn’t the type of person I could trust.
No, I needed to get in touch with the only person who knew me. Except I hadn’t told her jack-shit about what was happening to me lately. She was going to be pissed. Probably threaten to beat my ass.
That was just like Willa.
I pressed her name on the contact list and waited for the phone to start ringing. Willa and I had been friends since middle school. It was a classic situation I was being bullied, she saved me from the bully. We were inseparable from then until the end of college when she went off and got a job in the city and I stayed behind to “find myself”. We talked all the time and got together, but it wasn’t unreasonable for either of us to go days or weeks without a chat.
“What’s up, lady?” she asked her voice cheerful as she answered.
“Quite a lot, actually. How much do you want to hear?” I answered, smiling. Her cheery disposition always lifted me up a little higher.
“I’m just getting out of work now, wanna meet up at The Hive for coffee?” It was her favorite diner, a fifties style place that served all the usual fare and locally roasted coffee.
“Actually, I’m not in Glen Burnie. I’m in Federal Hill.”
“What are you doing there?” I knew she lived in Fells Point, just a few blocks away but this whole time I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about any of this. It just seemed too surreal. I kept thinking that I was going to wake up from a dream and I would be in my little apartment with my books and my life. But it wasn’t a dream. It was real, and it wasn’t going to just disappear.
“It’s a long story?” I said.
“Meet me at Down by the Tea Shore.” It was a ritzy little tea and coffee shop with astronomical prices.
“Oh, sure,” it didn’t seem like Willa, but I didn’t question it. I needed to talk to her, now.
It didn’t take long to get there, and as soon as I walked in I saw her seated, a book in her hand. It was simple and quiet and pretty. Now I understood. Willa loved quiet places where she could read.
“So, what is this long story you’ve been hiding from me?” she asked. “Don’t worry about the tea, I already ordered your favorite, chai.”
“I love a girl who gets me,” I said as I slunk down into the chair beside her. I had a lot to tell her and it was going to be a long one.
***
“Wait, so you’re telling me that you are marrying a billionaire crime boss who just happens to be hot as hell?” she asked. I’d unloaded everything, left nothing back. Well, except for the steamy details. She scowled at me, but I promised to tell her more later.
“He’s not a billionaire, his father is, but probably a millionaire, I don’t know his net worth,” I scowled as she waved me away.
“Whatever, same difference. He’ll be a billionaire eventually.” She crossed her legs then uncrossed them then slammed her hands down. “Jesus, Jo. This is a huge freaking bomb on my head.”
I swallowed.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”