After Manny’s breakdown, Salvatore called an end to the meeting and asked Calla if he could come to her and talk, leaving her very suspicious as to what’s going on. Then he packed a bag and took off with Manny.
I’m worried about my friend. Either he’s really beating himself up over this, or something else is going on. What? I’m not sure. I can’t even bring my own mind to try and conjure up what these two have been through. Calla seems to be dealing with it fine. Then again, she’s really only had a little over twenty-four hours to think about it. The loss of our baby. The beatings. The drugs. When I tried bringing it up last night before bed, she told me she wasn’t ready to talk about it. I’m not going to push her; she’ll talk when she’s ready. But as a man, to have to sit there and know you can’t do a fucking thing to help a person you care about, let alone a woman being abused and damn near killed, I can’t even fathom the kind of shit going through my best friend’s head.
That brings us to right now. We’re riding in the back of a hired car to deter any suspicion from us.
“Are you nervous?” I whisper into her ear, the tall buildings of New York City coming into view.
“Anxious is more like it. I can’t believe we’re staying in a penthouse on Park Avenue. It’s crazy.”
I pull her into me, her breath blows warmly across my heated skin. The smell of her hair envelops me. My dick goes nuts, even with her mom and dad sitting in the seat opposite of us. I exhale and will the son of a bitch to keep himself in check, my brain telling him she’s still hurting.
“Calla. I almost forgot. Here.”
Her mom digs through her bag on the floor then slants forward, handing her a large envelope.
“What’s this?”
I look up at her mother, who sits back at ease with a shit-eating grin on her face.
“Nothing major, just some papers my mom printed off for me.”
I seize the envelope right out of her delicate little hands.
She laughs, not even trying to attempt to take it back.
“It’s an application for the NYU School of Law. Happy now?”
I kiss the top of her head.
“Very fucking happy.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Calla
I have never seen a building so tall, the outside so modernly constructed in my life. Craning my neck towards the sky, I stare up.
“How tall is this building? And please don’t tell me we’re all the way at the top?”
Cain’s arms snake around me from behind.
“Not all the way. About three quarters up. I’m not sure how tall it is. Enough to give us a perfect view of the city. You’re going to love it.”
The idea of being able to see the city excites me, although it may take some time to get used to. Heights and I don’t seem to get along very well. I remember the time my parents and I were on vacation. I had been so determined I was going to go on the new roller coaster. The minute we started the slow climb up, I squeezed my dad’s hand in a death grip and wouldn’t let go. As we started to descend, my stomach flew into my throat. I had to hold my breath all the way down, scared out of my mind.
Dad thought it was funny. Me, not so much. Especially when the moment we jumped off, I threw up all over the place. Not a pretty sight for a thirteen-year-old girl to have her head shoved into a garbage can while she throws up her lunch.
I chance a glance at my dad, who retrieves the last of our bags out of the back of the car, tips the driver, and gives me a knowing look as if he is remembering the same thing as I am.
“It’s nothing like that roller coaster, Calla. Now grab one of these suitcases and move your ass.”
I comply without delay, grabbing the handle of the suitcase and following behind my parents inside.
“Wow.”