by Harley Stone
We paid for? No, I’d paid for everything, and with far more than money. I wanted it to be true—I wanted it so damn bad I could almost taste it—but I couldn’t trust him. “You never even called to check on me. You disappeared, and I haven’t heard from you for months, then you show up promising an audition? Why now?”
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Like I said, I wanted to make it all up to you. To show you how much I care. I never stopped thinking about you.”
His words fell on deaf ears. Whatever hold he used to have on me, must have broken over the months he spent away. I didn’t want to spend one minute longer with the douchebag. “Tuesday night at what time? I can take myself.”
Matt swallowed. A sheen of sweat broke out around his hairline. “You can’t. No free agents. You have to have representation to get in.”
“I can hire a different agent.”
His beady little eyes shifted. How had I not noticed how beady his eyes were before? He wasn’t even good looking. What the hell had I been thinking to give this jerk a year of my life?
“But I worked so hard to get this audition for you. I should be there to see you succeed.”
“You say you want to make everything up to me? Be selfless and prove how much you love me. Give me the time I’m supposed to be there.”
He shook his head, taking a step back.
Had he always been this full of bullshit? How did I miss it? “Whatever, Matt.” I pushed past him and kept walking.
“Wait.” He jogged the few steps to catch up, holding a piece of paper out toward me. “I want to be there for you, Ari. I want to make sure you make it. At least take my new number in case you change your mind.”
When I didn’t immediately accept it, he grabbed my hand, spreading my fingers so he could place the paper in my palm before closing them up again. “Let me do this for you. Please.”
I should have told him to fuck off and shredded his number, but if there was even a tiny chance he’d actually come through for once… I stuffed the paper in my pocket. “I have to get back to work.”
His gaze darted down to my pocket and his grin returned. “Just think about it. You, standing on the stage, singing your lungs out. It’s a chance for everything we dreamed about it.”
Everything I’d dreamed about for as long as I could remember. Emotions that felt disturbingly like hope churned my stomach. I had to get out of there before I did something stupid like trusted Matt again.
I walked away again, determined to make this my last time.
“Be sure to call me by Tuesday!” Matt shouted. “Don’t throw this opportunity away because I fucked up!”
People were staring. I ducked into the restaurant and hurried into the kitchen, hoping Matt wouldn’t follow.
Harlow was clocking out as I clocked back in from my break. “You okay?” she asked.
Was I? The entire year I’d spent with Matt was an escape from reality. An escape from my failure as an artist and an adult. We drank, smoked weed, experimented with harder drugs, partied like nobody’s business… how could I trust a guy like that with my dream? I couldn’t. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to throw away his phone number, either.
“Ari?” Harlow asked, reminding me that I hadn’t answered her.
“Yeah.” I tied my apron back on. “I’m great, thanks.”
“You sure? I can stick around until your shift ends. Then we can go get a beer or something.”
The suggestion was sweet, but Bones would be showing up at the end of my shift, and I doubted he’d want to stay for a drink with me and my friend. “Nah, I’m good. Get out of here. Go have fun.”
She looked like she was going to argue, but finally shrugged. “Okay, but call me if you need me.”
Giving me a wave, she headed out and I returned to work.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Bones
MATT FUCKIN’ DETER.
I stared at my cell phone, willing it to be a lie, but the evidence was right in front of me. Moments ago, Tech had messaged me that his face recognition software had picked up something in the Pelican. He routed the feed to my phone and I watched as Matt talked to Ariana. He grabbed her hand, and Anger burned inside me. I was hoping she’d lay him out for touching her, but she didn’t.
Instead, she pocketed whatever he gave her.
What the fuck, Ari?
I couldn’t imagine why she’d give him the time of day, much less accept something from him. All he’d ever done was take from her, and from me. She knew that bastard owed me money and that I’d been looking for him.
She should have called me, but she didn’t.
