Page 61 of Princess Seeks Dragon
“We have a very active neighborhood watch,” Mr. Minegold pipes up, still standing back by the first car, giving his statement to another agent, I guess.
“And some of us have very good hearing,” Graham adds with a nervous chuckle. “Angela, they have to do what they have to do. We’ll visit.”
“No, you can’t.” My mom’s eyes overflow again. “They said you have to come with us, Angie. That’s the only way we can stay together. Once we’re in the program, we can’t have contact with anyone who knows us. This case is too big. Too dangerous.”
I swallow. Stay, and never see my parents again? Leave, and never see Graham again?
He’s silent.
I can’t talk over the lump in my throat.
Ronnie is the one who talks, rubbing my back lightly as he does so. “You know, I think those members of the local neighborhood watch did a pretty good job. Don’t you, Jo?”
My mother nods slowly.
“And Graham here kept Angie safe. Didn’t you, son?”
“My life is hers,” Graham says in that beautiful accent, and my mother gives me a look that clearly screams, “Yes! Snag him, honey!”
“This is a little bitty place. Out of the way. And I’ve got some legitimate money that I’ve always kept for a rainy day. I think... I think we’ll stay here. I want to be with my family.”
“Sir, you’re putting your family in danger,” the head FBI agent says.
“Yeah, well, I’ve been doing that for years, because I was scared, a selfish coward who thought I’d never have a family, never have a kid who would have to join this lifestyle. But I’m getting out now. I have a daughter to think of. Maybe some grandkids one day. They’re going to know that their old man was no coward.” Ronnie crosses his arms and gives one firm nod. “That is, if Joanne says it’s okay.”
My mom wraps her arms around Ronnie’s waist, snuggling into him with an adoring look. “It’s okay!”
“You’ll still have to testify, Mr. Argento. That’s part of the deal and the only way you’ll escape a long prison term.”
“Then I’ll testify.”
“We’ll go with him that day,” Graham says staunchly. “He will be under the Kane family’s protection.”
“What’s that? Some other crime family?” the agent asks in alarm.
“No. We’re just a bit fierce.” Graham says. “But Angela is my bride, so her parents are my parents. I won’t let any harm come to them—as long as they stay where I can protect them.”
“Oh, God. Spare me from a bunch of local yokel vigilantes. Fine, fine. I can’t force you to make the smart choice, but you’ll still have an agent assigned to you for the duration of the case, Mr. Argento, and we’ll be in touch. Don’t try to run off. We’ll find you, but maybe not before some of your enemies do.”
“I’m done running. We’re all done running,” Ronnie says, one arm around me, one arm around my mom. “Me and my girls are staying here in this nice little place.”
***
RONNIE AND JOANNE SITat my brother’s table in matching blue bathrobes, holding hands. They look much older than I thought they’d be, but then again—almost losing your life and your daughter will do that to you.
“This is a lovely, lovely home, Graham,” Mrs. Argento says.
“It’s not his, Mom, and I don’t care about the size of the house where I live. Money doesn’t matter to me.”
“Well, sweetie, it can’t matter to us too much now, either. Still, we have a good chunk in the bank. Enough to live on until we find work. Put a down payment on a little place.”
Angela bites her lip. “Oh, Mom. No. I’m so... I’m so sorry.”
I know she’s thinking about how hard her mother worked and slaved all those years. I can tell by Ronnie’s face that he’s thinking about it, too.
“You’re still my queen, Jo,” he whispers.
“I know that, honey. I don’t care about the work.”
