“Stay away from me. I don’t know you or want to know you. I hoped for a second there could be something, but there isn’t. Just stay away from me,” I tell him, too tired to even continue this shit show.
“Please, I’ll explain everything just …” Vito tries, but I hold my hand up, stopping him.
“No. I’m going home, and you're going wherever it is you go. Thank you for all your help in my yard,” I say softly before turning to walk away from him before he can see the return of my tears.
I push through the door to the kitchen to find Drew and Lotty standing there wide-eyed. They just stare at me as I storm into the small office where I keep my bag and throw it over my shoulder. I come back out to see them still standing there with their mouths now hanging open.
“What is y’all’s problem?” I demand with my hands on my hips.
“Do you have any idea who that man is?” Drew gasps out with fear all over his face.
“Who? Vito?” I point over my shoulder.
“Yes, Vito!” he whisper-yells. “That man is second in command for the Kardoni Family. Oh, and he’s also said to be the not-so-secret little brother to Giaco, who is second to the largest crime family out of Atlanta.”
“Wait?” I rub my forehead. “Did you say the second for the Kardoni Family? As in the family that runs and owns this entire town and ninety percent of the mountain? Who is known for their not-so-legitimate affairs?”
“The one and the same.” Drew nods slowly.
Anger like I’ve never felt swells up inside me like a freight train barreling down the tracks. For the first time since my life exploded five fucking years ago, things start to make some sense. Which means he has known since the first time I met him who I was and what he did. I will not let that man do it again.
“I’m leaving out the back and going home. I can’t deal with anything else tonight. Lotty, thank you for letting me go. I’ll check in tomorrow morning,” I tell them as I head for the door.
“Loretta, sweetie, how do you plan to get home?” Lotty calls at my back.
“I’m going to go ask one of the lovely officers out front for a ride,” I tell her while adding under my breath, “And pray I don’t have a fucking panic attack on the way.”
“Just be safe, Loretta. I couldn’t bear to lose you too,” Lotty calls at my back.
Pausing before going through the door, I look back at her. “I love you too, Lotty.”
Slowly I sneak around the side of the building, being sure to stay out of the lights and away from the windows. I know Vito is still inside as we never heard the door open again. Meaning I just must make it across the parking lot and convince an officer totake me home before he leaves and catches me. The two officers eye me as I make my way over to them. They stop talking when they see me coming toward them.
“Can we help you with something, ma’am?” the shorter of the two says to me.
“Yes, since my car is, well, you know, not working. Is there anyway that one of you would be willing to take me to my home?”
They look at each other before the tall blond calls over his shoulder, “Captain, Miss Wagner is asking for transport home. Is that something we can do?”
Captain looks over at us, but before he can answer, another voice answers.
“No!” Vito thunders, coming out of the of the diner. “I will take her home.”
Spinning on my heels, I glare at the giant marching toward me. “You will not be taking me home. I will have an officer take me so you can do whatever it is you are meant to be doing.”
“Loretta, get your ass in the SUV, and when we get to your home, we will then talk about everything.” He is now nose to chest with me.
“Thank you, Vit—” He cuts me off with a hand over my mouth.
Keeping his hand still over my mouth, he leans down so he is whispering into my ear. “Loretta, you will either get in the SUV on your own or I will throw you over my shoulder and put you there myself. You have exactly three seconds to decide.”
Narrowing my eyes, I do the most childish thing I can think of. I lick his hand, surprising him enough to cause him to pull it away in shock.
“Did you just fucking lick me?” he whispers.
I decide not to answer him. Instead, I just stick my tongue out at him like a child before turning away from him. He takes longer to get over the shock of it all than I would have thought he would, but when he does, the man doesn’t disappoint.
I feel his breath across my ear with his next words. “If using that tongue is something you want to do, I have some much better ideas on how you can use it. Now, have you made your choice? Are you walking or am I throwing you over my shoulder?”
