Bang Bang(15)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken

“Well.” I sighed happily, “That was a stroke of brilliance.”

“You should see that place during the Anniversary sale.” She winked. “Why don’t you go have a beer… or three and I’ll take…?” She tilted her head. “I’m sorry what was your name, dear?”

“Amy.” She gulped.

“I’ll take Amy and we’ll come get you once we’re finished.”

“Great.” I released Amy’s hand. “You going to be okay?”

“It’s shopping, not the Hunger Games.” Amy grinned. “I think I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah well…” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. “Keep the bow and arrow just in case.”

With that, I walked towards the bar and ordered a beer. When I sat down it was like coming home. Men were everywhere — eating, drinking, checking their watches, texting. Hmm, it really was smart, give the men beer and their women could shop all damn day. Seriously brilliant. I needed to text Sergio or Nixon… or someone.

I suddenly felt very alone.

When you can’t text your brother because you’re still pissed at him.

When you can’t text your boss because technically you’ve been shitting on him for the past five years.

I groaned into my hands just as my cell rang.

I barked out a “What?”

“Wow, you’re in a super good mood. Remind me to call you every day in order to make sure the sun’s still shining.” It was Campisi, Tex.

“Sorry, I’m shopping.”

“Pretty sure that wasn’t in the job description.”

“Yeah.” I took a sip of beer. “But she had shit, Campisi.”

“Tex,” he corrected smoothly.

“Fine, Tex.” I rolled my eyes. “She had no clothes, they were destroyed. She has a toothbrush, a damn toothbrush to her name. What was I supposed to do?”

“Take her shopping,” Tex said softly. “Nixon will pay for it.”

I chuckled. “I think we both know I don’t need Nixon’s money.”

“Snobby rich Abandonatos.” His chuckle joined mine, but we both knew that since he was the Cappo he was just as rich. Hell, he could buy a small country.

“Yeah, yeah, so what’s up?”

“Just checking in on one of my favorite associates, making sure you’re still alive and breathing, you know the drill.”

“You want my heart rate too?”

“Is that your way of saying your heart’s racing? Because I gotta tell you… I have the same feelings… when we speak.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re a scary son of a bitch, but hilarious as hell.”

“I’m charming, that’s what the wife says.”

“You should say that next time you shoot someone.”

“I did, he still pissed himself, but whatever.”

I rolled my eyes. “Anything else?”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “We’ve got you… me and Nixon… Chase, Mil, Phoenix, we’re family. Things aren’t like they used to be. We’re a team, all of the families are a team, and you’re a part of it whether you like it or not. So if you need anything we aren’t just your bosses, we’re your friends and I treat my friends with the utmost respect.”

“Until they double cross you.”

“Well yeah, then I just kill them.”

“So glad we’re friends then.”

Tex laughed out loud. “Have fun shopping… don’t let her go too crazy, and if you see anything suspicious let me know. I’m sending you a picture of her father, he looks a bit different then he used to. If you see him or the other man that’s in the picture, shoot. Don’t hesitate, just shoot.”

“Got it.”

“Bye.”

I hung up the phone and stared at it while a picture text came through. Her dad looked like hell, but I still recognized him. His hair was disheveled like he hadn’t showered in years and he looked like he’d had two of his teeth knocked out. Heavy circles looked drawn under his eyes, crow’s feet were deep enough to take a bath in. His mouth was twisted into a frown. The guy next to him was close to my age. And I knew immediately who he probably was… her brother. The guy was a few years younger than all of us, and a total piece of work. I wasn’t a fan of killing kids under the age of twenty-one, but I knew I would probably have to kill him if he showed up. The thought made the beer go sour in my stomach.

I ordered some water and then some food and waited. All the while mulling over all the things Tex had said on the phone. Friends. I liked that. I liked the idea that we weren’t just a business, but family… even though the five families rarely got along it seemed like they’d finally managed a truce. I just wondered how long it would last before everything went to shit.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Amy

“SO…” ELLA, THE lady who’d deemed herself my personal shopper for the past two hours, pulled the last of the clothes I had picked out from the pile. “He’s hot.”

I laughed. “Yeah, he’s good with a gun too.”

She giggled and gave me a saucy grin. “I bet he is.”

Wasn’t kidding. That was the fun part of walking around with a trained killer; he looked pretty on the outside, but I knew what he was capable of. I knew what all those guys were capable of, and it still gave me chills when I thought about it. How could he hold me throughout the night? Then use those same hands to choke the life out of someone?

I knew firsthand that a lot of the people the mafia hurt were bad people — but some were good, some just fell on bad times, some were just caught in a bad situation.

“I think we have enough here, are you sure you don’t need more shoes?” Ella pointed down at the four boxes of shoes. I’d chosen a pair of sparkly flip-flops, some black leather ankle boots, a pair of Converse, and spiky heels that she said I had to have. I hadn’t ever worn heels so I wasn’t so convinced, but I liked the way they made me feel so I went ahead with it.

“Yeah. I’m good.”

“Great.” She grinned. “I’ll go fetch that man of yours and we can ring you up!”

I followed her out of the dressing room as a few more employees breezed by me and started packing up all the clothes. I hadn’t looked at the price tags. After the first one said five hundred dollars for a pair of leather pants that I knew I’d never wear or need, I decided I didn’t need to know.