That was what stung the most. Ariana walked away, back into the restaurant, and still my phone stayed silent. She had an opportunity to let me know he was there, but she chose not to. Instead, she protected the asshole who tried to kill her.
I used the next hour and a half to try to calm the fuck down before I picked her up, but was apparently unsuccessful, because the first thing she asked me was, “What’s wrong?”
So pissed I was ready to burst and not wanting to cause a scene, I promised we’d talk about it in the car and ushered her out of the Pelican. She strapped on her seatbelt and turned toward me expectantly, so I pulled up the video Tech had sent me and handed it over.
“So, what? You’re spying on me now?” she asked.
“No, I’m spying on him. Our software pinged on his face and sent me the feed.” Which was mostly true. I’d just left out the detail of Tech, since nobody outside the family needed to know about him. “Imagine my surprise when I saw him talking to you.”
Ariana stared at me, her face a mix of fascination and disgust. “You guys take this big brother thing to a whole new level.”
She had no idea. And how dare she look at me with disgust when she’d been the one talking to Matt. “Dammit, Ari, you know I’m looking for him. This is my fuckin’ job on the line. Why didn’t you call and let me know he was there?”
She bristled at my tone, her lips pulling tight as she stared straight ahead. “I don’t have to tell you everything, Bones.”
“When your safety is at risk, you do,” I fired back, merging into traffic.
“I was in the casino, surrounded by security, and this was Matt. I lived with him for a year and he never touched me.”
She didn’t get it. “That asshole tried to kill you. You’ll never be safe around him. Never!”
“You think I don’t know that?” She leveled a glare at me. “You must think I’m really stupid, huh?”
“No. I don’t think you’re stupid at all. I think you try to see the best in people, but there’s not much good to see in that little prick.” Knowing I was once again screwing this up, I let out a breath and tried again. “I thought you were gonna die that night, Ari. You were… seizing. A little longer, and your organs would have started shutting down. I didn’t know you at the time, but I felt… responsible. Matt’s my problem, and I should have gotten rid of him long ago. There’s been reports of more of that shit on the street, and I know he’s dealing it.”
“How do you know?”
“The same way I saw him talking to you today. He shows up on the cameras, but never stays long enough for me to get to him. I’ll catch him sooner or later.”
She stared at me for a moment before asking, “What happens then?”
I shook my head. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want me to answer, Ari.”
She swallowed and looked away.
“What did he give you?” I asked.
“His new number. He said he got me an audition.”
With his number, I could trace him. But I needed to proceed with caution. I wanted Ariana to give it to me willingly. “What kind of audition?”
“Doesn’t matter. That was probably all more of his bullshit.”
“But you kept his number.” I’d seen her pocket it.
She nodded. “I’ve wanted to sing professionally for as long as I can remember. That’s why I came
to Vegas… not to wait on drunk gamblers. All this time, I keep thinking that if I could only get an audition—just one chance—they’d love me. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m good, Bones. But nobody will ever hear me, because they won’t even let me in the door. I hired Matt, because he told me he was an agent, and that he knew some of the major players.”
“So, now he’s back and promising you an audition.”
Again, she nodded. “Said he wants to make it up to me.”
“Ari—”
She threw her hands up. “I know. I know. I’m not stupid, and I know he’s playing me. I just wanted to hold onto hope for a little bit longer.”
Before I could respond, my phone rang. I popped my bluetooth in my ear and answered my mom’s call.
“Franco,” she said, sounding frantic. “Thank God I reached you. David was at a party and it got busted. He was drinking, so they’re holding him and need someone to post bail. I hoped maybe you could pick him up, so you could talk some sense into him.”
My twenty-year-old little brother had recently lost his goddamn mind and was doing everything possible to fuck up his life. And since I was paying for his college, I planned to make sure that didn’t happen. I promised Ma I’d handle it and hung up.
“Is everything okay?” Ariana asked.
“Same ol’ bullshit, different day.”
Her eyebrows rose in question.
