Page 6

I take a step back and go to be on my way.
“Wait a second.” She slaps the side of her house.
“Relax, kid. I was just seeing what type of shingles these were,” I say.
“Like hell.” She points to my house, which is all marble. “I wasn’t born yesterday,neighbor.”
I scoff and continue walking.
“Hey.Stay right there or your house will be under investigation before you can sayItalia.”
Again, I was right about that fire in her. I’m hiding a smirk as I stuff my hands in my pockets and continue on my way around the corner, past her front door. I could’ve easily gone theother way and she’d never see me again, but a part of me wants her to chase… Does that make me sick?
Bwoof!
The front door swings open.
“Where are you going?”the rookie cop demands.
“Bite me,”she snaps back, running out the house with one arm in her jacket as she struggles to get the other in. Her breasts jiggle under her sweater, and the invisible strings holding my cock make it move.
“Yo.Mister Silver.” She jumps down the last of the steps as I strut away with my back to her.
Is she referring to my hair? Calling me old?Bitch.
“What were you looking at over there? You stared once with your groceries, and then cameback? To look at the side of a house?C’mon.”
She catches up to me, and her scent of sleep mixed with honey intoxicates me. Thank God the cold washes it away as fast as it comes.
“Forget it, kid. I’m not known for being a Good Samaritan.”
She leaps in front of me and points an angry finger at my chest. “They have my father. If you know something—”
“Idon’t.” Leaning into her finger and looming to show I’m nearly a foot taller than her, she doesn’t cower. Instead, she pushes me, sending herself a step back.
“I already fucked up once today,” she says. “What do you know? I swear I’ll make a scene, Silver.Swear.”
In a split-second, I grab both of her hands in my one and hold them close to my face, pulling her against her will to my side. “Don’t drag me into your mess. Go back to your rookie cop and let them do their job.”
She scrunches her face as I let go and keep walking. “How did you—who are you?”
“Nobody.A ghost.”
I shut my eyes when I hear her footsteps pattering to catch up again. Her forceful demeanor flees, and something else crosses me.
“The detectives think it’s the cartel. But I don’t,” her voice is solemn.
I sigh. There’s no way I’m helping the cops. It’s against everything I stand for in this life and the next.No fucking shot.I’m Arossothe GhostValentino. Even if I’m retired, the family is still my creed.
Her eyes linger, I can feel them in my periphery.
“Go home, kid. Can’t you see that cop is about to call in back-up?” I shrug one shoulder for her to turn around.
“Shit.” She looks over her shoulder, then spins completely with her arms wide. “I’m fine, you dick! He’s just a neighbor!”She points at me like we’re old friends.
“Quite a mouth on you.” I uncover one of my ears.
“You haven’t heard anything yet, Silver. So, you better start talking.”