Page 88 of Anyone But You

“Th-th-they took everything!”

“Who took everything? What was taken?”

“M-my fucking sisters ransacked my apartment and stole everything valuable.”

“Did you call the police?”

“Not yet. I called you first.”

“I’m on my way. How did your sisters gain access to your apartment in the first place?”

I briefly explained, and if Knox was pissed before, he was DEFCON 1 now.

“The incompetence is absolutely mind-boggling. This isn’t a mistake. I wouldn’t be surprised if the property management were in on it.”

“Let’s not start pointing fingers. Ms. Larkin said the management company would cut me a check. I’m satisfied with that, and there is no reason to cause more drama.”

“No promises. ETA 15 minutes.”

“If you can’t be kind, then be quiet.”

“Again. No promises,” he said before hanging up.

Welp… I tried.

* * *

The recipe book. They took the fucking recipe book.

I was staring at my empty wall safe when I heard Knox curse boisterously from the living room. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath when he began berating Ms. Larkin. She sobbed when he proclaimed he’d own the building by the evening.

“Damn. That man is really on one,” Brittney commented.

“Can you blame him? Victoria, your sisters are thugs, and they need to do 10 to 15 in super max,” Alyssa remarked with an aloof shrug.

“Let me go save this woman,” I mumbled before poking my head out of the bedroom. “Giovanni, leave that woman alone.”

Hearing his middle name called stopped him in his tracks, and Ms. Larkin had the good sense that God gave her to skedaddle out of the apartment when he was distracted. He sucked his teeth in annoyance and pointed me with a glare.

“You had no right to interfere while I was ‘giving her the business,’ as you would say.”

“You didn’t have to go in on her so hard. She’s remorseful and realizes she made a mistake. What’s done is done.”

“Hmph,” he huffed. “I was prepared for Tori Montana, not Diplomatic Victoria.”

I smirked. “It takes less energy to be Diplomatic Victoria. Look at you, sweating and shaking and shit. You should sit down.”

He threw his hands out in exasperation and yelled, “Sit down where, Victoria? The fucking couch cushion they generously left behind?” His cane thudded against the hardwood floors as heinspected the rest of my barren apartment. “Oh! Thankfuckthey left the clothes hangers! Where would you be without clothes hangers?”

I stifled a laugh because my sisters were royally fucked.

“What did they take from the safe?” he shouted.

“My financial documents, Social Security card, some jewelry, and the recipe book.”

“Have you checked your credit report?”

Alyssa began snapping her fingers. “He’s asking all the right questions. Check your credit report ASAP.”