“My little brother got locked up for underage drinking. I gottta go pick him up from the cop shop, but I’ll take you back to the condo first.”
“Can I come with you?” she asked.
I eyed Ariana’s outfit. She shouldn’t be dressed like that going anywhere near the Clark County Detention Center. Especially not with the kind of sleaze balls that usually hung out there. In addition, I’d be dropping David off at Ma’s house, and I didn’t want anyone to know where my family lived.
“Please. It’s been a shit day and I don’t want to go home and sit in my apartment alone.”
She sounded desperate, and I still needed to get Matt’s new number from her, so I took her with me. A couple assholes who were being booked looked at her sideways, but I flexed, and they backed off. We waited more than an hour before David was finally brought out.
Still in rare form, he smelled like he’d been marinated in booze. His eyes were glassy, and his walk was more of a wobble as an officer tugged him forward. I paid the bail and we headed out of the building without even a thank you from my little brother.
I laid into him the minute we were outside. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Heading to your Jeep so we can go home,” he said pointing. His finger swayed along with his body.
“Goddammit, David, you know that’s not what I mean. You probably have alcohol poisoning, you dumbass. Ma’s worried sick, and you have your schooling to think of. You’re smarter than this.”
“I was just having some fun with friends.”
“Yeah, well now your fun is going to land you in court, and possibly jail. Gonna be really hard to attend classes from your fuckin’ jail cell.”
He frowned, scratching his head. “They don’t throw people in jail for underage drinking, Franco. Hell, half of Vegas would be locked up if they did, and they don’t have room for that.”
I knew he was right, but kind of wished they’d make an exception for him. Maybe if he stayed in the lock up he’d learn a thing or two and stop acting like such an entitled little shithead.
“You mean to tell me you never drank before you were twenty-one?” he asked.
Drinking was the least of the shit I’d done. “No, dumbass. I’m saying I was never stupid enough to get caught. If you’re gonna do this shit, you’re gonna have to be smarter about it.” Shaking my head, I added, “Wonder if that college will give me a refund, because you’re obviously not learning shit there.”
He frowned at me, but kept his mouth shut as I led him to the Jeep and opened the back door for him. Confusion registered across his features as he watched Ariana climb into the passenger’s seat. “This your girl?” he asked, buckling his seat belt.
“This is my friend, Ariana. Ari, meet my little brother, Dumbass.”
“Stop calling me that, Franco.”
“I will as soon as you stop acting like one.”
In my rearview mirror, I watched him clamp his mouth closed and turn to stare out the window.
***
Ma and David lived in a modest three-bedroom ranch-style home in North Vegas. Ma believed she won the house in some contest she’d entered, but Carlo had been taking mortgage payments out of my pay since I was twelve, when we’d supposedly “won” it. Carlo had bigger trust issues than I did, and he’d figured out early on exactly how to keep me in pocket.
I would do anything for Ma, and Carlo knew it. She was my one weakness, and I knew that if I ever betrayed the family, he’d kill her.
But I didn’t have to worry about that shit, because I’d never betray the family.
By the time I parked, Ma was standing on the front porch, waiting. I helped David out of the Jeep, and he promptly got sick on the side of the road. Motherfucker was lucky he didn’t do that in my car, or he’d be licking it up. Shaking my head, I righted him and tugged him toward the house.
“Look at you,” Ma tutted at David. “Drunker than a skunk. You’re lucky Franco didn’t have to take you to the hospital.”
“Franco brought a girl home,” David said, throwing me under the bus.
A smile stretched across Ma’s face as she looked from me and David to my Jeep, where Ariana was closing the door behind her. She gave a little wave and said, “Hi.”
Ma’s smile faltered for a moment as she took in Ariana’s revealing outfit, but she recovered quickly and moved to intercept her. “It’s so nice to meet you, dear. Come in and have something to eat. Franco, why didn’t you tell me you were bringing a girl home? I would have made some fresh raviolis.” She patted Ariana on the arm. “How long have you been seeing my Franco?”
