“If you don’t keep your promise, I will hunt you down and use a paring knife to slice off both of your balls.”
“Damn, Sof. Ok. I got it.”
I cast a glance at Grumpy who is now just openly glaring at me. I slide the phone across the hood of the car and he narrows his eyes at me. He picks it up and puts it to his ear.
“Yeah.”
For the next couple of minutes, I watch as an array of emotions flash over Grumpy’s face. Finally, he speaks.
“Understood.”
Then he hangs up the phone.
“Hey!”
Before he can respond, my phone rings in my purse. I pull it out and see an unknown number.
“Answer it.” Grumpy mumbles as he slides back in the car.
“Hello?”
“Kept my promise. Do you trust me now?”
I chuckle. “Trust has to be earned, Lorenzo. I will give you points for keeping your promise, but you have a long way to go to earn my trust.”
I slam the car door shut and start walking towards work.
“Noted. Are you walking?”
“Yep. Now are you going to answer my questions?”
“I thought your ankle hurt.”
“Stop changing the subject. Where’s Bash?”
“I suppose right now he would be at his home, but I am not his keeper so I can’t really say. Is your ankle hurt?”
“You are no help. I need to talk to Bash. What’s his number?”
“Answer my question, Sofia. Is your ankle hurt?”
“I will answer your question when you give me Bash’s number.”
“You are being difficult. What do you want to ask him? I am sure I can help you with whatever you need.”
“Can you order your men to stop following me? Oh wait, you are one of those men. I am guessing that you aren’t lurking around today since you called me. Where’s Giovanni? I bet he is around here somewhere.”
I look around as I turn the corner where I normally see them. As I thought, Giovanni is standing outside the bodega with a couple of men smoking a cigar.
“Oh, there he is.”
I continue to walk towards him.
“You need protection. There is no discussion to be had. Bash won’t do what you want either.”
“Fine. I want to talk to him anyways.”
“He is busy. He doesn’t have time to talk to you.”