Needing to derail this train before it left the station and ended in wedding bells, I stepped forward. “Ma, this is my friend, Ariana. Ari, this is my mom, Marcella.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Leone,” Ariana said.
Ma’s smile widened at Ariana’s manners. “Please, call me Marcella. It is so great to meet you. Aren’t you just a pretty, skinny little thing? You need some meat on your bones. Please come in and let me warm you up some lasagna.”
I ran a hand down my face. “No dinner, Ma. We don’t have time.”
“Of course, honey. It was just a suggestion. I’d never expect you to stay. I know you’re far too busy to spend much time with your mother. And I know my lasagna’s not nearly as good as Angel’s, but it’s edible.”
Oh, the guilt. Rubbing a hand over the back of my neck, I looked to Ariana and explained, “I complimented one dish of Angel’s, years ago, and she’s never let me live it down.”
“You told me I should ask him for the recipe,” Ma snapped.
“Never underestimate the level of pride an Italian mother has in her cooking,” I grumbled.
“I’m actually a little hungry,” Ariana said, smiling back at Ma. “And I’d love to try your lasagna and hear more stories about Franco.”
Shit. I gave her a warning look, but she avoided my gaze and continued to smile sweetly at Ma.
Blocking them off at the door, I said, “We don’t have much time, Ma. It’s late.”
“Late?” Ariana asked, turning her sweet smile on me. “We’re not that old, Franco.”
Now she knew my real name. In a matter of minutes, I’d let her peek under the shield of anonymity I hid my family behind. What about this girl made me drop my guard?
“Of course, dear.” Ma steered Ariana around me and into the house.
David chuckled, watching me.
“Dumbass,” I growled, shoving him forward. “This is all your fault.” We followed Ma and Ariana into the kitchen.
>
“Language, Franco,” Ma said over her shoulder before focusing back on Ariana. “I just pulled some pizzelles off the iron. How do you take your cappuccino?”
“Milk and sugar, please.” She looked at me and asked, “Pizzelles?”
“Cookies.”
“David, get the lasagna out of the fridge,” Ma said as she fiddled with the cappuccino machine. It whirred to life. “Franco bought me this beast for Christmas last year. Noisy, but it makes a great cup.”
“Pizzelles are fine, but we can’t stay long enough for lasagna,” I said. It was after midnight. Ma should be asleep and not waiting on us.
“Then you’ll just have to take it with you. David, cover that with foil and set it on the counter for you brother.”
“But I want some lasagna,” David whined.
“Well, you should have thought about that before you got thrown in jail,” Ma replied matter-of-factly while starting up a second cup of cappuccino.
We sat at the table, and Ma asked how my job was going. I gave illusive answers until she grew bored and turned her questions on Ariana.
“I’m waiting tables at the Pelican’s Roost,” Ariana said. “For now. It’s not what I want to do long-term, of course. I came to Vegas to sing.”
“You’re doing what you have to do,” Ma reassured her. “No shame in that. When Gino disappeared, I took any job I could to keep my boys fed. Spent more time cleaning toilets than I’d care to admit, but I finally got a nice office job.”
“Gino?” Ariana asked, glancing at me. “Is that your dad?”
“Yes,” Ma answered before I could. “The father of all three of my boys. Franco’s big brother, Tony, is living in California with his wife Trinity. They have one kid with another on the way.”
And Ma was telling Ariana way more than she needed to know. “We should probably get going,” I said, stepping in.
“Can I use your restroom?” Ariana asked.
“Yes, of course, dear. Down that hall, first door on the right.”
As soon as Ariana turned the corner, Ma lowered her voice and asked, “What’s her story?”
I didn’t want to tell Ma shit, but knew she wouldn’t let up until I did. Giving her the abridged version, I answered, “Her parents are dead, her uncle’s an ass, and she lives with her sister.”
